The forest was silent.
Markil stood still.
Too silent.
His eyes were following the knights stance, every muscle tense beneath the armour.
"The way he attacked, without any hesitation..." Markil thought.
"This isn't a bandit" Markil's thoughts sharpened.
"This is a trained killer." Markil thought.
The knight straightened up with shock, boots grinding against the forest floor. Is sword did not lower.
Melian,Still crouched behind Markil, suddenly shouted.
"Stop! Stop! Sir, Please!"
Her voice cracked.
Markil flinched.
"Sir...?"
He turned his had slightly. "Melian...What are you saying?"
She stood up,panic flashing across her eyes. "Please, Don't attack him."
The knight stiffened.
Markil frowned. "Hey,Slow down.who is he?"
Before Melian could answer the knight roared.
"Princess Melian! Get behind me immediately!"
The word slammed into Markil's head.
"Princess?" Markil thought.
His heart skipped.
"Wait..." He muttered. "Princess?"
"I will show this human his worth!" The knight shouted,blade lifting again.
Melian rushed forward,arms spread wide.
"No!"
Markil raised his voice sharply. "How do you even know he is from your kingdom?"
Melian pointed, trembling. "His Armor... Look at it."
Markil followed her gaze.
Silver plates etched with ancient patterns.
A crest carved deep into the chest.
The golden lines running through the joints Mana conductive gold.
Melian swallowed. "That symbol... It belongs to the Elven kingdom. And the gold only special grade knights are allowed to wear it."
Her voice lowered.
"Top great warriors of our kingdom."
Markil exhaled slowly.
"So if she is telling the truth..." Markil thought.
Markil's shoulders relaxed for a moment.
He straightened with a quick movement, placing his hands at his sides.
"Okay...." He said calmly. "Then I won't fight."
Melian blinked.
The knight froze.
"...What?"
Melian turned to the knight and forced a smile on her face. "Sir... Please remove your mask."
"Princess, get behind me!"
Markil's eyes widened.
"Don't tell me..." Markil thought.
Melian's voice hardened.
"Please."
The knight clinched his teeth. "These humans have deceived you!"
"No, they haven't deceived me!"
"Please princess let me cut this men's head."
"Cut my head...?" Markil thought.
Markil's breath caught.
"He really hates humans that much?"
Melian stepped forward,eyes blazing.
"I order you,"
The forest sook.
"Stop,Remove your helmet."
The knight went rigid.
Slowly he moved back.
He knelt.
"As you wish....my lady."
He lifted his helmet.
Red hair, sharp features, cold Eyes filled with discipline and bloodshed.
Handsome.Dangerious.
Melian smiles fainty.
"So it is really you..."
She spoke his name that she already knew.
"Elrond leon. The strongest special grade night of our kingdom."
Elrond smiled proudly "Yes,My lady."
Markil stared.
"Strongest?" Markil thought.
Elrond placed his hand on his chest. "I was sent by the king himself."
Melian eyes widened. "The king?"
"Yes. We received the word that the bandits had kidnapped you."
He continued calmly.
"His majesty ordered were strongest Elves to search."
He listed them slowly, each name was having reputation.
"Arwen Arya.Kalmen Solas.Alith Anar.Amreth kasos."
Then he looked up.
"And I,Elrond Leon...voluntered."
Melian smiles warmly. "So... The others are here too."
"Yes,Princess."
She clapped her both hands together. "Thank God... I thought we were already close to the kingdom, so I kept walking."
Markil forced a small smile on his face.
"So this is how it ends..." Markil thought.
Elrond turned sharply toward Markil.
"That smile disgusts me."
His eyes Burned.
"My lady, you should not travel with such an awesome for creature."
He stepped closer.
"These humans are nothing but insects."
His killing intent crusher the air.
Markil laughed nervously. "Hahaha.... You are really intense."
Melian rushed forward and grabbed Elrond's arm.
"Please,Elrond don't hurt him."
Elrond froze.
"He saved me," She said firmly. "He rescued me from the bandits."
SILENCE
Elrond's eyes narrowed as he studied Markil.
"He dodged my attack... Without even trying." Elrond thought.
"That movement..."
His thoughts raced.
"Is he from Emberfall?The war engulfed everything... But it ended suddenly." Elrond thought.
"The war is over... Yet nobody knows what happened in the war." Elrond thought.
He directly looked at Markil.
"... intresting."
Finally,he exhaled.
"Very well,My lady."
He bowed deeply.
"I apologize for raising my blade against you."
Markil blinked.
"He bowed..."
"So this is how a real warrior looks like." Markil thought.
"Hey!" Markil waved his hands. "Don't bow, it's fine, really. Not a big deal."
Elrond stared.
"What is this men...?"
"Trying to hide his powers?" Elrond thought.
Markil scratched his head. "Honestly, I was also scared."
Elrond smirked was over in an instant. "You laugh while standing before death."
Markil shrugged. "Habit,I guess."
Melian watched silently.
"This human... He doesn't react like any other human."
Elrond stepped closer, voice low."listen carefully, human."
Markil met his gaze calmly.
"If you harm her... I will erase you from the existence."
Markil smiled weakly. "Got it."
Elrond scoffed. "You don't even tremble."
Markil thought quietly.
"I've already died once. And this man is asking me why I am not trembling."
Markil gives a small smile.
Melian placed herself between them.
"That's enough."
Both men stopped.
She looked at Markil.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you properly... About the situation that is happening in this world."
Markil smiled gently.
"It's...okay."
Melian's eyes softened.
And Elrond realised.
"This human... is dangerous in ways I don't understand." Elrond thought.
The forest was now silent.
Not because of fear.
But because some far greater had just stepped on the path.
And the three of them started walking towards the other comrades.
The forest shifted.
Not with the wind but the presence of Markil.
Markil felt it first.
"Multiple No.Many presencis." Markil thought.
His spine tingled.
Melian stopped walking.
Elrond straightened instantly. Hand resting on his sword.
"Princess," he said calmly. "They're here."
Before Markol could ask anything.
Figures stepped out from the trees.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
They didn't rush.
They claimed the space.
The first was a woman, tall and slender, long grey hair tied into a high braid. Light armour hagged her form like it was made of moonlight.
She smirked.
"So... You found her first, Elrond."
"Arwen Arya," Elrond said. "Still slow as ever."
"Tch.shut up."
The second was a man,broad shoulder with short ashen hairand a scar on his eyebrow to the cheek.
He cracked his neck.
"Princess.Melian."
He knelt immediately.
"Kalmen solas," Melian said softly. "You are here too."
The third stepped forward silently.
A young woman, shorter than the others, Jet black haircut and even at her shoulders. Her eyes were dull too dull.
Emotionless.
She said nothing.
Elrond spoke for her. "Alith Anar."
The fourth laughed.
A man lean and tall, with wild green hair, and playful golden Eyes.His Armor was decorated with charms.
"Well damn," he said. "She really walked with a human."
"Amreth Kasos," Melian sighed."you never change."
"Of course not."
Markil Blinked.
"These are the strongest elves." Markil thought.
Before he could react.
SHING!
SHING!
SHING!
SHING!
Four blades moved at once.
(Chapter 10 Finished)