Survival and Misunderstanding

The figure before him was imposing more so than Aurane had anticipated. The knight was a Knight of Angloria, one of the strongest knights in the entire continent. The thought of defeating someone of his caliber felt impossible. Aurane's instincts told him to act swiftly, but as his eyes scanned the knight's movements, he saw no magic wielding gestures, no signs of wands or staves. This knight,this beast of a warrior, wasn't just a swordfighter, but a mage as well, a rare and unsettling combination.

As the knight prepared to strike, Aurane's body tensed, his thoughts racing. The knight's strike was bound to be overwhelming. Aurane knew there was no way to survive a contest of raw strength, so he decided to do what he did best: outsmart him.

The knight's sword swung in a blinding arc, a blur of deadly precision. Aurane, trusting his instincts, parried the blow with his sword, redirecting it downward just as the knight's blade came down. But Aurane's quick thinking didn't stop there. He darted in and used his short sword to strike at the knight's exposed face.

The knight was fast, far faster than Aurane had anticipated. His other hand swung out, massive and powerful, knocking Aurane off his feet. The blow hit Aurane's stomach with the force of a battering ram, lifting him off the ground and leaving him gasping for air. Aurane dropped the short sword as his body crashed to the ground, vision blurring. His stomach churned violently from the impact, and his mind felt dizzy from the force.

As the knight loomed over him, Aurane's instincts screamed that he had mere seconds to survive. With a growl Aurane threw his sword towards the knight which the knight casually destroyed with a single strike of his own sword.

In a desperate move, Aurane reached out for the short sword, hoping to at least land a glancing blow. But before his fingers could touch the hilt, the knight's armored boot came down on his hand with terrifying force. Aurane screamed in pain as the rough surface of the armor crushed his fingers, and his hand was pinned to the cold ground.

"That was quite smart. You gathered mana to reinforce your stomach, lessening the blow, and you feigned a counterattack, hoping to throw me off balance."

The Knight said, his voice deep and calm.

Feign? Aurane thought to himself. Would someone be able to feign receiving damage like that?

Thankfully, he had reinforced his body in time otherwise, his internal organs would have been shattered. Even now, the pain was unbearable.

"I told you to test him, Draukas, not beat him into the dirt."

The voice came from behind the knight called Draukas, and Aurane glanced up to see the youth approaching. The youth had striking features, with purple hair that reminded Aurane of lilacs, and eyes as blue as the summer sky. His aura was calm, almost ethereal, and there was something unfamiliar about him, a gentleness in the way he looked at Aurane, as though seeing him for who he was, not as a freak, but as a person.

"I didn't use mana, though, he's just quite the slippery one."

Draukas responded, sheathing his sword. His tone was calm, but there was a trace of amusement.

Aurane struggled to sit up, still confused by what had just happened. Who was this person, and why had Draukas held back after such a powerful strike? The pain in his stomach made it hard to think, but the youth's gaze so different from the usual disdain he received was unsettling. The youth extended a hand to Aurane, which confused him.

"Are your cultures so different? I read somewhere that elves do have similar greetings and gestures to humans."

The youth asked, a hint of confusion in his voice. 

Aurane froze. Did this human really think he could just offer him a hand after that display? His mind raced, was this a trick? Would the youth use this moment to imprison him? Own him? Is he gonna be a slave? To make him suffer for the crimes of his brethren?

In a flash, a killing intent surged from Aurane without thinking. His fingers twitched as he instinctively tried to reach for the youth's throat, ready to choke the life out of him. But before he could act, Draukas's voice rang out. 

"I suggest you don't do that."

The intensity in Draukas's voice sent a shiver down Aurane's spine. In that instant, he felt the weight of the knight's killing intent flood the air. His mind spun, and before he could make sense of it, his vision blackened. The ground beneath him swirled as everything faded to black.

Aurane awoke with a jolt, the sharp scent of lavender filling his nostrils. He was lying on something soft, his body aching. As his eyes opened, he realized he was in a tent, the air cooler than he had remembered. The first thing he saw was the youth standing near the entrance, looking at him curiously.

"You fainted, I didn't mean to scare you. I was offering help, but it seems you're not used to kindness."

The youth explained as he sat beside him in a cushioned chair, reading a book. A cup over a plate filled with tea could be smelled.

Aurane narrowed his eyes, still trying to make sense of everything. Why had the youth offered him help?

"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. But you've been through enough. Rest here for now. We'll talk later. I believe you and I can help each other."

The youth said, a hint of regret in his voice.

The knight, Draukas, watched from the doorway, his expression unreadable. But there was a subtle shift in the air, as though he, too, saw something in Aurane that hadn't been there before.