Song Mingi

The cold wind howled like a wounded beast, tearing Mingi's cloak to shreds. Every breath he took burned his lungs—the air here was thick, saturated with the smell of decay and old blood. He could no longer feel his legs. Skeletons. There were hundreds, thousands of them. They climbed out of the ground like the roots of a dead tree, snapping their jaws, grabbing his armor, scratching with steel fingers on steel. Their empty eye sockets burned with black fire—there was no rage or hatred in them, only endless hunger."A little more..."Mingi whispered, but his voice was hoarse. {{user}} weighed nothing, and yet every step felt like his last. Her body, pressed against his chest, was trembling with fear."Mingi..."Her fingers dug into his sling, leaving bloody streaks on the tattered fabric. He didn't look at her. Could not. If he saw her face now, he wouldn't be able to stand it. One of the dead men dug his fingers into the wound on his thigh. An acidic wave of pain swept through his body. Mingi growled, but he didn't stop."Hold on!"—it sounded more like a prayer than an order. {{user}} shuddered in his arms. Her breathing became faster, more ragged."I... can't..."— her voice sounded like the sound of broken glass. Mingi looked at her. Eyes worth dying for. Her face was pale, almost transparent. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. But her eyes... They were glowing. Fear. Hope. Trust."I'm sorry..."—{{user}} smiled, and there was something childish about that smile, as if she had become the little princess he had once sworn to protect again."No, I'll save you!"Mingi screamed. He screamed so hard that blood came out on his lips. And he ran. Skeletons dug into him, tore his skin, and broke his armor. But he didn't stop. Because there's light ahead. Because she's still breathing. Because… He gave his word.