Chapter 54 — Hold the door


    <strong><span ss="userText">[Aster]</strong>


    <span ss="userText">The air was crisp and chilly as the siblings stepped outside the cave. The sky above was a deep, dark blue, with the faint glow of stars fading into the brightening horizon. The swaying pine trees whispered gently in the breeze, their branches rustling softly against one another. <span ss="userText">The dew-kissed grass and wildflowers glimmered like precious gems scattered across the forest floor, catching the limited light avable. Aster''s ears picked up the distant chirping of birds, weing<span ss="aiText"> theing sunrise.


    <span ss="userText">Aster and Silvia have been waking up before dawn every day for three weeks now to go outside and gather mushrooms. <span ss="userText">They''ve already used up their all winter supplies, which means they have no other option but to gather food for themselves and their mother, until she fully recovered. And since they have no idea when that will be, they n to gather enough food tost through the next winter.


    <span ss="userText">The air was thick with mist, which is the reason why the<span ss="editText">y had to wake up very early in the morning.<span ss="userText"> During the cold and damp hours before sunrise, the moisture in the air condensed into a dense fog that limited visibility and made it hard to see far ahead.


    <span ss="userText">With dangerous creatures lurking<span ss="aiText"> around<span ss="userText"> the forest,<span ss="aiText"> it was simply safer<span ss="userText"> for<span ss="aiText"> the kids to go outside when visibility was at its lowest.<span ss="userText"> All they ha<span ss="editText">d to do was be really quiet and not <span ss="aiText">get lost<span ss="userText">, as simple<span ss="aiText"> as that.


    <span ss="userText">Aster turned to his sister, watching<span ss="aiText"> her <span ss="userText">close the wooden barricade behind them as quietly<span ss="aiText"> as possible<span ss="userText">, careful not to wake<span ss="aiText"> their mother up.<span ss="userText"> Silvia looked like a mess, her eyes half-closed and her hair disheveled,<span ss="aiText"> with strands sticking out in all directions.


    <span ss="aiText">She looked like she was going to fall asleep on the spot<span ss="userText">. Aster couldn''t help but chuckle at the sight of his adorable, sleepy sister. Clearly, she is not a morning person, not even a little bit.


    <span ss="userText">— "Stand still," Aster whispered, wrapping Silvia in their handmade disguise cloak, which they''d spent<span ss="aiText"> the entire week making. <span ss="userText">It was made out of an old brown nket from beneath their bed, with countless pine branches attached to the surface. It may not look like much, but it did a good job blending them in with the forest and preventing monsters from smelling them.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia let out a wide yawn in response as Aster covered her silver hair with a hood and secured a cloth around her mouth and nose to hide her white, pale skin from<span ss="aiText"> view.<span ss="userText"> She mumbled something iprehensible as he tied the final knot behind her head and adjusted the cloak, making sure<span ss="aiText"> she was fully covered.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia took the second cloak from Aster''s shoulder and returned the favor, helping her little brother put it on. She also helped him hide his long silver hair and cover his face. "Alright, all done," she said, her voice muffled by the cloth covering her mouth and nose. "Let''s go." She handed one of the spears they''d left beside the door to Aster before picking up the other for herself.


    <span ss="userText">Now fully disguised, they turned away from the cave and began walking side by side, their footsteps slow and quiet as they navigated through the mist-shrouded trees. They moved cautiously, always keeping a watchful eye on where they ced their feet and listening intently for any suspicious noises that might signal danger lurking nearby.


    <span ss="userText">Every tree, rock, and bush seemed to hide some monstrous creature, only waiting for the siblings to let down their guard. <span ss="userText">Their imaginations yed tricks on them, making the forest seem more menacing than it really was. But, of course, that was only in their imagination... or so Aster hoped. Their mushroom-gathering trips had been nothing but uneventful so far<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">a<span ss="userText">nd Aster really hoped they would remain this way.


