The voice came from a tall, sturdy boy, his body giving the impression of having been subjected to hard training.
He certainly knew his stuff, that was Rada's impression.
"Alcas, what do you want?" asked Rei with a hostile look.
Cody stayed by his sister's side without saying anything, while Rada watched the scene in silence. He could already smell trouble and was mentally preparing himself in case of a possible fight.
"We were just wondering, how long it would take that tomboy Lerei to get out of his punishment, but it looks like you got off easy this time too!"
The tone of Alcas' voice, was not very friendly, in fact, along with five other boys behind him, they gave the appearance of being the classic bullies you see between school desks.
"Who are they?"
Rada approached Cody and asked discreetly.
"It's Alcas and his friends, they're always around making trouble, especially for my sister."
"Do me a favor, hold Kiba for a while" Rada handed little Kiba, who was snoozing as usual.
"Big brother what are you going to do!"
Cody tried to keep his voice low, but his concern could be heard.
"Nothing, nothing" Rada smiled at the little boy with a rather disinterested manner.
"What I do is none of your business, let's go" Rei took his brother's hand and prepared to leave.
Usually she would waste time ranting in her usual manner, but this time she tried to avoid it.
Rada watched Rei's behavior carefully, she seemed afraid of the bully leader.
But Alcas barred the way for Rei and his brother and said, "Hey, where would you two like to go? Do you have any idea the trouble you put us through because of you? How are you going to recompense our loss?"
He grabbed Rei by the arm and pulled her to him "There is still time before we leave, besides, there is still much to discuss" he said as he sneered evilly.
"Alcas I don't have time to waste with you, we have urgent matters with the Elder, or do you perhaps want to discuss them directly with him!?" Rei was red with anger, she could barely contain herself.
"Uhm, I wonder what's stopping you from kicking this idiot" not far from the scene, Rada spoke again in a disinterested tone.
Time seemed to stop for a moment, everyone stood looking at him wordlessly.
"That boy is in trouble, doesn't he know that Alcas is not a person to mess with?" a merchant sighed, slowly shaking his head at his words.
Alcas' group was the most surprised, no one among the young men of the village had ever disrespected their leader.
Alcas was arrogant and controlling but he had the strength to be so that no one dared to oppose him.
"It seems the stranger was not told about me" Alcas let go of Rei and walked towards him.
His eyes held no promise, they were the eyes of a fierce beast that had targeted its prey.
"I don't think there's much to say, the world is full of idiots" Rada's words were as sharp as blades.
"Besides, being ignorant and tired of living!" two steps away from him, Alcas' eyes became more and more furious.
Both were facing each other, the people around them didn't dare to take their eyes off the scene.
Rei's eyes widened from her initial shock.
"He's crazy!"
It was the only thing that came to her mind at that moment, Alcas was the strongest of their generation.
Cody clung to his sister, he wanted in some way help Rada to get out of that situation.
Rei on the other hand, didn't really have any idea what to do, she looked around looking for someone who could stop Alcas, but she found no one, apart from merchants and passers-by who watched the scene without interfering.
"Looks like I'm going to have to teach you a hell of a lesson, so that you can't forget who you're dealing with!"
Alcas looked down on Rada, he wouldn't even have to try that hard to beat the crap out of him and humiliate him in front of everyone.
"Please enlighten me" Rada didn't back down, in fact he continued to poke him.
He had met far too many people like this, people who had no qualms and beat up others, these kinds of people were the ones Rada hated the most.
"You have a death wish!" Alcas lashed out at him, with a lightning snap he unleashed a punch.
At first glance it might have been a simple punch, but it actually had enough strength to kill a man very easily.
"Watch out!" Rei ran towards Rada.
She acted instinctively, but it was too late, Alcas had been faster.
The people around the scene almost felt sorry for the boy who dared to challenge the despotic bully, for them Rada was going to his death.
But something happened that no one expected, at the very moment that the punch was in close proximity to his face, Rada made his move.
With a half side step he went out of the trajectory of the punch, then he gave a pat with all the strength he had on the forearm of Alcas, who due to the blow, saw his body rotate on itself almost giving him his back.
Unsettled by what was happening, Alcas had no time to react, when an instant later Rada's counterattack arrived.
His response was lightning fast, a punch delivered with all the strength in his body, which threw Alcas a few meters away from him, unconscious.
Silence fell again and people stood with their mouths open and their eyes wide open, women dropped their baskets of freshly washed clothes.
Both the Bran siblings, the followers of Alcas and all the people around were petrified with shock. What on earth was going on? Had Alcas not eaten breakfast by any chance? How did it turn out to be so easy to knock him out?
"The usual bully on duty, I knew it," wiping off the dust that had settled on his clothes, Rada returned next to the two Bran.
"Well? The Elder?" he asked.
Rei recovered from her initial shock and pointed her finger at him saying, "Y-you! What have you done!"
She grabbed Rada and Cody's hands and immediately darted in the direction of the Elder's house, leaving everyone present as if stuffed.
"Alcas defeated with one punch?" as the followers helped carry Alcas away from there, a lady who witnessed the scene pulled her husband's cheek next to her, who cried out in pain.
"But then it's not a dream..."
The villagers began to whisper about the events that happened.
"Who the hell is that young man? He beat Alcas with a single punch!"
"Ohohoh, the days of boredom seem to be over for me, I'm sure that boy will bring a real storm to our little village."
Sitting at a small table away from prying eyes, the Elder observed the entire incident.
Rumors spread like wildfire in the small village of Bran, rumors that especially intrigued the younger generation. Rumors about a young boy who defeated the despotic Alcas with a single punch.