Upon Sorn asking who he was, the man’s expression soured and his lips puckered, as if he couldn’t begin to comprehend the audacity it took to make such a question.

Unknown Man: “You insolent brat. First you intrude on our snow. Then you dare to have quality time with my fiancaé. And now you’re daring to ask me who I am? Do you wish to die?”

Sorn deduced he wasn’t a particularly nice person. But by fiancé did he mean-

Unknown Man: “I am none other than Toren, the future head of the Dancing Blade Clan! And I have been following you for the past fifteen minutes as you had the audacity to make a move on my beloved. You will pay dearly for this crime, you outsider.”

A bit of Sorn’s anxiety left him. Fifteen minutes meant he had no idea about the cave or anything extremely important discussed. That anxiety however, returned tenfold as he formulated a long needle of ice in front of him, grabbing it and facing Sorn. The needle shone elegantly in the sun, and it perfectly matched his figure and pose. He stood with one leg out and one arm behind his back, as he held the needle in front of him, facing it upwards as his smile was less defined.

Sorn: “You’re making a mistake, I had no intention of stea-”

Toren: “Silence outsider! I was on the investigation team to analyze the comet that was seen by all of the Fortress! We met that bastard Keilan on the way and we were told by him that there was nothing suspicious going on. But he was lying! There was no sign of any substance in the crater, meaning whatever was in it has moved! You, you are the infidel that has arrived to steal what I hold dear. I will not allow that!”

After that impressive display of emotion, Sorn made another brilliant conclusion. This man was well beyond any logic that wasn’t his own. But he also didn’t want to fight and probably die before even knowing anything about himself. Before even trying to fulfill the promise he had made. While contemplating a response, Toren, who was now in a flow state, continued his rant.

Toren: “First, I’ll apprehend you, but not before dicing you up nicely.”

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He then sprinted towards Sorn, his needle outstretched towards his head, as Sorn just managed to move his head sideways, narrowly avoiding it.

Sorn: “Wait-”

His request fell on deaf ears however, as his aggressor aimed a kick towards his gut, knocking him backwards, the earlier needle suddenly gone. Sorn didn’t even have time to process what just happened before Toren appeared on top of him, knocking him down into the snow. Toren aimed another punch while he was down, but held himself back upon seeing the pathetic state that had come about from just two medium blows.

Toren: “It seems your patheticness defies even my expectations. That slut should’ve thought twice before associating herself with a-”

Sorn lifted himself from the snow. His face was covered in blood, and every part of his body was burning. But in comparison to his emotions at that moment, it was hardly a comparison.

Sorn: “She’s not a slut.”

Toren: “White knighting now, are we? Listen brat, she’s mine. You lack the strength to begin to tell me what I should think. I however, can tell you exactly-”

He aimed another kick that Sorn caught. He was slightly satisfied by the look of surprise on Toren’s face. He didn’t know why he was so animated over a person he barely knew. Perhaps it was because she was the only person he knew. He didn’t care who this man was, he wouldn’t accept such a comment.

Sorn: “You know, you might be her fiancaé, but she never mentioned you. Don’t you wonder why that is? Maybe it’s because she doesn’t give a solitary fuck about someone as decrepit as you.”

Toren’s pale skin had become completely red.

Toren: “Excuse me? You dare-”

His sentence was cut off upon Sorn moving his fist upwards, aiming a punch at his face. There were strange green hazes of energy protruding from his arm, wisping around his entire body. Toren blocked the attack with his forearm, but the force knocked him backwards, causing him to roll across the snow. Sorn stood up, his face a mess as he uttered his next words.

“Yes I do dare. And what are you going to do about it?”

He sprinted with newfound energy, closing the distance between them immediately as he aimed his knee towards the man’s face.

The next movement from Toren would be difficult for anyone to describe. The movements he made were like a trance. They were defined and precise, crisp to the point that Sorn couldn’t even process them before the needle was back in his hands and slashed through his stomach. He fell to the ground unconscious as looked over at him, the needle disappearing again.

Toren: “Make sure he doesn’t die Neville.”

A boy of similar age came out from behind a tree, a needle similar to Toren’s floating above his head. It, too, disappeared as he walked to Sorn and crouched beside him.

Neville: “What do you intend on doing with him?”

Toren: “Isn’t it obvious? He’s an outsider, and probably a spy. It means we have enemies on the island. Turning him in will do great favors for our clan, as well as put shame upon the royal family. Most importantly, I can hold this as a point over Crystal and that arrogant shit, Keilan.”

Neville: “I don’t know why you care so much about someone who’s going to die so soon anyways.”

Toren gave him a menacing smile.

Toren: “Might as well make his last moments a living Hell. Besides, I want to know more about that strange power he started to use. Crystal might be plotting something odd and I won’t let my future wife do anything foolish.”

Neville bowed his head, having finished treating the strange boy. He made a platform of ice and laid the outsider flat on top of it.

Neville: “Of course sir, let’s head back.”

End of Arc One!