Chapter 26

"Young master, do you have food for us too?" a gruff voice called out from behind Aarya.

Hearing the voice, the boy, Yan, immediately shifted into a protective stance, his glare sharp and unyielding. The little girl, Vi, shrank behind her older brother, clutching his arm tightly.

Aarya stood up and turned around. Behind him stood three men. They were dressed slightly better than the average vagrant, but their appearance still carried a rough edge. Their physiques set them apart—especially the middle one, a bulky, bald man. The trio looked more like thugs than mere vagrants.

Aarya assessed the men carefully, keeping his composure. "If you're hungry, I can spare some food."

The bulky man in the middle, clearly the leader, raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Food's nice, young master, but what we really need is coins. You've got some, don't you?"

Aarya's hand froze mid-motion. "I don't have any money on me," he said honestly, meeting the man's gaze.

The leader's expression darkened, and he stepped closer, looming over Aarya. "Don't lie to me, boy. A fancy kid like you, riding in a carriage, handing out food? You've got money."

Yan tensed, stepping in front of Vi again, his small frame taut like a coiled spring. Vi clung to her brother, her wide eyes darting between the men and Aarya.

"I'm not lying," Aarya said firmly, standing his ground. "The food is all I have."

The leader's smirk turned into something more sinister as he looked Aarya up and down. "You know," he said, his voice low and mocking, "you're pretty for a boy. Prettier than most of the working girls around here."

'What did this motherfucker say?' Aarya thought to himself, his glare hardening as he locked eyes with the thug.

One of the other men let out a sharp, cruel laugh. "Maybe we don't need your money. Maybe we'll take you instead," he sneered.

Aarya reached into his coat, his movements calm and deliberate, as if searching for something. "Hold on, I'll give you the money," he said, his tone steady and unbothered.

THAK!

The bald thug jerked back as a splatter of mud struck him square on the head, coating his scalp and dripping down his face in thick, wet streaks. He froze for a moment, stunned, before the shock gave way to seething anger.

"Who the fuck hit me with a mud ball?!" he bellowed. The bald thug's furious gaze locked onto a figure standing a short distance away—a man clad in worn but sturdy leather armor. The stranger leaned casually against a tree, a small smirk tugging at his lips as he idly spun another ball of mud in his hand.

"Well, that'd be me," the man said, his tone dripping with mockery. He tossed the mud ball up and caught it effortlessly, as though daring the thug to make a move.

The man had a rugged, square-shaped face. His short black hair was slightly tousled, matching the roughness of his tanned, weathered skin and the faint stubble that shadowed his jaw. A few faint scars ran across his face and arms, hinting at past battles. Likely in his early thirties, his broad shoulders and well-defined physique exuded strength, while his composed demeanor suggested experience and control.

Seeing the figure, all the bravado and anger drained from the thug's posture. His demeanor shifted instantly, and he forced a wide, uneasy smile. "Oh, it's you, Orm. You hit me with the mud 'cause, uh… it's good for the skin, right?"

Aarya blinked, wide-eyed, baffled by the thug's sudden change in temperament.

"Yeah, yeah, mud's great for the skin!" the other two thugs chimed in quickly, their grins stretched too wide to be genuine.

The man—Orm—stopped a few paces away, his calm expression betraying none of the tension in the air. He tilted his head slightly, as if amused by their desperate attempts to placate him. "Oh, so I threw that mud ball at you for your skin's health, did I?"

The bald thug nodded enthusiastically, sweat forming on his brow. "Of course! You're always looking out for people, Orm. That's just the kind of guy you are."

Orm stared at the thugs for a long moment, his sharp gaze pinning them in a place like cornered animals. Finally, he straightened, crossing his arms.

"Get lost," he said, his tone flat but leaving no room for argument.

The thugs didn't need to be told twice. They turned on their heels and bolted, nearly tripping over each other in their haste to get away.

Aarya watched them go, still trying to process what had just happened. Orm, meanwhile, dusted his hands off as if the whole ordeal had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

Without sparing a glance at Aarya, Orm turned and started walking away. As Orm walked away, Aarya finally snapped out of his daze. "Hey, wait!" he called, taking a step forward. But Orm was already several paces ahead.

Realizing he wouldn't catch up, Aarya grabbed an apple from his satchel and shouted, "Catch!" He tossed the apple through the air, and Orm, without breaking stride, caught it effortlessly in one hand.

"Thank you!" Aarya called.

Orm glanced briefly at the apple but didn't respond, calmly continuing toward the inn. He pushed the door open and disappeared inside without a backward glance.

Aarya noticed Inse approaching the carriage. Handing the satchel to the siblings and bidding them farewell, he headed back to the carriage.

Inse saw Aarya emerging from the alleyway and called out with a gentle smile, "What were you doing back there?"

Aarya jogged over to her, brushing off his clothes. "Nothing, just playing around,"

....

Inside the inn, a voice rang out from across the room, calling attention to Orm's arrival. "Orm's here."

Orm turned toward the source of the voice and made his way over. Sitting down at the table, he was met with a nod from the man waiting for him.

"There's a new commission," a voice called from behind. Orm turned his head to see Hali, the innkeeper.