Giant's Demise

Alerted by the young girl's shout, everyone tuned their ears to the surrounding stillness, but there was nothing to hear—not even the chill wind that swept across the plains.

"Sound? Are you playing tricks on us again, you little rascal?" Katheren whispered, glancing skeptically at Elyra nestled in Seraphine's arms as she approached Grayson.

"No, there's definitely something approaching..." Grayson signaled for Morven and Katheren to be silent. They exchanged confused glances, perplexed by his solemn demeanor.

"Come here!" Grayson gestured to Seraphine and Elyra, who were seated not far off in the snow. Seraphine picked up Elyra and they had taken only a few steps when the ground began to quake beneath them.

"What's that?" Seraphine asked, her voice tinged with alarm as she reached Grayson's side.

"We might not be in friendly company. Better find cover!" Grayson scanned the riverbanks, but the surrounding plains offered no shelter.

He glanced at the snow beneath his feet, struck by a sudden idea. "Help me with this," he instructed the others.

Moments later, a towering figure over five meters tall emerged into the night, clad in golden armor. His colossal limbs, thick as pillars, ran barefoot toward the riverbank, a horde of similarly robust giants in hot pursuit.

The fleeing giant halted at the river's edge, scanning both banks. Aside from a few mounds of snow, there was nothing.

He stepped onto the ice, planning to cross, but it shattered under his weight. Teetering precariously, he hastily retreated to solid ground.

That's when the pursuers reached the bank, encircling the golden-armored giant.

"You've run out of road, Tidus. Today marks your end," declared the leading silver-armored giant, pointing his massive axe at the golden giant. His brethren, brandishing axes and war hammers, closed in.

With no route of escape, Tidus was forced to confront them barehanded. He felled a giant soldier, commandeering his hammer to crush the skull of another attacker from behind, then hurled a third assailant into the icy river.

"Tidus, you cannot defeat the heir of the Titans!" roared the silver-armored leader when his soldiers failed to subdue Tidus. In a fit of rage, he swung his heavy axe at Tidus, who managed to intercept it with the stolen hammer, yet could not fend off the powerful strike.

Seizing the opportunity, two soldiers lunged from either side, spearing Tidus's legs. He fell to the ground with a scream, his hefty frame sending snow flying into the air.

"By the decree of Titan King Solon, your life is forfeit. Any last words, coward?"

The silver-armored leader stepped onto Tidus's chest, leering at his doomed prey, as his men drew their blades against the fallen giant.

"You traitors, following that rebel Solon to murder the true heir to the Titan throne—my brother Tyrrel will tear you to pieces!" Tidus spat through gritted teeth.

"Tyrrel? That boy is too busy saving his own skin. Foolish oaf, you're unworthy of the Titan throne. Die!"

With a bellow, the silver leader's axe descended, and Tidus's blood sprayed across the snowy riverbank, melting the white into crimson.

"Let's go. We must report back to Lord Solon, and then deal with Tyrrel and his band of fools!" The silver-armored leader kicked Tidus's corpse disdainfully, turning to leave with his troops.

As the giants' heavy footfalls faded, Grayson cautiously emerged from a nearby snow mound, ensuring the coast was clear before beckoning the others out.

"It's safe now, folks. Come on out!"

At Grayson's call, Morven, Seraphine, and Katheren climbed out of their snowy hideaway, shocked at the sight of the giant's corpse and the blood river it had created.

"It seems we've stumbled upon a new Titan King's coronation battle," Grayson observed, gazing at Tidus's body.

"That fellow there was likely Tidus, the Titan King's eldest son. The murderers are Prince Solon's men. I heard Solon's a war-hungry character with grand ambitions, even participating in campaigns against the Cursed Lands," he explained to his companions.

"From what they said, Solon has the upper hand," Morven took over, "With Tidus gone, only Solon's younger brother Tyrrel remains."

"Right. We now have two targets. If the Titan giants indeed stole the holy relic, it must relate to this battle for the throne. We must determine whether Solon or Tyrrel possesses it," Grayson reasoned, pulling out a map. He pointed to a spot in the northeast. "Over there is Hurricane Cliff, where Tyrrel's stronghold is perched. Let's gather intelligence there."

Looking at Morven, he speculated, "Given the tone of Solon's men, Tyrrel's forces are surely weaker. If anyone would use the holy relic to seize victory, Tyrrel is the likelier one."

"This is an opportunity for us to meddle in Titan family affairs!" Grayson's words stirred the spirit of adventure within Morven, who spoke eagerly to the group.

The party promptly departed the riverbank, following the giants' path north. After traveling across the plains, they reached a ridge that split the way—the giants' footprints stretched northwest, while a forested valley to the northeast beckoned.

"The giants must be heading back to Thundertower to report. Let's ignore them and pass through the forest toward Hurricane Cliff," Grayson suggested, leading the group into the mist-laden pine woods.

They walked in silence until the sky began to lighten, and suddenly, Grayson halted, looking towards a rustling in the underbrush.

"What's wrong?" Seraphine asked, stopping beside him.

"There's something over there," Grayson noted, eyeing the direction of the pine forest. "I can hear water, and there's a thick mist—it seems like something is there."

Following his direction, Seraphine indeed saw a dense white mist shrouding the trees. "I hear it too—something's moving the water!" Elyra piped up from behind Grayson's hood.

"Could it be a monster?" Katheren and Morven joined them, peering into the fog-filled forest.

Grayson shook his head gently, "I don't know. But let's check it out."

"Maybe we shouldn't. What if there's a monster?" Seraphine reached for Grayson's arm, but he smiled, breaking free from her grip, "You seem to forget what I do for a living. I thrive on dealing with monsters!"

With a decisive stride, he moved towards the misty woods. Seraphine looked back uneasily at Morven and Katheren, who shrugged, "Let's follow him. It might not be as bad as we think."

The trio followed Grayson into the heavy mist, which soon enveloped them with an inexplicable warmth. The snow underfoot thinned and seemed to dissolve into the growing warmth.

Emerging from the misty forest, a wide lake appeared before them, its surface billowing with white steam. The heat melted away the snow around the lake, revealing lush green grass.

"It's a hot spring," Morven said with a smile to Seraphine and Katheren. "Looks like we can rest here. After a night's trek, we could all use it."

Before he could finish, a splash echoed from the lake, and a half-naked woman emerged, her long black hair casting a beautiful arc behind her as she rose from the water. Looking towards the shore at the five observers, she offered a sultry smile.