The one who'd live

"Everyone stay on guard!" It was a faint memory, a memory of bright orange lights, illuminating an otherwise eerie forest, a memory of being surrounded by so many people starts to rear its head within my mind.

My mother would soothe me in her arms as a roar echoed throughout the forest, clutching me so close to her, I could tell she was scared, her heartbeat running a million miles a minute. The tears stopped as I looked up at her, her eyes shut, mumbling something to herself that I didn't quite get at the time.

"Get down!" One of the guards shouted, pushing my mother out of the way with me in her arms, before we knew what was happening, the torches went out in a gust of wind, and blood-curdling screams echoed throughout the battlefield. Blood gushing against trees, the cracks of bones on oak wood. I can feel its heavy breathing, its breath hot and riddled with the smell of rotten flesh and crimson.

Emerald green eyes the same as pristine and polished gemstones that shimmered menacingly under the light of the moon, yet its body remained hidden, its scales shrouded in a cloak of darkness, its claws dug into the soil turning up the plants rooted below as its head turned to us almost robotically.

My mother watched in horror, doing her best to get up and get away. The beast leaped towards us, its fangs bared towards us, I instinctively closed my eyes as I waited for impact, but instead, I was met with the beast yelping in pain.

I looked up towards the chaos, seeing a guy facing off with the creature, a light crystal strapped to his arm shedding light on the creature. Its pitch-black scales and dragon-like face bared its fangs to the man who opposed it.

He turned to my mom, his gaze telling her all she needed to know.

"Come at me, you bastard!" He roared against the beast, his battered body wielding the weapon he entrusted his life to. The heart he carried provided him strength and his feet planted into the earth.

The sound of their battle reached even my ears as we made our escape. My mother continued to murmur nonsensical things. She tripped on herself, holding me tight and bracing for impact. The dirt flew around us, and the flesh on her hand was torn from the stray sticks and debris.

"Sik vash-" She cursed, her words nothing but a panting breath, she tried to get up, but instantly fell back down, reaching for whatever she could find, picking up a stray stick to help her stand. Her ankle was sprained and her arm torn, the beautiful dress she wore nothing but a muddy rag now.

She continued her chant, her legs weak under the pressure of her own steps, yet the beast loomed ever closer, its claws tainted in the blood of the warrior.

She got louder, tears pricking the back of her eyes as she chanted faster,

"mənim uşaq kami, götürün, uzaq bir yerə göndərin formaya buraya! Zəhmət olmasa…" She was screaming out of desperation her eyes filled with hope even in this dire situation.

A beam of light shot down, illuminating the forest and us. I watched in awe, my eyes sparkling in childish wonder.

"At long last…" a soft, shaky sigh escaped her lips, as she limped towards the light.

The sound of a twig breaking cut our venture short, the creature now behind us. Its emerald gaze stared at us from the darkness, daring us to make another step, knowing full well we couldn't escape it even from this short distance to safety.

My mother hesitated, looking down at me before looking towards the beast. Slowly sliding her leg towards the light. The beast's growl grows louder as it notices what she is doing. Causing her to stop then and there.

"I'm sorry, Mihalis… but mommy isn't going to be going with you." Her words were so abstract to me at the time, my tiny hand reaching out to grab her face, only to be met with hers, though her fingers were trembling she kept a brave face for her child, she kept a brave face, for me.

With a rush of adrenaline, she bolted for the beam of light, the creature leaping after her almost instantly. Quickly, before she was caught, she stretched outwards, until I was fully engulfed in light.

"I hope you grow, to be a strong warrior someday."

"So…" A girl spoke up, she was sitting right across from me near a fireplace, she carried bags with her that were much greater than her actual size. "What are you doing all this way in the forest?"

"We were eating fine in silence…" I muttered, looking down at the forest wolf meat between my hands.

"I know! But I was just too curious!" I looked up at her, her cyan eyes stared at me with intensity, she was quite attractive, her silver hair free of grime, pale skin that practically shined under the light of the moon.

"I could ask you the same thing…" I groaned, scratching my head, fingers running through my midnight blue hair. "If I hadn't rescued you from those forest wolves, I doubt you'd be eating a meal tonight…"

The girl looked down as she remembered the event, looking back at me with an apologetic glance.

"R-right, I'm sorry for causing you trouble," She muttered.

"So answer me this, why are you out here?" I turned the question on her, looking at her with mock intrigue.

She squirmed in her seat a bit, wondering if she should even tell me the reasons for her venture here, looking back at me with a hesitant glance, she seemed almost embarrassed by it.

"To join the school of alchemy…but for me to go there I need to take the adventurer's guild test, to be able to cross the Eldrian ravine.."

I nodded in understanding of her words, getting up from the log I rested on, and grabbing my iron-bladed claymore from beside me.

"W-wait! You didn't answer my question!" She shouted after me causing me to stop in my tracks, my gaze turning back to meet hers.

"My reason for being here–" I muttered to myself as if reminding myself of the question she asked just moments prior. I sighed and turned to her, my grasp around the hilt of my blade tightening, turning towards her.

"Is to slay the monster that killed my mother."

She stared at me, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and empathy. For a moment, the only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures.

"That... that sounds like a heavy burden," she said softly, her earlier curiosity replaced with a gentle seriousness. "I can't imagine what you've been through."

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant even though her words struck a chord deep within me. "It's something I have to do. For her, and for myself."

She nodded, her gaze never leaving mine. "I understand. My journey isn't as personal, but it's still important to me. The school of alchemy... it's my dream. And I'm willing to face whatever challenges come my way to achieve it."

"Then maybe we can help each other," I suggested, surprising myself with the offer. "We both have our reasons for being here. Maybe we can reach our goals together."

"Forget it-" I cut her off immediately, the girl pouting at my immediate decline.

"Why not???"

"I already said no, i expect you gone by tomorrow." I muttered, making sure the fire is kept lit.

The fire crackled, casting flickering shadows that danced around us, and for the first time in a long while,

As the night deepened, I found myself thinking back to my mother, to the bravery she showed in her final moments, and I vowed silently to honor her memory. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but with new determination and an unexpected companion by my side, I felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.