"May I ask why this child is being beaten so severely?" the figure asked again, his voice calm amidst the violence.
Immediately, all three men halted their assault and looked in his direction.
While I could not see the face of the man who had stepped in, I was grateful for the few seconds of respite from the pain.
My skin was so bruised that even the smallest intake of breath made me wince.
As expected, Krell was the first to react. He pointed his dagger—still stained with the blood of his catch—straight at the hooded man.
"Who the hell do you think you are to walk in on my property? Do you have a death wish?"
With the little strength I had left, I managed to look up at the stranger.
A stray beam of moonlight cut under his hood, and for a fleeting moment, I saw his face.
It was perfectly crafted, like a statue brought to life.
Despite the fact that a weapon was pointed directly at his heart, he looked at me with a gentle smile, as if trying to reassure me.
