Another Man

The morning sun shone brightly over the bustling town as Celeste roamed the streets, her eyes scanning every corner with curiosity. She had no particular destination in mind; she simply wanted to see where her feet would take her. The excitement of the previous day had left her eager to explore further, to experience the kind of thrilling adventures she had only read about in her novels.

Today, her attire was more casual—a light blouse and a long skirt that allowed her to blend in with the common townsfolk. Despite her effort to appear inconspicuous, her golden hair and regal posture still drew attention. People often glanced at her as she passed, some whispering to one another about the beautiful stranger in their midst.

---

As Celeste wandered through the marketplace, her eyes were drawn to a narrow alleyway between two buildings. It was dark and slightly foreboding, but something about it piqued her interest. Perhaps it was the thrill of stepping into the unknown, or perhaps she simply wanted to escape the prying eyes of the townsfolk. Either way, she turned down the alley, her footsteps echoing against the cobblestones.

The alley twisted and turned, leading her deeper into an unfamiliar part of town. The air grew heavier, and the lively sounds of the marketplace faded into a distant hum. Celeste felt a slight unease creeping over her, but she brushed it aside. I'm a strong magician. What could possibly happen to me?

---

She turned another corner and stopped abruptly. Three men stood in her path, their clothes ragged and their expressions sinister. One had a jagged scar running down his cheek, while another twirled a rusty dagger in his hand. The third, the largest of the group, crossed his arms and smirked.

"Well, what do we have here?" the scarred man said, his voice low and menacing.

Celeste's eyes narrowed as she took a step back. "I'm just passing through. I don't want any trouble."

The man with the dagger chuckled darkly. "Oh, we don't want trouble either. Just hand over your valuables, and you can be on your way."

Celeste's heart raced, but her expression remained calm. "I don't have any valuables with me."

The large man took a step closer, his smirk widening. "Then I guess we'll just have to make do with you."

Celeste's hand instinctively moved to create a magic circle, but before she could complete the spell, a voice rang out from behind her.

"Three against one? Doesn't seem very fair, does it?"

---

Celeste turned her head and saw a young man standing at the entrance of the alley. His black hair was slightly disheveled, and he held a wooden sword casually over one shoulder. His clothes were simple—a loose shirt and trousers—but his confident stance made him seem larger than life.

The muggers turned toward him, their expressions shifting from smug to annoyed.

"Mind your business, kid," the scarred man growled.

The young man ignored him and took a step closer, his dark eyes locking onto the group. "How about you let her go, and we can all walk away without any bruises?"

The man with the dagger laughed mockingly. "And what are you gonna do with that stick? Poke us to death?"

The young man's lips curled into a smirk. "You'd be surprised."

---

The tension in the alley was palpable. Celeste, still holding her unfinished magic circle, found herself mesmerized by the stranger. There was something captivating about his confidence, the way he faced danger without hesitation.

The scarred man barked a command, and the other two muggers lunged toward the young man. In a blur of movement, he sidestepped the first attacker and swung his wooden sword with precision, striking the man's wrist and causing the dagger to clatter to the ground.

The second mugger came at him with a crude club, but the young man ducked under the swing and delivered a sharp blow to the man's knee. The mugger yelped in pain and collapsed to the ground.

The large man, now visibly angry, charged at him with a roar. The young man didn't flinch. Instead, he planted his feet firmly and raised his wooden sword. As the large man swung his fist, the young man deflected the blow with his weapon and followed up with a swift strike to the man's ribs. The large man staggered back, clutching his side.

---

The scarred man, realizing he was outmatched, grabbed his fallen comrades and dragged them away. "You'll regret this!" he spat before disappearing around the corner.

The alley fell silent.

The young man turned to Celeste, his smirk softening into a friendly smile. "You okay?"

Celeste blinked, her heart pounding in her chest. "Y-Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for helping me."

He waved her gratitude away. "No need to thank me. They were the ones causing trouble."

She stepped closer, her golden eyes studying him intently. "That was impressive. Are you a trained fighter?"

He shrugged, leaning on his wooden sword. "Not really. Just picked up a few tricks here and there."

Celeste tilted her head, intrigued. "What's your name?"

The young man hesitated for a moment before replying. "It's Adrian."

"I'm Celeste," she said, offering a small smile.

Adrian nodded. "Nice to meet you, Celeste. You should be more careful walking around alone. This part of town isn't exactly safe."

"I can handle myself," she said, a hint of pride in her voice.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Sure didn't look like it back there."

Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she crossed her arms. "I was about to use magic, but you interrupted."

Adrian's eyes widened slightly. "Magic, huh? Didn't think nobles like you would bother learning anything useful."

Celeste bristled. "What makes you think I'm a noble?"

He gestured vaguely to her outfit and the way she carried herself. "Call it a lucky guess."

---

Despite his teasing, there was no malice in Adrian's tone, and Celeste found herself smiling. "Well, thank you again. If you hadn't shown up, things might have gotten messy."

He nodded, his smirk returning. "Just try to stay out of trouble, alright?"

As he turned to leave, Celeste felt a sudden pang of disappointment. She didn't want him to go—not yet.

"Wait," she called out.

Adrian stopped and glanced back at her. "Yeah?"

She hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Do you... live around here?"

He chuckled. "Not exactly. I kind of drift from place to place. Why?"

"I was just wondering," she said quickly, trying to mask her interest.

Adrian studied her for a moment, then smiled. "Well, if you ever need saving again, I'll probably be around." With that, he walked away, his wooden sword resting on his shoulder.

---

As Celeste watched him disappear into the crowd, she felt a strange mix of emotions. Gratitude, admiration, and... something else. Something she couldn't quite put into words.

For the rest of the day, Adrian's image lingered in her mind. His strength, his confidence, and even his infuriating teasing had left a lasting impression.

Perhaps, she thought with a small smile, this is how a novel begins.