Little Fighter: Calm Before the Storm

[Divisor]

Henry

The Chairman needed some persuading.
»We must call the Assembly meeting immediately! The issue is of utmost importance!« Henry was running out of patience. Come on, do I need to repeat myself another five times?! After a moment of silence, the Chairman sighed.
»Fine, fine, you're starting to sound like a broken record. Come back in an hour, we'll be ready by then.«
»Thank you, sir.« Finally. Henry walked out of the chairman's office, giving the man a sharp glare just before turning his back to him. It always takes time before the most esteemed gentlemen gather around. Lazy bastards. The Great Assembly of Coastlands consisted of seven councillors all-together: a few were hard to put up with, and the Chairman was certainly one of them. He was a war veteran: the Supreme Commander of Coastland forces against the Empire. After the allied forces' victory, he escalated to the position of the Chairman, ending his military career. He displayed great prowess in leading the army, he was respected by the men and feared by his enemies. When he took the leadership of the Assembly though, it seemed as his brilliance was replaced by immense stubborness and conservatism.
Loud noises from the inn disctracted him from thinking any further. Two youngsters apparently drank a bit too much and got into a brawl. The guests were loudly cheering and placing bets on one or the other. As the Captain of the City Guard, it was his duty to break up the fight, but…but without backup, it might get messy. Henry checked if there was a guard around he could bring in to help him, but there did not seem to be any in the moment. Damn…I guess I'll just have to do it all by myself. He walked inside the inn.
»Hey! The hell do you think you're doing?« he shouted. Everyone in the inn turned towards him.
»Nothing,« one of the brawlers replied after a moment of silence »We're just…fooling around.«
»Yeah right you are. Break it up, or you're coming with me.«
»Oh yeah?« One of the guys stood up. He was big, muscular and wore shaded glasses. »And who's going to make us? You and what army?«
»It only takes a finger to beat the crap out the likes of you.« Henry replied. Arrogant a**hole. He is some guy though.
»Fine then. I'll only leave one of your fingers intact. You can choose which one« Without warning, the man ran towards him, putting his right elbow in front to try to shove him onto the ground. Henry dodged the big guy's attack, and swiftly ran to the other side of the room. Before the man regained balance, Henry pulled an arrow out of his sheath and cocked the bow.
The man tried to attack him again, but when seeing the arrowhead aimed at him, he remained still.
»Walk.« Henry commanded.
The brawler turned around and walked out of the inn. Henry followed him, with his bow still standing by. Outside, they encountered two guards, who came to investigate the ruckus.
»What's going on, sir?« One of them asked when seeing Henry with his prisoner.
»A little fight ensued at the inn. Tie this one up, and then go check if anyone else wants trouble.«
One of the guards tied the man's hands around his back and then went inside the inn with his partner. Henry approached the man.
»What's your name?«
»Mark.« the man replied, looking towards the ground.
»Well, Mark, it's your lucky day.«
Mark looked up. »Eh?«
»You seem like a tough fighter. It would be a shame letting your strength go to waste. I have a proposition for you: join the army, and I'll forget about that incident today.«
»I'm not the army kind of guy.«
»You'll be trained. Dark days are coming, and I need all the help I can get.«
Mark took a moment of silence.
»Will my record be wiped clean?«
»As a whistle.« Henry promised.
»I'm in then. What's next?«
»Next is teaching you how to actually win a fight. Follow me.«