"That's enough!!!"
*Boom.*
---
A small cloud of white smoke billowed into the air, filling the space around them. The three boys instinctively covered their noses, coughing as they tried to avoid inhaling the fumes.
"Who the hell are you?" the blonde boy demanded, his voice sharp with irritation.
"Don't just go around throwing fireballs at people, kid," a deep, authoritative voice responded.
A strong gust of wind swept through the area, dispersing the smoke and revealing a man standing protectively in front of Zilon. The man's back was turned to Zilon, shielding him from view. Zilon stared at the man's broad shoulders, his mind racing.
*This guy… he's definitely strong,* Zilon thought, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the man's presence. Even without seeing his face, Zilon could sense the aura of power radiating from him.
"I asked you a question!" the blonde boy snapped, his voice rising. "Do you know who I am?"
"I am a town guard," the man replied, his tone calm but firm. "And it's my duty to protect people from danger when I see it."
"A town guard? You dare interfere with me?" the blonde boy sneered, his arrogance flaring. "Fine, then—"
"That's enough," another voice interjected, cutting through the tension like a blade.
A new figure stepped into the scene, flanked by two armored men. The blonde boy—Victor—paused, his expression shifting from anger to surprise.
"Avaron? What are you doing here?" Victor asked, his tone noticeably calmer.
"Hmm? What does it look like?" the newcomer, Avaron, replied with a small smile. "We came to this town for a restful weekend, and I decided to look around. Imagine my surprise when I heard a commotion and found you at the center of it."
Victor's jaw tightened. "This loser bumped into me—"
"Hey, I have a name, and it's not 'loser,'" Zilon interjected, his voice sharp. "And for the record, I apologized. You're the one who insisted on fighting."
"You little—" Victor started, but Avaron raised a hand, silencing him.
"Then I apologize on his behalf," Avaron said, bowing his head slightly. "Victor tends to act impulsively when provoked. Please don't mind him."
Zilon studied Avaron carefully. The boy was around the same age as Victor, but his demeanor was calm and composed. His purple hair and brown eyes gave him a striking appearance, and his warm smile added an air of charm.
*Hmm, it seems everyone here is good-looking,* Zilon thought, suppressing a smirk. *But this guy… he's different.*
"Yeah, sure," Zilon said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "After your *friend* just hit me with a fireball and tried to roast me alive, I'm supposed to just let it go?"
Avaron's smile didn't waver. "Of course not. I intend to compensate you for the inconvenience. You were clearly wronged here. You can ask me for anything, and I'll give it to you."
Victor's eyes widened. "Hey, you can't just—"
"Don't worry," Avaron said, cutting him off. "How about I give you a hundred gold coins as compensation for your injuries?"
Gasps erupted from the onlookers. Even the town guard who had intervened earlier looked surprised.
"Hey, don't you think that's way too much—" Victor started, but Zilon interrupted.
"Okay, that's fine by me," Zilon said casually, his expression indifferent.
Avaron clapped his hands, and one of the armored men stepped forward, holding a small bag. Zilon observed the scene carefully. Avaron's calm demeanor never faltered, while Victor looked like he was about to explode with frustration. The town guard, meanwhile, scanned the area, his attention seemingly everywhere but on the bag.
*Hmph, serves him right,* Zilon thought, smirking inwardly. *Karma's a thing, punk.*
The armored man handed the bag to Zilon, who accepted it with a nod. He glanced inside briefly, confirming the contents, before closing it again.
*Not bad for my first day,* Zilon thought, keeping his expression neutral. *I don't know the value of gold here, but judging by the reactions, it's a lot.*
"Now that we're even," Avaron said, his smile returning, "my name is Avaron Lactus. May I know yours?"
Zilon hesitated. In this town, names carried weight. He couldn't afford to give a fake name that might belong to someone powerful, but he also didn't want to reveal too much.
"My name is… Zilon. Zilon Miruba," he said, stuttering slightly.
"Miruba?" Avaron repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm, I don't recall a family with that name."
Zilon sighed inwardly. *Good. That's one less thing to worry about.*
"Well, nice to meet you, Zilon," Avaron said, extending his hand. "I hope we can be friends from now on."
Zilon looked at the outstretched hand, then at Avaron's smiling face. *This guy's smooth,* he thought, returning the smile. "Sure. Just so you know, I'm not making friends with *him* over there," he added, pointing at Victor.
Victor's eye twitched in annoyance, but Avaron simply chuckled. "Fair enough. Until we meet again, Zilon."
"Sure. Until next time," Zilon replied.
Avaron turned to Victor, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let's go."
Victor shot Zilon one last glare. "This isn't over, loser."
Zilon's expression darkened. "And I won't be beaten so easily next time," he shot back, his voice low but firm.
As the group walked away, Zilon noticed Avaron glancing at him from the corner of his eye. *He's sharp,* Zilon thought. *I'll have to be careful around him.*
---
The crowd began to disperse, returning to their daily routines. Only the town guard remained, his presence a reassuring constant.
"I hope you're alright," the man said, his voice filled with genuine concern.
"Thanks for your help earlier," Zilon replied, smiling. "I'd be roasted by now if it weren't for you. I'm feeling much better."
The man nodded, his sharp eyes scanning the area. Zilon could tell that some people were still watching him, their intentions unclear.
"Can you walk me home, please?" Zilon asked, hoping the request would work. "I seem to have lost my way."
The man nodded again. "Of course."
As they began to walk, Zilon glanced at the man. "Oh, by the way, can I know your name?"
The man smiled faintly. "My name is Rivor Alford. I'm one of the commanders in charge of the town's west protection and security. It's a pleasure to meet you, Zilon Miruba."
"Whahhh—" Zilon's eyes widened in surprise.