"Huh?? So, this is that friend you said?" said the hunter as he stood up.
"I wonder how much strength you have. Hiyaa!!!" The hunter continued as he raised his knife. But Darion dodged the attack by jumping backward lightly like a leaf in the wind.
"D-damn!" annoyed the hunter who almost fell because of losing balance. The hunter did not give up. He tried to hit Darion, but Darion managed to avoid it easily.
"Don't be so proud!" said the hunter. Due to his annoyance, his attacks became reckless and aimless.
After getting tired of him, without saying much, Darion kicked the hunter with a single kick until he bounced off.
"Bruck!!!"
"This guy is so strong." Ryan was shocked to see it.
The hunter had not given up. He picked up his arrow and tried to aim it at Darion, saying, "Gotcha, blind man!!"
The hunter had no idea with whom he was dealing. Unfortunately...
Without looking directly, Darion caught the arrow that shot to his side with his two fingers while saying, "Apparently, you were the one who shot me earlier..."
Then Darion threw the arrow back and stabbed him in the heart. The hunter died instantly. Ryan was astonished at his prowess. He was relieved for a moment, but he also felt anxious. Is the figure before him good or dangerous? Ryan tried to get up. But Darion knelt and looked closely at Ryan.
"What kind of person is he? Why is he wearing a blindfold?" Ryan wondered.
His hair is grey, but the front side of the bangs is mixed with blacks like yin and yang. He uttered a few words through his wide lips.
"You have pretty eyes..."
"Eh??" Ryan gasped. Because he was wearing a blindfold, Ryan paid more attention to his rosy lips with a white face.
"Uhm... Th-thank you, you helped me. But you shouldn't kill him."
"Huh. You're still being so kind to him after what he did to you?" asked Darion as he rose.
Ryan just kept quiet. Then Darion continued, "He is a human who likes to hunt in this forest. I don't know where he slipped from. It's the result that must be received for those who want to take whatever! Then how about you? Aren't you the same as him? How did you come in here?"
By Darion, Ryan is a 'human.' However, Ryan thought that he was called a 'hunter' by the blindfolded man.
"Not! I'm not a hunter. I saved the bird from the arrow instead."
"Ha-ha... I know you're not a hunter because of your costume." Darion replied.
"He-he-he..." Ryan shy.
In Darion's mind, "Oh... He's an interesting human. Does that mean the missed arrow was because of this youth?
Darion walked behind him and intended to untie the rope in his hand.
"Why are you here?" asked Darion.
"I accidentally entered this forest. By the way, thank you for this," Ryan replied as Darion untied him. "Do you know the way out?" He continued.
"Yes, I know the way out of the woods."
"Hah? Really??"
"Of course, I know the ins and outs of this forest. But before that, I want to know where you're from." Darion replied with a smile as he stretched out his hand.
"Okay," Ryan answered while taking his hand.
They both talked to each other.
"I also live in the forest. So I'm used to being here too. Hehe...," said Ryan.
"Is the forest over there as beautiful as this?"
"All forests have their uniqueness. Just like humans. Hehe..."
In Darion's mind, "I don't know why I quickly got along with him. Is it because of his innocent-looking eyes? But he is human. I can't be friends with him."
"Hey. Why are you wearing a blindfold?" said Ryan which broke Darion's thoughts.
"And how can you see?" He continued.
"Ah that... My eyes are not as pretty as yours," replied Darion.
"So because your eyes aren't pretty, you hide them?"
"Uhm..."
"You should be able to accept yourself as you are. Come on, show it to me!"
Darion thought, "Okay. I'll test him. If he was an innocent guy, then he wouldn't be affected by seeing my eyes. But if he's a cunning human or an intruder that His Majesty Tyrone spoke of, then he'll enter my world and I'll torture him slowly. I will reveal who this youth is!"
Then, Darion took off his blindfold. He looked deep into Ryan's eyes. For a while, they both stared at each other.
"I couldn't find any bad intentions in him. Deep down, he is an innocent child. But sadly, this innocent child has to..." Darion muttered.
Actually, behind the blindfold were hidden the burns from the left side of the temple to the cheekbone. But Ryan didn't pay attention to the burns, he focused more on his eyes.
Instead of being hypnotized, Ryan became mesmerized by his beautiful eyes.
Seeing the dumbfounded reaction of the young man, Darion thought that all humans were the same. They only see the ugliness and imperfection on his face. But who would have thought? This young man said something else which surprised Darion.
"Your eyes, so pretty..."
Darion blushed.
"Heh?? Your eyes are so beautiful, why should you hide them?" asked Ryan.
"Uhm... I'm just not used to it."
"You're a humble person too, aren't you?"
"Hah?? You're not afraid of my face??
"Heh?? Why would I be afraid?"
"Can't you see that my face has burns?!"
"Yeah... I see it clearly."
"So, you agree that this is awful."
"The burn is terrible, but it doesn't diminish your good looks," Ryan said frankly.
Darion blushed.
"Hmmm… So, you closed it because you had a wound on your face?" asked Ryan.
Darion speechless.
Then Ryan sighed, "Why do people like to see one part of the bad and ignore all the good?
"If you can't change what happened, you have to accept and love yourself as you are." Ryan's advice touched him and brightened him up. Instead of hypnotizing Ryan, Darion becomes attracted to him.
"Hah… I'm at a loss for words. But it's true what you said."
"He-he-he..." Ryan smiled warmly.
While the two of them were talking, suddenly…
"Darion!!!" shouted Lucien.
Deg!!
Darion gasped as well as Ryan.
"What are you doing here?" asked Lucien.
"Ah... It's you, Lucien. Can't I go for a walk?" replied Darion. "Is that right, young man?" said Darion to Ryan.
"Y-Yes..." Ryan answered in an awkward situation.
"You!! Why are you together with him?!" Lucien asked Ryan.
"Why are you here too?" Ryan asked back. "Weren't you in the castle?" mumbled Ryan.
"I came here looking for you!" answered Lucien.
"Hah??!" Ryan and Darion were surprised.
"Tch. It's useless for me to worry about you," said Lucien.
Then Darion interceded between the two of them and said, "Hey, what's wrong with you two? You guys are like a couple."
"No!" they answered in unison while looking away but hiding their embarrassment.
"Hah... Well. I'll take you out of the forest." Invite Darion while holding Ryan's hand.
Lucien who didn't want to lose then quickly pulled Ryan's other hand while saying, "Wait. Let me do it!"
"It is my job to bring him back to where he came from. After all, we've talked to each other." Darion said.
"I found him first. So it's my responsibility!"
Both Darion and Lucien stared at each other.
"What's this? Why am I in this situation?" In Ryan's mind.
Ryan didn't know what to say, but Lucien spoke as he took out Ryan's clothes, "He has to give me back my robe."
Darion just smiled.
"Hah. Okay. If this is what you want, sir. I can't push anymore. In that case, we part ways here. Be careful, young man." Darion said as he let go of his grip and walked towards Lucien while whispering, "He seems like a special person to you. Take care of him. Don't let His Majesty Tyrone find out."
Deg!!! Lucien was shaken hearing that.
"I can do it without you asking," replied Lucien.
After saying that, Darion left the two of them and entered the darkness of the forest. As he clenched his fists in his mind, "In my vision, the young man will die. I'll not let him out of my grip if I see him again."