Having his face torched with flames, Kleine looked far above to see who had done this.
Towering far above him was a very familiar man, Gozan.
Behind Gozan were the three kids.
"Kleine?" Gozan said, with a face full of anguish.
Kleine looked at him, seeing the scars he once imparted unto the man.
"Gozan?"
The two men locked eyes, stories untold, and generations unfolded.
"What are you doing here? The king of bandits fallen to a lowly slave trader?!"
"And the great Gozan, former commander of the royal army, fallen to protecting town peasants."
A firey gaze lay between these once great men's reunion.
The noblemen whispered, "Is that Gozan?" "I heard he died."
"And you! What are you doing here? Disgracing the great name of the king?!" Gozan said directing his anger towards the noblemen.
They bumbled about worriedly trying to scheme a solution to this predicament.
"The king! Yes, he uh.. wanted us to trick the bandit king and capture him alive!"
Kleine looked at them in disgust and scoffed. "Liars."
"I don't want a damned slave trader calling us liars!"
"Quiet! All of you! You have all grieved great sins. I will deliver you all to the king."
The noblemen shivered.
"Get up Kleine! Kill the wretched fool!"
"What can a lowly slave trader do, eh?" Kleine retorted.
"Kleine, you were once a good man, you deserve death for your crimes but just this once I will show you mercy, if you vow to never commit a crime again, to leave this country and never return, then I will let you live."
Kleine locked eyes with Gozan, gazing into his soul, and grimaced.
"Very well then, I shall never return."
Before the rise of the tide, He had departed.
Gozan then looked at the noblemen. "You will all face trial for your crimes, I swear it by my name."
The noblemen looked defeated.
Gozan then looked at Paul and reached out his hand.
"I'm sorry Gozan, I tried my best."
"Shut up you damned fool." Gozan said with a tear in his eye.
"I'm just glad you're still alive."
Gozan then turned his gaze to the elf.
"What is your name, girl?"
"Slyvia" She replied, with her melodic voice, akin to a harp in the meadows.
"I am sorry that this has happened to you, Slyvia. To pay for these men's sins, I will take you under my house until we can return you to your home."
She nodded in agreement.
It seems the day has been won.
Gozan then turned to the three kids, with a stern and fierce look.
"Promise me, you will never do something like this without coming to me first again, promise me."
They all promised solemnly.
Gozan took the three noblemen into custody, and prepared for his journey to the capital of the kingdom; Lancaster.
END.