In the quietude of the following night, Kal discreetly followed Draka to a dark alley, a solitary figure against the darkness of the city. He observed, hidden in the shadows, while she met with men of sinister appearance. With her heart in her hand, Draka offered them the money she had collected, fruit of her thefts at the inn, her words laden with a palpable desperation: "Here is the money, please bring my mother back!"

The men's cruelty was revealed in words and gestures. One of them, with a mocking smile, dismissed Draka's hope, shoving her unceremoniously. "Do you really think we would go to the white palace to bring a prostitute back?" The words were like knives, cutting through the night's silence with their coldness.

The situation worsened when Draka, driven by a mixture of anger and despair, grabbed one of the men, begging for the return of the money. "I stole all this money to save my mother, you can't take it, please give it back to me!" Her cry was a plea for compassion in a world that seemed to have forgotten its meaning.

The answer came in the form of violence, one of the men shoved Draka with enough force to make her hit her head and faint. The girl fell, a vulnerable contrast against the alley's hard ground.

Kal, until then a silent observer trying to understand the reason for the thefts, could no longer contain himself. The injustice of the unfolding scene before him called for intervention. These men, who took advantage of a child's desperation, represented everything he fought against. Calmly and using a large hood that hid his face in darkness, he left the shadows, ready to confront those responsible for Draka's suffering.

The moment was critical, a turning point that would not only define Draka's immediate fate but also Kal's character. In Bercuranon, a city of mysteries and shadows, he prepared to act, not just as a warrior but as a defender of those without a voice. The night, until then a silent witness, was about to become the stage for a battle for justice and humanity.

The men only saw a hooded man with glowing golden eyes, shining intensely in the alley's darkness. His lonely, threatening presence, advancing toward the men preparing to flee with Draka's money, a golden aura so overwhelming that the men felt their legs tremble involuntarily. "You will return the money to her now!" The authority in his voice, amplified by the supernatural glow of his eyes and his crushing aura, was enough to instill fear even in the bravest of hearts.

The leader, in a desperate gesture of defiance, drew his knife and advanced against Kal, a move doomed to fail before the youth's strength and skill. With surprising ease, Kal immobilized the blade with just one hand and, with a powerful punch, sent the man against the wall making it crack, eliminating him from the fight with impressive efficiency. The impact of the confrontation and the quick defeat of their leader sowed panic in the remaining companions, who chose flight as their only option, leaving behind any pretense of facing Kal, who remained behind with a serene smile.

The next morning, the sunlight bathed the room at the "Silver Donkey" inn, where Draka, regaining consciousness, found herself face to face with Kal. The initial surprise and fear before the figure that had intervened for her gave way to a complex mix of emotions when Kal, holding the bag of recovered money, proposed a deal. "If you tell me your story, I can help you, but you'll have to return all the money you stole!" His offer, though firm, was laden with a genuine intent to help, a gesture of kindness aimed not just at correcting Draka's past actions but also offering her an opportunity for a new beginning.

For Draka, Kal's proposal opened a path to redemption, a chance to make amends for her desperate acts on the condition of opening up and sharing the truth behind her actions. The conversation that followed would reveal not only the details of her difficult situation but also strengthen the bond between her and Kal, uniting them in a mutual understanding of loss, despair, and the search for justice.

Draka's story, full of struggles and hardships, offered Kal not just insights into the girl's life, but also additional pieces for the mosaic of mysteries he was seeking to solve. Together that morning, under the roof of an inn in Bercuranon, they began weaving the threads of an unlikely alliance, marked by the promise of mutual support and the shared hope of facing and overcoming the challenges fate had in store for them.

Faced with Draka's initial vulnerability and fear, Kal's offer of help represented a beacon of hope amid the darkness of her situation. Despite her initial impulse to flee, the memory of what she had suffered at the hands of the cruel men in the alley made her reconsider. The loneliness and despair she felt were enough to make her stay and listen to what Kal had to say. Her question "Aren't you a soldier from the duchy?" reflected the fear and mistrust that had taken deep root in her heart.

Kal's answer, "I am a friend. Tell me what happened and I will help you," was more than a promise; it was a vow of solidarity and understanding. Encouraged by the sincerity in his voice, Draka began unraveling the story of her life, an account of loss and suffering that resonated profoundly with Kal. The incessant search by the soldiers with yellow eyes for people "like me and like you" and the disappearance of her father and, later, her mother in the ruins of the white castle, revealed a sinister pattern Kal could not ignore.

The revelation about the amount of 50 gold coins, an exorbitant value for a girl in her situation, shed light on the extent of her despair and determination. Draka had not only saved and worked tirelessly, but also resorted to theft to amass the necessary sum in the hope of reuniting with her mother. Her confession, marked by shame and evident regret as she lowered her head, touched Kal not just for the sadness of the situation but for the strength and courage the young woman demonstrated.

Moved by both Draka's story and the injustice it represented, Kal reaffirmed his determination to help her. His insistence that she return the stolen money was not a judgment, but a protective gesture, a way of teaching her that there were other means of facing her problems, means that did not compromise her integrity or put her at greater risk.

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Thus, united by a common cause and the desire to correct the injustices of the past, Kal and Draka began planning how to recover her mother from the uncertain fate that had captured her. The journey ahead would not be easy, full of challenges and dangers, but also hope and the possibility of redemption. Together they would face Bercuranon's shadows and unravel the mysteries behind the yellow-eyed soldiers, determined to bring back not just Draka's mother but also restore justice to a city haunted by secrets and pain.

Noticing Draka's state, visibly worn down by the circumstances of her life, Kal did not hesitate to extend his friendly hand even further. His decision to care for her, ensuring she was fed and cleaned, was a genuine gesture of kindness, a stark contrast to the harshness of the world around them. But going to the inn's dining room triggered a new confrontation, this time with the innkeeper, whose suspicion and misunderstanding almost resulted in more violence against Draka.

