IT WASN'T FUN.

The climax of the battle drew nearer. With only seven men left, I, Eldwyn, stood still, analyzing my way forward.

Those underlings will be easy to handle but, their leader... he looks experienced. He seems like the kind of fighter who swings his weapon without thought. It'd be troublesome with how heavy his weapon looks. Damn, one hit and I'm done for.

After resolving myself, the six men left ran toward me, but rather than attacking, they encircled me.

"Nowhere to go, pesky monkey," one of them snarled, laughing as he brandished his sword. The blade shimmered under the sun, moving in coordination with another attacker behind me.

What's the point of encircling me if you're going to pull this lame move? I thought to myself before slightly changing the trajectory of their swords with a faint hit to the flat sides.

I kicked their blades away the moment they lost balance. Before they could recover, I twisted the arm of one, as he cried in pain, I slammed his head into the other, crashing them both to the ground, unconscious.

"Can't you guys just let us go?" I pleaded.

Well I wasn't serious about that. I wanted them to see it as me being weak and begging for my life so at least they don't lose their pride—ha. It didn't work though because the one who stood closely beside me replied "Not after what you've done we aren't."

Ptooey! He spat to the ground, glaring.

The moment he said that I was totally flabbergasted. Me? It is my fault? They attacked me first for crying out loud. Just then I realized, reasoning with them was a lost cause.

"Alright then let's end this," I muttered as I picked up one of their sword. I hadn't used one before but against them I could do something.

"You'd even stoop so low as to pick up the blade of a fallen foe. Have you no pride as a warrior!" One of the called out, proceeding to attack with relentles slashes.

But he had a weak form, as such it was easy to evade and counter. The other two put up a good fight but all fell short in my presence. I struggled a bit with the last one because of his slippery swordplay but still lost even though he was able to land a few hits.

It was now left with the leader. What was I going to do? I turned to Sulivan again, thinking he'd pitty me a little and offer help but he just stared back — indifferent as he had been from the start. And as for Aizzy, she gave me thumbs up, with a smile.

Well they aren't wrong with not helping, I did say I want to become stronger so. Sigh.

"You even have the guts to avert your gaze from me in a battle? Because you brought my men down you think you're hot stuff now huh?" Their leader roared as he dashed toward me.

He lifted his hammer upward, with intent to crush me in one hit. The hammer tore through the air as it descended, I barely jumped to the side, heart pounding as his hammer slammed into the ground, sending shards of rocks flying.

I smashed two punches to his face and one to his arm. His hammer fell from his hand as the pain shot through his arm.

"That was a lucky hit, monkey," he lashed out, picking his hammer back up, blood dripping from his nose.

"Shit, you even made me bleed."

He kicked up dirt onto my face — blurring my vision a bit. Although I was still able to evade some of his swings after that, one of his hits landed, snapping the bone in my left arm. I couldn't evade that hit because my legs gave out because of the cuts and the strain I place on them leaping and evading swings from his hammer.

I knelt, my arm hanging limp as if it were detached. My entire body ached with pain. I looked up at their leader — his humongous nature overshadowing, blocking the sun from reaching me. He raised his hammer once more, ready to end it all. But before I collapsed to the ground I saw him lying beside me — dead — blood oozing from his head.

When I came to, I heard two distinct voices, muffled and distant. It was Sulivan and Aizzy. It turns out after I collapsed, they carried me up the hill and after finding shelter they decided to take a rest — well, so I could rest too, of course. My wounds were treated and bandaged, and as for my broken arm, it was supported with a cloth tied around my shoulder.

Tents were erected — I was currently in one — under towering trees. The trees were a sign we were close to Uleneria.

I stepped out of the tent when the blurriness had gone and stretched out before walking to where they were seated. I say walk but in actuality I was limping — due to the cuts I sustained.

"Something smells good." I said as I tried sitting beside Aizzy — on a log.

"Look who's awake," she smiled, before asking, "How do feel now?"

"Yeah, I'm much better than before. Thanks." I looked around, then asked, "so where's Sulivan?"

"He said he's going to find some game. He'll be back soon i guess, it's been a while since he left though."

"I hope he'll be fine," I muttered, staring in the opposite direction. The breeze was calming, the trees swaying with the wind, but the scenery — for some reason — reminded me of where I once lived with my family. A bittersweet ache stirred in my chest as memories I tried to bury resurfaced, lingering like ghosts in the rustling leaves.

And strangely, even though I once harbored animosity toward Aizzy, that feeling had faded. It hadn't been too long since we met, but something about her presence and nature made it hard to hold on to that disdain. I'm sure Sulivan feels the same way.

"Would you like to eat right now? Or wait for Sulivan to return." Aizzy asked, but I was still lost in thought.

"Hey... hey Eldwyn."

She tapped my shoulder "Is everything okay? You seem out of it."

"Err... yeah I just remembered something I tried to forget."

"I'm here if you want to talk about it," she offered, gently scooping rice and some accompaniment onto a plate.

"Eat this for now. When Sulivan returns, we can roast the game for later."

"Thanks." I muttered, taking the plate.

If you were wondering where all the supplies — including the tents — came from... Aizzy had a ring which stored everything we needed—she's a walking inventory, haha.

But...