    <span ss="userText">After about fifteen minutes of walking through the misty forest, they arrived at a small clearing filled with mushrooms. It was one of the many spots they knew of, a ce where they gathered mushrooms with their mother many times before.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia immediately spotted a familiar mushroom<span ss="aiText"> and <span ss="editText">rushed happily <span ss="aiText">towards it<span ss="userText">. Her movements<span ss="aiText"> were <span ss="userText">a bit clumsy <span ss="editText">as she ran, thanks to her cloak being a bit big<span ss="aiText">, but she managed not to trip and fall, at least. Silvia knelt on the ground, setting her spear aside before pulling a small knife from her pocket. She started cutting the mushrooms while Aster took off his leather backpack, grabbed an empty sack, and ced it beside his sister.


    Taking his knife as well, Aster crouched next to his sister, beginning to gather the mushrooms by cutting them at the base and putting them in the sack. Focused entirely on their task, there was nothing but silence besides<span ss="userText">the rustling of leaves in the wind and the asional bird call.


    They worked tirelessly until the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the entire forest. This signaled that they had about an hour left before the mist disappearedpletely, making their stay here more dangerous. With so much unknown, it is better to avoid risks and hurry their work, gathering mushrooms as quickly as possible to fill the sack. And so they did.


    <span ss="userText">Fortunately, there were many delicious mushrooms in the area. It was rare to see so many, but yesterday''s rain must have provided the ground with the necessary moisture for them to sprout. The siblings used this opportunity to its fullest. As they harvested more and more mushrooms, the sack became full, and they even began filling Aster''s backpack.


    <span ss="userText">"Alright, I think it should be enough," Silvia whispered, her voice muffled by the cloth covering her mouth and nose. She stood up, putting her little knife back into her pocket. "The mist is almost gone. We need to return," she said, dusting her hands off.


    — "Okay, let''s head back then," Aster agreed, picking up his leather backpack from the ground and helping his sister put it on. He then lifted a much heavier, full sack of mushrooms over his shoulder, grunting softly as he adjusted to the weight.


    <span ss="aiText">They walked side by side,<span ss="userText"> making<span ss="aiText"> their way back to the cave. <span ss="userText">The sun''s light became brighter with each step, and the mist dissipated faster, revealing a beautiful, peaceful forest around them. The grass swayed in the breeze, and the sun''s warm rays shone down over everything.


    <span ss="userText">Despite the day''s beauty, Aster couldn''t help but feel sad as he walked alongside his sister. He wished with all his heart that those monsters didn''t exist so he could enjoy a simple, carefree day with his mother and sister. ying in the sun andughing together without the constant threat of monsters lurking around every corner.


    <span ss="userText">He wants to see Silviaughing as she tries to catch a butterfly and his mother''s smile as she chases her kids around. Simply roll in the grass just because they feel like it. He wants to hear their girlishughter echo through the forest and notice once again how incredibly simr they sound<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText">


    <span ss="userText">Not constant training with spears or watching Silvia torture herself each evening trying to improve her magic. All three of them, alone, with no one else around. Without threats. Without fear. This was Aster''s everyday wish, a thought that constantly chased his mind. It seemed so simple yet so distant and impossible to fulfill.


    <span ss="userText">Hope kept him going these days, the only shield against despair. Aster hoped they had already be strong enough to protect themselves from any threats that came their way. He hoped their efforts would be enough to survive the harsh winter ahead. He hoped his mother''s full recovery was just around the corner. And he hoped that everything would eventually get better, just as they had been only a year ago.


    <span ss="userText">There was quite a lot of hope and zero certainty, and it was not a nicebination. Aster didn''t like it in the slightest. When it came to Silvia and Nivalis, he would rather watch the entire world burn than gamble with their lives. He saw what the afterlife was like. Those two don''t belong there.


    <span ss="userText">With a sigh, he adjusted the heavy sack on his shoulder and continued walking towards their home — one step at a time.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <span ss="userText">"We are home!" his sister''s cute, muffled voice said, hopping through the entrance of their cave with a happy bounce in her step. Shutting the door behind them<span ss="aiText">,<span ss="userText"> Aster leaned his spear against the rough rocky wall before cing the heavy sack on the floor.


