While the three fought, Eavelin was brave enough to take Noelor out of the battlefield, who had already begun crawling towards her. At the sight of a man dying, the girl began to tear.
«Hey... how do you feel?» She asked, barely finishing the sentence, almost unwillingly.
She got no answer. The bloody breath was enough to understand.
«How did you start fighting?» She continued, still not convinced of what she was doing.
«I needed to pass the gate. He didn't allow me.» He said.
His words were barely comprehensible. His life was coming to an end.
«Before you die... How would you have wanted to get out of here after killing a person?» Eavelin continued.
Noelor opened his eyes widely, squinting them shortly afterwards. He smiled. He smiled when he saw the light shining straight on to his eyes. Then he stopped breathing. Eavelin continued to cry leaving the rider on the ground.
♦️
Meanwhile the Collector had managed to retrieve the axe from the ground. Herega and Ren were exhausted. The big man did not, but the pain of the wounds began to be present.
«How do we neutralize him without killing him? We can't do it.» Herega speculated.
Noelor had indeed taken his last breath, they no longer had any idea how they could kill the Keeper's killer and then leave the island, and they had no reason to continue fighting the Collector.
«If you want to know, I am no longer a thief.» Ren said to the giant man, «I have been freed from the spell.» Added by lowering the daggers.
«The only one who can reverse it is Meta. Don't make me laugh, and stop telling lies, you thieving bastard!» He shouted loudly.
He charged them again. Both of them dodged the blow, but could not counter. While he was still moving, the big man tried to strike a powerful blow on the girl. Herega managed to lock him with a chain, which then wrapped around his body, completely tying up his movements. At that moment Ren penetrated his flesh with the daggers, but hesitated in the end, remembering what had been her condition of life until that day. Noelor, unexpectedly, standing on his last strength, stood up, stretching his bow at full power.
♦️
Noelor was born into a tedious condition. His family was the only one on the island of Triosa who did not respect the canons of the citizens. They lived at the end of the commercial area, in the ruined mansion, the same one that offered rewards for the corpses. He repudiated that life and, as soon as he had the chance, he travelled away. He traveled extensively throughout the continent, defending the poor and helping the weaker against the stronger. When, however, he felt the fear of being neglecting himself, he returned to the island, working as a farmer and supporting himself. However, he did not feel satisfied. He hated his family, the ruin of the island, with all his heart. Bringing the killer's body was the only way to get closer, and then take revenge on behalf of all the island's inhabitants. So he decided to enter the dangerous island of thieves, blinded and driven by anger, but not counting the circumstances.
♦️
«My life will take on a new meaning. Dear youths, I thank you for helping me. Let me return the favor. Then leave me here, let me die!»
He let go of the arrow resting on the bow, which he had tapped while thinking about his past. The dart flew to the face of the Collector, piercing his forehead, and he died on the blow. Herega and Ren, weary and wounded, approached Eavelin and Noelor, that was lying on the ground, without breathing. He was not yet dead, but was not very far away. They thanked him silently, then left him to his fate. Eavelin took the bow and the quiver, soiling them with their master's blood.
♦️
This time, the gate opened. Just as they were described, the landscape was no longer deserted, but the grass of a bright green welcomed their sight. A path led to a house, probably the Collector's one. They climbed up onto the great plain, the view was marvelous. On one side it was possible to see great mountains, on the other the vast ocean of Aostra, which divided it from the continent in the east, still little known. They enjoyed a little more of the view.
«Tell me, Ren, how long has it been since you saw such a sight?» Herega asked her, letting the gentle breeze flow over his face.
Ren started to cry. The emotion of being able to taste once again the real life was priceless.
«Too long. I... I haven't seen a view like this in years. If only I had controlled myself...»
Eavelin hugged her, Herega laid a hand on her shoulder.
«Enjoy it as much as you like. It's all yours.» The young man said.
She replied with a smile, worth more than a thousand words. While Ren was still a little out, Eavelin and Herega entered the house. Inside they found a corpse, the one who, as described, should be the killer. Eavelin turned suddenly, holding back the nausea. Herega took him and carried him to a far corner.
«Someone must have preceded us...» the youth said, looking at all the blood on the floor. On the table, at whose feet lay the body, there was a letter. Curious, Herega touched it. Thanks to it, he saw lost memories belonging to the story of the island.