Lyris had a lot to process after the revelation from the previous night. She looked at me calmly and said, "Let’s rest for today. We can talk more tomorrow." We both settled down in silence, each lost in our thoughts.

The next morning, I woke up before Lyris. I got up and observed the village in the distance. From this height, there was no sign of movement. "Is there really anyone down there?" I wondered, feeling uneasy. Checking my provisions, I realized I was out of water, so I decided to wake Lyris.

We still had that pending conversation, but first, seeing that she was waking up as well, I asked her, "Do you have any water left?"

Lyris stretched and replied, "No, but that’s not a problem."

She stood up and approached a small puddle nearby. Without saying more, she placed her canteen beside the stagnant water. Watching her, I asked, somewhat incredulous, "Are you going to drink that water? It’s stagnant."

Lyris gave me a sidelong glance, smiling slightly. She placed her hand over the water, and slowly, it began to purify under her magic. I watched in fascination as the water cleared before my eyes.

"What… how are you doing that?" I asked, surprised.

When she finished, she filled her canteen. "Come on, fill yours," she said. As I did, she explained, "My magic can purify water. I've been doing it the entire journey."

I looked at her in awe. "That explains why we always had water... I hadn’t realized."

Before I could bring up last night's conversation again, Lyris interrupted me:

"About what you told me last night… I believe you."

I looked up, slightly surprised.

"Thanks for listening and believing me. I know it's hard to process… heck, I’d doubt it myself if I heard it from someone else."

Lyris studied me for a moment before speaking again.

"In my family, I heard stories about beings with the ability to travel between eras. They always told me it was a dangerous gift for anyone who possessed it."

I nodded. Her words resonated with me. I had already felt that danger myself.

"I understand," she continued, "It’s just… strange, but I trust you. Not only because of what we’ve shared these past days… I don’t know, really. Anyway, everything you’ve told me doesn’t explain why you want to go down there. I still think it’s a stupid idea."

Lyris sighed and continued, "If you feel you must go to that cursed village, you should be more cautious. I, on the other hand, will take the opportunity to go see Eldrek before we go back. Maybe he has more clarity about what's down there. Why don't you come with me?"

Her suggestion surprised me, and I hesitated for a moment. The place was right in front of me, and diverting my path didn’t sit well with me. But what Lyris was saying made sense, and the idea of seeing Eldrek was also tempting. In the end, I nodded.

Lyris smiled nostalgically. "I’d love to see him. I haven’t seen him since I was little."

I was glad to know I’d be able to see that old giant again; my departure the last time had been abrupt.

We ate something quickly, gathered our things, and began walking in the direction where Eldrek was. According to what Lyris had told me, it was a day and a half walk from here.

The weather, compared to previous days, was more stable. During the journey, our conversations became more natural. We talked about trivial things, and I realized our relationship had progressed.

It wasn’t romantic, but the way we interacted now showed that we had built a solid trust.

After walking all day, we decided to rest among some rocks. We hadn’t had any trouble so far, but neither of us slept much.

Neither of us wanted to prolong the journey any longer. When dawn broke, Lyris pointed out a change in the landscape.

"I think we’re close," she said. There was a bit more vegetation, although not particularly lush, but definitely different from the dry terrain we had crossed so far.

I noticed the air felt a little fresher, and the gentle crunch of grass under our feet contrasted with the silence of the desert we had left behind.

As we ventured further, we walked cautiously, observing every detail around us. Small hills surrounded the area, and various paths opened up before us. I felt a slight tightness in my chest.

"It would be easy to get lost here," I said aloud, then asked Lyris, "Do you know where to go?"

She shrugged and, with a light laugh, replied:

"I have no idea, I just know it’s somewhere around here."

We laughed together, enjoying the irony of constant danger. Despite everything, we could still laugh. But suddenly, something caught my attention. Looking up towards one of the hills, I saw an imposing figure descending slowly. My stomach clenched immediately.

"Lyris...!" I warned, thinking it might be some hostile creature.

She focused her gaze and, suddenly, shouted excitedly, "Eldrek!"

Without a second thought, she ran towards him and hugged him tightly. Though age had slightly hunched his massive frame, Eldrek was still imposing. Compared to him, Lyris looked tiny. I approached slowly, feeling a mix of joy and relief. It was hard to believe it was truly him after all this time.

Eldrek smiled warmly at Lyris. "Good to see you, little one," he said in a deep but gentle voice.