    <span ss="userText">"Wee home, my loves," their mother''s tired, pained voice called out from bed. Her words were a mix of relief and exhaustion. "How did it go?"


    <span ss="userText">"Hihi, look at all of these!" Silvia eximed, racing to the bed without bothering to remove her cloak. She kneeled beside their mother, pulling down the cloth covering her mouth to reveal a happy, excited smile. "We found lots and lots of them! Look," she said, her backpack thudding onto the floor beside her mother, her tiny hands struggling to pull it open. "See, see? There are so many, Mom."


    <span ss="userText">"That''s wonderful, honey. Great job, both of you," Nivalis whispered, giving a weak yet warm smile. Her gaze shifted from Silvia''s face to Aster''s as he approached his sister from behind. The girl tilted her head back, her golden eyes meeting her brother''s.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster''s slender fingers slowly tugged at the strings holding her cloak together,<span ss="userText"> carefully<span ss="aiText"> unwrapping his sister like a precious gift. He pulled the cloth away, revealing her<span ss="userText"> pet<span ss="aiText">ite form, her tunic clinging to her skin, glistening from sweat.


    <span ss="userText">"Ahh, finally!" Silvia stretched her arms up, releasing a long, relieved sigh. "I was getting so hot and sticky under there," she mumbled, fanning her face with her hands. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and her silvery hair was tangled and messy, falling <span ss="editText">down <span ss="aiText">her shoulders and <span ss="editText">chest <span ss="aiText">in waves.


    <span ss="editText">— "You have ice magic, silly," Aster chuckled, now removing his cloak and revealing his equally sweaty state. <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Just <span ss="aiText">cool yourself down," he said,<span ss="userText"> folding<span ss="aiText"> the fabric and cing it on the<span ss="userText"> ground<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">Silvia squinted her eyes at her brother, pouting her rosy lips. "Oh, shut up. Smarty pants," she muttered, sticking her little tongue out. However, she still ced her palms on her flushed cheeks. Ayer of frost coated her fingers, and a wave of relief spread across her face, making her lips curl into a smile.


    <span ss="userText">— "You really forgot you have ice magic, huh?" Aster couldn''t help but chuckle as he walked past his sister and ruffled her hair, earning himself a loud "Hm!" of protest from her. He leaned down to press a tender kiss against his mother''s cheek, whispering a gentle "Hi, Mom."


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis smiled at her little son and kissed<span ss="aiText"> him back,<span ss="userText"> gently<span ss="aiText"> pressing her soft, <span ss="editText">warm <span ss="aiText">lips against his. <span ss="userText">The boy<span ss="aiText">''s<span ss="userText"> eyes closed momentarily<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">enjoying <span ss="aiText">th<span ss="editText">is <span ss="editText">short, brief sensation<span ss="userText">, the taste<span ss="aiText"> of<span ss="userText"> his<span ss="aiText"> mother''s love.<span ss="editText"> W<span ss="aiText">hen he opened them again, his golden eyes met his mother''s <span ss="aiText">sapphire-blue irises,<span ss="userText"> shining<span ss="aiText"> brightly despite her<span ss="userText"> tired<span ss="aiText">ness.


    <span ss="userText">Before she could say anything, her stomach<span ss="aiText"> suddenly growled loudly.<span ss="userText"> Both<span ss="aiText"> her children<span ss="userText"> giggled<span ss="aiText"> at the sound,<span ss="userText"> exchang<span ss="aiText">ing<span ss="userText"> knowing<span ss="aiText"> nces. <span ss="userText">Her cheeks blushed a bright pink<span ss="aiText"> as she averted her gaze, mumbling a quiet "Sorry" under her breath.


    <span ss="userText">"I''ll prepare you a nice and tasty breakfast, Mom. Don''t worry," Silvia said excitedly as she picked up her backpack from the floor. "It will be A-mazing!" she announced, taking her little brother''s hand. "Let''s go. I''ll give orders, and you''ll do everything else," she dered happily, dragging her brother out of their mother''s sight.


