Days had passed, and it was Dravic's last day of the week with me.
"I feel like I don't want to leave… I still want to be with you," Dravic said softly as we walked through the dense forest, the sunlight barely piercing the canopy.
I nodded silently, my hand brushing against my sword's hilt, and continued walking beside him.
"This is my last day, and I'll make sure that you'll enjoy it more than before," he added, a playful glint in his eyes.
"L-let's hunt first," I said, trying to steady my nerves.
"Yes, Renji," he replied with a soft smile, his hand brushing against mine as we moved deeper into the woods.
A while later, the sounds of snapping twigs and low growls caught my attention. From behind a cluster of trees, a group of orcs emerged — four of them, larger than I had imagined. Their green skin glimmered in the sunlight, eyes filled with hostility, weapons in hand.
"This is my first time encountering that kind of monster," I whispered under my breath, feeling my pulse quicken.
"Do you want me to handle it?" Dravic asked, tilting his head slightly, his crimson hair catching the faint sunlight.
"No, I'll fight it," I said, gripping my sword tighter. My knuckles turned white.
"Be careful, okay? I don't want our Renji to get hurt," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.
The orcs charged at us, their heavy boots thudding against the forest floor. I took a deep breath and stepped forward, sword raised.
The first orc swung a massive axe at me. I sidestepped quickly, narrowly avoiding the blade. With a sharp forward swing, I cut its arm cleanly. It screamed, staggering back, clutching the stump where its weapon had been.
The second orc rushed in from my left. I ducked under its swing, rolling to the side, and countered with a precise strike to its leg. It fell to the ground with a loud thud, scrambling back to get up.
I stepped back, keeping my distance, scanning the two remaining orcs. Their eyes burned with rage.
The third orc tried to circle around me, attempting to catch me off guard. I twisted my body, letting the sword swing in a wide arc, slashing across its chest. It grunted, staggering but not yet down.
The fourth orc charged head-on, axe raised. I jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow, and came down with the full weight of my sword into its shoulder. It roared in pain, falling onto its knees.
The third orc regained its balance and lunged toward me again. I pivoted, using my momentum to bring the sword across its side. It howled and stumbled, giving me the opening to strike its head cleanly.
Finally, the last orc raised its weapon for one last attack. I braced myself, leapt forward, and with a swift, precise strike, I cut through its chest. The monster collapsed onto the forest floor, its growls fading.
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding. My sword dripped with the orcs' blood.
Dravic was behind me the entire time, his eyes calm but shining with admiration. "You've grown stronger, Renji. That was incredible," he said, stepping closer.
"I'll help you hunt more," he said softly, his arms wrapping around me from behind in a gentle back hug. "So you can absorb the rest of the cores and sell the others."
I stiffened slightly, glancing over my shoulder. "Y-you don't need to do that for me… I-I can handle it by myself," I said, trying to sound firm.
"It's okay," he murmured, nuzzling my shoulder.
I exhaled slowly as he pressed himself closer, his lips brushing against the back of my neck. "I'll miss you, Renji," he whispered, and then he kissed my neck lightly, a warmth that made my chest tighten.
"I… I accept your offer… but please, let me go now. There might be adventurers nearby," I said softly, struggling to pull away without sounding rude.
Dravic slowly released me, his hands lingering just at my sides. He stepped back a bit, his red eyes warm, yet teasing, as he looked at me. "Alright… but I'll be watching. Don't overdo it, okay?"
The forest was quiet as we moved deeper. The air felt heavy, like something was waiting for us.
I kept my sword ready, scanning the shadows.
Then I saw it.
A giant ogre. Its gray skin glimmered in the sunlight that sneaked through the trees. One horn jutted from its head, and it was carrying a massive tree trunk like a weapon.
I swallowed.
"This… is big," I whispered.
Dravic stayed behind me, calm as always. "Do you want me to handle it?" he asked.
"I'll fight," I said, gripping my sword tighter.
The ogre roared and charged. The ground shook with each step. I jumped to the side just as its trunk slammed into the dirt. Stones flew everywhere.
I swung at its leg, but the blade barely scratched it.
It spun around, swinging the trunk again. I barely rolled away in time. My chest hurt from the rush.
"Renji!" Dravic called, but his voice wasn't panicked.
"I'm fine!" I shouted back.
The ogre stomped toward me. I had to think fast.
When it swung down again, I stepped inside its range and slashed its wrist. Blood sprayed, and it dropped the trunk with a deafening thud.
I leapt onto a rock and slashed at its face. It stumbled but didn't fall.
Then it grabbed me. Its massive hand wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground.
"Dravic—!" I shouted.
In a blink, a red blur moved. Its arm was gone. Blood sprayed everywhere.
Dravic held me gently as I dropped to the ground. "I said I'd let you try, not let you get crushed," he murmured.
The ogre roared, bleeding heavily, and staggered back.
I gritted my teeth and ran forward, sword in hand. I aimed for its chest and pushed all my strength into the strike.
It let out one last roar and collapsed.
I dropped my sword and panted, my body shaking.
Dravic came beside me, brushing dirt from my shoulder. "You did well," he said softly.
I looked at the ogre's massive body. "That… was too close."
He gave me a small smile. "Next time, don't hesitate to call me sooner."