"So, you are saying that if I leave far enough, you will let her go?"

  Liam said with a concerned tone.

  The human in front of him was dangerous and he couldn't help but doubt him. He was a human and he had taken hostage a person he couldn't leave behind no matter what. He had to retrieve her no matter what.

  The human had promised to let her go once he had gotten a certain distance away from them, but he was unable to believe that. He wanted to propose a new, more reassuring condition but no matter what he suggested, it was immediately declined on the spot.

  He didn't have the upper hand in this exchange and he couldn't do nothing but obey to reassure Ilia's life.

  "That's right. Just leave and I promise you that I will be gone from this area in a matter of minutes."

  The human was calm and serious. Completely opposite to him and Ilia who were scared and frightened due to the situation.

  Still, that didn't stop Liam from speaking once again to him. The deal wasn't reassuring enough and he couldn't just leave.

  "How.. how will I know that you will keep your promise?"

  His question was to be expected of course. How could he trust him? How could he believe a person who used his friend as a hostage?

  "Because you don't have a choice. That's how. So either you leave and you believe me, or either you stay and watch your friend die because of you. You have ten seconds to decide. I have wasted enough time."

  The human's words struck him like a hammer. He only had ten seconds to decide. How could he decided something that serious in only ten seconds? He didn't know.

  In a desperate attemp, he looked at Ilia, as if expecting her to decided.

  Noticing him, Ilia still scared for her life, was unable to respond. She just looked at him, horrified by the whole ordeal.

  Realizing that Ilia was unable to respond, Liam gritted his teeth and turned around. He didn't wanted to leave her but he didn't had a choice. This was the only way he could save her. At least that was what he hoped.

  "I will do what you want so please, let her free. I beg you."

  Saying that, he began running away with unstable steps, unable to look behind him. Even though he did this to save her, he couldn't bring himself to look at her while leaving. He didn't wanted to face her, while thinking that this might be the last time he saw her.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  ***

  In a few moments, the elf's footsteps had quieted down until they couldn't be heard anymore. He had left far enough, without looking back.

  Making sure that the elf had left, Thita spoke to the girl the boy had called Ilia witough bothering to remove his knife from her neck.

  "Looks like he left."

  Hearing him, Leslie responded with fear.

  "Will... will you let me.. go?.."

  Her tone was desperate, but there was a hint of hope in it.

  Ignoring her question, Thita spoke once again.

  "You told me earlier that you killed my party member because she was human. Isn't that right?"

  "...yes..."

  "You also told me that humans are the ones that kill your kind. So, doesn't that mean that I should kill you?"

  Hearing his cold voice, Ilia shivered in horror. Her previous fear started returning now that Liam was gone, to the point that tears started rolling down her eyes.

  "I am sorry! Please! Please, don't kill mee! I dont want to diee!"

  Even though she screamed and cried, she didn't dare to move. She didn't dare to resist. After all, her life was in his hands, whether she wanted it or not.

  Hearing her screams, Thita spoke once again.

  "Then let's make a deal."

  "Please, I will give you anything you want! Please, spare me!"

  She didn't have a choice. This was the only way to survive, now that Liam left.

  As if pleased with her response, Thita spoke once again.

  "I will let you go, but in exchange, I want you to promise me one and only thing."

  As if getting her hope back, Ilia spoke once again.

  "Yes! Anything you want!"

  Pulling his knife even closer to her neck to the moment it touched it, Thita spoke with a cold tone.

  "Promise me that you and your friend will never kill a human or any other living being for such a bullshit reason."

  Hearing his words and with his knife touching her neck, Ilia spoke with fear.

  "Yes! I promise! Please, please don't kill me, I promiseee!"

  Recieving her answer, Thita removed his knife from her neck and stood up. He seemed pleased with her response.

  "I hope you will keep your promise just like I did. Just know that if you don't, I will find you and I won't give you another chance to make up for it."

  Ilia didn't dare to move, even though she was finally free from Thita. It was as if the knife was still on her neck. She still felt fear. She still felt that her life could be taken at any moment.

  Seeing her unable to move due to fear, Thita decided to speak once again.

  "I will be taking my leave then. I would advice you to take your leave too. It would be better for both of us, if our paths don't intercept again. I hope you agree."

  Saying his last sentence, Thita began walking towards where Alex was supposed to be. He had made sure to tell the boy to go towards the opposite way from Alex, in order not to result in a fight between the two.

  Of course, that would be the case if the boy hadn't killed the Alex beforehand.

  'Let's hope he didn't. It would be too troublesome to return to the town with all my allies dead. But again, when was the last time my hopes ended up paying off?'

  Getting further and further away from Ilia with his thoughts being his only companion, Thita's footsteps could no longer be heard. At least, Ilia could no longer hear them.

  She was still scared and worried that that human would come back if she left. She was still afraid and unable to believe that such a cold person had let her go just like that.

  Hopefully, Liam would return and help her get back to her senses, but that wouldn't change much.

  That human wasn't the only one who would end up judging her for her actions.