"Wha... Wha... What?" the young man stammered. "Kyren Umbra? The Kyren Umbra? The Dark King?"

  "When someone asks you a question, it is customary to answer before you ask one back," Kyren replied in a slightly annoyed tone.

  "S-S-Sorry," the young man stammered. "My name is Rashiel, I am a Dual-Gifted Earthling from the Holy Empire of Fangmor. I was sent here with the delegation of the Five Holy Empires... to kill the Dark King, Kyren Umbra." Rashiel's voice trailed off.

  Kyren sighed. "So I was right. You are not one of the unbearable nobles of the Traixis, but it surprises me that they sent an Earthling here together with the nobles. Have they degenerated that much?"

  "Uh-umm... I came with them because I am the best Combat Healer, after Lord Antibioticos was killed during the last war between the Holy Empire of Fangmor and the Holy Empire of Elementis," Rashiel answered.

  "Well, then even they are not stupid enough to risk their healer, which is why you were at the back."

  "Not exactly... when the first Noctovics arrived, they ran away and left me behind."

  Kyren sighed. "You have a bad habit of answering when you are not asked. You will know when I ask you." He gave Rashiel a threatening look. "But it certainly is typical of nobles to abandon the Earthling at the first opportunity."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Rashiel seemed to want to answer, but this time he kept silent.

  "Well, I don't like to kill Earthlings, so I will let you go and I will even tell the Noctovics to help you take the bodies out of the forest, so you can return them to the Traixis."

  Kyren pointed behind Rashiel, where five bodies were lined up in a row, with a large Noctovic standing over them.

  Rashiel got down on all fours and pressed his head to the floor. "Please, I beg of you, please let me stay! The Holy Empires will not let me live one more day if I leave here alone. They already didn't tolerate the idea that a Dual-Gifted Earthling exists. The moment I leave the forest—I am dead! So please, let me stay! I will do anything, please!"

  Kyren sighed. "And why would I do such a thing? Is sparing your life not enough?"

  Rashiel pushed his head even harder against the floor. "Please... I will not survive outside. If you do not agree—I am as good as dead. So at least kill me here quickly, because the Holy Empires will torture me first."

  Kyren sighed. "If that is the case, I pose a challenge to you. Survive for 24 hours here in the forest without my protection. If you succeed—I will let you stay."

  "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Rashiel answered excitedly. He got up, stood in front of Kyren, and bowed.

  "Before you go, I will just remind you—you are allowed to use anything you find, but don't rely on me, because I will not help you besides this." Kyren pulled a black sword out of the air and offered it to Rashiel. "This is all the help you will get."

  Rashiel bowed once more, took the sword, and left the clearing.