7:05 AM
The sky was mostly dark except some orange which was overtaking it piece by piece. Thankfully, Grogbin and Snizzle were too stupid to even enter the tavern, as they had misunderstood Xander's command. Even Mervin had come back hours ago, after burning the bodies of those three wretched criminals. They were all asleep, their snoring rumbling throughout the street. Arthur had also locked the tavern door at night. 60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7HhWRTDUJ
M had awoken. He got up from his bed, looked in the mirror, his red and grey eyes didn't look tired even though he had just awoken, though he still wiped his face with his hands. He then put on his hood which was attached to his black cloak. Grabbed his scabbard from the bed and exited the room60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0CIPnRvtz
There were no early customers coming in for breakfast, the tavern wasn't to be opened for obvious reasons. The red floorboards near the back of the tavern were still yet to be cleaned properly. Not to mention the trauma Arthur and Maria had just experienced. Mostly Maria, Arthur's daughter. 60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPejakmCn5J
To the cloaked mans surprise, both Maria and Arthur were already awake, they were in the kitchen and could be heard talking to each other about some ingredients. He was hungry and needed some food before he could leave the tavern. He walked down the stairs, they were creaking as usual. There was a bucket placed on the floor, just in front of the stairs, to freshen up even more he scooped water from it then splashed it onto his face three times. Maria exited the kitchen and looked to the stairs, she froze.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReYnzIJglk
He could kill her or her father in less than a second. The memory of that fight kept whizzing through her brain.
The man walked to the counter face wet as water droplets fell onto the tavern floorboard, he then asked, "What do you have for breakfast?" voice so dead and dull as if he were a lifeless statue.
The daughter, Maria, stood still, mouth open. Then she tried saying something "P–" she couldn't get the words out as a savage killer stood just in front of the counter. "Porridge." Maria's whisper could barely be heard. Her thoughts about him were somewhat conflicted now. On one hand he had saved her, without this man standing in front of her, god knows what would've happened to her. However, the ferocity in which he killed those men was what she feared.
"I'll have that." M uttered, sitting down, face cold as always. 60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRcOVDk1qR
Arthur had still not yet realised M had come down. Though, when Maria came through the door hurriedly, he caught a glimpse of the man through the door.
"He wants porridge." Maria said with a frightened voice, signalling to the door.
"Give it to him." Arthur's voice was firm but gentle, he noticed the fear in her daughter's beautiful eyes then quickly added, "He won't hurt us, I know it."
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Maria just nodded. Thankfully the porridge had already been made, she had prepared it before M had even awoken. It was sat in a cauldron, thick and creamy from the gentle simmering hearth. The warm, wholesome smell filled the kitchen and was also seeping out through the door to where the cloaked man was sitting. She took a wooden bowl from the shelf and added a generous portion of porridge into the bowl, finally she placed a wooden spoon in it.
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Her father was readying a brush to scrub away some of the blood still staining the floorboards in the main hall. Maria gulped, then took a steadying breath. She pushed the door open. M was sitting patiently, his hands resting on the counter. She set the bowl before him. She trusted her father. And if he trusted this man, then so would she, Maria thought to herself.
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The red eyed man held the spoon then took a scoop of porridge and ate it.
"Honey." M said out of nowhere.
Maria froze, "W- What" her cheeks flushed.
M blinked at her, "Can I have honey?" he gestured at the porridge while holding the spoon.
Maria's face went red as realization hit her. She let out a nervous laugh, "Oh! Yes, of course!" She hurried to fetch the honey pot, still smiling on what had just occurred.
She handed him the pot. M lifted the wooden lid and poured a stream of golden honey into his porridge. He stirred it with his spoon, then began to eat with focused contentment. 60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5QejRAUIF
By now, Arthur had emerged from the kitchen, his sleeves already rolled up to his elbows. He smiled as he saw M eating. He knelt by the blooded floorboards, then dipped his stiff bristled brush into the bucket of cold water. Then he started scrubbing the floor. The brush made rough, rhythmic sounds against the wood. Scritch. Scritch. Scritch.
Maria was staring at M who was eating his porridge.
"Thank you… Uhm, for saving me." she let out. 60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bZp3bBDZH
M paused his eating. He wasn't used to talking to humans, not like this. His only companions were K, his trusted horse and his sword, neither of which could make a conversation, let alone thank him. Now that this golden haired lady stood before him, he did not know how to respond. 60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLbAMZCT3u
Maria blinked, waiting for a response. The fearsome killer who'd dispatched three men without breaking a sweat now seemed utterly lost on what he should say in the face of simple gratitude. It was clear as day, the hooded figure did not know how to respond to a simple 'Thank You'.
"Who made the bread and meat yesterday?" M didn't look up from his breakfast.
"I… did." Maria admitted, confusion flickering across her face.
M nodded once, "You make good food," he paused, "Good chefs are rare in these parts. Your skills saved you."
