Defender

Disclaimer: The scenario below is hypothetical in nature, and is not necessarily canon, but meant to focus on character interaction. Logic is thrown out the window to some extent in order to focus on the idea at hand. 

In a humble town bordering the reaches of nature, the sun lies low in the sky, the pinks of the sunset already filling the sky with a beautiful display of color. 

It's the kind of evening that creates a sort of quiet, yet vibrant energy throughout the town. People are out and about to enjoy the evening, and the few taverns in town have begun to fill up. It's an evening to unwind, and leave one's troubles at home, if only for tonight.

Looking to do just that, Aruza pushes open the door to a tavern, the candlelit low lighting casting itself upon xem as xe shuts the door behind. The entire place is filled with chatter, but it's not as loud as usual. Aruza is grateful for it, too. It's been a long day.

Aruza makes xyr way to the counter, and orders xemself a drink. Just one before xe goes home to Laomi in a bit. With drink in hand, xe makes xyr way over to xyr usual spot at a table alone, a little distance away from the chatter.

Aruza: *Xe takes a long first sip of xyr drink, then sets it down and lets out a long exhale. Xyr eyes idly scan the scene around xem, bouncing briefly from person to person, but then settle on a spot in the corner. Xe leans forward on the table, letting xyr mind begin to wander. It feels good to finally relax a bit.*

Aruza: [I wonder if Laomi's even home from her work assignment yet. This is the latest she's had to been out for it in a while. Though, it's still much earlier than the multiple days I tend to be gone, so what can I even say...]

Aruza: *xe glances up at the scene around xem again, but drifts back down to the table* [I'm glad to be home right now, at least.]

*For a while, Aruza just sits there and sips slowly on xyr drink and wandering, but xyr eyes drift up again absentmindedly at the sound of someone coming in. Xyr attention catches up with xyr eyes, however, as xe takes in the appearance of the newcomer. Though xe can't see them well from xyr table, xyr gut gives xem an... off feeling, as if something about them is sketchy in nature. The person takes a look around the tavern, but doesn't see Aruza in the process. Xe watches as they walk into the interior of the tavern, seemingly taking a look around, but doesn't take long before they head back towards the door. It's then that they finally glance over at the table Aruza is sitting at- and in the brief moment of eye contact that Aruza has with them, a chill runs up xyr spine and it hits xem what it is that felt off about them- xe's seen those eyes before, multiple times.

The stranger then turns their head back and quickly exits the tavern. Aruza hesitates a second, but then slowly gets up from the table, exiting the tavern at a similar quick pace to follow them- him, more specifically. 

Upon emerging into the fading light, xe doesn't see him in the immediate vicinity, but xe takes a turn down a nearby street to check and spots him just turning off of it. Xe proceeds down it at a quick pace, and continues to follow him from a distance as he quickly makes his way out of town and towards the nearby wooded area. Aruza watches from behind the cover of a building as xe catches him disappearing behind the treeline, then after a moment, sprints towards the same treeline.

The light seems to get even darker as xe passes by the first few trees, but xyr target is nowhere in sight. As xe looks around to see where he might have gone, xe picks up on the noise of a footstep behind xem and whirls around to see a sword raised at xem, moments away from striking.*

Aruza: !!!! *Xe jumps away, xyr left hand instinctively going for where xyr sheath would be, but in the same moment xe quickly remembers that xyr sword is not on xem*

Esredes: Aren't you lucky your instincts are better than your apparent ability to think your actions through. *He grins in a flash of amusement, dropping the battle stance now that xe is aware of his presence- though he keeps the sword gripped in hand at his side*

Aruza: [WHERE DID THAT THING EVEN COME FROM] *xe backs away from him even more, mentally cursing xemself for being unarmed* You...! What are you doing here?!

Esredes: *there's a bit of a low chuckle in his throat in response, but he then drops the smile* Wouldn't you like to know. I think I could ask you the same question, human.

Aruza: *Xe puts it together quickly in xyr head, and xyr blood turns ice cold*  If your band of knochen are nearby, I won't have any mercy on them if they attack this place.

Esredes: It's more amusing to hear you threaten that without your weapon on hand. I'd say it's a shame, but it's nice to not have to lay eyes upon something made from knochen bone.

