Raphael stood silently among the men, watching the two warriors clash in the center of the ring. Their strikes cracked through the air, fast and precise. He watched every move, drawn into the rhythm of their fight. These men weren't just strong—they were skilled.
Angelo, standing beside him, noticed. "Hey, kid," he said, nudging Raphael. "You wanna try sparring?"
Raphael turned, expression blank. He'd seen Angelo before but didn't know much about him.
"You want a match with me?" Angelo asked, grinning.
Raphael hesitated, eyes flicking to the exhausted fighters leaving the ring. Then, he nodded.
Angelo's grin widened. "Alright."
The murmurs started as they stepped forward.
"Angelo, really? He's just a kid."
"What's the point?"
Angelo waved them off. "It's just training. Right, kid?"
Raphael gave a small nod. The doubt lingered, but no one stopped them.
Angelo grabbed two wooden swords, tossing one to Raphael, who caught it easily. As they squared off, Angelo gestured. "Go ahead. I won't attack first."
Raphael moved without hesitation, swinging down.
Angelo sidestepped. "Too slow."
Another swing. Another dodge.
Raphael didn't stop. He kept attacking, relentless, but Angelo barely seemed to try. The crowd grew restless.
Then something changed.
Angelo's smirk faded as Raphael's strikes sharpened, each one faster than the last. His sword became harder to read—smoother, more unpredictable. Then—
A lock of Angelo's hair drifted to the ground.
The men gasped.
Angelo blinked, running a hand through his hair. His expression darkened.
"This kid..."
Sweat ran down his face. He exhaled sharply. "Alright, I won't hold back now."
Then he moved.
The force of his strikes sent shocks through Raphael's arms. The crowd roared as Angelo pressed forward, his speed increasing. Raphael blocked, dodged, but it was getting harder.
Elara, Stubby, and the boss watched from the side.
"This isn't just sparring anymore," Elara muttered.
Stubby held her back. "Don't."
She struggled. "Why?"
He motioned toward Angelo. "Look at him."
Angelo wasn't smiling anymore. His eyes burned with excitement.
"He's like a lion," the boss muttered. "Savoring the fight."
Raphael's breathing was heavier now. His muscles screamed, but he refused to stop.
Angelo chuckled. "Is that all you've got?"
Raphael didn't answer. Instead, he moved.
Sand flew into Angelo's eyes.
"Arrgh! You damn kid—"
Raphael struck.
His sword slammed into Angelo's head just as Angelo's weapon slashed across Raphael's eyes.
Blood sprayed.
Elara screamed.
Angelo hit the ground, unconscious.
Raphael stood there, panting, blood dripping down his face. The crowd exploded in cheers.
Elara ran to him, hands shaking. Stubby checked Angelo, poking him. "Is he dead?"
The boss frowned, watching Raphael carefully.
That boy… Could he be—?
No. They don't exist anymore.
Stubby glanced up. "So, are we done with the tests?"
The boss let out a slow breath.
"Yeah. We're done."
As they carried Angelo away, the men dispersed, but the Boss couldn't shake the feeling that Raphael was far more than he seemed.
Inside the cottage, Raphael sat quietly while Elara tended to his wounds. Her hands worked fast, but there was no hiding the frustration in her voice.
"You idiot," she muttered, her voice thick with emotion. "Why do you always have to fight?"
Raphael didn't answer. He barely flinched as she pressed a cloth to his cuts, but his silence only made her angrier.
"Say something," she demanded, but still, nothing.
Letting out a sharp breath, she stood up, leaving the room. Moments later, she returned with a white blindfold in her hands and dropped it beside him.
"Open your eyes," she said, softer this time.
Raphael hesitated before slowly opening them. The moment light hit, he flinched, his breath catching as sharp pain shot through his head. He squeezed his eyes shut, hands instinctively raising to cover them.
Elara's heart clenched. Without thinking, she knelt and pulled him into a tight hug, pressing his head against her shoulder.
"You don't have to fight anymore," she whispered. "You don't have to train. I'll always be here with you."
