But when Rei retreated, he tried to act fast and drew his sword, he dodged Viola's magic and then came close to her, holding the sword to her throat.
The situation became critical as Rei approached Viola.
- Leave me alone! - she shouted, desperation in her voice.
The dumbfounded bandits and knights continued to stand by, doing nothing. They were stunned by the unexpected turn of events and didn't know what to do.
Viola tried to defend herself by throwing water balloons at Rei, but he deftly dodged them without giving her a chance. He was an experienced fighter, and his skill was obvious.
- Listen to me carefully, Viola," Rei said, pressing his sword against her neck. - You don't seem harmless, how could you undo my magic?
Viola looked at him with mixed feelings of fear.
- 'I didn't do anything,' she said.
- 'I don't know what you're talking about.
- Don't lie to me! - Rei exploded, his eyes sparkling with rage. - You did something to stop my magic from working! How did you do that?!
Viola didn't know what to say back. She really hadn't done anything special, but Rei was convinced she had some powerful magic.
Lox, in the form of a cat, watched the whole situation with bewilderment.
He knew Viola wasn't doing anything dishonest, but he also realized that her abilities were causing others to be perplexed and fearful.
"This I will not absorb," Lox thought.
As Rei lowered his sword and fell silent, the eyes of everyone present were fixed on this tense scene.
Viola looked at the knight with mixed feelings - fear and gratitude.
She was amazed at his decision not to kill her, even though he could have done it without any problem.
- Are you crazy? - She whispered, genuinely not understanding his decision.
Rei scratched the back of his head and looked confused.
- 'I don't know why, but something in your eyes makes me question my actions,' he answered honestly.
- I just couldn't do it.
Viola smiled slightly, realizing that the strength of her personality had made an impact. But she was angry with Rei.
- 'Thank you,' she whispered, 'I don't know what would have happened to me if you had...'
- You don't have to talk about it," Rei interrupted her. - Just leave, and don't come here again.
Viola nodded and turned without another word, walking away with the healing herbs in her hands. Lox followed her, feeling mixed emotions.
His help was needed, and for some reason he was glad that he was able to help Viola survive this dangerous situation.
The rest of the people present also watched the departing girl in silence, eyeing Rey with bewilderment and doubt.
Some of them scratched the back of their heads as he did, not understanding what could have changed his decision.
When Viola went into the forest, Rey turned back to the girl. People were left to discuss what had happened, their conversations filling the air with whispers and sounds of trepidation.
Lox didn't care about human intrigue, he decided to return to Viola to see how she was feeling after this tense event.
His feline form and absorption ability gave him strength and knowledge, but at this moment he was just a caring cat wanting to protect his mistress.
- You should participate in the arena, maybe you'll be accepted into one of the clans," Rei shouted loudly.
After Rei's suggestion to participate in the arena and possibly join one of the clans, Viola swung her hand away sharply, trying to dismiss the suggestion.
Her eyes expressed mixed feelings of annoyance and uncertainty. She was embarrassed that such a possibility was even suggested, given her weak magical abilities.
- You should at least give it a try," Rei continued, not giving up.
- You'll be protected and supported in the Clan, you won't be alone anymore.
She didn't want to be dependent on anyone, didn't want to be tied to any guild or clan.
- No," she said simply, "I am on my own. I don't need your guild.
Her words were decisive, and Lox sensed that she felt vulnerable and insecure.
Perhaps she was ashamed of her limited magical abilities and afraid of being rejected in the clan.
- Fine, suit yourself," he mumbled, resigned to her refusal.
Without another word, Viola turned and walked away, disappearing among the trees of the forest. Her determined steps came from rage and resentment, but also from a sense of independence.
She didn't want to be tied to anyone, she was determined and independent.
Following Viola, the cat snuck through the bushes and trees to watch her from afar.
He could sense that she was feeling great emotion, but at this moment she needed solitude.
As she moved away from the city walls, Lox kept an eye on her, ready to help if she was suddenly in danger.
His bond with Viola was growing stronger and stronger, and he felt something was wrong, he was getting a little attached to the human.
…
Rei approached the girl with the huge sword and red hair, not liking the mocking expression on her face. He stood in front of her, remaining calm, not wanting to get into a conflict.
- Viola is no ordinary witch,' he replied, trying to emphasize her special magic.
- She has a unique magic.
The sword girl smirked even wider, watching Viola disappear among the trees of the forest.
- Magic? - she said mockingly. - Tell me, my dear knight, you're not going to believe her, are you?
Rei looked at her carefully, realizing that she thought Viola was weak and unable to resist. He sensed that the girl wanted to tease him and decided not to join the game.
- Everyone has their strengths," he replied calmly.
- And I don't doubt Viola's abilities.
The girl with the huge sword snorted and frowned.
- You're too trusting," she said, evasively.
- In that case, let her handle you in the arena. Let's see what happens.
Rei didn't want to get involved in any fights, so he decided not to accept this girl's challenge in the arena.
- Thanks for the offer, but I'm not interested," he said, walking away from her provocations.
The girl stared at Ray for a moment and then nodded as if accepting his decision.
- As you wish," she mumbled.
- But don't complain later if she can't protect people.
Rei only smiled back and turned away, saying goodbye to the girl for a moment before going about his business.
But Rei smiled for a moment.
He rolled his eyes and then said with a smile:
- This " weak" witch has the gift of reversing spells.
The other two knights were surprised to hear this: - What?! - All the knights burst out.
Ray was a little amused to see the surprise on the other knights' faces.
He spoke confidently about Viola's abilities, thinking that she really wasn't as weak as she seemed.
- Yes, she has the gift of canceling spells," Rei repeated, backing up his words.
