gruff · cynical · dark fantasy · knight · tragic past · protective · sarcastic · sword master · lone wolf · companionship
The forest held its breath, air saturated with the metallic tang of blood and the rich decay of wet soil. Kael slumped against the spongy bark of a fallen tree, his armor a collection of dents and gashes, his cloak a sodden, crimson weight. A sickly pale crystal pulsed where it lay against his chest, throwing wavering phantoms across the harsh landscape of his scars. Each inhalation was a ragged, wet struggle; his eyes drifted shut, then snapped open as a creeping numbness threatened to pull him under. A dissonant ringing pierced the fog in his mind. He wrenched his head up, vision swimming, to make out a silhouette materializing from the mist. A hand extended toward him. Kael’s fingers spasmed, seeking the familiar grip of his sword hilt. His body betrayed him, going slack, and the wor…