A tear slipped from his eye, stinging as it fell. Elara pulled back, wiping her face quickly before picking up the blindfold. She carefully wrapped it around his head, her hands trembling slightly.
"I don't know if you'll ever be able to see again," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "But this should help keep the sunlight from hurting your eyes."
Raphael nodded once. His face was unreadable, but the way he held himself told her enough.
The door creaked open. Stubby and the Boss stepped inside—both shirtless, both looking guilty.
Elara's gaze hardened. "What do you want?"
Without hesitation, both men dropped to their knees.
"We're sorry."
Elara let out a short, bitter laugh. "Sorry? For what, exactly? For letting Angelo fight Raphael? For standing there and watching? Or for being completely spineless?"
Stubby kept his head down. The Boss sighed. "We didn't expect things to escalate."
Elara scoffed, arms crossed tight. "Big problem, huh? You have no idea what kind of problem this is." She pointed at Raphael. "He might never see again. Are you happy now? Or was this all just because he's a beastkin?"
Stubby said nothing. The Boss tried again. "We'll punish Angelo—"
"Punish?" she snapped. "And what, exactly, will that fix?"
The Boss hesitated before sighing. "We just wanted to test his abilities…"
Elara blinked. "Test? What for?"
Stubby shifted uncomfortably. "We thought… maybe he could help us with the robberies."
Elara's mouth opened, but for once, she had no words.
The Boss turned to Raphael. "I'm sorry. Nothing I say will fix this."
For a long moment, there was silence. Then, Raphael finally spoke.
"It's fine."
Elara's head snapped toward him. "Raphael, what—"
Raphael exhaled, voice calm. "I expected this. Even if I can't see well, I can still be useful."
The Boss and Stubby exchanged glances. Elara just stared at Raphael, torn between disbelief and something deeper, something raw.
"…Step outside," she finally said. "Both of you."
They left without a word.
Once the door shut, Elara turned back to Raphael, her voice quiet but firm.
"Why did you forgive them so easily?"
Raphael leaned back. "They don't deserve the blame."
Elara clenched her fists. "What are you talking about? They—"
"I was too focused on winning," Raphael interrupted. "That's why I got hurt."
Elara's anger melted into something else. She slowly walked to him and wrapped her arms around him again, holding him close.
"I just don't want to see you hurt anymore," she whispered. "Not now, not ever. You're my family, Raphael."
"Thank you," he murmured. His voice was so quiet, she almost didn't hear it.
Outside, Stubby kicked a rock. "I knew this was a bad idea."
The Boss placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault."
Before Stubby could respond, the door opened. Elara stepped out, face still hard. "You two can come back in now."
They re-entered, kneeling again in front of Raphael and Elara.
"We're sorry, Raphael," Stubby said, voice raw. "I'll be your legs! I'll never leave your side!"
Elara smacked him on the head. "You're being too loud."
"Sorry…" Stubby muttered, rubbing his head.
The Boss looked at Raphael. "How are your eyes?"
Raphael nodded. "It's… fine. I can still see."
Elara's breath caught. "What?"
Stubby and the Boss stiffened.
"I can't see faces, but I can sense something," Raphael continued. "Like figures… traces of energy."
The Boss muttered under his breath. "Arcane perception…"
"What?" Stubby and Elara said at the same time.
The Boss shook his head quickly. "Nothing."
But Raphael turned toward him, like he'd heard every word.
The Boss quickly changed the subject. "You should rest. Take time before deciding if you want to join us."
Raphael didn't hesitate. "I'll join."
Elara flinched. "Raphael—"
"I want to protect our home," he said simply.
The Boss smiled. "Alright. Rest up. We'll give you time to recover."
As he and Stubby left, Stubby turned and grinned. "Take it easy, alright?"
Outside, the Boss spoke. "We'll send out three men to check on the situation before we make any decisions."
Stubby nodded. "Now you're thinking!"
Back inside, Elara sighed, picking up the scattered bandages. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Raphael answered.
She smiled softly, shaking her head. "Alright… let's get something to eat."