"What do you think you're doing?" Light's voice was cold as a blade and laced with menace as he clutched the arm of the man holding Lara. The attacker was off balance for a moment, taken aback by the interference.
"And who are you to question how we handle our affairs?" The tone was disdainful and arrogant, his eyes full of contempt.
"This girl has been wandering for several days, and now you can't discipline her? You don't understand how things work here."
Light narrowed his eyes as anger seared in his chest. "She was lost, and it was the duty of your group to rescue her, not leave her to your mercy. What I saw when I found her was negation and abandonment, far from any form of discipline."
The man tried to yank his arm away from him, but Light held tight, the strength and determination staring in his eyes. "And you think violence is the answer to this? Not while I'm around."
The guards around them started to inch closer; tension mounted rapidly. The attacker's expression grew more wary, but he refused to back down. "You're meddling in affairs that don't concern you, outsider. Let me do my job."
"Your job" Light snarled, "is to protect your own, not beat them. If this is your notion of leadership, then you are weaker than I thought."
The man's arm flared with the green aura now, breaking free of Light's grasp, and arced to strike the traveler. Light dodged, cocking his fist for a similar counterattack.
"Cease, now!" Silvyr bellowed, unmistakable as an order. He had noticed the ruckus and was marching towards them. On every step he took, the world seemed to shake, and everyone gasped for breath-except Light and Triss.
'Oh damn'
"What is the meaning of this?" Silvyr's voice was cold and commanding; his pointed eyes moved from Light to the man still leaking the green aura.
"This outsider was trying to interfere with internal affairs, so I was going to teach him a valuable lesson!" The captain glanced briefly at the scene, almost immediately grasping what had taken place.
"Currently, we are at war against monsters and infernal creatures" Silvyr began, his tone carrying an authority which no one dared question. "More than ever, what dictates right and wrong is strength. If you have the strength to set the rules, then go and fight like a man."
"If you want to fight, then fight; the winner sets the rules, and the weak must be silent."
"Yes, sir!"
"Light, are you agreed?"
"I only fight to the death" Light pronounced eerily cold, and incredulous looks flew around. The tension mounted strongly, and a murmur of surprise went around. The aggressor, however, did not back down but kept his firm and challenging gaze.
"Then it shall be so."
***
Name: Rhys Ravaro
Title: [None]
Status: Supervisor of Servants
Rank: Initiate
Race: Elf
Aura: 0
Strength: 3
Agility: 2
Resistance: 3
Skills: Dash, Nature Manipulation, Minor Strength
Characteristics: Arrogant, Aggressive, Irresponsible
Observation: An elf looking to seize the opportunity to make a name for his house, with grand delusions of glory.
***
Both stepped forward.
"I would like to remind everyone that I am a violent man and my punishments do not end quickly" Light threatened loudly, as the captain signaled the start of the combat. Undeterred by the threats, the man drew his blade and charged with superhuman speed.
Light considered quickly slashing his opponent's neck as he usually did, but he realized this issue would repeat… Besides, the captain was clearly using the situation to assess him.
'I'll solve two problems with one blow.'
A vertical cut descended towards Light, which he dodged with a sidestep. Another cut followed in his direction, and with minimal and smooth movements, Light continued to evade.
"You only know how to dodge, you coward!" the man shouted angrily. This time, when he swung his sword, Light stepped in front of him. The man fell to the ground, unbalanced like a child, drawing laughter from the audience.
Light stood still, watching him get up, his face cold and menacing. The same process repeated several times; he merely evaded and eventually knocked down the enemy, who continued to insult him.
"If you keep this up, surrender, outsider" more than ten minutes had passed since the fight began.
"This is your last chance to leave here alive. Apologize on your knees, and I will allow you to leave" Light continued sternly, his voice as abrasive as sandpaper.
"Apologize yourself for interfering in my affairs" Light sighed and shouted.
"As everyone can see, I gave him countless chances to repent and showed him the danger he faced. Even so, he continued relentlessly to offend and attack me."
"Therefore, like my lord, I must administer justice. I wash my hands of determining the punishment."
"I, Light, by the crime of insulting me and one of the servants, Lara, decree the death of Rhys Ravaro."
"Stop talking and come!" This time, Light advanced immediately with his bare fists. Another cut was aimed at him at high speed, but as always, it missed. The first punch landed in the man's stomach, causing him to fall to his knees, dropping his sword.
As he tried to get up, a foot met his face, sending him several meters away, his teeth flying.
"I hope you regret your sins…" Light continued to ramble.
"Well, this is my role in a way" the man tried to get up furiously, only to be kicked again like a stray dog.
"Get up" with all his might he tried only to be hit again.
"Get up!" Light urged him, his hatred taking over. The man grabbed dirt with his hands and threw it at Light's eyes, who shielded himself with his hand. Taking advantage of the opening, he tried to land a punch, only to fall again into Light's hands.
"Alright, I give up, damn it. Let me go" he tried to leave.
"The fight is to the death…" Silvyr reminded him. Now the man was visibly worried.
"Unless, of course, your opponent agrees to let you go…" Everyone looked at Light, hoping for some mercy. Until then, he had been serious, proclaiming himself a defender of justice, but now a slight smile crept onto his face. He did not respond, only continued to attack the man, who pleaded for him to stop.
After at least an hour of being tortured with a nearly unrecognizable face, Light finally drew his sword. His sword ignited with flames, and he decisively severed the man's head, which he then took.
"Let it be etched in iron and fire in the minds of everyone here: never mess with me or those I care about! Otherwise, your end will certainly not be that of a hero or a villain; it will simply be that of a stray dog who died for provoking the wrong person."