Town of Artes, Abral’s smithy. 26th day of February 1467 AD.

...

There are some things you never forget. For most is the face of their parents, their first Christmas, their first friend or something like that. But I have either never had one of those, or I already forgot about them. When you are a peasant, the only thing you never forget is how to survive.

But that man... I will never forget that man's face, especially how his face was when I first saw it. His fierce golden eyes gazed forward, inspiring awe in the hearts of those who saw them. His cold marble-like face was dauntless as if any wave or inclement weather couldn't move it, but that first impression was very wrong.

Because when he was walking past me, he smiled and nodded. His smile was shining brighter than the sun, his eyes glimmered more than stars. His hair's golden threads waved with the wind, I felt as if could lose myself in that man forever. But there was one thing that caught my attention the most.

His aura.

I had to deal with many kinds of people during the years, and I have learned how to tell everything about their personality and life from their aura, and that man's aura was one like I have never seen. He had an aura of a peasant, an aura of sacrifice, an aura of sorrow, an aura of ferocity, pain, family, duty, pledge and the thing I could feel the most, something I thought couldn't exist with such potency in any human being.

An aura of care. A boundless aura of care that overwhelmed me, it was such that I think that man would cross seas to protect something he cared for, even at the cost of his life. I couldn't help but feel my legs go weak, I only had one thought at that moment.

Is that even a human?!

Indeed, I was doubting his race. For all I know, humans are selfish creatures that only work for benefits, they know their family in times of peace, but throw them away at the sign of war, they uphold a pledge until they can no longer benefit from it. I have never had any reason to trust anyone besides myself, and I had no intention of starting now.

But I had to doubt my view on humans after seeing that man. I've never felt so much caringness from a human. I've felt that extreme religious fanatism from the zealots of the churches, but that was just a sick way of thinking, those beings left their humanity long ago. But for someone to believe in their own duties and care about something other than himself to that extent? That should not be humanly possible!

As he walked past me, I got myself out of my dazed state. I could still feel the shiver on my spine, that was neither excitement nor fear. I simply couldn't react to a foreign object such as that man.

I worked all day, carrying coal for the furnace and smelter, there was always work to do because of the wars. But all the while, I couldn't get that man out of my head. His marble-like face, his shining smile, his caring aura, all of them attracted me for some reason.

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After work, I walked back 'home' under the moon. I have always liked the night for its calmness, it like the whole world died around me slowly. I feel incredibly secure after night arrives.

But when I thought about that man again, my desire to be alone vanishes. I want to find him, talk to him, ask him why he is like he is... But my urge to feel safe is bigger. I don't even know him, acting impulsively is always a bad choice.

As I walk through the now seemingly endless network of alleys, I hear only my footsteps... But suddenly this comfortable rhythm is broken, loud sounds echo through the alleys. I hastily search for cover in one of the sewage channels.

I hear attentively to those sounds, they are coming from two intersections away to the right. Those were the sounds of voices, two men, by their tone they were two trained assassins or assassins that became bodyguards. They were probably skinny and had high agility, fighting with daggers for sure. But there was no sound of battle, so they may be only passing by... But then I heard another voice.

"I was polite to you master for a reason. So he shouldn't try to kill me! Are nobles getting pettier by the day?! I may be a peasant but I am no half-assed peasant! I am the leader of Moon Wolf Mercenary Band! My name is Aval, and I am not a pushover!"

I froze as I heard that voice... It was that man, the one I saw earlier. I could not believe such coincidence could have happened. He was so surprised his body became immobile. I could only crouch on the sewage hole as I heard the sounds of a sword sliding from its scabbard and metal clashing against metal.

For some reason, I could feel a need to go help him, even though it was a situation that had nothing to do with me. Even though I would usually not dare risk my life for someone. But then, I heard something that made my blood race.

A muffled sound, that was almost inaudible due to the fighting. The sound of the bare feet of a person that was trying to sneak assault someone, a sound I had heard countless times in these alleys…

That was when it happened.

I couldn't control my body, I could only feel an immense amount of anger coursing through my head. I felt that my motions were incredibly fluid, as I used an enormous amount of strength to break a piece of wood that was lying on the sewage. I then jumped off the sewers!

As I stood on my feet after climbing up, I saw in the same part of the alley as I was, a black-clothed assassin. He had a dagger that glimmered under the moonlight, he was holding it in his right hand while pressing his left hand on the end of the hilt, covering it entirely. It was the perfect way to break through an enemy's defense when his neck is covered by armor, while his shoulder isn't.

I could only run at him, the fastest that I could run in a straight line. I knew nothing about footwork, and only learned how to sneak, so my fastest speed wasn't really fast. I held that oversized piece of sharp wood as I dashed towards the Assassin.

For the first time I realized, that killing is easier said than done. When I stabbed the man with the piece of wood, he rolled to dodge, while alerting Aval of his presence. I thought about what to do then, I speedily threw the wooden stick at one of Aval's opponents.

The men that took the stick to his back faltered during his strike, and then I could realize the extent of Aval's swordsmanship, as he cut him through the man’s armpit in a flash. The man's arm fell on the ground, as blood spurted from his wound. He screamed in pain before kneeling on the ground, unable to hold his dagger again.

The second man, that was only suppressing Aval with the other man's help, decided to run away as he knew his defeat was imminent. he jumped backward and then dashed through the labyrinth of alleys.

The assassin too knew he would be unable to win, and decided to run away as well, through the alley I was in, but opposite to the place I was.

After they went away, I stood there, alone with that man. He had a face covered with blood, and his chest armor had even more bloodstains than his face, but the terrifying feeling it gave went away immediately.

He glanced at me and smiled.