Meera ran across the yard. Her mother dropped to her knees, arms outstretched. When they collided, it wasn't just a hug — it was a love words couldn't capture. Both clung to each other, shaking with tears, laughter, and raw relief.
Rivaan watched quietly, thinking of his grandfather. Then he gently placed the unconscious girl beside them.
He turned to Meera's mother and said softly,
"Please... take care of her. She's very weak. Get her some water."
Still clutching her daughter, Meera's mother nodded quickly.
"I will take care of her. I promise."
Rivaan smiled and breathed out slowly. The weight on his shoulders felt lighter.
He turned, tightening the strap of his bag. Just as he stepped away, a small voice stopped him.
"Big Brother!"
He turned — Meera was holding out Griffith.
"I think... he wants to go with you," she said.
Rivaan knelt, gave a grateful smile, and gently took Griffith into his hands, scratching under the griffin's neck.
"Good work, buddy," he whispered. "You kept her safe."
Then he carefully put Griffith back into his shoulder bag.
As he stepped away again, Meera's voice came once more.
"Big Brother, please bring other Big Brother too."
He stopped, looked back, and nodded.
"I will."
He began walking toward the manor doors. Behind him, the voices of freed prisoners and villagers rose.
"Wait!" someone called.
"Where are you going?" another shouted.
Rivaan glanced back.
"I'm going to bring back her other Big Brother."
He pointed toward Meera.
Then he walked back into the manor.
---
Rivaan stepped into the grand hall — broken chandeliers dangling, a long table stretching through the middle, decorated with spilled wine, blood, and pieces of human flesh.
Reiner stood near the center, breathing heavily.
Rivaan walked up to him and smirked,
"Looks like you did all the work alone."
Reiner grinned.
"It was kind of relaxing — just me, my sword, and screaming."
Rivaan chuckled, but the air shifted, growing heavy.
His gaze flicked to the shadowy head of the table. A large man sat motionless like a statue, eyes locked on them — unblinking.
Rivaan's smile faded.
"Who's that?"
Reiner's voice dropped.
"I don't know. He didn't move or speak. I think... he might be their leader."
Rivaan tilted his head.
"Wait... did you kill him too?"
Reiner shook his head.
"No. I cut down all his men before we got down here. But he's just sitting there... watching."
The seated man rose.
He was massive — like a mountain, nearly seven foot tall, red-bloodshot eyes, shoulders like fortress walls.
In his hand, a monstrous weapon — a four-foot hammer-axe weighing about forty kilograms.
He stepped forward with a devilish smile and said,
"My name's Marcel Voltaire."
Rivaan's eyes widened.
"So he's not dead."
Voltaire growled,
"You kids ruined my supper. Now I'll make your screams immortal in this manor."
Before either could react, Voltaire slammed his hammer on the ground, trembling it like an earthquake.
Reiner snarled,
"Let's see who screams."
He charged without thinking.
"Reiner, wait!" Rivaan yelled.
Voltaire swung his massive weapon with thunderous force at Reiner's skull.
At the last second, Rivaan pulled him away.
The hammer smashed a pillar to dust. The whole hall shook.
Both backed up, wide-eyed.
Rivaan said,
"Okay... we do not let him hit us."
Reiner coughed.
"Yeah. I figured that out just before almost losing my head."
"We need a trap," Rivaan said.
"I'll go for his joints. You bait him first, then finish him off."
Reiner smirked.
"Why am I the bait?"
Rivaan shrugged.
"You're better at running."
Before they could plan more, Voltaire slammed down where they stood near the pillar.
Voltaire roared like an unchained beast.
Reiner led him toward the weak column. Voltaire raised his hammer, ready to axe Reiner.
At the last second, Reiner leapt aside.
BOOM!
The axe struck the pillar.
"NOW!" Rivaan shouted.
Catching a sword from the ground, he dashed in, slashing deep into Voltaire's knees.
Voltaire let out a horrific scream, falling forward onto his knees.
"Reiner — NOW!" Rivaan yelled.
Without pausing, Reiner leapt with full force, swinging the sword clean across Voltaire's neck.
Thump.
The monster's head rolled to the floor.
Breathing heavily, Rivaan looked at Reiner.
"You used your brain, Reiner."
Reiner nodded.
"Yeah, I think so."
Suddenly the manor trembled. Stones and the roof began to fall from the damage Voltaire had caused.
As they turned to run, a voice cried out,
"Wait! Wait — help me!"
It was the man from the morning — the one who had abused Mira's mother.
He was trapped under a fallen beam, reaching out, begging for his life.
Reiner stepped forward.
The man pleaded,
"Please don't leave me."
Reiner stared coldly, then raised his sword.
"In your next life... don't ever touch a woman like she's your property."
Without flinching, Reiner cut his hand, then his heart, leaving him screaming in pain.
Both turned and ran.
Outside, Mira watched the manor collapse, tears filling her eyes.
"They're gone," she whispered.
But through the thick dust and crumbling smoke, Rivaan and Reiner appeared — bruised but breathing.
A moment of silence passed — then cheers erupted.
Mira shouted,
"Big Brother!"
Every villager's eyes filled with tears of happiness.
Because today, years of suffering finally ended.
The crowd rushed toward them, shouting thanks.
In that crowd, Rivaan caught Mira's hand and said,
"I kept my promise."