blood on the road [7]

Lif's eyes snapped open, the cold sweat on his forehead making his hair cling to his skin.

He sat up with a jolt, breathing heavily. Across the fire, Rael stirred, and beside him, Sela blinked awake.

"Lif?" Sela's voice was groggy but laced with concern. "You alright?"

He nodded, brushing his hand through his messy. "Yeah... just a dream. I'm fine."

Sela didn't seem convinced, but she didn't push. The crackling fire filled the silence between them as they sat for a moment longer. The sky had only just begun to lighten, stars still barely visible through the canopy.

Sela's stomach let out a loud, unmistakable growl.

Her eyes widened as her face flushed red. "I. uh. sorry."

Rael bursted out laughing. "Guess your stomach woke up before the rest of you."

Lif chuckled softly. "I'll go get us something."

"You sure?" Rael asked, still grinning.

"Yeah. I'll be quick."

Lif stood and adjusted the sword hidden beneath his tunic—the one taken from the elf soldier. His fingers brushed its hilt for a second, and memories rushed back: his parents, the fire, the screams. He took a deep breath, shook it off, and stepped into the trees.

The forest was silent, the mist still hanging low. He moved with ease, eyes scanning for movement. Suddenly, a deer bounded past in the distance.

Without hesitation, Lif gave chase.

It was fast—darting between trees, leaping over roots—but Lif was faster. He ran with relentless speed, branches cutting at his arms, the wind rushing past his face. The deer veered downhill, slipping through the underbrush, but Lif kept pursuing, watching its rhythm, its breathing, waiting...

A moment later, it stumbled for just a second—and that was all he needed.

He lunged forward, drawing his sword and driving it clean through.

The deer fell with a soft thud, and Lif kneeled by its side. "Sorry," he whispered. "We're just trying to survive too."

Dragging the deer back to camp was difficult, but the smell of food soon filled the clearing, and Sela and Rael's faces lit up.

They roasted it carefully, tearing into the meat with thankful hands. Warmth filled their bodies as the fire crackled, and dawn finally broke through the trees.

Once they were done and packed up, the three began walking east—toward the next village. The sun crept higher, and the air slowly grew warmer.

Then, something caught Lif's ear.

A faint cry. Muffled. Painful.

He stopped. "Did you hear that?"

Rael nodded, eyes narrowing.

They crept through the underbrush, finally spotting a carriage half-sunk into mud on the road. The cries were coming from inside. Three large, dirty men stood nearby, dragging two small girls out. Their hands were tied, their faces streaked with tears.

One of the men shoved a girl to the ground and laughed, while another began unzipping his trousers.

Rael growled. "HEY!"

All three men froze and turned toward the voice. Another man—a bit smaller, but clearly was the one in charge— he stepped out of the carriage with a lazy, unimpressed look.

Sela hissed, "Rael, what the hell?!"

But Lif was already moving. He stepped out from the bush, calm, sword drawn.

"A kid?" one of the men snorted.

But then Lif took a Deep breathe, then he exhaled—and everything changed.

The air around him grew colder. His presence darkened like a stormcloud forming. The men hesitated, something primal in them sensing the danger.

One charged first, raising his sword.

Lif met him halfway and, with a single strike, snapped the man's blade in two. Their eyes met for a second—just long enough for fear to register—before Lif drove his blade through his chest.

The man collapsed.

The others roared in anger, but Lif was already moving. The next man raised his axe, but Lif slid beneath the swing, slicing the back of his knees. As he fell, Lif stabbed him cleanly through the throat.

The third managed a wild swing, grazing Lif's arm—but Lif didn't flinch. He spun, severing the man's hand at the wrist, then ended it with a brutal downward strike.

Blood painted the road.

Rael stared in awe. "Holy—LIF! YES!!"

Sela didn't cheer. Her eyes were wide with horror. "i dont think we Should encourage him rael."

The final man stepped forward—the one in charge—clapping slowly. "Do you know how hard it is to find decent guards these days?"

Lif didn't answer. He walked toward him.

The man smirked and snapped his fingers. Vines erupted from the trees, snapping toward Lif.

But Lif cut them down—each and every one. He didn't miss a single strike.

Then he lunged.

The man's smirk remained, not even Trying to Dodge. A vine grabbed Lif's ankle and slammed him into a tree with enough force to crack it.

Rael burst from the brush, firing a blast of flames that narrowly missed. The man dodged, agile and focused, returning attacks with speed. They clashed

Then, as he turned, Lif reappeared—sword aimed for the man's head.

He barely dodged in time, getting slashed across the nose.

"MY FACE!!" he screamed, clutching his nose. "YOU RUINED MY FACE!"

He turned and ran, disappearing into the trees with a trail of curses behind him.

Lif didn't chase him.

Instead, he walked toward the two girls still huddled on the ground. He knelt beside them and cut their bindings.

"T-Thank you," one of them sobbed.

He smiled faintly. "You're safe now."

As one of the girls tucked her white long hair behind her ear, Lif froze.

Pointed ears.

An elf.

His eyes went cold.

The girl noticed and flinched, her voice trembling. "I—I'm sorry..."

Lif said nothing.

Behind him, Sela and Rael approached slowly. Rael climbed into the carriage to look around. Sela placed a hand gently on Lif's shoulder.

And together, they stood in the quiet aftermath.