The Man And His Sword

She can be imaginative when she wants, which results in her artworks being something beyond the ordinary. Thana preferred to paint because she could only express what she sees that other people cannot see through her brushstroke. However, no one has ever seen what magic she's capable of when all of her work is hidden behind the secret door of her room.

Thana's mind is so much more; her imagination runs wild.

Vampire, elves, or aliens. Thana could think of many possibilities that she may encounter when she decided to peek at whoever was swimming in the glistening water. But the moment it raised its head, her heart leaped, and her mind exploded with admiration.

That man is stunning.

A droplet slides from the side of his forehead when he pushes his wet, messy dark hair back. His grey-blue eyes that glowed with suspicion looked fiercely toward Thana's direction. The man is so visible with all the blue that's surrounding him. And as he begins to stand, he shows Thana his toned upper body and the chocolate abs he possesses.

Thana took a moment to appreciate how beautiful the man's body is and his almond skin, free from scratches or scars. She has never seen someone like him in London or anywhere in the world. His beauty cannot match any model she knows of; he is extreme. His existence is beyond this world.

But he is not an alien as Thana had thought he'd be. He looks like someone only about a year older than Thana. The man seems pretty young with a built body that must have taken years to form.

The more she stared at the man quietly, the more the man became aggravated. He could feel eyes on him, yet he doesn't detect anyone nor signs of movement through the dark bushes and trees a distance away from him.

That's only because Thana is standing as still as the wind.

"Who's out there?" his voice is hollow and malevolent; it shook Thana to the core. It's not a surprise to her since this gentleman has the looks that could kill. And to further break Thana out of her daydream, she spots the silver sword lying by the rocks near the man's clothes.

She gasped and mouthed, "that's a real sword?"

"I can feel your eyes on me. Show yourself! You're within the walls of the palace; if you're a servant, then you should know that no one is allowed this far out," the man continued to threaten Thana, but she cannot find herself to stand up. She's frozen in her bent, vulnerable position.

Maybe taking a stroll at night wasn't a very clever decision. Even though Thana only imagined encountering dangerous animals, she never thought of meeting a fine lad with a sword. Not to mention, this man also has a strange accent; the man sounded vaguely British, gracious, and precise—the accent he has is unfamiliar to those she knows about.

The silence was all the man earned, and it did not please him at all. Thana's eyes widened when he decided to get off the relaxing, steaming water. She choked from her own saliva, seeing that the man is entirely, beautifully, and absolutely naked.

He is bare from head to toe.

He picks his silver sword up and holds it in front of him. The man glared at the bushes where Thana hid. She shook at the glorious sight and mumbled to herself, "not bad at all."

Another step forward, and Thana could no longer take hiding forever. She leaped upward, frightening the man as he recoiled a few steps back. Thana is still concealed behind the darkness that the man could only see the mess of her hair and the brightness of her winter grey eyes.

"Wait, wait- I mean no harm," Thana explained, keeping her eyes wandering anywhere but down there, but it's impossible. She held both her palms out, unsure whether he could see her entirely.

It looked as if he couldn't as she watched him furrow his eyebrows and snapped furiously, "you- a servant? What are you doing here? Servants are prohibited in this area! Show your face so that I can report you to your superior."

"Uh no."

"What?" he responded in bewilderment. He's taken aback by the bravery of the girl, "what did you just answer me?"

Thana couldn't help but laugh in disbelief and roll her eyes, "I'm not a servant. That's quite harsh to call them that way. I woke up in the middle of this forest because of a crazy old bloke who owns a bookstore. Now, I have to get back to London if only I knew where the hell I am. So, kind sir, if you could please cooperate and help me, I would appreciate it and maybe reward you; my father is rich."

Much to her surprise, the man could only break into fits of laughter at her explanation and bribe. She thought of it as rude, but she realized that she did the same thing after he mistook her as a servant.

The man breathed heavily, calming himself before staring back at the unfamiliar girl with malice, "you almost had me fooled."

Thana's heart raced, her blood went frozen, and her eyes widened when the divine presence of a naked man started approaching her with a deadly gaze. His silver sword dragged on the grass as he moved.

The sword, the way it shined so beautifully clean but deadly. Thana could only hold her trembling hand, squeezing it to keep herself awake and ready. It was not the time to be weakened by a blade. She needed to push away her traumas for now.

"You- a runaway mage. I do not know how you succeeded in sneaking inside the palace walls," the man said, getting closer. Thana flinched when he swung his sword to snap the branch in front of his face.

He laughed with his eyes glowing supernaturally, his voice is venomous as he speaks, "you picked the wrong-"

One loud smack on the naked man's head and he dropped unconsciously on the ground. Thana breathed heavily, peering down at him with frightful eyes. She gives his head a slight kick before jolting away.

Nothing happened. The man might be dead.

"What in the bloody hell did just happen?" she gasped, slowly bringing the thick branch down, dropping it when she knew that it was the end for the naked man.

Thana sighed, "what a waste; he was gorgeous," she said, staring at his butt. It's shiny; flawless—a perfect peach.

Suddenly, the man's face snapped up at her, and he gritted his teeth with anger. He sounded as if he was growling. Thana's piercing scream made the man hiss at how it almost broke his eardrums, but as soon as he saw Thana's face, he gasped in surprise.

He finds himself awestruck.

The man could not utter another word when his eyes blurred from the aching of his head, and before he knew it, the girl that sneaked on him during his bath was already gone.