    <span ss="userText">Aster shook his head, a soft smile spreading across his face as he let himself be pulled along. "Yes, yes. My mistressmands. Whatever she wants, she gets," he teased, following his sister to the fire.


    <span ss="userText">Nivalis couldn''t help but chuckle quietly and whispered, "She truly a copy of me when I was her age," before closing her eyes.


    <span ss="userText">"You''re not allowed to fall asleep before our masterpiece is ready!" Silvia yelled from the kitchen, earning another quiet chuckle from Nivalis.


    <span ss="aiText">...


    <span ss="userText">It was a sunny afternoon, with a vibrant blue sky above and a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees and swaying the grass beneath their feet. After a satisfying breakfast, Aster and Silvia worked outside, hanging mushrooms on strings tied between two trees to dry in the warm sunlight.


    <span ss="userText">— "I think the batch fromst week is good enough," Aster said, ncing at the strings full of brownish-reddish mushrooms gently swaying in the breeze. "Let''s take them off once we finish this one."


    <span ss="userText">"Alright," Silvia replied, nodding as she continued her work with a sharp stick and string, carefully piercing each mushroom with the pointy tip. Her long silver hair was now neatly braided, falling over her delicate shoulder. Her beautiful golden eyes were fixed intently on the mushroom in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration.


    <span ss="userText">"If we keep this pace up all summer, do you think we''ll have enough tost until next year''s spring?" Silvia asked, her voice filled with curiosity and concern.


    <span ss="userText">Aster carefully considered his sister''s question, looking up at the sky and humming softly. "I don''t know," he admitted, returning his gaze to the half-full string. "Maybe," he added, stabbing another mushroom. "Right now, it''s the season when it rains the most, so there are plenty of mushrooms growing around. But as the sun gets hotter, there will be fewer of them, and we''ll either have to spend more time in the forest looking for them or find another food source."


    <span ss="userText">"I don''t like that," Silvia mumbled, her tiny fingers working on another mushroom. "What else can we do? Fishing?" she asked, ncing at her little brother.


    <span ss="userText">— "Ugh... Yeah, maybe. Not with a bow, though. I don''t think we<span ss="aiText"> have the strength to pull the bowstring," Aster answered, shrugging his shoulders.<span ss="userText"> "We''ll see when<span ss="aiText"> the timees. For now, let''s focus on mushrooms."


    <span ss="aiText">Silvia nodded silently<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="userText"> A<span ss="aiText">ster looked at his sister,<span ss="userText"> sig<span ss="aiText">hing<span ss="userText"> quietly<span ss="aiText"> as he saw her sad, gloomy expression.


    <span ss="userText">— "Don''t worry. I have a n," Aster whispered, smiling gently. "Once we can''t find enough mushrooms, I was thinking of finding a beehive and trying to get honey from it," Aster said, scratching his chin. "Although, I''m definitely not looking forward to getting stung," he shuddered at the very thought, making Silvia giggle softly as she worked alongside him.


    <span ss="userText">"Mmm, honey..." Silvia murmured, a nostalgic smile spreading across her face. "It''s been ages since Ist tasted it," she said, her eyes still fixed on the mushrooms before her. "Back in the vige, whenever I<span ss="aiText"> got sick, Mom<span ss="userText"> fed<span ss="aiText">me honey<span ss="userText"> to make me feel better. To be honest, I didn''t like it at first,"<span ss="aiText"> she<span ss="userText"> admitted<span ss="aiText">, shaking her head. "<span ss="userText">I refused<span ss="aiText"> to eat it, no matter how hard she tried.<span ss="userText"> Until<span ss="aiText"> she<span ss="userText"> came<span ss="aiText"> up with <span ss="editText">a solution<span ss="aiText">."


    <span ss="aiText">Aster nodded, listening intently as he worked alongside his sister. "What <span ss="editText">solution<span ss="aiText">?" he asked<span ss="userText"> curiously.


