Hands raised, Reiji slowly stepped out of the ruined hut.
"Hey," he said cautiously.
Staff raised and ready. Its crystal gleaming in the morning sun.
Rowan acted upon, "You're cursed. Who are you, and why are you here?"
Reiji slowly inched closer.
"Cursed?" He muttered, confused.
Rowan leveled his staff.
His staff flickered as he chanted, "Ignis, mea virtus est."
Then whispered, "Pyrogenic."
Reiji stopped.
Then he slid one foot back to settle his stance.
Reiji couldn't help but think, "People in this world like flashy greetings."
Heat burst around Rowan. A fiery aura wrapped his entire body, warping the air.
Reiji let out a silent sigh.
"How am I gonna approach this guy this time?"
The moment his hands moved, Rowan bolted sideways, leaving sparks trailing behind him.
Reiji froze.
Rowan followed it with a chant, "Exi flamma, et consume in me voluntatem! Flameball!"
A sphere of fire erupted from Rowan's palm and blasted off towards Reiji.
"Act weak?"
He braced himself and blocked with crossed arms.
*BOOM!
The flame swallowed him whole.
The blast sent him flying back, and he crashed into the hut.
The wood material instantly caught fire.
"This might actually kill me!"
He rolled out.
His body was engulfed in flames.
He screamed, "AHHHHHHHH! HELP!!"
The sickening smell of burning flesh filled the air as he thrashed desperately on the ground.
Rowan's jaw dropped in confusion.
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Rowan asked.
He could not believe his inability to fight back.
"he… he's screaming to death."
Rowan quickly deactivated his Pyrogenic aura and hurried over.
"Solflare, fer auxilium. Golden Fire." He cited without hesitation.
A warm golden flame wrapped Reiji's burned body.
The screaming slowly softened as the golden glow mended his skin, hair, and burned flesh.
After a while, his arms, face, and even his silver-gray hair were restored to their former state.
He lay down panting.
Rowan gasped for air and placed down his wand. Its crystal cracked and completely paled.
Then, after catching his breath, he blurted, "I-I apologize!"
"You startled me. You… looked dangerous. And– uh–I thought you were a strong fighter."
Reiji covered his face to hide a defeated laugh.
"That was a bad plan. I should never risk myself like that again."
While Reiji was contemplating, Rowan glanced at his drake after he had seen that the cloth Reiji used for clothing had burned away.
He noticed Rowan's panicked eyes.
He smirked.
"Luckily, this guy seems easy to manipulate. Opportunity."
He immediately covered himself.
Exaggerating his reaction.
"Oh– uh– sorry!" Rowan sprinted to his drake, rummaging through its satchel before returning with two tunics.
"Here, you can take either or both."
Reiji stood and looked at his whole body.
"His mending was slow but it worked so effectively."
He continued his act.
He hobbled and took the white tunic with black lining and wore it.
"Tha– thank you."
"You're welcome." Rowan responded, "Uh– I mistook your energy. I'm sorry."
Reiji suppressed a mischievous grin and dramatically said, "I thought I was gonna die!"
He milked the moment for sympathy.
"I never thought I could act like this. Almost as if I don't know myself."
He stabilized himself.
"I'm selling it too much."
Rowan finally had the chance to ask, "So… what are you doing in a place like this?"
Reiji put on a solemn expression and lied smoothly.
"I was fleeing the war. My village… was destroyed."
"Gromble invasion?" Rowan asked, concern was felt in his voice.
He nodded and said, "Yes, it was."
"Which village did you come from?"
He used everything from what he overheard with their conversation, "It's a small village on the southernmost border."
"Jarmayn or Bishmiri?" Rowan asked with worried eyes.
Reiji's eyes widened, feigning recognition.
"Bishmiri. You… know our village?"
Rowan nodded and patted his shoulder.
"The volcanic mountain region explains your rugged look."
He continued his facade as he conversed with Rowan.
But at the back of his head, "I've never deceived anyone like this before."
"But your hair," Rowan asked. "Why is it silver-gray? And your complexion is too light for the south."
Reiji blinked.
"My hair is… silver?"
He forced a laugh.
"Just a family trait. Runs in the blood."
Caught off guard, he thought, "Why is my hair silver? is this guy bluffing?"
Rowan stared. "Are you hiding anything?"
That came at a surprise, so his false pretense crumbled.
"Uhm..."
Rowan gazed harder.
"Who are you really?"
Reiji stalled. "Me? Who am I?"
Rowan sighed deeply.
"You could not answer about that hair of yours, huh?"
Reiji froze, unable to respond.
"I get why you're hiding it," Rowan continued, "but that mark on your throat must be the reason?"
He hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"I have a mark on my throat?"
"You have this atmosphere around you, you're marked with an ancient symbol, and you're clearly hiding something. Why?" Rowan questioned.
Reiji tensed instantly, ready to attack or defend.
But Rowan's tone softened.
"I could only imagine what you've been through."
"What?" He burrowed his brow.
"I believed your story, but If you want to have a matching story with what you look like maybe say you're from the Eastern continent?" Rowan continued with a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with understanding
He exhaled, surprised with how much sympathy Rowan had shown him.
"I think you're originally from Tojintei. If you want, maybe I can give you enough information so you can use that as a cover story instead? We aren't hostile to them anymore." Rowan said.
Reiji remained speechless.
But, he mused himself, "Did I get a deceiving power as well? or this guy is just a really kind soul?"
"I hope I don't regret this." Rowan said, then extended a hand.
"You don't have to hide anymore. I want to welcome you to Fundameria, western continent of Paragonia." He exclaimed.
"I am Rowan, servant of House Bellatoris, vassal of Lord Aetus Varernae, one of the Four Lords of Bellatoria."
Reiji let out a relieved breath.
Then he chuckled.
The absurd experience so far finally paid off.
"I want to befriend this guy."
"My name is Reiji. Thank you for accepting me."
Rowan squinted.
"But, Reiji. Are you trustworthy?"
"…Am I?"