Upon seeing the girl grabbing food and sitting with Kal, the innkeep yanked her roughly by the arm thinking she is taking advantage. However, Kal quickly grabbed the innkeep with immense strength making the man scream in pain and fall to his knees. Kal then helped the man up, apologizing sarcastically while demanding three large meals - one for himself, one for Arphaxad, and one for Draka, who was now under Kal's protection as his guest.

Kal's intervention, quick and decisive, not only saved Draka from more unjust treatment but also established a new dynamic in the establishment. The innkeeper, surprised by Kal's strength and the sarcastic apology that followed, had no choice but to comply with the young man's orders. Kal's request for three large meals, including one for Draka, now his official guest, showed his care and protection for the girl.

The innkeeper's presumption that Kal might be a nobleman from another nation, based on his superior quality attire, a gift from his friend King Relon of Nannu, revealed the often misleading appearances on which societies built their judgments. For Kal, however, clothing did not define his nobility; rather, his actions demonstrated his character and principles.

This episode at the inn not only reinforced the emerging bond between Kal and Draka but also sent a clear message to all present: Kal was determined to act according to his own principles of justice and compassion, regardless of conventions or others' expectations. By making Draka his guest, he not only ensured her immediate well-being but also gave her a sense of dignity and belonging long denied to her.

While sharing their meal, Kal, Draka and Arphaxad presented an incongruous sight in the inn's dining room - a group united not by status or wealth, but by a shared sense of humanity and collective determination to face hardships. Before Kal and Draka went to meet the people the girl had stolen from, Kal asked Arphaxad to continue his investigations into what was happening inside the ruins of the white castle.

After returning the gold and apologizing to those Draka had stolen from, Kal realized there was still a little gold left. He explained to Draka that she couldn't keep what wasn't hers and suggested using the excess to help those in need, buying food for the poor. On their way back, they stopped in a large square, where Kal bought Draka a sweet pastry. She devoured it quickly, readily nodding her head yes when Kal asked if she wanted more. Kal smiled and bought two more pastries, sitting with her on a bench in the square.

"You are afraid of the 'Yellow-Eyed Soldiers', but you also have yellow eyes," said Kal.

Her mouth full, the girl said, "But the yellow-eyed soldiers only take people with yellow eyes!"

Kal then asked, "So your father had yellow eyes?"

Immediately the girl answered, "Yes, just like mine!"

Upon returning to the inn, Kal and Draka's reunion with Arphaxad was marked by tension and concern. Arphaxad, wounded and bloodied, brought alarming news of his attempt to investigate the ruins of the white castle, confirming that the dangers residing there were greater than they had anticipated. "Kal... I managed to enter the castle ruins, but they found me, they are stronger than normal..." The urgency in his voice and gravity of his injuries spoke volumes about the threat they faced.

Kal's question "Did they follow you?" was motivated by a mix of worry and the need to prepare a plan of action. Arphaxad's negative response, a simple nod, provided brief relief but the situation quickly compounded. The strange sleep dominating Arphaxad, unlike any natural rest, and the fact Draka had also been subjugated by a similar lethargy were clear signs they faced an enemy with abilities beyond normal.

It was in this tense moment, charged with imminent danger, that a familiar and threatening voice whispered to Kal, bringing to the fore the presence of his pursuer, Sorrow. "So this is where you were hiding!" The revelation that Sorrow had found Kal intensified not just the danger of the situation but marked the beginning of a confrontation Kal knew was inevitable.

Carefully placing Arphaxad on the ground, Kal prepared to face Sorrow, an adversary who not only physically challenged him but also threatened all those Kal strived to protect. The calm before the confrontation was deceptive, a tension that foreshadowed the impending battle.

As the inn, a temporary refuge, transformed into the stage for a decisive showdown, Kal confronted not just Sorrow but also his own persistent evil the pursuer represented. It was a defining moment where Kal needed to summon not just his strength and skill but also his determination and courage to protect those who had become part of his journey.

In the tense quiet of the night, the street before the inn became the setting for a long-awaited showdown. Kal, sword in hand and eyes blazing with challenging light, faced the emptiness of shadows where he knew Sorrow was hiding, ready to confront his pursuer. "You arrived at a bad time, perhaps I should direct my anger at you!" The determination in his voice was palpable, a clear indication he would not back down from the threat.

Sorrow's response, permeated with mocking confidence - "But I am your friend, one should not be angry with friends...hahahaha!" - only intensified the atmosphere of challenge. His ability to remain concealed, an advantage that often favored him as an assassin, but surprisingly Kal was seeing him with his bright eyes like the sun. The silence that followed was abruptly broken by Kal's decisive action. His attack, a lightning-fast blow aimed with unmatched precision. Sorrow's left arm was severed from his body, marking the first time the assassin experienced the surprise and vulnerability of being caught off guard.

"Coming at me today was a mistake... I said, today was a bad day!" Kal's assertion, while keeping his eyes fixed and bright on Sorrow, resounded with the strength of someone seeking not just survival but also justice.

This confrontation, laden with tension and revelations, was not just a physical fight but also a clash of wills and destinies. Kal, facing Sorrow, struggled not only to protect himself and those dear to him but also to cut the ties of fear and pursuit Sorrow represented.

As the battle between Kal and Sorrow unfolded under the cover of night, the "Silver Donkey" inn and the streets of Bercuranon bore witness to a defining moment. Kal's determination to confront Sorrow was a testimony to his courage and the path he had chosen to follow, a path marked by the pursuit of justice, protection of innocents, and confrontation of the ghosts that haunted his past and threatened his future.