Izaru walked through the forest, calm and serious. At least trying to be.
Because behind him, Liora walked while humming and hopping like a kangaroo.
"Can you stop humming?" Izaru asked, looking over his shoulder.
"Nope." she answered without hesitation.
"Why?"
"Because I'm excited to fight those brute!" she exclaimed, her eyes shimmering with excitement.
"They're ogres. Well, they are kinds brutes but-"
Before Izaru could finish, he heard it. A scream from a distance.
"What was that?!"
"Let's go check it out! What if those brutes attacked someone and they're screaming while dying?!" Liora said, trying to look worried. But her excitement completely betrayed her.
Izaru's brows twitched. "...No one screams while dying like that. That was more of an 'oh crap, I stubbed my toe' kind of scream."
"Even better!" Liora's boots crunch-crunch-crunch sped up on the leaves as she hopped ahead, nearly tripping over a root. "What if the ogres stubbed their toes? Can you imagine?! 'Owww my giant footsie!'" She stomped like an ogre and grabbed her own toe dramatically.
Izaru pinched the bridge of his nose. "...I feel like punching you."
By the time they reached the clearing, chaos was already unfolding. Half a dozen armoured knights were getting absolutely manhandled by three hulking ogres. Shields cracked, swords bent like cheap forks, and one knight was clinging to a tree branch screaming for his life while dangling upside down.
"Oh, wow," Liora whispered with sparkly eyes. "This is way better than I imagined!"
"That's not the point!" Izaru snapped, then noticed the small boy in royal robes hiding behind a wagon. Blond hair, fancy shoes, and shaking like a leaf. "Is that boy a royal or something?"
"Don't know!" Liora gasped. "But if he is, how cool will we look when he thanks us after we save him?!"
One of the knights yelled, "Protect the prince! Don't let them—AHHH!" He got smacked by an ogre club and flew like a frisbee into a bush.
Izaru sighed, drawing his gauntlets tight. "I really do have the devil's luck. I jinxed it like Sasaki. Well, let's get this over with."
Liora raised her hand eagerly. "Can I cut their heads off too? Pleaaase?"
"Why?," Izaru ordered.
"Aw, but it's so fun!"
"Not?"
"That's what I thought!"
The ogres roared and charged. Izaru dashed forward, slipping under the swing of a massive club. His gauntlets lit up, and with a single punch, he sent the first ogre sprawling like a ragdoll. The ground cracked where the beast landed.
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Meanwhile, Liora skipped straight up to the second ogre. "Hi there, big guy!" She ducked as it tried to stomp her, then leapt onto its back like she was playing piggyback. "Giddyup!" she laughed, swinging her blade and sending it's head flying.
Level up!
Level up!
The third ogre turned toward the prince. Bad idea.
Izaru blurred in front of it, caught its fist mid-swing, and snapped its wrist sideways with one twist. Then he calmly headbutted the ogre into the dirt, breaking it's skull.
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
Level up!
The knights stared in awe. One of them, covered in mud, shouted, "By the Goddess, they defeated them in seconds!"
Liora hopped off the fallen ogre and brushed herself off. "Seconds? Please. That was, like, one and a half minutes. Don't exaggerate."
The little prince peeked out, wide-eyed. "Um… th-thank you, misters… and miss!"
Liora crouched down in front of him with a huge grin. "Don't worry, squirt. If more brutes come, I'll just chop their heads off and—"
Izaru slammed a hand over her mouth instantly. "Don't scare the kid."
The prince blinked. "...Why did you cover her mouth?"
"Because," Izaru muttered, dragging Liora back by the collar, "kids shouldn't hear bad adventurer jokes."
The knights gathered around, bowing. "We're in your debt! You've saved the Empress's brother. How can we ever repay you?"
Liora raised her hand cheerfully. "Free food!"
Izaru facepalmed. "Ignore her."
The knights exchanged looks, then the one with the least bruises spoke. "We'll report your deeds directly to Her Majesty. You will be highly rewarded."
"What is your name, mister?" the prince asked.
"I'm Sakatu Izaru. And this is Liora."
"I'm Prince Cain Marnata Rosaliana. I'm the kid-brother of Empress Avelyine Marnata Rosaliana." the prince introduced himself while bowing. His actions and words clearly showed that he was royalty.
"You've got manners, Your Tiny Highness- I mean, your Royal Highness."
The prince smiled shyly. "Can you… come to the palace with me? I want to see you fight again!"
Liora gasped dramatically. "Did I just get a royal fan? Izaru, I'm famous now!"
"Maybe some other time. We've gotta go back to the town."
"Are you going to the Valir town?" the prince asked.
"Yeah?"
"Good! It's in the way, so we can just go together. When you're finished, you can come with me!"
Liora beamed. "Why not?!"
"I don't get a choice? Well, we'll see about that." Izaru groaned again, already imagining Lily's very angry face when she hears about this.
"I'm doomed."