I stopped a few steps away, still in shock. I had a lump in my throat. "Eldrek...? Is it really you?" I asked, not entirely sure if what I was seeing was real.

"Of course it’s me," he replied, laughing. "Don’t let this aged body fool you."

I couldn’t help but smile. The thought of not being able to say goodbye to him when I jumped through time had left me with a sense of nostalgia.

"It’s good to see you, my friend. I never thought I’d find you in this Era. It’s amazing how many lives you’ve managed to live."

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Eldrek returned my smile, but his tone turned serious. "I’ve seen many fall, Darius... but I’ve also witnessed beautiful things in every era I’ve lived through. Though I never imagined I’d live to see an era as desolate as this one."

The weight of his words struck a nerve. I wondered how much this world had changed since the last time I saw it. I hoped Eldrek had some answers. Just seeing him here, in the middle of this desolation, made the past feel further away than ever.

We were talking to Eldrek when a sinister voice broke through the air, dripping with malice:

"So this is where you've been hiding... old man. He’s been searching for you for so long, without success." The voice was directed at Eldrek.

Lyris and I instantly turned toward the direction of the voice. My body reacted immediately, putting me on the defensive, especially because I recognized that voice. My heart began to race, surprise and a growing sense of danger pounding in my veins.

But Eldrek, on the other hand, seemed unfazed. With a calm that was almost unsettling, he said, "I see you managed to bypass my barrier without setting it off."

Neither Lyris nor I knew what Eldrek meant, but this wasn’t the time to ask. Lyris, still on guard, shot me a glance before locking her eyes on the approaching figure.

"Who is he?" she asked, tension in her voice.

The man who appeared before us was elegant, his suit perfectly fitted to his frame. Pointed ears protruded from his brown hair, combed back with almost unnatural precision.

His posture was confident, arrogant. But before Eldrek could respond, I recognized him the moment I took a good look.

"Grimmor?" My own voice sounded strange, incredulous, as if I couldn’t accept what I was seeing.

Grimmor smirked, bowing with an exaggerated, mocking reverence.

"Indeed, it’s me... Darius," he said, raising his gaze from his bow, that sinister smile still on his lips, exuding pure malice.

My stomach turned. I hadn’t expected to encounter him here, much less like this. Just seeing him made a thousand questions flood my mind.

Eldrek’s calm gaze pulled me back to reality, but I knew things had just gotten a lot more complicated.

Grimmor stood there, his mocking smile fixed on his face.

Before I could process it, Lyris acted without hesitation. With a swift movement of her hand, she unleashed a current of vital energy that shot towards Grimmor. Her magic, warm and precise, buzzed through the air like a lightning bolt.

Grimmor simply dodged, his mocking smile intact. He moved with insulting grace, evading each attack by mere inches.

"Is that all, little one? Come on, surely you can do better than that," he taunted, tilting slightly to avoid Lyris's blast.

Lyris kept moving, agile and determined, looking for an opening. But Grimmor seemed to anticipate her moves, always a step ahead.

I joined the fight, charging at him with my sword raised. The chaotic energy pulsed through the blade, amplifying each strike that cut through the air.

Lyris and I attacked from different angles, instinctively synchronizing our movements. Her vital magic clashed with my chaotic energy, filling the air with flashes of light and shadow. But Grimmor simply laughed, dodging each swing and hurling biting remarks.

"Darius… is this all you’ve got? Slower than last time, huh?" he sneered, dodging one of my blows with a dry laugh. "Hit me harder… come on, or are you out of energy?"

With each passing second, I felt the chaos inside me stir. A subtle, yet growing corruption that began to take root in my mind and body.

Lyris didn’t relent, her magic attacking him in a relentless barrage. But every time we thought we had him cornered, Grimmor slipped out of reach, reveling in our frustration.

"Did you really think this would be enough to stop me? Disappointing."

Then, suddenly, Grimmor made an unexpected move. His speed spiked, as if he had been freed from an invisible weight.

Before I realized it, I was on the ground, my sword flying from my hands toward Lyris. That’s when I noticed it: Grimmor wasn’t just toying with us; he was predicting every move, as if he could read our thoughts.

Seeing the sword nearby, Lyris didn’t hesitate to pick it up. The sword vibrated in her hand, as if it recognized her. Her vital energy fused with the blade instantly.

I was stunned. That sword was mine, forged by Eldrek. How could it now resonate with her?

"What… is happening?" I murmured, watching her lift the sword with renewed confidence.

