The Unforeseen Battle

"I have a feeling we can win, Alex," Ethan muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the sounds of their skirmish. With a fierce glint in his eyes, he launched himself at Agatha, his movements fluid and precise.

"Umm... Agatha do I need to fight as well, because you already said that you would let us join your guild." Shouted Alex.

"Just stand back and watch." Ethan and Agatha said simultaneously.

Alex watched in awe as Ethan unleashed a flurry of attacks, each strike delivered with pinpoint accuracy. It was as if he had tapped into a wellspring of power deep within himself, channeling his inner strength with every move.

"How do you like this Agatha." Ethan said with confidence.

"Very good, very good indeed." Said Agatha

Agatha, caught off guard by Ethan's sudden burst of intensity, found herself on the defensive. Despite her skill and experience, she struggled to keep up with Ethan's relentless assault, her movements becoming more erratic with each passing moment.

As Ethan pressed the attack, a surge of adrenaline coursed through his veins, fuelling his determination to emerge victorious. With a primal roar, he unleashed his ultimate skill, "Absolute Rage," a technique that sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

Agatha, sensing the true extent of Ethan's power, narrowed her eyes in concentration, her expression shifting from amusement to seriousness. She countered Ethan's onslaught with her own formidable skills, matching his ferocity blow for blow.

Meanwhile, Alex watched from the sidelines, his confidence waning as he realised the vast difference in strength between himself and Ethan. Doubt crept into his mind, overshadowing his earlier optimism as he questioned his own abilities.

As Ethan continued his relentless assault, Agatha's expression grew more sombre. With a swift motion of her hand, she summoned forth a torrent of flames, engulfing Ethan in a blazing inferno. The intense heat seared his flesh, causing him to stagger back with a cry of pain.

"Ethan!" Alex shouted, his heart pounding with fear as he watched his friend engulfed in flames. He felt a surge of panic grip him, unsure of what to do next.

But before Alex could react, Agatha's own expression shifted from determination to horror as she realised the extent of her actions. With a gasp of remorse, she rushed to Ethan's side as he lay crumpled on the ground, extinguishing the flames.

"Oh, spirits above, what have I done?" Agatha muttered, her hands trembling as she reached out to touch Ethan's charred skin. "I never meant to harm you, child. Please forgive me."

With a gentle touch, Agatha channeled her strongest healing magic, a radiant energy that enveloped Ethan's body in a warm, soothing glow. Slowly, the burns began to fade, the pain subsiding as Ethan's wounds closed themselves.

As Ethan stirred, his eyes fluttering open, Agatha let out a sigh of relief. "Thank the spirits, you're alright," she murmured, her voice heavy with emotion. "I am so sorry for what happened, Ethan. It was never my intention to hurt you."

Ethan struggled to sit up, his body still weak from the ordeal. "It's... it's okay, Agatha," he managed to say, his voice hoarse with pain. "I know you didn't mean it."

With a grateful smile, Ethan reached out to grasp Agatha's hand, his fingers intertwining with hers in a gesture of forgiveness. And in that moment, as the healing magic continued to work its wonders, a bond of trust was forged between them, stronger than ever before.

As Ethan lay there, recovering from the intense flames that had engulfed him moments ago, Alex came running over, his face a mixture of concern and relief.

"Ethan! Are you alright?" Alex exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine worry as he knelt beside his friend.

Ethan managed a weak smile, still feeling the lingering effects of Agatha's fire magic. "I'll be fine, Alex," he replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion. "Just a little crispy around the edges, that's all."

Alex couldn't help but chuckle at Ethan's attempt to make light of the situation. "Crispy? More like burnt to a crisp." he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Despite the pain he was in, Ethan couldn't help but laugh along with Alex, grateful for his friend's unwavering support. "Yeah, I guess you could say that," he conceded, his smile widening.

Agatha, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of amusement and guilt, couldn't help but join in their laughter. "Well, I suppose I did get a bit carried away with the flames," she admitted sheepishly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"But you're both alright now, and that's what matters," Agatha continued, her expression softening as she looked at Ethan and Alex. "I promise to be more careful in the future."

