Shadows of Honor: The Arcane Warrior

Chapter 19: Flickers of Blue and Red

The man's eyes were like twin embers, glowing with an otherworldly blue light that seemed to pulse and shift with an inner energy, casting an eerie glow around his face. Duncan's gaze bore into Emile, and as recognition dawned, the intensity of the blue softened, simmering down to a calmer, controlled flicker like a quiet, unspoken flame. He extended his hand, the faint light from his eyes dancing across his chiseled features, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw and the confident set of his expression.

"Emile, wasn't it?" Duncan said, his voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. The piercing glow in his eyes dimmed further as he studied Emile, the flames within seeming to settle. "I heard what happened to you, but I never expected to find you in a place like this." There was a hint of disbelief in his voice, as if seeing a ghost from the past standing before him.

Emile grasped Duncan's hand, feeling the surprising warmth of it as he pulled himself upright. The connection, brief as it was, felt like a lifeline in the chaos. "Well, I'm glad you're here," Emile said, trying to steady the rush of emotions swirling inside him. He gestured toward the heart of the village, where the bandits were holding the townsfolk captive. "The villagers need our help. They're in real danger."

Duncan's expression shifted, his eyes flicking toward the center of town with a measured calmness. He nodded thoughtfully, as if weighing the situation in his mind. "I've heard rumors about bandits causing trouble in the countryside," he replied, his voice firm, edged with the confidence of someone accustomed to taking on danger. He flexed his fingers, the blue light flickering faintly once more, as if readying for action. "Stay here. I'll deal with them myself."

Emile's eyes widened in shock. The calm certainty in Duncan's voice was unsettling; it was as if he didn't grasp the scale of what lay ahead. "Alone? There's a small army of them out there," Emile said urgently, his voice rising with a mix of disbelief and concern. "You can't just take them on by yourself!"

Duncan raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint, almost amused smirk. He tilted his head slightly, his expression carrying a mix of mild intrigue and dismissive confidence. The glow in his bright blue eyes intensified, flickering like flames licking at the edges of a well-fueled fire. "Is that so?" he mused, his tone dripping with sarcastic disbelief, each word carrying the weight of skepticism. His gaze locked onto Emile's with a challenging glint, daring him to conjure an alternative. "And what would you suggest, Emile?"

The question hung in the air between them, thick with tension and expectation. The dim light from the window cast shadows across Duncan's face, emphasizing the sharp lines of his jaw and the quiet authority he exuded. Emile could feel the unspoken challenge in Duncan's words—a test of his resolve and his ability to think on his feet.

Emile pressed his lips together, his brow furrowing as he turned inward, lost in his thoughts. His mind raced, cycling through half-formed ideas and plans that crumbled as quickly as they surfaced. The sound of distant shouts and the occasional clatter of armor echoed faintly from the village square, adding urgency to his dilemma. "We have to consider the villagers' safety," Emile began, his voice strained. "We can't risk any of them getting hurt. We need a way to draw the bandits away, or at least most of them."

He twisted his body, turning toward the square and scanning the scene once more. The bandits moved with a cruel arrogance, shoving villagers into tight clusters and jeering at anyone who dared to make eye contact. Emile's eyes darted from the scattered crates to the narrow alleyways, trying to piece together a plan that could exploit the layout of the village. "I could...maybe..." Emile's voice trailed off, uncertainty clawing at his confidence. He racked his brain for a solution, but the weight of the situation made each option feel inadequate.

Duncan's gaze never wavered, and before Emile could continue, he stepped forward, his presence commanding and resolute. "I'll be the distraction," Duncan cut in, his voice steady and sure, as if he'd already made up his mind. "I'll draw them out, and you circle around to get the villagers."