"Esther..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "What... what just happened?"
My hands were inside my pockets, my gaze fixed on Karn's broken body. Blood was splattered across the floor and walls, painting the room with the aftermath of the brutal fight. Slowly, I tilted my head back and turned to look at Hina in the opposite cell.
She gulped as her eyes met mine. There was fear there, though she tried to mask it behind a defiant glare.
"You... you killed someone again," she said, her voice shaking.
"I had no choice," I replied, closing my eyes briefly to regain my composure. "He came to kill us both."
Her gaze flickered to the body on the ground, the blood pooling beneath Karn, and the cracked wall where his head had been smashed. The reality of the scene seemed to sink in deeper as her fingers tightened around the cold iron bars of her cell.
Her eyes clearly showed the signs that she wasn't enjoying any of it nor she likes what I am doing so directly.
Before either of us could say anything more, a muffled voice echoed from outside.
"Oye... did you hear that noise? Something happened inside!"
Clank.
The faint sound of the main door creaking open reached us, followed by the faint glow of torchlight spilling into the dark hall.
I looked at Hina. She looked at me.
"They're coming," she whispered, her voice filled with panic.
My eyes darted to Karn's lifeless body. The door he had entered from was still open, and the keys to the cells lay on the floor next to him, glinting faintly in the light. Without hesitation, I walked forward, crouching down to pick up the keys. The metallic clink echoed in the silence as I straightened up.
"We're leaving," I said firmly, unlocking her cell with a quick twist of the key.
She hesitated for a moment, staring at me with wide eyes. "Do we really need to run away like this?"
"Yes," I replied, grabbing her wrist and pulling her out of the cell.
"But—"
"No time for arguing," I said sharply.
Torchlight flickered closer as the sound of footsteps grew louder. I tightened my grip on her wrist, leading her toward the open door. The cool night air hit us as we stepped outside, and without another word, I began to run, pulling her along behind me.
Inside, the elves entered the chamber, their torches casting long, wavering shadows on the blood-streaked walls. Their leader, Lala, stepped forward, his sharp features illuminated by the flickering light. His eyes fell on Karn's lifeless body, and his expression darkened.
"They did it again," one of the elves said, his voice trembling as he stared at the grisly scene.
"Karn is dead," another muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Lala clenched his fists, his teeth grinding audibly. "I should have killed that bastard when I had the chance...if not for this persistant plague.." he growled, looking at his hand, as the fierce aura swarms around his fist. His voice filled with regret and fury.
One of the elves stepped forward, his face pale. "What should we do now?"
"Call the Elder," Lala barked, his tone brooking no argument. "We need to hunt them down. Both of them!!"
The cold night wind whipped against my face as I ran, Hina struggling to keep up behind me. The dense forest loomed ahead, its shadows stretching like dark claws under the moonlight. The sounds of the elves' pursuit faded into the background as we pushed deeper into the trees.
"Where are we going?" Hina panted, her voice barely audible over the sound of our footsteps crunching against the forest floor.
"Hiding for now," I replied without looking back.
Her grip on my hand tightened as she stumbled slightly over a root. "Oh god... come on, Esther. I just want to go home," she said, her voice breaking.
I didn't respond immediately, my focus on navigating the dark, unfamiliar terrain.
"We will go," I said finally, my tone clipped. "But before that, we need to figure this island out."
She let out a frustrated groan but didn't argue further.
As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, we found temporary refuge near a cluster of large rocks. The forest around us was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze. I sat on one of the rocks, my hands in my pockets, my gaze fixed on the ground.
Hina crouched behind a tree, her eyes scanning the area nervously. "They're everywhere," she said in a hushed tone, her voice tinged with fear.
I glanced up at her, my expression calm. "What do you see?"
"They've formed groups," she replied, her voice shaking slightly. "They're talking about us. They're going to find us, Esther. What do we do now?"
I didn't answer immediately, my gaze shifting to the faintly glowing circles of illuminated aura etched into the ground near the trees. The markings glowed faintly, their purpose clear to anyone with even a basic understanding of magic. They were wards, designed to push away any negative energy.
"Esther..." Hina called me but I didn't respond because I couldn't hear her.
My mind running back in time. From the days I am existing. The way Lala fought..that aura, the circles to fend of negative energy and the fact that elves here doesn't seek help from outside world. The travelers that are suddenly destroying them.
"Esther!" Hina's voice cut through my thoughts, sharper this time.
I blinked, looking up at her.
She let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh, come on. Don't just sit there looking all mysterious and broody. We're about to die, in case you haven't noticed."
I tilted my head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "Oh... I finally remembered," I said, my tone calm.
Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Remembered what? That you killed two people yesterday, and now we're probably going to die because of it?"
I ignored her sarcasm, my gaze turning thoughtful. "I remember who these elves really are."
Hina blinked, her head tilting slightly in curiosity. "What are you talking about?"
I stood up from the rock, brushing dirt off my hands. "There's a reason they live here, on a separate island," I said, my voice steady.
She crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "And that reason is...?"
I turned to face her fully, meeting her gaze.
"The elves here are Eladrins," I said, my tone heavy with meaning.