Not About to Back Down

The last thing he desired was a public brawl in an unfamiliar place. However, as he stared at the woman's husband, seething with anger and breathing heavily, he understood that the only way to escape unharmed was to engage in combat with them. Dialogue was not an option for him, as he wasn't one to talk or plead with another man.

He patiently awaited the man to unsheathe his sword, the crowd gathering around, goading him to destroy the strange wife snatcher. The man spat on the floor before swinging his sword at Elim, who skillfully dodged the brutal attack.

If he were a different man, maybe a talk would have settled the issue. But he doubted it would have worked for woman's furious husband. The woman's husband seemed like he enjoyed fighting a lot. But after he was done with him, Elim boasted to himself, the man would never pick up a fight with just anyone. 

The man swung his sword forcefully at Elim, as if aiming to cut him in half. However, Elim's quick reflexes allowed him to evade the attack and appear just behind the man, delivering a powerful blow with the back of his sword. A collective gasp swept through the crowd as they witnessed Elim's brutal strike. The man, clearly in pain, struggled to maintain balance, clutching his waist as his back made a cracking sound.

From the expressions of the onlookers, it was evident they were all cheering for the man to triumph.

"By the time I'm through with you, stranger, you'll think twice before laying hands on any woman!" he barked, spitting on the ground as he straightened his back and charged at Elim again. Swiftly moving, Elim sliced the man's arm, causing blood to spill. The man's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of his own blood, and a sudden hush fell over the gathering, with only the sound of his wife sobbing breaking the silence.

"Please! Don't continue to fight my husband. As you can see he's a strong man. I am the one at fault, punish me instead. Please!" 

"Shut up!" The man spat, walking quickly into the crowd to drag his wife away with his bleeding arm. He said nothing to Elim, he knew his wife was right. This particular man was stronger than any he had fought with. Acting like he had accepted defeat, he cast one last menacing look at Elim before vanishing with his wife.

All around him were whispers about the fight, the events that led to the fight and other gossips he didn't care. He needed to leave this village as soon as possible and and continue to devise a plan to take down his biggest enemy at the right time. He must make enough money for his journey to Maribah when the time comes. 

"You shouldn't be here! If I were you, I'd leave quickly now that he's gone. Don't think you've won the fight; you don't know who you've crossed. He's the most powerful and influential man in our village, and he can take your life if he wishes," a stranger cornered Elim, offering information he cared little to know.

He merely nodded to the person and headed to his room to pack a few things to leave the place for a moment until things cooled down. But his inner spirit that loved trouble didn't want to give up just yet. He wanted to know what the woman's husband had in store for him. More fights? He laughed in his head. He could take on anybody! 

Inside the room, he slowly packed the little food he had remaining, his one pair of robe and cleaned his sword, ready to go while his other ear paid attention for when trouble comes calling again. 

But when he got out, it wasn't just the man waiting for him, it was over 10 hefty guys s blocking his part and there was the woman's husband standing at center. His bleeding arm looked patched but his face was furious as it was when he left. 

Regret filled Elim and he scolded him for not exercising a bit more self-control when he saw the beautiful woman the other night. A night of passion with that beautiful woman wasn't worth all the fight and bruises he was about to receive. 

"I told you I would teach you a serious lesson? Didn't I? Ask about me! Ask about me! And you will learn that I am not a man to mess with me!" The man boasted while the crowd hailed him. 

Despite their numbers, he held onto the belief that he could either defeat them or inflict injuries severe enough to render them powerless. They approached with grunting determination, wielding weapons, and he did his best to fend them off. However, outnumbered and caught off guard, he found himself taking hits unexpectedly, slashing like an angry blind man to keep them at a distance.

It became clear that the man and his hefty companions wouldn't let him go until they had harmed or even killed him, and exhaustion set in. Determined not to meet his end in this manner, he carefully observed each man's movements, planning his next strikes carefully. 

Just as the fight seemed unending, a wealthy-looking man entered, exchanging whispers with the woman's husband. Elim watched them discussing intensely from his side gaze while he fought off the man with his swords. They may be strong but they were not as skilled as he was. 

Following the conversation between the man and the strange man, the woman's husband called off his people, sparing him from further confrontation.

"I have a lot of respect for you but he has committed a serious offence against me. He must leave within the next 6 hours, and he should be prepared to take whatever comes his way when his time expires," the man declared with bitterness before bouncing out with his bloodied companions. "Come here, you unfaithful woman!" he barked at his weeping wife.

As the crowd dispersed, leaving only Elim and the refined-looking man on the dusty streets, the man gestured for him to come closer. Elim studied the man's fine looking robe and his dark shin, wondering about the man's identity and what he might want from him.