Chapter 37 - Sharpen your Swords, Train your Body and Mind
POV: Taes Dedoldia
The wind of Tinaver blew gently through the stone streets, carrying the distant smell of active forges and goods being unloaded. Taes walked calmly along the sidewalks, his hands in his pockets and a serene expression on his face. Beside him, Lisa walked with short, almost skipping steps, her eyes sharp and observant of everything.
"It's so different here, don't you think?" she said, with a light smile as she watched the merchants shouting their offers.
Taes glanced down at her. Lisa was small for a beast girl, perhaps due to malnutrition before he rescued her, but her eyes were lively, full of an energy he couldn't ignore. It was something he increasingly liked as the days passed—that smile, which seemed out of place in the dirty and cruel world they lived in.
"Different enough to keep the mind distracted," Taes replied, shifting his gaze to the horizon. His calm, almost bored tone contrasted with the constant vigilance in his eyes. Even while walking, he was alert. 'Never let your guard down,' the Chief always said.
They passed through a more isolated alley, where the movement dwindled. Lisa paused to watch a group of children playing with a cloth ball. For a moment, Taes allowed himself to relax, crossing his arms as he watched her. "She really is... small," he thought, almost smiling.
That's when they appeared.
Two men stepped out of the shadows, blocking their path. Their expressions were those of opportunistic predators, filthy grins plastered on their worn faces. One held an improvised club, while the other had a dagger strapped to his belt.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" said the first, his malicious gaze lingering on Lisa. "Beasts wandering through isolated alleys? Did you get lost, or are you offering yourselves up?"
Taes said nothing. He remained still, his expression unchanging. Lisa, however, stepped back slightly, feeling the weight of the men's intentions. He could see she was scared and about to say something, but Taes raised a hand slightly, cutting her off.
'Just as the Chief said.'