Maria's confusion deepened. "What?"
"Don't thank me," M returned his attention to the food with finality.
Maria looked at M, who was deliberately focused on his nearly eaten porridge, something warm bloomed in her chest. He hadn't saved her just because she was a good cook. But the fact he still tried to give her a reason, something to make her feel valued rather than pitied or helpless, that meant more than any graceful words could have.
Arthur had heard it all, he stopped scrubbing then laughed silently, "I don't think he knows how to take a compliment, Maria." his face shone with warmth.
Maria smile softened, "I don't think so either, father."
"It's time I go." he said in a low tone as he finished his porridge.
Maria looked down with sadness. Arthur stopped scrubbing and got up, his face clearly showing signs of sadness too, but he tried not showing it.
Arthur nodded, "You should take that cloak off, the guards will stop anyone they spot wearing it," Arthur said, concern tightening his tone as he walked to the counter.
"I can't." M replied, then after a brief pause, added, "I'm cloakbound… I can't take it off for long."
"What- why not?" Arthur said in a confused state.
M got up, "A curse." he replied quietly, as if reliving a memory in the distant past.
Arthur and Maria froze, horror and disbelief washed over them both, "A… curse?" Maria murmured.
M did not want to explain the full weight of this curse to them. "Do you have a cloak which isn't black?" as he pointed towards the black cloak he wore himself, he asked a bit shyly as Arthur had already done so much for him.
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Without saying a word, Arthur signalled to Maria, she walked into the kitchen and returned moments later holding a dark green cloak, wrapped neatly in her hands, she extended it over to M, passing it over slowly.
"This is my daughter's cloak," Arthur smiled faintly as Maria handed it to M, "I have a feeling it'll be more useful in your hands. I don't know the details of this… curse you carry… M, but I hope this will help."
M, with the new cloak in hand, reached for his pouch once again.
"No." Maria interrupted gently, placing a hand over his, to stop him. That brief touch was enough for Maria to sense the strength held beneath this man's calm exterior, "The gold coin you gave my father last night has already covered everything, your food, that room… even this cloak."
Arthur's proud face could be seen smiling.
"They've opened the gates, both of them." Arthur added, nearly forgetting to tell him that.
M nodded, then began to ascend the stairs. He paused on the third step and looked back at both Arthur and Maria, the dark green cloak was respectfully being held in his hands, then said with a gentle yet serious tone, stripped of any bravado, "You two are braver than most people I've fought."
He meant what he had just said. From someone who had fought countless opponents, that praise carried weight, Arthur and Maria both knew it.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3DKmo3H0C
Arthur's eyes teared up even more than before. In less than a day he had grown attached to this man as if he were his own son. Who could blame him? This man was powerful yet humble, fierce yet respectful, qualities so rare in men. Arthur had always wanted a son, though he still loved his daughter dearly. But now watching M disappear up the stairs, he felt his heart ache just a little.
"Wait…" Maria's voice broke, she hurriedly ran through the kitchen door to her small living quarters.
She emerged moments later, something clutched in her hands, "Where is he?" Maria asked frantically to his father.
"Upstairs, room three, go quickly, and you might catch him." Even Arthur was a bit curious as to what she wanted to give him. He wanted to go upstairs himself but thought it would not be befitting.
She ran up the stairs, heart pounding. She pushed through the last door as she saw him putting on the green cloak. 60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGDumRwSJL
The black cloak he had been wearing was now discarded on the bed, his strong masculine body could be seen, his broad and strong arms weren't enormously big. He was covered by a black tunic shirt, perfectly fitting him. He quickly wore the green cloak on himself, patting the old cloak to ensure nothing had been left behind. Then he turned.
Maria waited outside the door, "Please... Take this." her voice came out as a desperate whisper.
M looked back, face steady, no emotions, then he opened his palm out. He knew this woman wouldn't take no for an answer. She stepped forward, her fingers steadier than before, she then placed an elegant silver ring into his hand, it felt cool and heavy in his palm. Gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"I found this ring when I was a child." she said, eyes fixed on it, "When I was a child, I was by the Risli River, I saw this ring on the bank of it, half buried in mud. It must've flown through the river from god knows where. I dug it out with my fingers." Her voice softened, "I always told myself I'd give it to someone who did something special for me. Someone who would stand up for me. Someone brave," she smiled, "Like those knights from Castle Marlite and Cinderhall."
"I'm no knight–"
"Please… I realize now you're better than most knights." she said, looking down at the floorboards, as if nearly about to cry.
He nodded, then closed his palm around the ring. "I'll… keep it safe." the words low and deliberate. "And this cloak… I'll bring it back."
"You don't have to…" Liar, Maria wanted him to come back. The words remained unspoken, "Stay safe—"60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorF7uQCgTa
M had to go now, he jumped out the window, not saying another word. Maria gasped as if he had just died. She raced to the single window to see where he had landed, though he was already gone.60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW8sukj84b
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