A Familiar Face With A Lot To Say

Kenny and Tessa made their swift exit from the Snowdrop Tavern, and as they exited, Kenny clutched his stomach. What he had done back in that bar was terrifying, he reacted in a more than unnatural manner, but while he was scared of that aspect, something else was turning him sick to his stomach. He wanted to chalk it up to the fight; it made sense, but something else in his mind was telling him this was different. What he felt now resulted from not running away; it was like he denied his proper instinct, and his whole body knew it.

"Six hells..." Once again, that phrase left him as he stumbled over, resting against a large snow-covered boulder as he attempted to settle his stomach, "It's alright...it's alright...you're good," He whispered under his breath, sucking in long breaths of the cool air.

"It's never easy the first time, my lord," Tessa sympathetically interjected, "But you must remind yourself you did what you had to at the moment. Any blame you are feeling rests on my shoulders alone," The brunette's face looked bitter, disgusted even.

Kenny fought through the nausea, "Your shoulders? Tess, what are you talking about?" He sucked in a final breath and pushed off the rock, "You didn't do anything wrong,"

"I let two drunks get the better of me!" Tessa gritted her teeth, "I'm your shield, I'm supposed to protect you, and I left you alone with two men ready to kill you." Kenny watched, and Tessa shook her head, "Turning my back to a foe, could I be any more foolish?" Her face flicked with pain, and finally, a red drop dripped from a strand of hair, running down her cheek.

"Tess, you're bleeding," Tessa lifted her head, staring at Kenny, genuinely thrown off by the concern in his voice. She was angry at herself, but she at least expected her lord to be angrier. On any other day, she might have even feared being sent off and stripped of her maiden status. Yet, here he was, sounding concerned for her well-being. What was going on with him?

"It's...It's a well-deserved wound, my lord, and one you shouldn't worry yourself with," Tessa attempted to deflect, though Kenny quickly moved to her side and took an easy hold of her head, inspecting where the man has cracked her over the head, "My lord, please, don't trouble yourself! You needn't soil your hands with rust,"

Rust? I'm guessing that's another new word around here? Seriously...rust instead of blood... Kenny internally noted, ignoring Tessa's protests entirely. His inspection finally ended as he moved some of the red-stained hair aside, finding a gash running along the top of her head. "They struck you well," Kenny sighed, and Tessa seemed to sulk all the more, "You're head is gashed, thankfully not deep, but it's pumping out quite a lot of blood," Kenny corrected,

"Damn it all," Tessa hissed, "I promise I won't allow it to slow me down, my lord!" She swiftly added as he stepped back,

"I'm certain you won't," Tessa let out a relieved smile, "That wound should hardly slowly you on your way back to the castle."

Tessa's eyes widened, "The castle?! N-No, my lord, I'm perfectly fine. We don't have to return on account of this scratch!"

"Tessa, you're hurt; we're not going to continue to ride through town with that untreated. So you're going to ride back to the castle, have it cleaned and wrapped." Kenny explained as he walked over, leading their two horses away from the tavern before handing the brunette her reigns, "I'll join you before midday,"

"Join me?! No, no, no, I can't allow you to ride without my protection, my lord! I'm perfectly fine, I swear to you! My well-being is secondary to yours, my lord; I can't --"

"You can and you shall. I decide whose well-being is more important." Tessa hung her head low, "This is my order, Tessa. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my lord..." Tessa reluctantly accepted,

"Good, then go; I'll see you shortly," Kenny took a step back and extended a hand toward Tessa's horse. The brunette hesitated for a moment but, all the same, headed off, climbing onto her house, and with a few final glances back, began to ride back to Kaster's Keep.

Kenny made his way through the surrounding town, wondering if this was just what Greenwall was at this point. Things hadn't made a lick of more sense since this morning, but the longer this day was going on, the more Kenny was starting to get behind the idea that it was all real. He just couldn't understand the physical pain he kept feeling and these burning memories; with each one that happened, he could seemingly remember a bit more of a much more fitting life that matched this world he woke up to. This still doesn't make any sense, but maybe...maybe it's like some sci-fi movie thing; that's what's happening to me. I got sucked into a... wormhole, and now I'm in a universe where everything is medieval? Yeah...Yeah, Kenny, that doesn't make you sound like a fucking insane dude. He thought to himself before his ears perked to the sound of distant cheering.

Turning his head, Kenny directed his horse towards the nose, and before long, he found himself riding toward a giant wooden building. Large entryways were made around its side, and dozens of people were excitedly rushing to and from the location. Flags were mounted at the top, hanging down banners that seemed to include his personal one, as well as many others he wasn't familiar with. And it was only then that Kenny realized the building wrapped around in a circle; it was, without a doubt, an arena. Kenny dismounted his horse, tied it off, and approached the building with curiosity.

"My lord!" Kenny turned, finding what looked like a guard standing at attention, "Maiden Tessa told us of your possible arrival today! We have a seat prepared for you if you'd wish to view the fights today, my lord! It'd be a good time; Kaster is set to fight any moment!"

"Kaster?" Kenny tilted his head,

"Yes, my lord, Kaster, the White Blade. He's finally rotated over to our arena," The guard affirmed, "Shall I lead you to your seat, my lord?"

Kenny hesitated; after the tavern fight, he wasn't sure if he wanted more violence, but...could it genuinely be Simon Kaster fighting? That wasn't something he could pass up. "Yes," He nodded, puffing his chest out slightly as he spoke so he'd sound more in line with what he assumed would be expected of a lord, "Take me in." The guard bowed and swiftly turned, marching inside while Kenny followed.

