I was truly amazed by Gav's strength. Even during our sparring session, it seemed like he wasn't exerting more than twenty percent of his power. Yet, despite his impressive abilities, I couldn't shake the feeling that it might not be enough to defeat that giant.

Suddenly, a sword came hurtling towards me, but in an instant I was enveloped with a translucent green aura, then it turned into a tornado sending the soldier flying into a wall smashing his body like a crushed moth.

Yet, a spear arced right at us.  Eleanor managed to dodge it, however it pierced through the fabric of his hood, revealing his head.

“Now, now, now..What do we have here? Another elf..” said Aragon. “The elves sure have done it now”

“You there” He pointed at the giant “Bring me the woman, then eradicate them”

“Roger that” He uttered as he took a step breaking the ground under him. He lunged at Gav who was amidst a fight against other soldiers. The sheer power of his attack alarmed Gav’s instincts who kicked the enemy in front of him and turned around in a flash to parry the slash, but it was too heavy for him to be able to stand his ground. 

As he was still recovering his posture the giant spawned in front of him and grabbed his head, punched his guts twice and threw him to the wall. Blood splattered from Gav’s mouth as he shouted in agony. 

The giant approached Ada, who dropped on the ground from fear trying to pick her up. El extended his hands forward. Waves of aura flowed around them and gathered in front of his palms forming arrows of wind, which he launched at the enemy. The hit to the giant’s waist pushed him away. 

“Did it work?” I murmured to myself 

The giant who was covering his waist, moved his hand away.

What the fuck? His waist..is blackened..Is that…Iron? 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” he roared

“Is that magic?” I murmured

“No, it’s different. There was no aura around him” said El “This is troublesome” 

As El readied himself to launch another attack, the giant solidified his whole body in iron and kicked the ground with brute force making chunks of stone fly up. He then smashed a chunk with his fist sending debris of rocks towards El which pierced through his wind barrier. The shield weakened the attack but the force was strong enough to make him fall. 

I turned to my right to check on El, then back at Ada, only to find her on the giant's shoulder, screaming for help.

I wanted to help her but this fucking body had no strength. Ari, who was beside me at the ground, sat hugging my arm and covering her head from all the horror in front of her.

I have to at least protect Ari..but.. FUUUUUCK, Get up me, get up and save your mom.

Am I supposed to just sit here and watch her get taken away? 

I started hitting my head continuously “Hey are you there, Come on voice..Help me..Bring out the light again..Help me..please”. Suddenly I felt a hand resting on my shoulder. I lifted my head up to see Gav, his face tainted with blood and bruises “Don’t worry son” He said with a tired smile, then, he turned to Eleanor with a serious look “El, please take Ari and Luka and flee. I’ll keep them from chasing you and go save Ada” 

“No, I can’t leave you here alone” I screamed 

“Don’t worry, your dad will save mom and come back. And then we can all live together happily again” He replied “El, please”

“Alright Gavin “said El as he held me on top of his shoulder and Ari against his waist.”May the wind guardian watch over you”

“Thank you El” 

Eleanor started running away while I kept watching the back. I saw Gav washing his smile away as he turned around and lunged at the enemy killing soldiers left and right till he reached the giant who dropped Ada on the ground and faced him. 

At that moment, a memory surged through my consciousness, overpowering my present surroundings. I found myself face to face with a stranger, yet there was an inexplicable familiarity about him that stirred something deep within me. His expression, a smile and sorrow. And then, he walked away. He dissolved into the mist. Alone amidst the gentle patter of raindrops, I felt an overwhelming sense of solitude enveloping me. In that instant, my small, baby hands instinctively reached out into the damp air, as if urging him to come back, to stay, to not leave here alone on the streets.

Then as the fogged memory faded away I screamed “WE HAVE TO GO BACK” my throat strained “WE HAVE TO SAVE THEM”, but Eleanor ignored me and summoned a wave of wind under his leg and jumped high then landed on top of a building.

Suddenly, The air thickened, I went silent as my vision darkened leaving only a spotlight illuminating the horrifying scene before me. The giant was holding Gav with his left hand, lifting him in the air and piercing his sword through his stomach as Ada sat there watching her husband get killed.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO," I yelled, tears streaming down my face.

I began to wiggle my legs and pushed myself away from El, falling onto the roof. "I...I have to save them," I stuttered, barely able to move my legs from the shock.

"Why...Just why... One thing after another. No matter how much I try...Am I destined to live in solitude? I finally got to be loved... I finally got to have a family...And now what? What was the point? Look what happened... Because of me, they... Bec..."

Eleanor approached me and stood next to me

“Maybe it was your fault” He said with a calm tone.

..huh? I turned my head to face him.

“But then again, maybe it wasn’t.”

I kept looking at him without being able to utter a word.

“Look around you..What can you do now?”  He said as he looked at Gav. “ He entrusted me with your safety and I obliged. That’s why I can’t let you go back. For now at least”

I turned around to look at the scene before me.

“What is it that you feel?”He continued. “Rage? Pain? Whichever it is, accept it, smile at it, become it. Destiny will only ask you one simple question : Are you worthy of changing me? and it’s up to you to find the answer. However, if you go back now, you would only let his death go to waste”

Eleanor’s words resonated through my being as my eyes lingered at Gav’s body lying on the ground, blood all around it.

My crimson eyes lightened up like red flames in the darkest night.

“Mark my words..” 

“I will come back..”

“And when I do, I will kill you all.. Every last one of you..”

“Mom..”

“Please hold on..”

“I will save you..”

“I promise..”