“Don’t you dare give up on me.”

It doesn’t really matter how much I yell at him, he isn’t moving. Blood keeps pouring from his mouth and legs. Doesn’t matter how much pressure I apply, blood keeps gushing out.

Looking all around, I can’t find anything to help me stop the bleeding.

“Are you okay, miss?”

A female voice startled me and my instinct quickly made me draw my blade and assume a battle stance.

Right in front of me stood a girl. A dryad. With a mix of brown and dark green hair, it resembled tree vines. Her hazel eyes looked concerned while she stared at me and Yurem. Her skin has a light green tone that one could confuse with the environment surrounding her. Her outfit appeared to be made of wood from the forest yet it had maneuverability enough to actually resemble cloth.

Her outfit resembled a bodysuit covering the top. Her thighs were exposed until the very top of her knees were the same material as would assimilate into high boots. She carried a bow on her right shoulder and a quiver on the left.

“Are you okay, miss elf?”

“Who are you? What do you want?”

I can’t afford to have some idle conversations. Is she an enemy? Is she just passing by? My mind is racing and my body probably isn’t able to keep up with everything. I keep trying to deny it but I’m way too frustrated with all of this. The lack of power I once had still haunted me. If I had it, we wouldn’t get hut. I wouldn’t get sick. He wouldn’t be like this. It’s my fault.

I was so focused on my own thoughts that I didn’t see other treant approaching us from behind. If Yurem gets hit with that huge arm, he is dead.

Cough. Cough.

Again. This bloody disease. Why does this keep getting in the way?

“No, Yurem! YUREM!”

As the monster was about to get crushed beneath the giant’s arm, a monotone yet authority voice was heard.

“You shall not harm them. Protector of the forest, stop your endeavors as is my wish.”

As soon as those words were spoken, the treant stopped in his tracks as if it was being controlled. I’m dumbfounded. I take the chance to run to Yurem’s body, only to see it pale.

He has lost too much blood. What do I do? What do I do in this situation? Think straight, you fool.

Doesn’t matter how much pressure I apply to his wounds, the blood doesn’t stop. I heard sticks cracking from behind me and once again I raise my blade.

“Miss elf, I do not wish you any harm. You two are severely injured, allow my assistance.”

“And why should I believe in the words of a dryad that I have never met?”

“You don’t have any reasons to believe but I don’t think you have much of a choice unless you want to see your fellow perish.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Apologies if that’s how it sounded but I truly wish you no harm. Only to assist.”

I don’t have much of a choice here. I need help. I really need it. What would he do? Why isn’t your smart brain working now? I lower my blade and I just have to face the reality. I am a shadow of what I once was. I am weak. I am a liability. And because of that, he got hurt.

“Is he…a human?”

“Huh?”

“He really is a human, isn’t he?”

“He is.”

“Why is an elf with a human?”

Why are you asking me that with those sorrowful eyes of yours?

“…I am his slave.”

I think it was the first time I have ever said those words out loud. Why don’t they sound right?

It’s the truth. I am his slave, so why… Why does it feel wrong to say so?

Cough. Cough.

More blood came out of my mouth as I keep coughing.

“Miss elf!”

“I am okay.”

Raising my left hand so a distance between us a kept, I keep coughing my lungs away into my right one.

“Let’s go, miss elf. Leave that human there. We can remove your slavery crest in my village.”

“No.”

My taut voice startled the dryad enough to make her take a step back. I realize my eyes are once again giving a terrible gaze so I quickly recompensed myself. I was remembered from a conversation Yurem and I had in that cave how my eyes make me seem like I am angry with the world and that I should stop before I get wrinkles. The imprudent and idiot human.

“If you want to assist me, you have to assist us. I am not leaving him behind. So. Please, help us.”

Getting on my knees is something that I have never dreamt of doing on my own volition yet here I am. A high elf prostrating herself. I really had a fall, didn’t I, Mother?

“Very well. Do you think you can walk? I can only carry so much.”

As soon as those words left her mouth, several vines and branches covered Yurem’s body. In a panic, I started cutting them but they would quickly get back as they were.

“Do not cut them, please. If you so desire to save this human, I shall assist, but don’t cut the vines. It hurts.”

Paying more attention, I noticed that the vines are leaving directly from her hands and from her outfit and that the ones that I cut have blood on them.

“I… I am sorry.”

“Do not worry. Once again I ask, can you walk? I can only carry him and it’s already draining most of my mana.”

“I can. Tha…Thank you.”

“The village isn’t that far from here. Just stick close to me and do me a favor if you will. Cover his face. Humans aren’t exactly… welcome here.”

“Understood.”

Humans really are hated. No figure. They destroy everything they touch leaving the rest to pick up the pieces.

“Stick close to me, if you don’t mind.”

Nodding my head in affirmation, I stay close to the vines that are carrying Yurem around. Still coughing blood from time to time, this woman keeps telling me to hold on just for a little while longer.

We reached a place where trees high and thick enough to cover the gates from Astax were. The beauty of this place fascinated me. And in a way, it feels nostalgic. My village looks so similar to this very place. I miss it. I miss home. But is there a point in thinking of a place where I am no longer welcomed? I made my decision last time.

“Who comes?”

A young drus asks with a spear in hand.

“Allow us to pass. Mother must see them immediately.”

“Bringing unknowns into the village is forbidden and you are very aware of it.”

“So is leaving your post to go whatever it is that you do.”

The dryad that saved us actually has a sharp tongue. I was not expecting that. She seems fragile, docile, and a coward. Those are the vibes that she gives me. And I’m not one to be in the wrong.

Giving us a sign to simply run for it, she drus quickly allowed us to pass. Running as fast as we could, we reached an enormous tree. It is and feels majestic. It was serving as an actual house. A door, several windows, and even a balcony were seen.

“Why are we here?”

I was confused. I understood the beauty of this tree but why are we stopping here?

“Just get in.”

An unknown voice startled me and as I was about to grab my knife, vines quickly disarmed me.

“Don’t make a sound and just get it.”

As I turned around, another dryad was there. And she was beautiful. With hair brown as a tree branch with even leaves growing from them, she had an amazing figure with a dress made out of leaves. The dress would leave her arms uncovered but brown vines would cover her forearms. Her bellybutton was exposed as the dress would circle around it. The dress would go as far as the middle of her thighs. Her nude light green skin would show up only for a little more and high boots made of the same vines in her forearm appeared. She was elegant and powerful.

Pushing us inside and quickly closing the door, both dryads looked at each other until the beauty that made us get inside spoke.

“Who are they, why bring them here? You know the laws of this place.”

“But mother…”

“Drop the human on the table. Slowly. And clear the two beds in the emergency room. This elf is way too sick for my taste.”

I know best as to not interfere in the family or even village-related matters so I simply stood there. But I was intrigued. How would she know that I was indeed ill if no one mentioned it?

“Do not fret over little matters, elf.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me well enough. Your blood is all over your hands. And if anything, you are walking with a human. You are to explain yourself.”

“Why would I justify myself to someone like you?”

“Oh? You were brave enough to stand up for a lousy human yet you are lacking that much conviction as you are wearing his coat. You are indeed a disgrace for your race, aren’t you?”

The smile on her face and the mocking tone of her voice was enough to make my blood boil but also enough to remind me that I couldn’t start a fight that I absolutely have no chance of winning. All I can do is lower my head and simply give up.

“Wise choice.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are not as dumb as you look. But you are dumb nonetheless.”

As I was about to retaliate more blood came from my mouth and a coughing spree started.

I can’t. I can’t breathe.

And all of a sudden, everything felt bright. As I fell into a deep slumber.