"Why don't you try setting up your tent again?"
Aria's voice was filled with cold fury as her violet eyes glowed intensely.
The man who had spoken earlier stumbled back, his trembling finger pointing at her.
"Are you looking for a fight!?"
"And what if we are?"
Aria questioned back, and as if to support their friend, both Sarah and Lyra pulled the strings of their bows, their arrows pointing at the townsfolk they once protected.
The soldiers grabbed the hilts of their swords, prepared to make a move the moment something went wrong. Their bonds, sensing the danger, had already come out from their Sanctuaries and growled at their potential enemies.
The two sides stared at each other, both trying to come up with a strategy that would lead them to victory.
The women were confident in their skill, while the soldiers were confident in their numbers.
The tension in the air rose, then suddenly,
Slowly, he raised his head and looked at the Estwyn people, his piercing blue eyes glimmering under the firelight.
"I will say this once, so listen well."
He spoke in a low, calm voice. And yet, everyone in the camp heard it.
"If there comes a time when I must choose between the three people who stood with me through thick and thin…"
His gaze swept through Aria, Sarah, and Lyra before landing on Tobias and the townsfolk.
"…or the people who threw me away after using me…
I will not hesitate to make a decision."
Kael then glanced at the soldiers and,
"The moment you take out your weapons, I will consider you my enemy. And trust me when I say this,
This will never end well for you."
The air grew cold as Kael's words echoed throughout the camp. One of the soldiers flinched. His sword, which was halfway drawn, slipped back into its sheath.
No soldier dared to move.
They had all seen what sort of monster this man was, how he took out most of the Brutes and the Flying all on his own. If this man moved…
They would never stand a chance.
"Hero Kael, should you really be doing this?"
Tobias spoke up. In his arms was Selina, who seemed afraid, nervous, and confused. She couldn't tell what had happened. The Hero she adored… why did her grandpa tell him to leave…? Was the Hero now angry…? Would he not bring the town's laughter back anymore…?
Kael glanced at the child for a moment, then he turned towards her grandpa and,
"You are mistaken if you think I am a Hero and bound by the responsibility of being one. I am not magnanimous enough to allow people to use me and let them walk over me."
Kael glanced at Selina again and,
"There are a few people here I care about, so I will allow you to leave, but do not test my limits."
Then, Kael stared at the man who had confronted Aria before, and his eyes turned cold.
"And don't point your fingers at my allies. It won't take me a second to chop it off."
The man's body jerked in terror as he fell to the ground.
"Hero Kael, please try to unde—"
"I will not say it again, Tobias.
In the end, the Town Head lowered his head and with trembling body, he ordered the townsfolk to move. Within a few minutes, the people gathered their things and started leaving. Their gazes were full of frustration, anger, and… fear.
Kael, along with the three women, stared at them as they left, and Aria snorted.
"They don't even feel guilty! So much for being 'grateful' to us."
"This is how the world is, Aria."
"People think of their well-being before anyone else's. My presence here put them and their families in danger. It is not surprising that they would want me to leave."
"But you protected them!"
"And now I am the one putting them in danger. It makes no difference if I protect them in the day and put their lives at risk at night."
Kael answered calmly.
He wasn't a fool. He could understand the situation, and he couldn't exactly blame the townsfolk. After all, if he were in their position, he might have done the same.
"You seem to know more about our world than we do."
Aria spoke weakly, and at those words, Kael laughed out loud.
"You think my world is free of such emotions? Mine is probably even worse than yours."
A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face.
The women stared at the Hero, then suddenly,
"Then why did you side with us?"
Sarah couldn't help but question. She wanted to know what the Hero was thinking.
"I said I understand them. It doesn't mean I didn't feel bad."
Kael answered. Then, he stared at the three women, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Also, all three of you stood up for me. How could I not do the same?"
Aria and Sarah's breathing hitched as Kael's face was illuminated by the firelight. The two turned silent, unable to say anything. Lyra, on the other hand, directly stared at Kael and,
"Stop trying to seduce us. It won't work on me."
Kael laughed out loud.
"Alright, I will stop."
Then, he glanced at the camp, or whatever was left of it, and sighed.
"Anyways, we should set up our tent. We will leave first thing in the morning."
At those words, the women came out of their reverie and nodded. Sarah then stepped forward and,
"Hero Kael, you must be tired after a long day. Please leave it to us."
"I will be of help, I promise."
Kael chuckled, and in front of his smile, Sarah couldn't resist.
The four worked together to set up the camp. The moment they were done, Lyra quickly brought out her mattress, pillows, and blanket, and made herself comfortable.
The three of them stared at her in silence.
"She has no intention of keeping watch, does she?"
Kael questioned with a wry smile on his face.
"Lord Kael, you and Sarah should rest now. I'll keep watch."
Aria made the arrangement, and knowing this was what they did yesterday, Kael nodded.
He and Sarah rested. Two hours later, Kael woke up.
"Lord Kael, you can sleep. There is ti—"
"I will be back soon."
Kael spoke as he stood up, and at his sudden action, Aria frowned.
"There is someone I wish to talk to,