Roy came sprinting into the dirt clearing, his chest heaving violently as his boots kicked up thick clouds of dust. He had been down at the lower markets when he first caught wind of the Alchemical Pavilion's aggressive mobilization against his master. Burning with a fierce, absolute loyalty, he had charged up the mountain paths without a single millisecond of hesitation, fully prepared to draw his blade and lay down his very life to protect Ethan's sanctuary.
But the moment he burst into the clearing, his heart violently dropped. The two orange-robed alchemists had already completely surrounded Ethan, their hands hovering dangerously close to their weapon hilts.
"Master Ethan!" Roy roared, his eyes flaring with desperate rage. Without a single shred of fear for his own safety, he threw his weight forward, launching himself directly into the fray to intercept the troublemakers.
Yet, before Roy could even cover half the distance, the space around Ethan violently distorted.
SHING!