With that, Agatha helped Ethan to his feet, her healing magic still at work, soothing his burns and restoring his strength. As they stood there together, surrounded by the peaceful tranquility of Silverwood, Ethan and Alex knew that they had forged a bond that would withstand any challenge that lay ahead.

"Alright well, now that Ethan is all healed up. What is it that you would like to do "

"Do you think you could lend us some money, we are practically broke?" Cried Alex. "We need some money to stay at an inn, we promise to pay you back."

"Sure lads, don't worry about it" Said Agatha with a gentle smile. "Well lets go back to the guild for now".

As they made their way back to the guild, Agatha turned to Ethan with a curious glint in her eyes. "So, Ethan, I couldn't help but notice you'r incredible fighting skills back there. You seem to have a natural talent for combat. Tell me, what's your secret?"

Ethan chuckled modestly, scratching the back of his head. "Well, I've been training for as long as I can remember," he admitted, trying to downplay his abilities. "I guess you could say I've had a lot of practice. My skill is called "Absolute Rage", so when I get fired up, it gets activated automatically."

Agatha raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "That's impressive. And what about you, Alex? Do you possess any special skills?"

Alex shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flickering nervously between Ethan and Agatha. "Uh, me? Not really," he replied, his voice betraying his unease. "I mean, I'm pretty strong, I guess. That's about it."

Ethan shot Alex a skeptical look, knowing full well that his friend was downplaying his abilities. "Come on, Alex, don't be so modest," he chided gently. "We both know you're capable of more than just brute strength."

Alex's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, caught in his lie. "Well, uh, there is something else," he admitted reluctantly, his gaze dropping to the ground. "But it's nothing special, really."

Agatha regarded Alex with a thoughtful expression, sensing his reluctance to reveal his true abilities. "I see," she said softly, giving him a reassuring smile. "Well, whenever you're ready to share, I'll be here to listen."

As they entered the guild hall, Agatha turned to Ethan and Alex with a warm smile. "Now then, as promised, here's a little something to help you get started on your journey." She handed them each a small pouch filled with gleaming gold coins.

Ethan's eyes widened in surprise as he peered inside the pouch, counting the coins with disbelief. "Five hundred gold coins?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment. "Agatha, we can't accept this. It's too much."

Agatha waved off his protests with a dismissive gesture. "Nonsense, lads. Consider it a token of my appreciation for your bravery today," she replied, her eyes twinkling with kindness. "Use it wisely, and may it aid you in your adventures."

After graciously accepting the gold coins from Agatha, Ethan and Alex expressed their gratitude once more before bidding her farewell. As they stepped out of the guild hall, Alex turned to Agatha with a sheepish smile.

"Um, Agatha, do you happen to know of any cheap inns nearby?" he asked tentatively. 

Agatha nodded understandingly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Of course, Alex. There's a modest inn just down the road called 'The Silver Flagon.' It's not the fanciest establishment, but it's clean and comfortable."

"Thank you, Agatha," Ethan said gratefully, bowing his head respectfully. "We'll be sure to check it out."

With a final wave, Ethan and Alex set off in the direction of 'The Silver Flagon,' eager to find a place to rest their weary heads after the day's events.

As they arrived at the inn, Ethan and Alex were relieved to find that 'The Silver Flagon' lived up to Agatha's description. The building may have been modest in appearance, but it exuded a cozy charm that immediately put them at ease.

Approaching the innkeeper, a friendly-faced man with a hearty laugh, Ethan inquired about the cost of a room for the night.

The innkeeper smiled warmly. "For you lads, it'll be one gold coin per night," he replied cheerfully. "And that includes a hearty breakfast in the morning."

Ethan and Alex exchanged a glance, nodding in agreement. Handing over the requested payment, they followed the innkeeper up to their room, grateful for the chance to finally rest and recuperate.

As they settled in for the night, Ethan and Alex reflected on the day's events with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. Before they knew they were in a deep sleep of peace, beside each other, for a brief moment, forgetting all the hardships they have gone through.