“This is not a place for an amateur to play with his sword.” The mercenary, although surprised, does not lose his composure and quickly adapts to the intruder who emerges from the darkness of the forest.

"Sheath your sword and go, we have no reason to fight." Ezer tries to avoid a conflict if possible.

"Ha" And the one who attacks from behind says it without even asking.”

“You were about to kill that woman, I had no choice.”

“She deserves it, she murdered two of my companions without hesitation... the blood in which is bathed is the proof.” The man nods at the woman who was behind Ezer being protected by him.

Ezer averts his gaze and sees how the woman's blood was not hers, but someone else's. The amount that soaked even to his hair was enormous and it was clear whoever it belonged to suffered a terrible death.

“They tried to rape me! The three! I was just... I was just trying to defend myself!” The woman finally reacts noticing the doubt in her rescuer's eyes and panics trying to explain herself.

“I do not have time for this!” The mercenary's fury explodes with those words and he swings his sword straight at Ezer's head who prepares to defend himself.

The impact between blades forces Ezer's blade to rest against his shoulder without being cut thanks to the thick furs and his own strength. However, the attack does not end at that moment and continues with quick movements that Ezer blocks instinctively without even being able to think of anything else, with each blow he took a few steps back and raised his sword again with his exhausted hands.

“That's why I warned you not to play with your sword.” The mercenary says it while attacking him again without wasting time.

It was a few exchanges, but Ezer is surprised to find himself exhausted with so few moves unlike his practices. It has been a long time since he faced another human being and he recognizes that these can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than the beasts he was used to.

"At least you have a good sword boy, it would have splintered with the first blow if it wasn't so... Would you mind giving it to me?" Knowing that he had an overwhelming advantage the mercenary could demand whatever he wished and his greed is released because of this.

"Will you let us go?"

"Of course, after I finish my business with that woman over there."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Ezer gritted his teeth knowing that he couldn't trust the man's word and his conscience wouldn't allow him to hand over the woman either. Not even the mercenary expected him to accept a deal that didn't try to camouflage his lie.

"Then... I will fight." Ezer lunges even before the sentence is finished, his sword raised high and ends flying as the blade of the other man slides past the guard, forcing him to release his grip.

Immediately after stepping back and avoiding the enemy's blade by centimeters, Ezer throws himself to the ground while drawing his dagger, sinking it into the mercenary's thigh before he can even respond. The crawling and untechnical attack works this time, though the man immediately counterattacks with his injured leg, not caring about the pain, hitting Ezer in the face with his knee who falls on his back disoriented and with a bloody nose.

"A truly desperate attack worthy of an animal. I have seen countless young people die this way and you are no exception.” His sword rises again forcing Ezer to roll despite his numb senses.

"Oh? At least you have the willpower to stay alive, I respect that.” Ezer receives a kick to the ribs that completely immobilizes him and blurs his vision with pain.

"It's a cruel world, don't hate me." He says it without any emotion, as if those words were just a habit.

Despite the pain, Ezer understands that he should move, but his body does not respond as he wants and can only see how a blurry sword rises in the sky to kill him, this time, definitively.

However, something red crosses his field of vision and hits the executioner forcing him to take a few steps back, although no matter how hard she tried, the physical difference between the man and bloodied woman was too much, not even a second passed and the mercenary recovers covering the whole of the woman's neck with one hand, suffocating her.

"You take advantage of the opening created by your dying savior and waste it like this?" The mercenary laughs cynically, though annoyed at the constant interruptions.

“N-no…wasted it…” Somehow the woman pronounces those words at the same time that something like a smile forms on her face fixing the gaze behind the man.

Despite realizing it, it was already too late, before the man could even turn around, a short spear pierces his throat and produces a half twist that sprays blood on the already drenched woman. The hand that was squeezing his neck loses strength and the body falls heavily into the snow, lifeless.

“Are you okay?” Lyaria asks worriedly as her spear drips with still warm blood.

"Yeah…but I'm not sure he…" The woman's gaze hardens for a second at Lyaria, but returns to normal just as quickly as it changed.

“Ezer!” Lyaria runs worriedly to his side immediately pulling out her medical kit. "Where are you wounded?"

“My ribs are where it hurts the most.” Ezer was still on the cold ground somewhat groggy and with a bloody nose.

“Let me see.”

“Ah...! Do not touch it!” Ezer instinctively backs away from the pain.

"I need to feel if you have any broken bones, stay still!" Seriousness and concern require Ezer to endure pain.

"It seems you're fine. I'm more worried about your nose, if the bleeding doesn't stop in a short time it could turn into something serious.”

“I have no problems, instead, you should check that she is not injured.” Ezer points to the woman who was standing bathed in old and recent blood, you could see how she was trembling from the cold. Once assured that Ezer was not in danger, she approaches the woman.