    <span ss="userText">"<span ss="editText">Well..." she<span ss="aiText"> hesitated, pausing for a moment before continuing. <span ss="editText">"I only ate it when Mom fed it to me from her fingers. I don''t know why, but it tasted so much better when Mom fed me this way... Like<span ss="userText">, a lot, lot better. I think she has magical fingers or something," she joked,<span ss="aiText"> giggling at her own words.<span ss="userText"> "Before going to bed, I would sit on herp and suck her fingers clean while listening to a story. It was nice,"<span ss="aiText"> Silvia said, blushing slightly<span ss="userText">, looking at<span ss="aiText"> her<span ss="userText"> little<span ss="aiText"> brother from the corner of her eye.


    <span ss="userText">— "Pfft... Haha!" Aster couldn''t help butugh, realizing something<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="userText">"Hey! I was just a baby back then, Asty. It was okay. No, no, don''tugh, it''s not funny," Silvia pouted, her cheeks blushing even more pink as she red at him. "Mom''s fingers were just so... and... and... Hey! Stopughing! You have no idea how good it was," she squealed, hitting his arm with a yful punch.


    <span ss="userText">— "Sorry, sorry. No, I think it''s cute, really. It''s just..." Aster apologized, struggling to maintain a straight face. "Now I know why you always suck your thumb in your sleep," he <span ss="editText">chuckled<span ss="aiText">, trying not to burst outughing<span ss="userText"> again.


    <span ss="userText">"I do not suck on my thumb," she denied, her voice rising in protest as she puffed out her rosy cheeks. "I do not, mister."


    <span ss="userText">No brother would pass such a golden opportunity to tease<span ss="aiText"> his sister. "<span ss="editText">Yes, you do<span ss="aiText">. Every night, and you make those adorable slurping sounds. You even drool a bit, too," Aster said, smirking as he looked at his sister''s blushing, angry face.


    <span ss="aiText">"No, I don''t. You are making it up," Silvia <span ss="userText">muttered<span ss="aiText">, ring at her brother. <span ss="userText">Her rosy cheeks grew even more flushed with each passing moment, making her look like a tomato. Priceless.


    <span ss="userText">— "Oh, you absolutely do-" Aster started teasing his sister again, but Silvia suddenly lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and tackling him to the ground. Theynded softly on the grass, with Silvia straddling her little brother''s torso. Her hips<span ss="aiText"> pinned him to the ground as she put both her palms on his shoulders and leaned forward, her nose almost touching his.


    <span ss="userText">"I. Don''t. Suck. On. My. Thumb," Silvia whispered<span ss="aiText">, her breath tickling his face. <span ss="userText">"Understood, little brother?"


    <span ss="userText">— "Why? I think it''s cute," Aster chuckled and smiled up at his sister, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "So what if my baby sister likes to suck things? There is nothing wrong with it!" he said, bringing his index finger close to her puffy lips. "Here, you can suck mine as well if you want-" he began, but a high-pitched squeal reced his words as his sister started tickling him.


    <span ss="userText">"Meanie, meanie, meanie!" Silviaughed as her slender fingers attacked her little brother''s vulnerable armpits.


    <span ss="userText">— "Aah! I-I''m sor... Aah! S-stop it," he gasped between giggles. His little body twisted and squirmed beneath his sister, helpless andpletely at her mercy. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, and his hands tried desperately to grab her wrists, but she easily<span ss="aiText"> avoided<span ss="userText"> them<span ss="aiText">, continuing her <span ss="editText">relentless <span ss="aiText">assault.<span ss="userText"> "We are being... Too-Ah!-Loud. We should- Oh, no. Please, stop it, please, Silvia, not my sides," Aster begged, tears forming in his eyes. His sides were super ticklish.


    <span ss="userText">A few minutester, Silvia finally stopped, allowing Aster to breathe. His gasping for air was music to her ears. A wide, smug grin spread across her face as she watched her little brother''s flushed cheeks and his messy, tangled hair sprawled out on the grass.


    <span ss="userText">"Oh, we are so going to practice spears after this," she dered, dusting off her clothes. "And noints when it''s your turn to receive a week of butt massages, little brother. It will hurt, and I won''t be gentle," she smiled at him, grabbing her stick and stabbing the next mushroom with too much force.