For a second, Lyris seemed as surprised as I was. But she quickly composed herself and launched another attack, this time with a force that even Grimmor couldn’t ignore. The sword amplified her magic, each strike bringing her closer to her target.

With a swift move, she managed to do what neither of us had been able to achieve until now: a clean cut across Grimmor's face, and another on his arm.

Grimmor touched the blood trickling from his wound. Instead of anger, his smile twisted into something even more disturbing. He took a step back, licking the blood from his cheek.

"Impressive, Lyris," he said, his voice twisted, as if relishing the pain. "Finally, someone managed to make me bleed. This is getting interesting."

The environment now played in our favor. Lyris, with the sword resonating in her hand, moved forward with determination, while I, still recovering, stood up with clenched fists. The corruption of chaos lingered within me, but I ignored it.

Grimmor, with that twisted smile, retreated a bit, his eyes gleaming with a crazed excitement. The fight wasn’t over, but now we had tested him.

At that moment, Eldrek, who had remained silent, approached and whispered to me, “Darius, tell Lyris to come here. Now.”

Surprised, but trusting him, I shouted to Lyris, "Lyris, come here, quick!" Without hesitation, she stepped back while Grimmor continued his taunting.

Eldrek pulled a small device from his pocket. With surprising precision, he threw it at Grimmor. When it hit the ground, a shockwave lifted dust and rocks, disorienting Grimmor for a few moments.

"Now! Let’s get out of here," Eldrek commanded. Without a second thought, Lyris and I ran toward the path Eldrek had indicated, leaving Grimmor behind.

As we distanced ourselves, we heard his voice echoing among the hills. "I know where you’re hiding, old man!" Grimmor shouted, followed by a mocking laugh that reverberated into the distance. My heart pounded, not just from the tension of the battle, but from the feeling that this was far from over.

"That bastard!" I said angrily.

After running for a while, we finally reached what seemed to be Eldrek's refuge. At first glance, it looked like an insignificant corner, well-hidden among the rocky hills.

However, as we got closer, the entrance to a cave that Eldrek had carved himself became visible. It was clear it had taken him time to build. The cave walls were rough, marked by Eldrek’s effort and patience.

Inside, the space was large enough to accommodate his massive size, but without luxury. It was a functional shelter, designed for survival, not comfort.

The floor was covered with thick blankets, probably made from animal skins he had hunted himself. Instead of traditional furniture, large logs were scattered around the cave, serving as makeshift benches and tables.

In one corner, several rudimentary weapons and blacksmith tools were piled up, some of them covered in dust, a sign that Eldrek had used them recently for his work.

Fragments of metal reflected the dim light entering from the entrance, and the sound of leaves rustling outside mixed with the murmur of the wind over the hills.

Eldrek, evidently exhausted, sank onto one of the logs. His breathing was heavy, and his age was more apparent than ever. Although I had always seen him as a powerful being, now his years were unmistakable.

“We should be safe here for a while,” he murmured, getting up with effort to prepare some tea. The soft aroma of herbs filled the shelter, bringing a sense of calm after the chaos.

Eldrek poured the tea into some crude wooden cups and handed one to each of us. Lyris accepted hers with a tired smile, and I did the same, feeling the warmth of the tea relax my tense muscles.

We sat around a small improvised fire, the flames barely illuminating our faces. The smoke rose and escaped through a hole above, clearly crafted by Eldrek, showing his meticulous nature.

There was no time to relax; the urgency of the situation hung over us like a thick cloud.

Eldrek was the first to speak, setting his cup aside.

“There’s no time to rest; we need to think about our next move. Grimmor has found us, and now he knows where I am,” he said gravely, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames.

Lyris, still recovering from the encounter, frowned. "How did he find us? I don’t think it was a coincidence. Something led him directly to us."

Eldrek nodded, clearly troubled. "He must have been tracking you before this. He always finds a way to know more than he should."

I couldn’t understand how Grimmor was here, but I urgently wanted to know what had happened with the sword.

While Eldrek spoke, Lyris, quietly, handed the sword back to me.

“Here, I used it when I needed it, but it’s yours,” she said softly.

I took it with a nod of gratitude. “Thank you,” I said.

“We need to organize, think about how we’ll handle what’s coming,” Eldrek interrupted, his voice urgent.

“Grimmor won’t stop, and now he knows roughly where he might find us. This refuge won’t be safe for long. We need to plan our next steps carefully.”

We knew the calm around us was only temporary.

In the past Era, Grimmor had never called me by my name. How was he still alive?