The Story of Zayn

The plan Zayn had heard almost made sense, if only his leg weren't in so much pain, or if their enemy wasn't a spirit that had already killed them a long time before. But it was the last part of the plan that unsettled him the most.

As Zayn wrapped his leg tightly with a piece of cloth, he muttered, "Don't you think it's unethical to do that?"

Mr. Nahil, drawing his sword, replied, "Yes. I'm sure it is unethical." He handed the sword to Zayn and continued, "But it's either we stay here, fight and die, or we go through with it."

Zayn gripped the sword and started to steady himself with it. It wasn't his sword; it was Nahil's, but today, he would be the one using it.

"So, are you ready?" Nahil asked, placing his hand on the door handle.

"Let's do it," Zayn replied.

Nahil opened the door. There was nothing, no sound, no movement. He began walking down the corridor ahead of Zayn, then, after a moment, turned his head and gave a small nod. Zayn understood what that meant.

Nahil suddenly broke into a sprint. Zayn stayed back, hiding from view. A moment later, he saw it. The same black snake emerged from the shadows like a nightmare. Zayn tensed, but Nahil showed no hesitation as the snake chased him at full speed.

Zayn crept forward silently until he saw the snake open her mouth wide to swallow Nahil. At that moment, Nahil yelled, "Now, Zayn!" and slipped through a door, slamming it shut behind him.

He understood the signal and limped toward the snake as fast as he could. The creature was still focused on the closed door in front of her.

Taking advantage of her distraction, He leapt onto her, plunging his sword deep into her massive body. For a brief second, he clung to her back, but the snake thrashed wildly and sent him flying down the corridor.

Zayn hit the ground hard on his back, rolling. He felt every joint scream in pain, but all of it paled in comparison to the agony in his leg. 'Damn it,' he thought, watching the snake turn her gaze toward him.

He got to his feet and limped in the opposite direction, hearing the sound of destruction behind him. There was a door up ahead, but getting to it alive wasn't guaranteed.

He neared the door, but felt a rush of air behind him. The snake was right there, her jaws open wide.

It snapped down hard. A bite like that could tear a man to pieces, but Zayn had already slipped into the room and slammed the door shut behind him. One hand still gripped the handle, the other clutched the sword. His whole body trembled.

According to Nahil, the snake couldn't enter through closed doors. And Zayn believed him, but right now, fear was clawing at his chest.

Luckily, seconds passed. One, two, then three, and the snake didn't smash through the door. Zayn exhaled in relief.

But then he heard noise from the hallway.

"Zayn, get ready!" Nahil's voice called from the end of the corridor.

Zayn understood the signal. His friend had returned to lure the snake's attention once again.

He had only a few moments to strike. He opened the door, and the snake was chasing Nahil like a mouse, but unlike Zayn, Nahil could keep running longer. Every time the snake attacked, Nahil dodged with quick steps left or right, never once looking back.

It wasn't surprising. Nahil's ability as a first rank spellcaster let him glimpse a few seconds into the future.

Zayn started running, though he was slower than before due to the pain in his leg.

"Zayn, now!" Nahil's voice boomed just before he disappeared into another room.

Zayn was close this time. He drove his sword into the snake's body and began slicing to make the largest wound possible. But this time, he pulled the sword out quickly and started running again.

He couldn't take another hit; he had to get away fast. But there were no doors nearby. He had reached the end of the corridor. The only thing in front of him was a staircase leading down.

He hurried down the stairs. Something felt off; he couldn't hear anything behind him. He reached the lower floor. In front of him was a small window.

He looked up the staircase. The snake was still at the top, staring at him. But something was odd; her body looked frozen, like it was caught in tension.

"What's going on now?" Zayn muttered.

Then he heard Nahil's voice from afar: "Zayn, get down now!!"

Zayn didn't hesitate; he dropped to the ground. A second later, the snake launched herself at incredible speed and smashed through the window.

It was now partly outside, her head out the window, the rest of her body still above Zayn.

Zayn didn't miss the chance. He rose and started stabbing her from below.

Her head seemed stuck outside. Zayn stood and drove the sword in and out of her body again and again.

Finally, blood gushed from her in huge amounts. Each thrust of Zayn's sword dug deeper than the last.

But just as he dared hope he could finish her, her tail whipped around like a hook and wrapped around his neck.

Zayn was lifted into the air, choking. 'What now?' he thought as his vision faded. The sword grew heavy in his hand, but still he raised it and stabbed her tail again and again, hoping it would let go.

The snake didn't flinch. Her grip only tightened.

But just as Zayn was about to lose consciousness, it hurled him aside, slamming him into the stairs.

He clutched his neck, gasping for air. But in front of him, the snake began to pull herself free from the window.

"Zayn, now!" Nahil's voice cried from above.

Zayn got to his feet, swaying. He tried to take a step, but stumbled and fell down the stairs again, landing near the snake.

From the floor, Zayn looked up at it. it was nearly free now, her head emerging.

In a low, almost broken voice, Zayn murmured, "Why do you keep fighting? What are you holding on to?... If everything ends in death, what's the point of surviving one more day? Wouldn't it be simpler… to just end it now, rather than drag it out until tomorrow?"

The snake didn't answer. It continued trying to free herself.

Finally, it succeeded in lifting its head with pride.

But that pride didn't last long. Zayn's sword was already buried deep in her eye, the hilt the only thing still visible.

Before it died, the snake heard a sound. It never understood human language, but something in the voice's tone struck her.

It whispered, "I envy you."

It was the voice of its killer, Zayn.