Selr leaned against the trunk of an ancient mulberry tree, lying in that narrow strip of shade that refused to let the sun swallow it. His worn leather armor groaned with every deep breath he took, and his broad swordnicknamed "Silence Cutter"lay beside him like a tamed beast waiting for its master's signal. Selr wasn't truly asleep a wandering knight living in the "Broken Kingdoms" knows that deep sleep is a free ticket to the grave. His ears caught the rustling of leaves, the sound of his companions' breathing, and even the tiny footsteps of ants on the dry soil. Selr
I think we've lost the road, or maybe the road has lost us The voice came mocking yet confident. It was Cassidy, the one eyed archer, sitting on a high branch above him, idly plucking the string of his bow as if playing a funeral melody. Selr (without opening his eyes) The road never gets lost, Cassidy. It's always there beneath our feet. We're the ones who choose to walk in the wrong direction. Cassidy laughing sarcastically "Philosophy doesn't feed hungry stomachs. The girl hasn't eaten since dawn, and the horses have started chewing tree bark out of hunger. Are you sure the 'Beacon Tower' lies beyond those mountains? Or are we chasing a mirage drawn for us by that little one Selr slowly opened his eyes; they were the color of cold ash. He looked to the right, where Elara, the white-haired girl was crouching on the ground drawing strange circles in the sand with a small piece of bone. She wasn't looking at them, but she heard everything. Elara (in a quiet, low voice A mirage doesn't have fangs, Cassidy. But the things following us now… have plenty Cassidy stopped playing with his bow. His expression suddenly darkened as he looked toward the distant horizon where a faint cloud of dust was rising not like the dust of the wind, but like the dust of an army advancing with deadly order. Selr slowly straightened in his seat; the joints of his armor let out a sharp creak. He gripped the hilt of his sword and felt the cold metal seep into his palm, as if the blade welcomed his return to work. Selr: "Cassidy, take Elara and climb the rocky hill. Don't stop no matter what sounds you hear behind you Cassidy (uneasy) slr those are the Ash Riders. No one faces them alone and lives to tell the tale Selr glanced at the olive tree that had been shading him, then toward the approaching dust. A faint smile formed on his face closer to a scar than to a smile. Selr I don't want to tell stories, Cassid I want to end them Selr rose to his full height, his cloak of black raven feathers fluttering in the wind, and in that moment he looked like a mountain of iron and flesh standing against the storm. He drew his sword "Silence Cutter" from its sheath, and a low hum echoed across the silent valley, announcing that the wandering knight had finally decided to stop resting. What do you think of Selr now We have portrayed him as a strong character, a man of few words whose actions speak for him. Shall we move to the next scene, "The First Clash at the Foot of the Hill I will describe how Selr fights with a unique style that blends brute strength with battlefield cunning..