Confidence emanated from the armored figure whose upper expression was faintly obscured by a thin shadowy veil from their helmet as the guard's sword touched their leg. Tiny coarse clicks resonated from the inferior metal of the man's sword as it grazed the streaks of mithril fibers woven into the form-fitting fencer's mail, earning little more than an unimpressed raised eyebrow from the knight who'd yet to even establish a threatening stance.
It was a [i]set[/i] of armor intended to protect the lineage, and while the mail offered less protection than the plating, itself, the paranoid gesture on the part of the guard was taken as stressed ignorance.

[color=8882be]"Excuse you, but I am a knight ouf zee Isparian Inquisition ehn I vill not be intimidated by zeh uncouth temperament ouf some backvahter bandit-town militia."[/color] The words dryly barked from Ahnciel's smooth lips in spite of a bead of nervous sweat being wicked away by their brow. They were out of their element, but the situation hardly added up to any measure of sense. They'd cut down bandits and marauding knights the same, though defying a foreign authority was different beast, and the young paladin hoped their silver tongue could cut truer than any needed sword. [color=8882be]"I haf done nohszink but ask a question ehn have a sword drawn on me; an offense zeht vould cost any ohzer [i]peasant[/i] zehr verkink hand,"[/color] they stalwartly continued with a challengingly arrogant snarl with their inflection. Forced venom, it was woefully unbecoming of their expectations for themselves, but their emotions got the better of them with the tone they were warned with against the notion of investigating the mine.
Whoever had dressed up the animal of a so-called 'guard' and taught it how to speak in its disgusting yet thankfully concise accent hadn't taught it how to deflect a question, making a burden of the knight in the process as they knew their first destination for the day. Something wanted them there, and a gentleman was loathe to disappoint such an invitation.

Ahnciel made to cross their arms, holding an elbow which the hand it belonged to thoughtfully held their chin between their index and thumb as they watched the scene quickly unfold. Shifting their weight onto the side of their folded arm, he couldn't help but survey the scene inside the room before guards swarmed the surrendering, fully armored man. They were disarmed without resistance and it seemed awfully quaint how neatly the scene seemed to be painted. Although, It hardly added up how they would have the foresight to arm and painstakingly don a set of platemail by themselves before murdering the innkeep in their own room, but it was made clear that Ahnciel's input wasn't wanted, so they shifted their approach. They had all the information they needed, and the bandit town guard didn't seem to harbor much hospitality for errant knights.

[color=8882be]"Regardless, I vill excuse such disrespect zeis time as you all seem capable ouf handling [i]one[/i] human. Now [i]paerdon[/i]...I haf business beyond you"[/color] Ahnciel snorted as if suppressing a cocky snicker in the steps it took for them to step past the collection of guards and continue their way down the hall. They chose their words with the hope their flashy demeanor reeked enough of elven pomp and circumstance for human disdain to fill the gaps and explain their behavior.

[color=gray]'Who would want to incite the ire of a faction of elven aristocrats, right? Just let them walk away, theres no changing that bird, anyway'[/color] Ahnciel nervously thought to themselves as they articulated the grace of every step they took to and down the stairs to imply a natural element. [color=gray]'Arrogant dismissal rather than retreat, head held high, you're too much trouble to be worth their busy busy time, right now...'[/color] The idea of being a hero was easier when the dream was of monsters in the woods rather than the monsters in men. Hopefully, the attention guards paid its inhabitant was a reflection of how little care they had for more supernatural threats and the warning about the mine was mere underestimation of their capabilities...yeah, just stay optimistic.
It pained Ahnci to imagine the child they passed along the way being thrown out, but they didn't know their situation and already committed to leaving the inn before the humanis swill's eyes uncrossed long enough to look at them a bit too closely and find something else to have a problem with.