But before the light could manifest Erarke's entire body, Loti appeared behind him as fast as he could.
"You've fought well enough, boy." Although a whisper, Loti's voice was calm. That might be the reason why the light enveloping Erarke started to fade. Perhaps it was their bond, Ned would not know, and he doesn't want to find out.
Erarke brushed off the old man's hand over his shoulder and glared at Ned with his position ended with his knees on the ground.
"I-I'm... sorry." Painful it may seem, Erarke lost to Ned—twice. But the sorry wasn't to Ned but to Loti and the rest of his team. He gave Ned a nod and left without saying a word.
"Why are you doing this, kid?" Loti stood before Ned brushing the end of his beard. This was also the first time that Ned saw his eyes like arrows, unyielding. "Were you some kind of a battle-freak?"
