This is a tale set in a mystical realm,
Where magic abounds,
Where love remains unwavering, friendship unshakable, and familial bonds run deep.
Through a twist of fate, or perhaps mere coincidence, an accident that should not have involved her inste...
Elrod held my hand as we dashed through the forest. Truth be told, I doubted his frail physique could carry him far, but seeing him try so hard, I couldn't bring myself to dampen his spirit. Sometimes, a man being too gentle and fragile isn't a good thing. It depends, however, on what he cares about. Once a person cares for something, their character tends to change accordingly. So, in the end, people are inherently fickle.
As luck would have it, both Elrod and I were fortunate. After roughly two hours of running, we began to recognize familiar surroundings—the stretch of land once occupied by the ape king. As we approached, I glanced at Elrod's delicate face and sighed, "I never imagined you'd actually manage to find this place."
Elrod smiled softly, brushing aside his disheveled hair. "I was determined to find the way, so all you had to do was hold onto me."
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Touched by his words, I followed him to our original spot. When we arrived, we saw Degal's joyous expression as he called out, "Lisa, Elrod, you two are finally back!"
I let go of Elrod's hand and approached Degal, asking, "Where are Ao and the others?"
"They went looking for you," Degal replied with a hint of frustration, though a smile quickly returned to his face. "Luckily, they told me to stay here in case you found your way back."
I sighed and said, "In this forest, we barely know our way around. I'm grateful Elrod stayed with me; otherwise, I might never have made it out."
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Degal turned to Elrod and gasped, "Elrod, are you hurt?"
Elrod's face had grown pale, and his once pristine white robe was now gray, the hem torn to shreds. He truly looked battered and weary. I noticed fresh traces of blood trickling from his leg and silently chastised myself. I had known his body was weak, yet I still let him lead the way, unthinkingly allowing him to bear the brambles and sharp thorns that he pushed aside with his own body while we ran. Engrossed in conversation, I failed to notice the harshness of the path.
Worried, I looked at Elrod and whispered, "I'm sorry, Elrod. If I had led the way, you wouldn't have been hurt."
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