The flutters of a dark red mane appeared in my vision—the surroundings cooled down with his arrival.
Why—why would he help me?
He had stopped the blade with his bare hand, grabbing the flames and all, without even a single drop of blood spilling out of him.
"Are you proud? Caleb!?" The man asked reminding him even of his own name. A pressure could be felt as he opened his mouth.
Caleb stood in silence, unable to keep his eyes still as he stared at the man who stood between his blade and me.
"What do you think you are doing? Haven't you already won?" The man pushed the blade back as he walked forward
"..."
"ANSWER ME!" It was a scream that made even my gut twirl.
While the man towered over him, staring him in the eyes, Caleb said,
"I-I wa-s commanded to..." His eyes shifting away before he could even finish the first word.
"Who would do such a thing?!" The first drops of blood streamed down the man's palm as his face tightened.
"The count of this city..." Caleb's gaze passed by the man's gaze.
Count—isn't that a noble...? I tried my best to keep standing on my legs.
"The count? Why would he want this kids head?"
Caleb's gaze shifted down, away from the man.
"Speak." He looked down at Caleb now, there was not even space for me left in between them.
His legs trembling, making him stand hunched over,
"Because Tjer hit his son."
A silence came as they both turned their gazes towards me.
It wasn't just them. No—the entire crowd was looking at me in silence. The man had even let go of Caleb's blade, revealing the small cut he gave himself.
"Uh..." My gaze shifted to my left, away from both men.
"Why would you even do that—this was all within his rights then..."
I brought my hand to my chin, and said,
"I don't really know what a count is..." My gaze returning to them, unable to lift my head up as I stared at the ground beneath us,
"I know that it's a noble... not that I know what that means."
The only sound that could be heard, was from the gust that came.
"Pft..." A snicker echoed through the silent arena, I didn't know whether it was Caleb or the man, but it was enough to make the crowd laugh—loud enough to reach beyond the arena.
"We'll talk about it later, but kid we need to talk about something..." The man said, his eyes locked with mine, with a bright burning light shining inside of them.
His fist trembled while looking at me.
"It's alright with me—but about what?" I strained my neck trying to meet his eyes.
"Uhm... sorry for interrupting sir." Caleb said, interrupting our conversation as the man stared daggers at him, but Caleb didn't notice—his were locked with mine,
"I heard that the count was out for your little sister as well."
I could feel my lower jaw trembling, along with my hands that clenched into my sheathed sword.
I'd kill that man.
"Tjer, you shouldn't kill the count—you'll be dead before you even can. So value your life, and your sisters. Go find her." The man said as if he could read me perfectly.
"Sorry... you're right." My hand kept trembling as I let go of my sword.
"Thank you for saving me, you can find me at the inn." I lowered my head to the man, glancing over to Caleb before I rushed towards the exit.
Right before I left the arena I could hear a single sentence from Caleb,
"Sir, I doubt whether he knows who you are—that's quite uncommon."
Who is that person?
'You got completely shut down, having refused my help beforehand.'
'You wouldn't have been able to do anything—and it felt like something I had to do myself.'
'Yes... true—especially when he showed his essence to you. He had gone into layers even deeper than you.'
'Don't worry about it—I'll need to get my essence back soon, and I will fight him again.' A grin showed on my face as I ran through the streets at full speed, not minding the crowd that hindered my way.
I couldn't feel pain, even all the exhaustion had disappeared.
I was one road away from the inn.
And as the inn came into sight, my nails dug even deeper into my palm,
'It's strange, but I don't feel that worried... as if I know it's going to be fine.'
'You don't feel worried about your sister? Are you alright?'
'No—I'm worried.'
'Okay I thought you were taken over.'
'Of course not, it's just... it feels like everything is going to be fine.'
'If you say so.'
I pushed the door open, and rushed inside.
Everything was tidy, no sign of any skirmish—Mim would have no way of fighting back anyway.
I ran up the stairs, there was nothing off as I reached for the door,
Please be inside...
The sunlight reached the beds, lighting Mim up who lay calmly on the mattress, waiting for me.
I jumped towards her, and pulled her into my embrace.
"Brother calm down, what's wrong...?" She asked, as a tear of mine fell on her scalp.
"Nothing..." I responded to her.
"Okay~" She said as she hugged me back.
"Nothing happened, right?!" I asked
"No, nothing really?"
"Are you sure? You didn't hear anything?" I left my hands on her shoulders as I looked into her eyes.
"Oh yeah! Eden came and visited me!"
"Wait Eden? What was he doing here?"
Did he protect her?
"He just left actually, and told me to give you a message."
"Message?"
"Yes! That you shouldn't feel indebted to him, and that he won't have to keep an eye on us anymore."
"He said something like that."