Only the soft crackle of the fire and the wailing wind outside broke the stillness.
Rion sat deep inside the cave. Beside him, under a light blanket, Noa was barely breathing.
Slowly, Noa opened his eyes.
His eyelids fluttered several times as they tried to adjust to the darkness.
For a moment, he nearly lost consciousness again —
but this time, he remained awake.
Cold drops of water touching his lips brought him back to reality.
"Drink," said a calm, short voice, handing him a small flask.
By the fire stood a young man with short black hair and golden eyes.
Noa took the flask, drank a few sips, then closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing.
His voice came out hoarse:
"I didn't think you'd come…"
Rion remained silent.
He sat staring into the fire, his hands resting on his knees.
Finally, he spoke — his tone heavy, yet firm:
"If I hadn't come, you would have died."
Noa tried to smile, but his cracked, blood-dried lips refused to move.
He clenched his fist and whispered weakly:
"It would have been better for all of us."
His voice trembled and faded away.
Rion turned his face aside.
He didn't want to see this,
but the pain in Noa's eyes spoke louder than any words ever could.
"Do you remember how it all started?" Rion asked carefully.
Noa slowly shook his head,
then said in a voice that echoed through the cold cave:
"How could I forget… That day, we became friends — we swore not to part until death separated us."
Rion gently placed his hand on Noa's shoulder,
took a deep breath, and said firmly:
"Remember this, Noa — if I hadn't found you, I'd be the one dead right now. Think about it: I'm alive because you're with me."
Noa fell silent.
Tears welled up in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.
This time, he didn't resist them.
He cried — not from fear, but from the heavy weight of his past.
And the silent presence of his friend beside him
was the only thread keeping him tied to life.
A heavy, sincere silence filled the cave.
Only the fire crackled.
Suddenly, noises came from outside —
the marching of soldiers echoed through the night.
Rion's golden eyes flashed coldly.
He reached for his sword.
"They're here," he said in a low, steady tone.
Noa lay on the ground, thinking quietly to himself:
"So… peace isn't meant for me."
The last sparks of fire danced across the cave walls,
their brief calm already beginning to shatter.
Rion crouched down, lifted the torch, and listened carefully.
Footsteps drew closer —
not just dragons, but others as well.
The air was filled with the sound of scraping armor.
"He's here," said a strange, chilling voice.
"The scent ends in this place."
Rion's chest tightened.
He quickly doused the torch and returned to Noa.
"Noa, hold on," he said quietly but firmly.
"If we stay here, we'll both be captured."
Noa half-opened his eyes.
He slowly raised his hand — every movement heavy —
but the determination in Rion's gaze gave him a spark of strength.
"I… can't walk," he whispered.
"Then I'll drag you if I must," Rion replied, lifting him onto his shoulders.
"But you have to try."
Outside, the torches drew nearer.
The air grew hotter,
and the noise grew louder.
Rion took a deep breath and moved forward through the narrow tunnel.
The darkness thickened,
the sounds of the outside world faded,
and only Noa's labored breathing remained.
Soon, the path split in two —
one leading deeper down,
the other rising steeply toward the cliffs.
"Which way?" Rion murmured to himself.
Noa slowly lifted his head.
Barely conscious, perhaps guided by instinct,
he pointed upward.
Rion hesitated for a moment.
"He's barely awake… but maybe he senses something."
He chose the upward path.
Voices came from behind them:
"They're inside! Hurry!"
Footsteps echoed through the cave.
Gritting his teeth, Rion quickened his pace.
Even though the weight slowed him down,
he never even considered leaving Noa behind.
With every step, a single voice echoed in his mind:
"I will protect him. Even if the whole world turns against me."
Finally, light appeared ahead.
Through a narrow crack, the night stars shimmered —
their cold glow like the last spark of hope.
But before they could escape,
a soldier appeared behind them.
His torch lit up the narrow passage.
Rion made his decision instantly.
He laid Noa down among the rocks outside
and turned back to block the path.
"I'll come after you," he said firmly.
"Run, Noa. I'll hold them off."
Even in his fading consciousness, Noa heard him.
His heart trembled —
not from fear,
but from helplessness.
Rion hurled the heavy stone lying at the edge of the tunnel.
A powerful echo rang through the cave, and the soldiers froze.
A moment of silence —
then the battle began.
Steel clashed against stone,
shouts rang out,
blows echoed off the walls.
Outside, Noa lay beneath the stars.
His breathing was heavy.
Only two sounds filled his ears —
his heartbeat
and the whisper within.
"…this is not the end…"
Noa shivered.
He tried to cover his ears,
but the voice came from inside — from deep within his heart.
"Who are you…?" he whispered.
"…I am you…"
His vision blurred — blood, screams, and darkness merging together.
Rion's voice roared from the cave:
"Noa! Run!"
But Noa couldn't move.
He looked up at the sky.
The stars multiplied, shining brighter —
but one of them was different.
It burned red, like a drop of blood.
Noa stared, transfixed.
The longer he looked, the louder the voice grew.
"…awaken… if you don't, your friend will die…"
At that moment, three soldiers rushed Rion at once.
He parried with the last of his strength,
but hesitated for a second —
a blade slashed across his shoulder.
Blood spilled onto the stone.
Seeing it, Noa's heart broke.
Something inside him snapped.
"Stop!" he cried, but his voice barely rose.
"…just choose…"
Noa trembled as he raised his hands.
Heat spread through his body,
a strange energy burning through his veins.
It was neither fear nor anger —
but something else. Something unknown.
His eyes began to glow in the darkness.
The cave trembled instantly.
Rocks cracked and fell.
The soldiers panicked.
"What's happening?!"
Rion turned around, his eyes wide with shock.
Noa —
the same Noa who moments ago had been on the verge of collapse —
now stood tall.
His eyes blazed like stars,
and the air around him quivered.
The voice spoke again,
this time through Noa's own lips:
"I'm not done yet…"