    <span ss="userText">...


    <span ss="userText">It hurt badly, and she<span ss="aiText"> was<span ss="editText">n''t <span ss="aiText">gentle.<span ss="userText"> Aster took note for the future: Tease your sister after training<span ss="aiText">, not before.<span ss="userText"> Never before.


    <span ss="editText">The siblings spend the rest of the day <span ss="userText">in their cave,<span ss="editText"> doing chores and training with spears<span ss="aiText">. As night began to fall, thest rays of sunlight peeked through the cracks in the barricaded door, casting a warm, golden glow over the walls and floor.


    <span ss="aiText">It was a long, tiring day, and their bodies ached<span ss="editText"> everywhere<span ss="aiText">, their hearts racing from the exertion. Aster had bruises on his forearms, and Silvia had a scratch on her left calf. Despite the pain, they couldn''t help but smile. It truly felt like they were improving, albeit slowly.


    <span ss="aiText">They had trained for hours, practicing their attacks and defense until their muscles screamed in protest. And a little bit more after that. Lying on the smooth, cold stone floor, the siblings caught their breath, staring at the ceiling above them.


    <span ss="userText">— "We need to wash <span ss="editText">ourselves<span ss="aiText">," Aster whispered, rolling his head to the side and ncing at his sister.


    <span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">Noooo<span ss="aiText">," <span ss="editText">Silvia <span ss="aiText">moaned, closing her eyes and turning her face away. "I''m too tired," she protested, stretching her sore arms up and letting out a cute yawn.


    <span ss="aiText">— "Come on,<span ss="userText">zy<span ss="aiText"> butt," Aster chuckled,<span ss="userText"> sitting<span ss="aiText"> up and<span ss="userText"> poking<span ss="aiText"> his sister''s<span ss="userText"> cheek yfully<span ss="aiText">.


    <span ss="aiText">"Nuh-uh. I''m staying here, and I am not moving a single <span ss="editText">muscle<span ss="aiText">," <span ss="userText">Silvia pouted, frowning cutely as Aster continued to poke her cheek. "You can try to clean me up, but I''m not going anywhere,"<span ss="aiText">she<span ss="userText"> mumbled<span ss="aiText">, crossing her arms in defiance.<span ss="userText"> "I will stink and do it proudly! Lying here, on the ground! Doing nothing!"


    <span ss="aiText">Aster scratched the back of his head and sighed. "Alright, I''ll heat up some water and bring it here. Stay<span ss="userText"> here and..."<span ss="aiText"> he<span ss="userText"> nced<span ss="aiText"> at her<span ss="userText"> dirty<span ss="aiText">, sweaty<span ss="userText"> tunic<span ss="aiText">, "...do not move, I guess."


    Silvia was beaming with triumph as she closed her eyes and stretched her legs out, wiggling her little toes happily. Aster chuckled softly before standing up and walking towards the firece. Their mother was sound asleep, and the only sound inside the cave was the fire crackling.


    Speaking of, the fire was quite low. They got a bit carried with their training. Aster added a few pieces of wood to the mes, making it burn brighter. The entire cave lit up, casting dancing shadows on the stone walls and floor. With the fire looking good, Aster picked up the dirty pot beside the firece and carried it along with a bowl of water outside to clean it.


    <span ss="userText">Opening<span ss="aiText"> the door, Aster stepped into the chilly <span ss="editText">evening <span ss="aiText">air and closed the door behind him. <span ss="editText">T<span ss="aiText">he stars twinkled <span ss="editText">high<span ss="aiText"> above,<span ss="userText"> shining<span ss="aiText"> faintly against the<span ss="userText"> evening <span ss="userText">sky. Pink and<span ss="aiText"> purple hues colored the clouds<span ss="userText"> as<span ss="aiText"> thest rays of the sun disappeared behind the horizon,<span ss="userText"> giving<span ss="aiText"> way to the darkness.