- She can absorb magic and break the spells of her opponents.
One of the knights asked with a questioning expression:
- But that's unusual for a witch, right?
- Yes, witches usually have the abilities of a certain element," Rei replied.
- But Viola is a special case. Her magic is unique.
The third knight frowned and remarked, "That sounds interesting.
Loyd, a knight with short hair and a single convex lens, looked at Rei with surprise.
There was something mysterious in his eyes, as if he was picking up secret powers hidden from ordinary eyes.
He watched carefully as Rei cast spells, and his face expressed deep thought.
- I didn't sense any strong magical energy in Viola," Loyd began, shifting his gaze from Rei to his lens, "but by some miracle I noticed how your spells disappeared immediately without stopping as soon as you used them," he continued, his voice sounding cold and confident.
Rei, slightly surprised and alarmed by this observation, tried to puzzle out what could be behind this unusual phenomenon.
He was a mage himself and had never encountered something like this before.
Rei stood in front of the knights, feeling the stares of Loyd and Sena on him. He knew they were paying attention to his reaction and tried to remain calm.
- Guys, it was just a coincidence," Rei said, trying to sound confident.
- Viola, the witch. No need to worry about that.
Loyd nodded, accepting Rey's words, but he still had a slight feeling of unease. He was a good observer and noticed how Ray's gaze stopped on a certain point deep in the forest when he mentioned Viola.
- All right, if you say so, – Loyd said, trying to sound indifferent.
- 'In any case, it's our duty to keep the city safe. We must keep patrolling.
Sena, another knight who was always straightforward and often showed her temper, joined the conversation:
- Yes, Loyd is right. Perhaps it really is just a coincidence," the red-haired one said caustically.
- But we can't allow any dark magic to infiltrate our city. We must be on guard.
Rei felt a slight tension in the air and knew he had to do something to calm the knights.
- You're right," Rei agreed, raising his hand in agreement. - But let's continue our patrols and be prepared for any possible threats.
Loyd nodded again, seeing that Rey was taking the situation seriously and realizing that he might have his own reasons for alarm. Sena, though she didn't show it, was also inwardly reassured, knowing that Rey was willing to be on guard for the safety of the city.
- 'Let's move on then,' Sena said, turning toward the city. - We still have a lot of work to do.
…
[About Varion - The main square of Varion, where knights often met after their quests, was home to a bright and picturesque market quarter. Here locals and merchants gathered to exchange goods and news. Food and food stalls surrounded the square, creating a cozy and fragrant atmosphere.
The first stall belonged to the town baker, a master of his craft. Fresh breads and various pastries gleamed in his windows - appetizing pies filled with berries or meat, fragrant cinnamon buns and delicate fruitcakes. The smell of fresh baked goods beckoned visitors to this shop, and there was no one who could resist the temptation to buy something delicious.
Next to the bakery was the shop of a local cheesemaker. Here were a variety of cheeses ranging from soft and delicate to hard and rich in flavor. The cheeses were decorated with branches of herbs and berries, making them not only tasty, but beautiful. The vendor was always ready to offer samples of his cheeses so that customers could choose the one that was right for them.
Next was a stall with local fruits and vegetables. Fresh and juicy vegetables, bright and ripe fruits were on display here. Gardeners from the surrounding villages brought their crops to the city to offer to the residents. Merchants ran merrily among the blossoming apple trees and strawberry bushes, offering their goods and telling about the benefits of each of them.
The locals didn't forget about their seafood, either. Varion's fish and seafood stall offered fresh fish delicacies caught from the nearby sea. Colorful signs and decorations emphasized the nautical theme of this stall, and the fresh smell of sea air and fish made walking through the market even more pleasant.
Finally, vendors with various stalls set up their parking lots near the market. Here one could buy various goods ranging from handicrafts and jewelry to books and maps.
Travelers from afar brought with them interesting and exotic goods, adding to the assortment of the local market and diversifying the life of the city.
The Varion market was a picturesque and diverse place where everyone could find something for themselves.
Knights returning from their adventures often stopped here to replenish their supplies and share news. This market was not only a place of trade, but also a place to share stories and knowledge, making it special and beloved by all the people of Varion. ]
[ About the Warriors - The Knights of Varion were the chosen defenders of the realm, endowed with the magical powers of the various elements. Each knight had a unique ability that allowed them to manipulate the forces of nature and use them in battle against threats.
Some knights possessed fire magic. They could summon and control flames, making them powerful opponents in battle. Their attacks were bright and devastating, and their armor, made of strong metal, prevented possible burns.
Other knights possessed the element of water. They could create walls of water, control water currents, and even cause heavy rains or downpours. Such magic made them versatile in battle, and water walls could serve as excellent defenses for allies.
There were also knights in Varion who possessed earth magic. They could create stone walls, raise the earth, and cause earthquakes. This made them not only strong defenders, but also dangerous opponents in close combat.
In addition, the kingdom also had a place for knights with air magic. They could create whirlwinds and control the winds. This gave them an advantage in maneuvering on the battlefield, and also allowed them to strike from afar where their opponents could not reach.
Another group of knights were those who could use lightning and electricity magic. They are able to summon powerful lightning bolts and deliver crushing blows to their enemies. Their blue clothing, symbolizing the element of lightning, emphasized their uniqueness and magical power.
The green metal armor worn by the Knights of Varion was made of a special magical alloy. This armor was light and flexible, allowing the knights to move freely in battle and use their magical abilities without restriction.
Each knight was trained to serve the kingdom from childhood, undergoing rigorous and lengthy training to become a true protector of their people.
Their magical abilities and unique armor made them not only heroes in the eyes of the people of Varion, but also a reliable support in times of hardship. ]