"Who are you?" The stranger asked, his tone serious.
August slowly rose to his feet and carefully shook his head.
"I am not here to hurt anyone."
The young man in front of him did not believe him — he kept his tough appearance. His voice was full of wariness.
"We have no reason to believe you."
The surroundings grew tense, his eyes locked on the armed stranger.
Without a weapon August was already at a disadvantage — he tried his best not to seek any unnecessary trouble. But what if the person in front of him attacks? He had to defend himself in any case.
Keeping his mind cool August raised his hands.
"Look, I am not carrying any weapons on me."
The youth regarded him carefully for a while then held his blade more tightly.
"Still, no reason to believe you."
'He's repeating the same sentence now?'
August slowly stepped back—
"You have no reason to suspect me either. All I wanted was to drink water. And now that I've done so …it wasn't nice knowing you."
With that he quickly turned around and was about to run when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Not so soon"
The touch was powerful, even August couldn't help but shiver. Someone had grabbed him by the shoulder but who? He wasn't sure.
The voice sounded feminine, ruling out the youth who held a sword at him. Then whom? A mage?
"Nuh ..uh ..if I were you I wouldn't try moving."
The feminine voice spoke again, sending a chill down his spine.
'Damn, I am dying after all.'
"Miles," she spoke and August could feel the warrior taking steps towards him. "Tie his hands and feet."
'No, not again.'
Indeed it was frustrating being tied, especially for someone who had spent his night bound to the rough, forest vines.
It didn't take long for him to tie August down as the mysterious person slowly revealed herself.
Surprisingly, she was completely different from what he had expected. The girl seemed to be in her early twenties, ivory skin with chestnut hair falling down.
By her delicate stature she didn't seem like the one to intimidate a person just by grabbing their shoulder. And yet, she did somehow.
Aside from her incomprehensible strength, there was something different about her. By the flexible dress she wore, she seemed like someone of noble birth. Someone renowned.
And yet there was something off.
'Oh… there it is.'
He noticed her eyes were nothing like anyone else. The beautiful colour that resided in them was long gone, replaced by eerie emptiness.
Even now, she was talking to him but her eyes weren't regarding him at all.
'She's blind and strong? This is cheating.'
"My lady," the youth spoke, holding August tight. "We should kill him quickly."
The girl opened her mouth to say something but August beat her to it.
"What killing? You brainless fool, why are you so bent on taking my life huh? Were you raised in a broken household? You maniac."
The young man glared at him, his dark hair swaying in front of his beautiful face — "What I am doing is punishing a trespasser. You have no right to step foot on the territory ruled by the temple."
The youth visibly gritted his teeth.
"Now tell me, you idiot. Do you have permission?"
'What? Why would I need permission?'
August growled at him.
"Enough!" Suddenly, the girl spoke. Her sweet voice giving off a strong authoritative impression.
She took a step towards August, still no recognition in her eyes.
"Kind sir, please tell us your name."
'Woah …scary'
He felt a sudden chill hearing the complete change in the girl's tone. Now he felt more ashamed of being terrified of her.
'I should probably use an alias'
"My name?," he said thinking for a moment. "I am Augustus."
'Well done.'
Slowly, the expressions of the delicate girl softened—she pursed her lips in a smile.
"Can you tell us why you were here? Please, kind sir."
The girl was undoubtedly a mage, probably stronger than most. Yet, every time she spoke those gentle words he couldn't help but feel her kindness.
Perhaps it was a spell, but her concern seemed genuine to him. Her tone was respectful and she seemed to mind her manners. Unlike certain people.
Groaning slightly, he shot a glare at the warrior.
"Hey, can you lose your grip on me? …Thanks Oh… you asked me what I was doing here, am I right?"
He smiled, innocence dripping down his face.
"I came here to drink water. Because for the one last time I was thirsty goddammit!"
The warrior tightened the binding over his wrist,
"No one talks to the lady this way."
"Aaahhh" he screamed painfully. A normal person should've apologised but August tried to do something different.
"Oh.. is that so? Well I just did. What are you gonna do about it?"
He looked the young warrior in the eye,
"If you think you can take me on, then fight like a man."
The warrior's gaze hardened.
"If you oh so desire. Then I have no problem but only if you agree to fight to the death."
The breeze fell silent. A cold light flashed in August's unusual coloured eyes. He smiled wildly. A fair and equal fight. That was something he wanted from the beginning.
"I agree."
The warrior smiled as well. "Then how about we start—"
"You will do no such thing." The girl who was standingsilent for quite a while now finally chose to speak.
August turned to her, frowning— "then what the hell do you want from me?"
The girl smiled and turned away, "anything but a fight."
Clicking his tongue, he then turned to face the young warrior, "you aren't going to listen to her are you?"
"No," the warrior said almost immediately.
'Good' August thought but it seemed too early to celebrate.
The young man wasn't finished with his sentence,
"I have no choice but to listen to My Lady. I am her knight, I can't disobey her command."
August looked at the young warrior for a moment then stared at the girl in disbelief.
"Then, what the hell do you want from me?"
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