Shank opened the door and saw a raider standing menacingly in front of him. The raider's eyes gleamed with a fierce determination, and Shank knew that trouble was imminent. Just a few hours ago, in the village of Shavik, Ervin had approached Caural with a serious expression. "I can't come to the raid," Ervin had said, his voice filled with urgency. "You need to lead the raid."
Caural had frowned, puzzled by Ervin's sudden change of plans. "Why can't you come to the raid?" he had asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
Ervin had sighed, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. "I have some important work in the village," he had replied, his tone indicating that he wasn't willing to divulge more details.
Caural had reluctantly accepted Ervin's explanation, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Mounting his horse, Caural had picked up his axe, the weight of leadership settling heavily on his shoulders. He had led the other raiders towards the village where Elcos was currently living, his mind racing with thoughts of Ervin's mysterious behaviour.
As they rode, Caural had muttered to himself, "Whatever the secret Ervin is trying to hide from me, I will learn it from you, Shank. So, get ready to reveal your secrets." His resolve had hardened with each passing moment, and he had felt a surge of determination to uncover the truth.
After a few minutes, Caural had shouted to the group, "The village is nearby! Scatter and surround the village!" His voice had echoed through the trees, and the raiders had obeyed, spreading out to encircle the village. The raiders stormed into the village, their weapons gleaming in the dim light as they began their ruthless assault on the unsuspecting villagers. Screams filled the air as chaos erupted, and the once peaceful village was thrown into turmoil. Caural, leading the charge, made his way to Shank's house with a determined stride. He kicked open the door and stepped inside, his eyes locking onto Shank.
"Hi, Shank! Get ready," Caural sneered, before delivering a powerful punch to Shank's face. Shank staggered back, clutching his jaw in pain.
At that moment, Elcos, who had been hiding nearby, saw Caural and his eyes widened in shock. "You are still alive, Caural!" he exclaimed, stepping forward.
Caural turned to face him, confusion etched on his face. "Who are you, and how do you know my name?" he demanded.
Elcos took a deep breath, his voice trembling with emotion. "It's me, Elcos, your brother! You were captured in the raid. You don't remember me?"
Caural's expression hardened. "I don't have any brother," he replied coldly.
Ok Elcos's heart sank as he realized the extent of Caural's memory loss. Understanding the gravity of the situation, he prepared to defend himself. Mitsuki, a close friend of Elcos, approached him and whispered urgently, "You have a brother."
Elcos nodded, his eyes never leaving Caural. "I will tell you later," he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.
Meanwhile, Shank, recovering from the initial blow, seized a dagger from a nearby table and lunged at Caural, aiming to stab him. But Caural, with his combat-honed reflexes, easily caught Shank's wrist and twisted it, forcing Shank to drop the weapon.
Shank shouted desperately, "Mitsuki and Yelena, run away! I will take care of him."
Caural smirked, his grip on Shank's wrist tightening. "Are you sure? The village is surrounded," he taunted. Elcos replied, "First, you need to get out of the house!" With a determined shout, he charged towards Caural and punched him squarely in the face. Caural, unfazed by the blow, grabbed Elcos by the shirt and lifted him into the air with one hand. With a powerful kick, he sent Elcos flying to the ground.
"You are this weak, and you are challenging me?" Caural taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.
Elcos, refusing to back down, stood up and punched Caural again. This time, Caural tried to retaliate with a punch of his own, but Elcos dodged it skillfully. Enraged, Caural drew his axe and swung it towards Elcos's neck. Elcos managed to block the attack with his hand, though the blade left a minor cut.
Determined to gain the upper hand, Elcos kicked Caural out of the house, hoping for a better fighting ground. The two brothers faced off in the open, the tension between them palpable. Other raiders, seeing the commotion, tried to approach Elcos, but Caural stopped them with a commanding shout. "Continue the raid!" he ordered, his focus remaining on Elcos.
Mitsuki, witnessing the intense battle, tried to approach Elcos to help him. However, Shank intervened, grabbing her arm. "Run away, Mitsuki! I'll take care of the raiders," he urged, his voice filled with urgency. ________________________________________
"Go out using the back door," said Shank urgently.
"I won't leave the village without Dannie," Mitsuki replied, her voice filled with determination.
"Are you mad? You want to die?" Shank retorted, frustration evident in his tone. "Yelena, take this mad girl!"
"I won't leave without Dannie," Mitsuki insisted, her voice breaking slightly.
"Whatever you do, you can't save him! He's fighting with the leader! He has no chance! You need to let him go!" Shank pleaded, trying to make her see reason.
"Stop saying he will die! He won't die! He will win!" Mitsuki shouted back, her eyes blazing with hope and defiance.