[center][color=#b3ccff][h2]Esben Mathiassen[/h2][/color][/center]
[hr]

Nearly the second he called out to Izayoi, the surprised Valheimr troops fully recognized his presence and rounded on him. He could see Rudolf off on the other side of their captain hewing his own way through their forces, and content enough with that, let himself fall into the familiar rhythms of fighting. A sword swung his way was slapped aside with his buckler, and as the rest of his body followed the small shield's movement, the soldier that attacked him fell to the ground with intestines slipping out the new opening in his torso.

A second aimed, fired at him—the shot flew past his ear. He rushed the fusilier, stabbing him through the heart as he reloaded. The unmistakable thumping sound of a boot meeting flesh hit his ears a moment before that of flesh meeting hard ground, and he turned as some small boy—

[i][color=#b3ccff]No, no, not with that voice.[/color][/i]

—some small woman issued forth her personal challenge to the enemy soldiers, distracting some that were moments away from trying to swarm him. He glanced back at their captain, eyes narrowing at the crystal she held. [color=#b3ccff]"Not happening!"[/color] he muttered, dropping his sword and quickly pulling out a dagger—and, in a single smooth, well-practiced motion, sending it spinning end-over-end underhand straight for the crystal. The moment before it would have knocked it clean from her hand, she disappeared instead, the knife sinking instead into the intestines of a soldier further behind her.

He frowned as the man dropped with a groan, his usually serene expression breaking at last into one of displeasure. [color=#b3ccff]"Well. [i]Dra til helvete,"[/i][/color] he muttered, kicking his sword back up into his hand as the short skirmish rapidly turned into a rout.

[hr]

Later that evening, as they all gathered around a communal fire, he expectedly found himself and his companion the partial subjects of a fresh interrogation. Having long since returned to his peacefully neutral expression, he let a small, relaxed smile come through. [color=#b3ccff]"This is Rudolf,"[/color] he said, pointing off to his side at the seated swordsman. [color=#b3ccff]"He's a monster hunter, came up here to fight the Blight and do a little rebelling against Valheim while he's at it."[/color] His hand came back, placed on his own chest as he gave a small bow of his head.

[color=#b3ccff]"And I'm Esben Mathiassen, graduate of the Garden, here to gather intelligence for the Skaeller government. We figured we'd hold out in that village for a day or two to rest before I planned to continue on to Kugane. Rudi even found the cellar that we were able to hide in when those Valheimr grunts searched the house we were in!"[/color] He clapped the shorter man on the back soundly, his tone as congratulatory as it could be under the sing-song accent. [color=#b3ccff]"After we heard the rest of you fighting them, I thought about escaping, but I recognized your name and another voice in the group, so I decided we should help instead."[/color]

Content enough with his introduction, he turned his face from Izayoi, his eyes falling on Éliane instead, the small smile still on his face. [color=#b3ccff]"Commander Laruelle, [i]ja?"[/i][/color]