Helydia approached the counter, furious, her face revealing a deep irritation. She glanced at Samuel, who maintained his neutral and bored expression, as if the chaos around him were merely a passing breeze. In her thoughts, she sharply addressed him: "Seriously, what the hell did you do?"

Samuel, always impassive, showed no signs of reaction, Helydia's words echoing only in his mind. She, irritated, placed five copper coins on the counter. "Here you go, my brave one," she thought towards the innkeeper, who barely dared to move, his eyes wide with horror at the spectacle that had just unfolded in his establishment.

They left the tavern without another word, Samuel walking at a steady pace, still wrapped in his black cloak, the hood over his head. Helydia walked beside him, her thoughts still occupied by the event, constantly casting inquisitive glances at her companion.

They had barely walked a few meters outside , when a voice echoed behind them.

"Stop!" "You are under arrest!" Here comes the armored man, emerging from the tavern, his arm still severed, dripping with blood, his face twisted by rage and pain.

He charged towards them, but Samuel, activated "Awakened Speed." As if he had teleported, he appeared instantly behind the guard. With a precise gesture, he wiped the rusty blade of his sword with a piece of his cloak, removing all traces of blood. The man, barely aware of the speed at which Samuel had vanished from his line of sight, felt a tearing pain in his chest.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Samuel had sliced the man in two with a clean blow, leaving the body in two pieces on the ground. The scene provoked immediate chaos: passersby, seized by panic, screamed and ran to hide, seeking refuge in the nearby buildings.

The guard's silver blade, which he had materialized to attack Samuel, fell to the ground, useless and without a master. Samuel, with his impassive gaze and cold expression, observed the remnants of the confrontation before turning away, ready to continue on their way.

Helydia sighed, her gaze exasperated, clearly annoyed by the recent events. As she was getting ready to follow Samuel, a noise caught her attention. The young man in chains, who had remained silent until then, slowly exited the tavern, his head bowed. Without saying a word, he headed towards the scene of the carnage.

He knelt beside the severed body of his master, his eyes filled with tears. His sobs echoed in the deserted street, a poignant contrast to the chaos that had just unfolded.

Helydia, having heard Samuel's thoughts, opened her mouth and shouted towards the young man: "My friend is asking you if you intend to avenge your master!"

Samuel, his brows furrowed and sword at the ready, looked at the young man on the ground, preparing for any eventuality.