Valdorian? What in the world, was that supposed to be? Pwyll swallowed as he stared at the sharp tip of the sword which pressed deeper into his skin. There was no time to think.

If he wanted to live, he had to come up with a believable excuse. And, fast.

"V-Valdorian! Ah, yes indeed, I am a Valdorian!" Pwyll said, immediately.

Thogrous sneered and pushed the sword even further, deep enough to prick Pwyll's skin. Hot, red, blood seeped out thinly from the cut, and Pwyll grimaced.

"I asked you a question. What. Are. You. Doing here?" Thogrous pressed.

This is bad. There was no way Pwyll could tell him they were from Earth. Doing that would only add more jeopardy to their already horribly, jeopardized lives.

Think Pwyll. THINK.

"I...am an ambassador," he suddenly muttered.

The grip on the sword loosened and Pwyll caught his breath again.

"Ambassador?" Thogrous asked.

"Y-yes! I am a...Valdorian ambassador! I came here to make peace, in representation of my people!" Pwyll continued, trying his best to sound convincing.

"Peace, you say? The nation of Valdora wants to make peace with Eldenheart?"

"T-that's right! Exactly! You took the words right out of my mouth!"

"Hmm...is that so?" Thogrous pondered, stroking his beard. "Well then, have you planned on making peace with the other two nations as well?"

Pwyll winced. "O-other two?"

"Why yes, there are four nations in Magusxia! Valdora, Eldenheart, Grimrealm and Amatheia! What about the other two?"

"Oh, yeah...O-Of course I knew that! I mean, we were planning on making peace with all the nations, as a matter of fact!"

"Why the sudden change of heart? The four nations have never agreed on the idea of 'peace' since the last 200 years. Or ..." Thogorus tightened his grip on his sword, "...is this some sort of mischief you Valdorians are up to? To win the next great war?"

"N-No! No, I swear! We're sick of fighting with each other. It's time we ended things for good. No more wars. Just peace..." Pwyll added, convincingly.

Thogrous lowered his sword and placed it back in its scabbard. "Very well then. If you, as you say you are, is really an ambassador representing the nation of Valdora, prove it to me!"

"P-prove it to you?" Pwyll reinstated.

"Aye, you filthy land dweller! Prove to me, you have the strength of a Valdorian by beating me in a hand-to-hand combat!"

Fantastic, Pwyll. All that thinking and this is what it led to─ if you managed to prevent your untimely death by a sword, then just die an even brutal one by getting beaten up instead.

Pwyll looked back at Hera and Jumbo and they gave him a thumbs up, smiling and nodding. His face dropped. Why of course, they'd support this suicide mission. They weren't the ones going to battle Thogrous in hand-to-hand combat and probably, most likely, die from doing so.

Pwyll rolled his eyes and heaved. "Alright then, if it's proof you want ..." he said, raising his arms in a fighting stance, "...let's get this done and over with."

"Wise choice," Thogrous beamed and Pwyll charged headfirst.

Thogrous jumped and thrust out both feet. His boots slammed into Pwyll's chest and he hit the ground, sprawling. Pwyll turned to the dwarf just as he lashed another kick into his jaw. His body twisted and he tumbled back, came up to his feet then lost his balance, fell again. He spat blood and glared.

"Pwyll!" both Hera and Jumbo cried.

"You're weak!" Thogrous mocked. "Is this the best Valdora's ambassador has to offer?"

Pwyll stood up slowly, wiping his sleeve across his burst lip. He smiled, and the smug on Thogrous's face faltered. "What the hell is so funny?"

"I'm still standing, longbeard," Pwyll jibed.

Thogrous frowned, and cracked his knuckles. "Not for long."

He sprinted towards him and slammed an elbow into his chest. Pwyll sprawled to the ground but immediately stood back up. This time, he launched himself forward to swing a punch, but Thogrous was far too quick. He moved into him, grabbed his outstretched arm and spun him around, then abruptly cut him off by slamming a forearm into his throat.

Pwyll flipped in midair, landed painfully and broke his nose as he hit the ground.

"Chief, stop this already! You're going to kill him!" Jumbo yelled.

"I thought I told you to stay out of this Jumbo! Or would you rather, take his place instead?" Thogrous snarled.

