Shade reappeared from the shadows, his small face pale but his eyes burning with renewed intensity, immediately grabbed Eirin's hand. He pulled her with surprising force, his small legs already churning as he started running away, back towards the cave entrance.
But Eirin couldn't stop herself from looking back. Over her shoulder, she saw the monster, Girak, still smiling gently, a look of unwavering devotion on its craggy face. It did not move, nor did it attempt to defend itself against the relentless barrage.
Girak only remained standing there, a colossal, unmoving barrier between Eirin and the advancing bounty hunters. He knew, with an ancient wisdom, that once he moved, once he engaged in combat, his sheer size and power could inadvertently endanger the two students. His only purpose was to protect, to create a path for her escape.
