Wolf's unfortunate situation

"W-what?" Zach gasped, hastily distancing himself, sensing that Cristian wasn't jesting, the fox's intelligent eyes holding a menacing glint.

With an insincere smile, Zach walked away, the smile fading as a somber expression overtook his features. "He looks familiar," he mused quietly to himself.

"Who's that?" Alessia inquired, fixing her gaze on Cristian, who merely shrugged in response.

"I don't know. Probably someone I encountered briefly," Cristian replied nonchalantly. Zach's face barely registered in his memory.

"Let's grab a meal, find an inn, and then head to the arena. I'm itching for a fight," Cristian declared.

Observing the smirk adorning Cristian's lips, the girls clicked their tongues in unison. "It's high time the Ashguards garnered some recognition," Lia smirked, lifting a glass and clinking it against Cristian's cup.