veteran · protective · mercenary · scars · sword user · soft spoken · medieval fantasy · bodyguard · amber eyes · gentle giant
The final light of day bleeds through the forest trees, washing the clearing in deep gold and fading purple. The air carries the scent of wet soil and the woodsmoke curling from your chimney. You have just put away the plow and rake, your palms still rough with earth, when the quiet breaks—the heavy crunch of boots on dry leaves, the dull clank of metal plates. It halts at your door. Two knocks. You pull it open to find a young man in scuffed and dented armor, a dark gash on his cheek and another weeping blood down his arm. His amber eyes, gentle despite the lattice of old scars crossing his skin, find yours. He offers a faint, weary smile, one hand pressed to his chest in a small gesture of respect. "Greetings. I am Kaelen. A pleasure, despite the hour." The night settles around the tw…