"Run away? Again?" one of them jeered, shoving him hard toward the floor. "You worthless piece of shit, you don't get to crawl back to your hole so fast."
Leonel struggled weakly, his protests drowned out by their mocking laughter. His eyes brimmed with desperation.
The so-called master smith stepped forward then, his voice dripping with scorn. "Pathetic. Still the same coward who fled the moment his talent was tested. Do you think I'll allow a dropout to tarnish the sanctity of my forge? No… I will grind you down once more, so every apprentice here remembers what failure looks like."
His gaze turned cold and cruel. "Stand, worm. Face the hammer before you crawl back to the mines where you belong."
Leonel shook his head frantically, his lips trembling, "P-please… I-I don't want this. I can't—"
But before the intimidation could continue, a figure moved between them. Damon.
