The two young men followed the flowers-less stones for nearly an hour until they finally found what they were looking for, but unfortunately, it wasn't what they had expected to find. Leaning against a large black tree was a rather old woman with a sword stuck in her belly. The woman was still breathing weakly, but from her pale complexion, it seemed like she didn't have much time left.

—Eco!—Homero shouted, running toward the old woman to check on her.

Apolo also rushed to examine the condition of the old woman. He didn't know her, but it seemed his younger brother was acquainted with this servant.

—How is the old woman?—Apolo asked, looking at his brother inspecting the spot where the old lady had been stabbed.

—I don't know, you attended more classes than I did! Tell me! You're the older one, idiot!—Homero cried out in desperation, visibly nervous. It seemed like he had come to a conclusion but couldn't accept it.

Apolo approached the elderly woman, who was breathing weakly and struggling to keep her teary eyes from meeting his gaze. He focused on the wound in her abdomen.

—The old woman is dead, or she will be in a few hours...—Apolo responded cruelly, noting that some vital organs had been pierced by the sword thrust.

Hearing the boy's conclusion, the old woman raised her gaze to the sky, shedding a few tears. It seemed she had accepted her fate.

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—What do you mean Eco is going to die?—Homero asked through tears.

—Stop crying; that's life. It's her fault for not taking her fencing lessons seriously! Your tears won't change anything, and we still don't know if this place is safe. So stop crying and get serious!—Apolo yelled as he slapped his younger brother—Old lady, do you know what happened to Helena?

—Thais took her... the wicked one...—The old woman replied with effort, spitting blood from her mouth as if she were expending her last strength to convey this message.

—Where did they go?—Apolo asked urgently, grabbing the woman by the shoulders. It seemed she had very little strength left, and she was using it now to pass on this message.

—They said... they would... hide in the cave... at the end of this stream...—The old woman replied, using the last of her strength between violent coughs, lifting her hand and pointing her arm in a direction before lowering it abruptly.

—Eco!—Homero shouted, shaking the old woman by the shoulders, trying to get her to react, but the elderly woman remained completely motionless.

—She's dead; leave her! If we don't hurry, they'll kill Helena too!—Apolo shouted, removing the sword from the woman's stomach and heading towards the direction indicated by the old woman.

—But...—Homero tried to say.

—What the hell are you going to do? She's already dead, it's over; you won't revive the old woman!—Apolo interrupted with a loud shout, not turning back and continuing his march—If you don't hurry, Helena will die because of you, idiot!

Homero watched with tears in his eyes as the old woman's lifeless body, then saw his brother's back recede into the distance. Without wanting to lose sight of him, Homero ran after his brother while wiping the tears from his face.

Finally, the chubby boy caught up with Apolo, and the two brothers headed towards the end of the stream in search of their dear friend.