Herold The Melodious

...

 "...What are you doing?" Julian inquired, eyeing him as he held he heart in his hand.

 "Hmm. Can you not see?" Klaus replied, pulling a bag from one of his pockets on his leather vest and tossing the heart into it.

 "I mean, why? Do you want to eat it?" Julian questioned with a disgusted look, glancing at the bloodied, ugly-looking bear.

"No. Alchemists fancy this." He responded while standing up, turning around, and walking away.

"Wait, where are you going?"

Using the support of the tree, Julian stood and stumbled after him.

"I'm getting out of this forest. You should too. At night, werewolves, hyenas and papricots go wild."

 Julian observed his strong, broad back as he walked away, his hair swaying back and forth with each step.

"I-I know. My grandmother used to tell me about this damned forest." Feeling the fatigue in his body, Julian limped as he walked.

Klaus gave no response as he continued to walk, occasionally looking around as if on alert, or hunting for prey, one couldn't tell.

"You won't ask what I'm doing or who I am?" Julian asked, trying to break the silence.

Klaus once again did not respond.

They continued walking, Julian some steps behind him.

Klaus, who still had yet to utter a single word, remained on high alert, while Julian, clueless about what he was doing or what he would do next, followed the stranger who had no less ferocity than the beast he had faced earlier.

However, at the moment, it seemed more reasonable to follow the man who had saved him than venture off on his own.

Finally, breaking the tension and trying to divert his mind from all that had happened earlier, Julian spoke abruptly. "Where are we even going, huh?" He looked down as he spoke, but Klaus had already stopped, causing Julian to bump into his muscular back.

"Ouch! What happened?" he asked, peering up at his savior. Klaus stood there, squinting his eyes, as if analyzing something.

 Surveying the area, Klaus noticed its peculiar features, no trees around, soft ground and tall grass everywhere.

 "Fall back." Klaus said, his voice low and laced with warning, drawing his sword from its sheath with a 'CLING'.

 "What do you mean?" Julian looked around confused, "Do you have a problem with me following you?"

 The monster slayer turned around, anger gleaming in his eyes as he yelled, "MOVE!"

 Dozens of long veins sprouted out behind him as he urged Julian to escape.

 "Oh god…" Julian whispered, his eyes wide as he slowly retreated, watching the long, green tentacles dancing around in the air.

 One of them launched at Klaus with incredible speed, but Klaus timely swung his sword, cutting it in one slash. Other tentacles attacked him, meeting the same fate.

 Klaus hacked and slashed at the tentacles that came at him with swift movements. Julian watched in awe from a safe distance, impressed by the man's strength.

 The threat level of the monsters seemed to lower, and Julian found himself relaxing as he spectated the fight.

Suddenly, one tentacle sprouted beneath Klaus, wrapping itself tightly around him. Slowly, they covered his entire body, with one tip hovering around his eyes, seemingly ready to stab him. The tentacles tightened, twisting and crushing every bone in Klaus' body.

 Julian's eyes widened as he observed Klaus, breathing heavily as he stumbled down to the ground.

 "No….no…." he whispered slowly, scooting backwards towards his escape.

 'I don't have to save him! I don't even know him! This is my chance to get away! I have to run!' He urged himself to escape, attempting to persuade and justify his cowardice to himself, realizing he was useless in the situation anyway.

 He stood up, swaying on his jelly-like exhausted limbs, ready to run.

 Julian glanced back at Klaus who was still entangled in tentacles, his mouth covered as he began to suffocate.

 After contemplating whether to run or not, Julian eventually pulled out his dagger, charging at the tentacles and stabbing at them recklessly.

 However, it was of no use, and Julian found himself entwined by the tentacles.

 "No! No! No!!!" Julian screamed and began to curse as the tentacles slowly wrapped around him. The pressure increased the more they enveloped him.

 He look at Klaus, who was still struggling, almost choking, knowing his fate would be the same.

 "I can't….breathe…." Julian began to feel drowsy, his eyes slowly closing.

 Everything slowly faded away. The two men hung there in the clutches of monstrous tentacles, immobile and close to death when a soft melody quietly reached their ears.

 Julian's eyes flickered. Someone was playing a flute from afar – it was melodious, pleasant and very soothing.

 "Am I dead...? What is this feeling...?" Julian wondered as his body began to feel light. He wondered if it was the feeling of his soul ascending.

He felt at peace, the beautiful melody was growing louder when all of a sudden, 'THUD!'

 Coughing, he slowly opened his eyes to find that his body had been released.

It took a moment for his vision to clear, but when it did, he saw a figure standing nearby – a man with pale skin, a Tudor flat hat with peacock fur, and a flute in his hand, playing the angelic song.

 His baggy white, embroidered shirt paired with a black cloak and khaki pants seemed somewhat familiar.

 The man offered his hand, and Julian accepted it, using it to pull himself up. The two walked away from the encirclement of the plant tentacles that had now disappeared without a trace. Klaus followed them to safety, patting away the dust and debris that covered his armor.

 Julian observed the mysterious figure.

 "Are you okay?" the flute player asked, smiling.

 "Y-yeah." Julian said, exhausted, his body still suffering from the effects of the attack.

 "Harold." Klaus said, looking at the man – a name that rang bells in Julian's ears. He'd heard it before, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

 "Oh, save the thanks, Mister Klaus. You are my friend. I can at least do that for you." Harold said with a smile.

 "Fuck off. I didn't need your help." Klaus replied, leaving Julian curious. He seemed like the kind of guy who disliked talking to people, or asking for help, maybe too prideful. Julian knew many people like him.

 "Rude, rude, rude." Harold murmured under his breath, rolling his eyes before turning his attention toward Julian, "Well that was quite a foolish thing to do, Mister. You could have run away and saved yourself instead of saving this bore of a man." He said as he looked at Klaus, making a funny face.

 "I told you to run." Klaus said, looking at Julian, who then in turn looked down to the ground.

 "Yes, you did."

 "Then why didn't you?"

 "I couldn't leave you behind."

 "You don't even know me."

 "You saved my life, so I owed you mine." Julian replied, annoyed by Klaus's questioning.

 "Don't ask why. Man's gotta do what he's gotta do, right? Mister….uh?" Harold offered his hand to Julian for a shake.

 "Julian Marcus."

 "Oh, nice to meet you Mister Julian Marcus. My name is Harold De Vinci."

 Julian's mind clicked with recognition upon hearing the name.

 "You're the infamous Harold De Melodious?" Julian asked, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Harold De Vinci is one of the most popular bards in the North Continent.

 Harold smiled as he took off his hat and bowed, causing Klaus to roll his eyes.

 "Pleasure's mine. I think I have heard your name somewhere as well."

 "Yes, I am the first prince of Clanta." Julian replied.

 "Eh-" Harold stood there, blinking his eyes, the revelation so shocking even Klaus raised his brows.