The pain still kept me pinned to the ground, unable to move. The weight of the gargoyle on my chest was overwhelming, its heavy claws, like marble, pressed me deeper into the ground.
Its body, made of stone and shadows, seemed to absorb the light, and for a moment, I believed it was all over. The second creature dived from the air, its enormous stone wings creating gusts of wind that scattered the dust around me. Its claws, sharp as blades, were ready to tear me apart.
I couldn't move; I couldn't breathe, and the weight on my chest suffocated me more with every passing second.
"Is this the end?" I thought, fear running through my body. "No… I can't fail now… I can't."
Just when I thought that would be my end, a shout cut through the air. It was quick, like an explosion amidst the chaos, and the sound of metal against stone echoed around me.
The pressure on my chest suddenly lifted, and for a moment, I didn't know what had happened. My eyes struggled to focus, still dazed from the pain and the dust covering everything, but then I saw it: Kael, standing with his sword unsheathed, covered in sweat and dust.
"Get up!" he shouted in a rough voice, though I could barely hear him over the deafening pounding of my heart.
Kael was injured. I could see how blood stained his left arm, flowing from a deep wound. But he didn't seem to care. The gargoyle that had been on top of me lay on the ground, its head shattered by Kael's precise strike.
The other creature, diving from the air, shifted its focus in a split second, fixing its stone eyes on Kael.
I still couldn't move well, my body refused to cooperate, but the air, though dense and bitter, returned to my lungs. I fought to stand. My hands trembled as I pushed one knee to the ground, watching as Kael prepared to face the remaining gargoyle.
His breaths were ragged, but determination still burned in his eyes. The wind from the gargoyle's wings stirred the dust and shadows around us, creating an almost surreal scene.
"Kael!" I managed to shout, my voice barely an echo of what I wanted it to be.
He shot me a quick glance, his brow furrowed in concentration, before turning his focus back to the creature stalking him. The gargoyle descended with deadly speed, its wings slicing through the air like stone blades. Kael, with a quick maneuver, narrowly dodged its charge and, in a swift turn, drove his sword into the beast's side.
The creature's scream was loud, but still, it didn't stop. Its claws passed dangerously close to Kael, tearing at his armor, leaving visible marks.
With all my strength, I finally stood up. Every muscle protested, each step felt like walking on hot coals, but I couldn't leave Kael alone.
I gripped my sword with trembling hands, feeling its weight as if it were the only thing anchoring me to this world, and I charged at the gargoyle just as it turned to attack Kael again.
With a shout from the depths of my being, I drove my sword into the creature's chest, feeling the resistance of its stone body give way under my force. I pushed with everything I had left, adrenaline replacing the pain, if only for a moment.
Kael let out a long sigh as the gargoyle fell to the ground, motionless. His sword still dripped with the remnants of the battle, and though he was exhausted, his eyes still shone with a mix of relief and fatigue. He took a step towards me, leaning down to offer me his hand.
"Good job, Darius," he said with a tired but genuine smile. "I don't know how we did it, but we did."
I accepted his hand, though I could barely stand. My body trembled, every muscle protesting from the exertion, but I still managed to give him a weak smile in response. I had no words left, just a gesture that Kael understood perfectly.
"Over there," he said suddenly, pointing with his sword toward the horizon. "Look."
With difficulty, I turned my head in the direction he indicated. The remaining gargoyles, the ones that had been our mortal threat just moments ago, were retreating. Their heavy-winged bodies disappeared into the shadows, and the echo of their cries faded into the distance.
"Grimmor's creatures," Kael murmured with a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "They did their part."
Seeing the danger retreat brought unexpected relief to my body. For the first time in what seemed like hours, I could breathe without the weight of imminent death on my shoulders.
But when I tried to move, my legs gave out under my own weight, and I fell to my knees on the ground. Barely conscious of my surroundings, I managed to smile, almost in disbelief that I was still alive.
Before exhaustion could fully claim me, I heard a familiar voice.
"Leave him to me," said softly but with authority.
I looked up with difficulty and saw Nayris hurrying towards me. I felt my body wanting to give in, but I clung to consciousness when I heard her voice. She knelt beside me, placing a firm but comforting hand on my shoulder.
"I'll take care of him."
Kael watched her carefully, as if evaluating whether he could trust her. Their eyes met for a moment, and after a brief exchange of glances, he nodded.
"Looks like you know him well. I leave him in your hands."
Nayris lifted me, supporting my weight with her surprisingly strong yet slender frame. I could barely focus my thoughts, but the soft scent of herbs and something familiar, combined with the certainty in her movements, gave me the peace I needed. My eyelids grew heavier with each step we took.
The next time I regained some consciousness, we were in front of a small, modest house on the outskirts of the market. I could barely recall the journey there; everything was a blur.
Nayris carefully guided me inside. There was no one else, no sounds, just the soft sound of her footsteps on the wooden floor as she led me to a small but comfortable bed.
"Rest," she whispered as she laid me down, gently removing my boots. Her touch was firm yet careful, and I could feel her beginning to tend to my wounds, cleaning the blood and bandaging my arms and torso.