Moments later, Kenny was brought to a front-row seat, cleared from the rest of the commoners, but even so, he could look around the arena and see hundreds crowded in, all cheering with excitement. In the circular center of the arena, Kenny found two men caught in the heat of battle. One was a bit shorter, armored in dark leather, and had a face-covering helm. The one he faced was a giant of a man, muscular, not very armored, but held a war hammer in his hands. They were already deep into the battle by the looks of the larger man, he sported more than a few deep cuts and gashes over his body, and he seemed to be winded. The shorter fighter, on the other hand, was impossibly relaxed; he casually strolled around the man, twirling a longsword, "Come now, you have to bring a better show to these people than that!" He boldly laughed, "You don't want to bore your ancestors on top of meeting them in defeat today,"

"I'll send you through all six hells myself, Kaster!" The man roared, wildly swinging his hammer, and the warrior named Kaster ducked right under it. Kenny watched in awe as the man danced around these lumbering swings, slicing his blade into the man each time before finally sliding past him, taking him down from the back of the knee. The man fell, and with swift, deadly efficiency Kaster finished him with a final blow. At once, the arena erupted with cheer, and Kaster raised his hands, showboating for his adoring fans.

"Six hells, he's got some serious talent," Kenny remarked to himself, only to lurch forward the second the man took off his helm. Older than expected, in mid-twenties at the least, with medium unkempt blonde hair, and a jaw-shaping beard to match, was none other than Brian White.

As the arena began to clear out, the last of the fights having finished for at least some time, Kenny was fighting his way through the crowd to get to his familiar friend. By the time he finally spotted the black leather armor, Brian was a good distance from the arena, and his adoring fans were leaving him be, "Hey!" Kenny called out, and the blonde turned, giving him a once over with a raised brow, "I -- I need to talk to you!"

Brian let out a visibly annoyed exhale and turned to face Kenny, resting his hand over his sword, "Did you not enjoy the show, lord Kenneth? I've heard you're rather hard to please,"

Kenny was both surprised and thankful that Brian recognized him so easily, though considering the memories he was having, that might not have been the best thing. "The show was great; you're quite talented," Brian perked up slightly, giving a thankful nod before turning, "I wasn't finished," Brian turned back. Kenny opened to continue but realized he wasn't sure what he should say at this moment. He wanted his friend to help him through whatever the hell was going on in this world, but this version of Brian clearly wasn't a friend like the other. Hell, he was supposed to be dead. "I'd...uh...." He blinked a few quick times before an idea finally popped into his mind, "I'd like to hire you!"

Brian squinted, "Hire me? I think not," He denied without a second thought on the matter, "I'm a performer for the people and a small-time mercenary, not a royal bodyguard."

"I'd pay you well," Kenny swiftly offered, and Brian chuckled,

"I appreciate the offer, but all the steel in Viridian wouldn't be enough. I'm not in it for the money, Kenneth. I enjoy what I do, so I make sure only to pick what I'd enjoy doing," He gave Kenny a grin, patting him on the shoulder as he turned away, "May the winter's wind cool you, Lord Kenneth," With that, Brian turned away.

"Kaster, wait, please, just hear me out! I need you to --" Kenny pleaded, though Brian continued to leave without even a glance back, "Damn you, Brian, don't go!" The yell came out in an angry burst, and Brian instantly stopped in his tracks.

Kenny's brow raised as Brian slowly looked back at him for a moment; his blue eyes were now wide as if he was staring back at a ghost. Then at once, he turned, storming towards Kenny, pulling a dagger from the sheath on the back of his belt, "What did you just say?" Kenny stumbled backward, his hands raising as his brown eyes remained locked on Brian's dagger, "Say it again, Craven. You tell me what you just called me,"

"B-Brian, wait, please," Kenny stammered back, only for Brian to grab his head in one hand and press the blade to his throat,

"That's what I thought," Brian growled, "What are you playing at? Do you think you'll take me back to my father? Be hailed a hero for finding the lost prince? I don't know how you figured it out, Kenneth, but you and I both know you're in no position to take me. So I suggest you take yourself back to your castle, and you never look at me again. I'm not one for killing lords...but one like you? I hardly think anyone will miss you,"

"Brian...please, I --" Kenny's voice trembled, and he swallowed hard, "I'm not who you think I am. I...I know you, Brian, but I don't know this you," Brian tilted his head and raised a brow, "Before today, I was just a kid living in a mountain town, and now I'm some fucking lord, and no one is acting how they are supposed to. Hell, even I was some sort of bastard! But I know you, Brian, I know you. You're my friend," Kenny pleaded, "I know you, your sister Rachel, your dad Leonard, and Alice, your mother." Brian tightened his lips, and Kenny felt the blade press harder against his neck, "I know you're in love with Juliet!" Brian finally recoiled.

Brian stepped away, and Kenny doubled over, exhaling heavily while running his hand along his neck, "How could you know that I --" Brian murmured as he slowly put his dagger away,

"I'm telling you, Brian. I don't know what's going on...I'm not from here, but...but I'm stuck here now. Please, man, you're my friend, and I...I could really fucking use a friend right now," Brian crossed his arms, taking a few moments, thinking everything over while looking Kenny over a few times.

Finally, Kenny saw a grin, "That's...some tale," The blonde chuckled with a small shake of his head. Brian then grabbed Kenny by the arm, leading him off the main road and into the nearest alley, "You're going to have to explain this to me again, and this time makes some real sense about it. You wouldn't be the first lord to go wild, but something tells me you're being honest. So I'm giving you chance," Brian glanced back, making sure no one was nearby to overhear, "Alright, from the start, what do you know and what is going on?"

"Where do I even begin?" Kenny sighed as he brought a hand up, pinching the tip of his brow, "Let me start from the beginning; it started this morning..."