Jumbo glanced at Pwyll with tears in his eyes, but even his words were helpless against the chief of dwarves. The little dwarf could only do so much as sob and watch as Pwyll got himself beaten to death. Pwyll looked at Hera and noticed she had her hand clasped over her mouth, holding herself from bursting into tears as well.

But, why? Why would she even cry for him? They've been at each other's throats from the start. Pwyll smiled. At least, she showed some concern for him when he was at death's door. Perhaps, living with her unrequited love wasn't meant for him in the first place.

"One last chance, hero! If you don't get up, I'll end you right here, right now!" Thogrous bellowed, dusting his hands. Pwyll slowly sat up, and laughed. He glared at Thogrous and spat blood at his feet.

"Give me your worst, beardie!" he challenged.

"With pleasure," Thogrous leered.

He swung an uppercut to Pwyll's chin, and threw another hard punch to his abdomen. Blood gushing out his mouth, Pwyll looked up, grinning and Thogrous's anger flared. He struck another blow to his ribs with a knee, and Pwyll heard a 'pop' as it broke. Unsatisfied, Thogrous punched him, again. And again.

He continued pounding Pwyll's face with his giant fists until they were smeared, with his hot red blood. Pwyll couldn't feel anything anymore. All he could see were blurred visions and his world growing darker each second, with each blow. He could hear voices; Hera screaming and crying at the top of her lungs, and another voice yelling to stop. Was that Jumbo?

He wasn't sure. Heck, he wasn't even sure if he was still alive. The last thing he saw coming into his view, were Thogrous's giant fists, like a freight train. This was it, the moment he dies. "Hera," he muttered. "I hope you make it."

And then, everything went black.

...

"Pwyll!"

His cheeks burned as someone slapped him across the face. Pwyll's sight returned. Hera stood crouched over him, beautiful face filled with frightened concern. Jumbo was beside her, his features inscrutable.

"Don't you dare die on me, you dimwit!" Hera sobbed.

Pwyll touched his face and felt his wounds healing. All parts of him that were injured and broken from Thogrous's violent trashing, recovered in the blink of an eye.

"W-what is this?" he asked, bluntly. "How am I not dead yet?"

Hera wiped her tears and knocked him in the head. "It's a healing potion. You were lucky, Thogrous stopped bashing you just in time for Jumbo to use it," she pouted.

Pwyll looked at Jumbo and he nodded.

"But what made him stop? The way I pissed him off, I was certain he was going to kill me."

"I did," a hoarse voice replied, and Pwyll turned to see an elf clad in black, marching towards them.

The elf had the exact same features as Hera; a flawless face with beautiful eyes, pointed ears and even the long, silver hair that brisked elegantly through the wind, with each step he took. Pwyll could've sworn he would have mistaken him for a girl, if it weren't for his aesthetic body build and the way he walked with his robe flapping laudably under the setting sun.

"Pleasure to meet you, Lord Pwyll," he greeted with a bow.

"Lord? What's with all the formality?" Pwyll asked. "And who are you?"

"My sincerest apologies, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Rhys Morleth. I am one of the ten chosen informers of Eldenheart."

"Informer?" Pwyll probed.

"Yes, my Lord. An informer is─"

"Someone who watches over Eldenheart's ongoings and brings news of its updates every now and then," Thogrous said, approaching behind him.

"Well said, Chief Thogrous. As a matter of fact, it is the news I bring today which has saved you from being massacred by the chief's brutal fists." Rhys added with a proud smile.

"W-what do you mean? What news exactly?" Pwyll asked.

"The news that you, a Valdorian are in acquaintance with Eldenheart's highest royalty, the Princess of Elves herself," Thogrous said. "And if that is so much as true, then the fact that you're an ambassador representing Valdora should be true as well. Thus, there's no longer a need to prove yourself."

"Oh, so that's why you stopped beating me to death?"

Thogrous sighed languidly. "Ain't my fault you can't put up a fight ol'boy."

"Okay, wait. So, what's all thing about me being acquainted with a princess?"

Thogrous and Rhys stared at each other, and then back at Pwyll. They arched an eyebrow and Pwyll shot them a confused look.

"Well? Who is the princess?"

"Uhm...Pwyll?" Hera muttered from behind him. Pwyll glanced at her and noticed the awkward smile displayed on her face.

"It's me," she raised her hand shyly.

"I am the Princess of Elves."