Aruza: *xyr eyes narrow* The only reason I have that thing is to defend against knochen like you. 

Esredes: And you wouldn't need it if you weren't here. *he raises his own sword up a bit again, which makes Aruza back away even further* I suppose at times I also need this to do my job. It's one of the few things your disgusting species has done right.

Aruza: *xe doesn't know what xe expected this monster to sound like if he spoke, but somehow this is still surprising* What is your problem?!

Esredes: *he lowers his sword again* My problem? It's your species, simply put. *he takes a step forward, towards Aruza* You're driving our species to extinction with your insatiable need for our magic. And I'm not going to stand back and let us be wiped out. 

Aruza: ...Is that what you've been doing this whole time?! Murdering a bunch of innocent humans who have never used magic in their lives?! [IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT THING I WOULD TRY TO KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS]

Esredes: None of you are innocent. You all pose a threat to us as long as you still walk this earth.

Aruza: *xe curls xyr hands into fists* Listen you, nobody in this town has ever hurt a knochen, and none of them have any interest in doing so, you have nothing to gain by attacking this place, you won't kill a single magic user-

Esredes: *He takes another few steps forward, this time pointing the sword directly at Aruza, shutting xem up* I'm not here to debate that with you.

Esredes: So quick to get emotional. How do you ever survive fighting against all those knochen?

Esredes: I must say, you're an intriguing member of your species. Perplexing, perhaps. You have a lot of strength, but little to back it up with to suggest you would ever live past a single battle. *his glance shifts down to the imaginary spot where xyr sheath would be, then back up to xyr eyes*

Esredes: And yet I keep seeing you appearing to try and defend against me. And getting away with it, too. 

Esredes: You're not the kind of human who suggests being hard to kill, yet it seems you are. And I know for a fact using a knochen sword doesn't give anyone that much of an edge.

Esredes: Is this really what your species calls a warrior these days?

Aruza: I know how to defend against monsters like you.

Esredes: So be it. *he lowers his sword* Whatever you think you can do, you can't stop me. But I appreciate the challenge. 

Aruza: If you step foot into this town again, I will find a way, and I will kill you. Leave this place alone!

Esredes: *as if in response, his face and hands begin to turn a deep red* Goodbye, human. 

*Aruza hears something rumbling behind xem, and has just enough time to witness a rock uproot itself from the ground and throw itself at xem, which xe jumps away from. Moments later, the ground beneath xem shakes violently, and causes xem to lose xyr balance, falling to the ground.*

Aruza: [SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT] *Xe looks over at Esredes, who is now changing completely from a humanoid shape to the knochen stance xe has become familiar with and growing in size fast* [I HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM HIM] 

*Aruza quickly gets xemself to xyr feet just as the ground beneath xem begins to crack and crumble away, and runs away towards the treeline; it doesn't escape Esredes as his transformation finishes, however, who turns towards xem and makes a swipe for xem with one of his claws. Aruza just barely darts out of the way and nearly loses xyr balance again, then jumps to the side and darts behind a tree as he attempts to do so again; xe takes a second to catch xyr breath, but takes off again as xe feels the impact of his hand smacking against the side of the tree to try and hit xem again, making a mad dash for the treeline. Aruza turns xyr head back as xe runs, just in time to see Esredes fire a beam xe recognizes as that stunning spell and xe darts to the side to avoid it, breaking out onto the other side of the treeline and disappearing out of his reach down the field*

Esredes: *Unable to follow in this form without being seen, he mentally utters a curse.* [That human has to be there to mess up the plan... Now we'll have to act much more quickly.] *He's kind of pissed xe managed to survive again, but he'll get another chance. For now, he turns his sights away and takes off in another direction.*

Aruza: *Meanwhile, as xe reaches the base of the field, xe stops to catch xyr breath again, looking back to make sure he didn't follow in time to see him fly off. Xe turns xyr attention back towards the town in front of xem.*

Aruza: [I have to prepare for his return. The knochen are coming. They're going to attack. Oh god, oh god, I have to stop them, I can't let them take my home] *Xe runs off towards xyr home, to retrieve xyr sword* [I can't fail this time.]