Finally, fatigue overtook me. My vision blurred, and in that last moment before losing consciousness, a fleeting thought crossed my mind: "I'm safe... for now, at least."
---
The cold night air jolted me awake. My breathing was erratic, and my eyes snapped open as if I had been pulled from a deep sleep back to the surface.
For a moment, I didn't know where I was. I sat up quickly in the bed, my heart racing. I looked at my trembling hands, searching for some sign that it had all been a dream.
"Have I been reborn again?" I wondered, feeling the cold sweat trickle down my back.
The bandages on my arms made me hesitate, but something about them seemed familiar. They were carefully placed, with precision. My memories began to flood back all at once: the battle against the gargoyles, Kael saving me, and... Nayris. She had helped me.
I sighed deeply, trying to calm my mind. My eyes scanned the small room. There was a window with curtains, and with an effort that made me grit my teeth, I got up.
The weight of my body made it feel as though my muscles were made of lead. Each movement was a reminder of what I had endured. I managed to reach the window. I parted the curtains carefully, looking out at the world outside.
It was nighttime. The market streets were lit by a few scattered lamps, and under their dim glow, I saw several people cleaning up the debris left behind by the gargoyles.
The creatures had caused more destruction than I had imagined, and a pang of guilt crept into my mind. All of this happened, and I barely survived. But the people… they kept going, restoring what they could with silent determination.
With one last glance, I turned away from the window and headed for the door. The room was quiet, but the soft smell of something warm and herbal beckoned from the other side. I took a deep breath before cautiously opening the door.
As I stepped out, I found myself in a small, cozy, and warm room. A fireplace crackled in one corner, casting shadows on the walls, and the soft aroma of herbs floated in the air. Sitting in a chair near the fire was Nayris. Her figure was outlined by the light of the fire, reading calmly, her face relaxed, and she held a steaming cup in her hands.
When she saw me standing at the threshold, her eyes lit up, and a radiant smile spread across her face.
"Darius!" she exclaimed with a mix of surprise and joy. "You're on your feet! I knew you'd recover."
Her enthusiasm caught me off guard, and though my body still felt heavy, the relief in her voice made me feel a little lighter.
"Come, sit," she said, gesturing to the space beside her on the chair. "You still need to regain your strength."
I didn't argue. I approached slowly, feeling the warmth of the fireplace envelop my body. The atmosphere was warm, much more than I had felt in days. I sank into the chair next to Nayris, exhaling the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
I settled into the chair, the warmth of the fire and the calm of the place starting to relax me. As I sat, I looked at Nayris and couldn't help but thank her.
"Thank you for everything you've done... I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up."
Nayris let out a small laugh and shook her head. "You saved me first, Darius. The least I could do was return the favor. You have no idea how scared I was when I thought you wouldn't make it."
I vaguely remembered the moment I fought the gargoyle to protect her, but it didn't seem like something worthy of so much gratitude. "It was nothing," I said, downplaying it.
However, something didn't quite add up. Though my body was sore, I felt that the most severe wounds had healed faster than they should have. I looked at my arms and touched the bandages Nayris had placed.
"How did you heal me so quickly? I was in much worse shape a while ago."
Nayris smiled, pointing to a small, empty bottle gleaming under the light of the fireplace on the table next to the chair.
"That bottle had a mana potion. It's meant to heal serious injuries. I bought it a while ago but hadn't had the need to use it... until today."
I took the bottle in my hands, examining the empty crystal. Instantly, something clicked in my mind. I remembered the mana potion Grimmor had stolen from me a few days ago, the very same one Eldrek had gifted to me.
I clenched my teeth and silently cursed Grimmor. Thinking about his arrogant smile, how he took the potion without a second thought, made my blood boil. The fact that Nayris had to use her potion because of him only fueled my resentment further.
I came back to myself, holding the bottle, and looked at Nayris. "Thank you, really. I promise I'll repay you for this potion as soon as I can."
Nayris waved her hand dismissively, as if my promise wasn't important. "It's not necessary. I'm just glad I could help."
She stood up and, with light steps, headed towards the small kitchen nearby. "I'll make you some herbal tea. It will help ease the pain you're still feeling." Her tone was kind, almost maternal, and I couldn't help but feel grateful.
I watched her as she prepared the tea, moving gracefully around her small house. The soft brush of her arm against mine, the way the scent of herbs began to fill the room… everything made me question my own thoughts. Something in me wanted to close the distance between us, but another part knew I couldn't lose focus.
When she returned, she handed me the cup, and the aroma of the herbs instantly calmed me.
"You can stay here tonight," Nayris said as she sat back down in the chair next to me. "The chair is comfortable, and you need to rest."
I took a sip of the tea, feeling the warmth spread through my body.
"Thanks," I replied, though inside, I couldn't help but feel a bit hesitant.
My mind wandered back to the words my beloved had said to me before she died. She was out there, somewhere, and every time I thought about her, I felt I was getting closer… I couldn't allow anything or anyone to get in the way of that.
Still, as Nayris smiled and the warmth of the fireplace filled the room, it was harder to resist than I cared to admit.