"Now die, you damned brat!" The man charged forward, his knife raised high, intent on striking the final blow.
Before he could reach the boy, the ground erupted in a blaze of fiery flames.
The fire spread rapidly, forming a protective barrier around the boy. The man was forced to halt, his clothes catching fire, small flames licking at the hem of his pants.
"Aaargh!" he yelped, stumbling back, trying in vain to put out the flames.
I stood at the center of the inferno, my right hand raised, fingers splayed. The flames danced at my command, flickering with life and fury.
Drake sighed, his hands on his forehead in exasperation. "Tch! That idiot never listens to me," he muttered, shaking his head.
The man, still reeling, glared at me. "What do you think you're doing?" he shouted, his voice edged with panic.
I let the flames die down, but my gaze never wavered from him. "And what do you think you're doing?" I shot back, my voice laced with contempt.
"Think you can hurt an innocent child and get away with it?" I demanded. "You think you're above the law? Bully anyone you want?"
His face twisted in rage. "You're an arrogant brat like him! I'll kill both of you!" he snarled, advancing with his knife gleaming in the dim light.
Before he could strike, Drake appeared beside me, moving faster than I could follow. His fist clenched around the hilt of his own blade. "Enough," he said firmly, his voice a command.
The man stopped short, his eyes widening with shock. "K-knight Drake?" he stammered, taking a hesitant step back.
Drake's gaze was unwavering. "Get lost," he said coldly. "I've seen enough."
The man hesitated. "But I bought him for 25 silver coins!" he protested, desperation creeping into his voice.
I flicked a coin into the air, watching it sparkle as it glinted in the fading light. "Gold coin," I said coolly. "Is that enough?"
The man's eyes bulged. "G-Gold coin?!" His greed flared as he caught the coin.
" I'm buying the boy now," I added, my voice firm. "Give him back what you took."
The man hesitated, then smirked. "It'll cost another gold coin," he sneered.
Before I could respond, Drake in blink of an eye got back of that man, took the ring and got back to us, the ring now in his hand. "Here, Aries," he said, holding it out to me with a calmness that contrasted the intensity of the moment.
The man tried to protest, but Drake's cold glare silenced him. In a blur of motion, he backed away, muttering curses. "You'll pay for this," he spat, before turning and fleeing into the night.
"Thanks for that, Gramps," I said, relieved the situation was resolved.
Before I could even breathe, Drake's hands shot out and grabbed my ears, giving them a painful tug.
"Ow! Ow! That hurts!" I yelped, wincing.
"You were reckless, Aries," Drake scolded, his voice stern. "What if more people had shown up? What if it escalated? You need to think first, not just react."
"Yeah, I know, Gramps. Sorry," I winced, feeling the sting of both the tug and his words. I had let my emotions take over, rushing in without considering the consequences.
Drake's expression softened slightly. "What you did wasn't wrong," he said, his tone gentler. "You showed courage. Compassion. That's important."
A warmth spread through my chest at his approval. It meant more than I cared to admit. "Thanks, Gramps," I smiled, grateful for his understanding. "I'll be more careful next time."
The boy, still on the ground, shakily tried to get up. I approached him slowly, not wanting to startle him.
"Are you alright?" I asked gently.
The boy eyed us warily, his body trembling with fear. He took a step back, tears welling up in his eyes.
I raised my hands in a gesture of peace, trying to reassure him. "We won't hurt you," I said softly.
The boy hesitated, eyes flickering to the ring in my hand. I held it out to him, my voice steady and kind. "Your ring."
Hope flickered in his eyes as he cautiously stepped forward, his small hands trembling as he reached for it.
As his fingers brushed mine, a jolt of recognition hit me—like a flash of familiarity, a connection I couldn't explain. The moment stretched, and for a heartbeat, everything around us faded.
What was that? My mind raced with the question as I stared at the boy, feeling an inexplicable link between us.