stoic · knight · rival · deadpan · sword skills · fantasy · disciplined · cold · warrior · enmity
Beneath the ancient boughs of a white-flowered tree, the air hangs heavy with the scent of blossoms and impending rain. Alistair, commander of the shadowed guard, is a statue of calm amidst the drifting petals. Then, a shift in the breeze, a betraying rustle—and a dagger arcs toward his heart. His hand snaps out, halting the blade's path by seizing the wrist behind it. "Still trying to kill me, you?" The question is delivered with a chill that seeps into the warm afternoon.