    <span ss="userText">Doing dishes without direct ess to water<span ss="aiText"> was not fun. <span ss="userText">Aster sighed, walking a little further away from the cave entrance to reach the sandy soil. He ced the pot on the ground and used a handful of sand to scrub away the stubborn bits of food and grease that had clung to its surface.


    A soft burst of wind rustled the grass around him as he was almost done rinsing the pot with water from the bowl. The wind carried with it a strange, <span ss="userText">foul smell that <span ss="userText">seemed toe from somewhere behind him. Aster quickly recognized the scent.


    He quickly jumped forward, away from where he had been sitting, without even turning around. He heard something hit the ground where he had been just a moment before, and then he heard a noisy, angry roar.


    <span ss="aiText">Aster spun around, <span ss="userText">still holding a metal pot in his trembling hands. Countless high-pitched, piercingughs echoed in the air and seemed to being from all directions simultaneously. In front of him stood<span ss="aiText"> a <span ss="editText">creature—a disgusting, foul-smelling monster wearing a matted fur coat, holding a long spear in his right hand. Its grey skin was covered with some gross liquid, and it had<span ss="aiText"> sharp teeth and blood-red eyes<span ss="userText"> that stared<span ss="aiText"> right into his soul.


    <span ss="aiText">A goblin.<span ss="userText"> It was simr to the one Aster fought before, but taller—much taller—at least two heads<span ss="editText"> above Aster. <span ss="userText">It wasn''t as skinny and hunched<span ss="aiText"> as the previous one, either. This one looked stronger, with broad shoulders and<span ss="editText"> visible<span ss="aiText"> muscle<span ss="userText">s on his arms. Behind him stood four other creatures, smaller than him but bigger than the one Aster killed. <span ss="userText">And who knows how<span ss="aiText"> many more were hidden in the shadows.


    <span ss="userText">— "They found us<span ss="aiText">!" Aster screamed<span ss="editText"> at the top of his lungs<span ss="aiText">, his heart pounding <span ss="editText">wildly from the adrenaline rush<span ss="aiText">. The creature snarled and charged at him with its spear raised high, mouth open wide, and saliva dripping down its chin. <span ss="aiText">Without thinking, Aster lifted his arms in front of him, protecting himself with the metal pot.


    A loud, metallic ng rang in his ears as the spear connected with the pot. The impact made him stumble backward, and he barely managed to stay on his feet. But he wasn''t given time to recover as the goblin swung its spear sideways, aiming at his torso.


    Aster raised his arms again, blocking the attack with the pot once more. The force of the blow sent a numbing pain through his arms, but he held strong.


    <span ss="aiText">"A<span ss="editText">sty<span ss="aiText">! <span ss="editText">Asty<span ss="aiText">!" Silvia''s scream sounded from behind him, followed by the noise of a wooden door being opened<span ss="userText"> wide. <span ss="editText">Loudughs echoed through the air again, and four other goblins rushed to the cave entrance. Aster quickly threw the pot at the goblin before him and turned around, running towards the cave as fast as he could<span ss="userText">, desperately trying to reach it before they did.


    <span ss="aiText">— "<span ss="userText">Close<span ss="aiText"> the door! Close the door!" Aster yelled, his feet pounding against the ground. Silvia stood motionless, her golden eyes wide <span ss="editText">from shock <span ss="aiText">and her face pale with fear.


    A secondter, Aster crashed into his sister, grabbing her tiny body and pushing her inside. The wooden barricade mmed shut behind them, followed by the sound of something hitting wood hard. Aster grabbed a spear nearby and pushed it between the rope handle and the rock<span ss="aiText">, locking it.


    The noise rang through the cave repeatedly, getting louder and louder with each impact. <span ss="userText">Their mother<span ss="aiText">, woken by the sudden noise, <span ss="userText">screamed something<span ss="aiText"> at them, but Aster couldn''t make out what she was saying. His eyes <span ss="aiText">remained fixed on the wooden door, watching it tremble and shake violently, the<span ss="userText"> spear<span ss="aiText"> creaking and bending under the force.


    The end had never felt so near.