Michael glanced at him. His voice was different, more stern than usual. Uncle wasn't the type of person to be scared of someone else. He didn't even flinch at guards yelling at him.
They stopped before Uncle like he was some abandoned animal. Even judging by their clothes, the two groups didn't even look the same. One side had clothes stained with dirt and sweat. The other had shining armor and the privilege to do anything they wanted.
"What's this?" one of them said. "Need any help?"
Uncle kept walking. "No."
"Woah, did I hear that right? A slave smacks away the hand that tries to free him?"
But Uncle kept walking, ignoring the adventurer that turned his horse around.
Michael looked behind him. The adventurer had this sarcastic smile on his face as if he enjoyed this. Michael knew some adventurers were scum but he didn't pay any mind to it. Because he never expected to run into one here.
"Come on," the woman pleaded behind him. "We don't have time for this."
"You, shut up," he said. "I would rather burn off my ears than listen to another word from you."
The other man hopped off his horse. "We shouldn't—"
The adventurer drew his sword and pointed at the man, freezing him in his steps. Michael realized there must have been some background conflict but Tito urged him to walk even faster, even pushing him behind his back.
"We failed the quest," the adventurer said. "Do you think I want to return back to the guild empty handed?"
The man gulped. "I don't see robbing any slaves would help."
"I'm not robbing them. I'm just—clearing my mind."
"We…still have to go back." the woman said over his shoulder. "They're probably still waiting for us."
The adventurer hopped off his horse. "You two go back, I'll follow in a bit."
The two exchanged looks, as if this scenario was already familiar to them. With a shared sigh, they took their reins and rode off in the distance so they wouldn't become an accomplice.
Uncle moved Michael behind him as the adventurer walked beside them. It was a strange atmosphere yet Uncle looked to be the most disturbed. Sweat beaded down Uncle's face as the adventurer said nothing.
Michael didn't understand what was happening. This was his, maybe, third encounter with another adventurer in his entire life. If they were being robbed, there was nothing to rob at all. Michael never heard of wooden planks being valuable as gold but clearly this adventurer seemed interested. Still, there wasn't anywhere to go but forward or back and the plain forests beside them. If they were still on that wagon, they would have reached their town already.
"My guild captain," he yawned. "She's a real nut-case of a woman. You see, I haven't been doing well and she's been giving me real shit lately. Just so happens that I am given the worst party imaginable and an impossible quest. And guess what, surprise! We end up failing to retrieve the artifact."
Uncle kept walking but Michael seemed inclined to his story.
"You know what I think," he continued. "I think she wanted me to fail all along. I think the entire guild wanted me gone and just needed a reason for it. I mean, if they would just ask nicely, I would have left. But she would rather embarrass me in front of everyone instead."
Uncle kept walking forward, paying no attention to the adventurer.
"The truth is," the adventurer laughed. "I'm not letting her have that satisfaction."
The adventurer reached behind him and grabbed a coin pouch.
"Here," he waved the pouch in front of Uncle. "Take it."
Uncle weaved his head out the way and continued walking.
"I don't believe it," he laughed again. "Who do you think you are?"
"No good comes free," Uncle said. "Unless you're expecting something in return."
He scoffed. "You're goddamn right."
The adventurer smacked away the planks on Uncle's shoulder, startling Michael behind him. Michael assumed they were getting robbed but now this confirms it.
"Kneel," he said. "I might as well have some fun."
Uncle raised his hands. "Please—"
"Who do you think is in control, huh? Get on the ground before I gut that kid too."
Michael felt the adventurer glance in his direction. Was that a threat? He couldn't tell. He thought adventurers were good people. They fought off beasts and protected the town from harm. This guy couldn't have been one, trying to rob off workers who had dirt from nothing.
"You're an adventurer, right?" Michael asked. "Why are you robbing us? We're workers, you can't hurt us or you'll get arrested."
The adventurer scoffed. "I thought leaving goody-boy out of the question was enough, but looks like they teach you nothing back there."
Uncle moved in the way. "Leave him out of this—"
"Move," The adventurer smacked him off. "The kid needs more than a lesson."
The adventurer drew his sword and thrusted the blade a few inches away from Michael's neck. He even felt the cold air brushing past his skin, almost hearing the silver gleam across the blade. But Michael didn't move. He stood his ground, with his eyes still locked on the adventurer.
"You got balls, kid," he smiled. "What's your name?"
"Michael Velo."
"Velo?" he repeated. "Doesn't sound like a noble to me. And yeah, you're right, I can't hurt you. But if you think I give a shit about some damn law—"
The adventurer sheathed his blade and smacked Michael across the face, sending him into the ground. Uncle yelled and lunged for the adventurer but he quickly maneuvered, kicking Uncle from the side. Michael couldn't even see how fast he was, it was practically a blur.
"You know," he kicked Michael over and over. "I really hate kids like you, thinking they know everything about the world and how peaceful it is. You should be happy that I'm here, because I'm teaching you a better lesson—"
Uncle stood from the ground and rushed back. "You leave him alone—"
The adventurer spun around and kicked him across the face, sending him right back down.
"Stay down, you fart," he said. "Aren't you a little too old to play the hero?"
Uncle grumbled something under his breath, wiping the blood from his mouth.
"And you," he turned his attention back onto Michael. "You got the nerve to look me in the eye but you can't stand up and fight back?"
Michael didn't know how hard he was closing his eyes. His whole body was curled up with his arms and legs. This was the only defense mechanism for people that were bigger than him. Instead of taking the risk of broken bones, he would rather let his body be bruised.
"Get up," the adventurer said loudly. "At least try something, you know, anything. You're not gonna live like this forever, right?"
Even if Michael was covering his head, he could still hear the adventurer clearly.
Michael slowly pulled back his arms and waited for him to be kicked again. He was only met with the pitiful gaze from the adventurer. Michael scrambled around and picked himself up. Uncle was in no condition to even fight anymore, he was already down in seconds. An old alcoholic versus a fledged adventurer wasn't even a competition. Still, Michael had no idea what this guy wanted nor what he was trying to accomplish.
"Come on," he gestured. "Show me what you got."
Michael drew back his fist and charged. He poured every ounce of strength into this attack, running as fast as he could. This punch would definitely knock him out.
The adventurer moved out the way and smacked him across the face, making him eat the ground again.
Michael groaned, lifting his head off the dry road. The side of his face was stinging with pain.
The adventurer sat on top of him. "You're one stupid boy, aren't you?"
"I don't—" he strained. "I don't have any money."
"You still think I'm trying to rob you? How naive can you be?"
Michael still struggled underneath him.
He sighed, standing off of Michael's small body.
Michael grabbed a fist full of dust and swung it across the adventurer. "I got him! Let's get out of here—"
But Uncle was already gone. When the adventurer had his attention stuck on Michael, Uncle had the chance to make his escape. He had left Michael alone with this crazy dude.
The adventurer pushed him back to the ground, sitting on top of him again.
Michael didn't even bother to struggle. "What do you want?"
He stared off. "I wanted to kill you and the old man."