He ignored her, power rolling off him in a sudden burst while two crystal shards rose around his arm and started orbiting slowly.

'Dammit, this idiot, why is he provoking him?' Cassie thought, getting more and more nervous.

"You got one cheap shot in," the man said, picking his axe back up and glaring at Hajin. "Try that again."

"Stop," Cassie said, louder this time, reaching for his arm. "I said leave him alone."

He shook her off and stepped forward anyway, "stay back Cassie, this guy needs to be taught a lesson in respect," he said, launching forward and swinging his axe.

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Test

Hajin had no idea who these people were.

They were armed, standing around his camp, and one of them had already tried to take his crystals while he was passed out, so whatever excuse they had, he wasn't in the mood to hear it.

'Should I just run?' he thought, keeping the sword up while his eyes moved between them.

The idea should have felt obvious, but something about his body kept throwing him off. He felt too light on his feet, almost like the ground wasn't holding him as hard as it should, and even his eyesight seemed sharper than normal.

Every small movement stood out too clearly. He could see the way the girl's fingers tightened near her knife, the twitch in the other man's shoulder, even the dust shifting under their boots.

'What is going on with me?' he thought, tightening his grip on the sword. 'Why do I feel so...'

He didn't get to finish that thought.

The guy with the axe launched at him first, closing the distance fast while the weapon came in hard from the side.