Naga’s flinched in pain as the mother grabbed his hair and kicked his back, making fall onto the ground. His hands and feet are tied and he can taste the soil beneath him, they took everything from him even his clothes, now he’s butt naked feeling the cold breeze of the forest against his skin.

“ The sun will set soon, Arachnids will come and feed on you.” The woman snickered.

“ It’ll be an ugly sight for su—” Naga’s eyes widened as he saw mana swords flew towards the woman, surrounding her and the child.

He can hear a horse galloping and a familiar figure riding towards him.

A mana sword cut the rope Naga was tied to and Jaeger jumped off his horse, took his cape and covered Naga’s bare body.

Before Naga could say anything. Jaeger raised his hands and all the swords were about to pierced the woman when Naga pulled his raised hand.

“ Jaeger! no, please– this woman–” Naga said, his voice panicked and urgent.

Jaeger halted his swords an inch before the woman’s skin and he turned to Naga who looked horrified at the situation.

“ This thief tried to kill you by leaving you here tied in this forest, food for the arachnids, and you’re still defending her?” Jaeger’s voice was loud and it vibrated in the forest.

The woman shook and fell on her knees. 

“ H-have mercy–”

“ Silence! ” Jaeger shouted. His voice boomed and echoed in the forest, disturbing even the birds.

Naga breathed as he gently pinched Jaeger’s arms.

“ Even still– she’s hungry, they haven’t eaten for days, her child is sick, it can drive people to madness, Jaeger, I’m sorry you have to come back for me, I appreciate it but please spare this woman, she’s suffering enough as it is.” Naga said, his voice soft and pleading, his gaze full of sympathy and worry.

“ Hunger can drive anyone to insanity.” He added his voice soft almost a whisper.

Jaeger looked at Naga for a moment. Contemplating what he would do. Normally he doesn’t give a rat ass about killing some random peasant.

But this time–Naga’s face was all it took for him to hesitate.

Jaeger closed his eyes, annoyed and worried at the same time.

“ Why are you so kind?” He asked, his voice softening as he reached for Naga and hugged him.

“ I’m sorry I left you– I was used to traveling alone, and have strong companions, we always leave someone but they always come back, I have forgotten, you carry a lute, not a sword.” He said and kissed Naga’s forehead.

“ I will not leave you again, no matter what.” He whispered.

“ Thank you, please, let this woman go, please Jaeger.” Naga pleaded.

And Jaeger pulled back from their embrace and looked Naga in the eyes. 

“ I understand you empathize with them, I will, only this once, for now, cause you’re right, living here led them to insanity, but I won’t take any reason next time if someone hurts you again–” Jaeger paused as his gaze deepened into Naga.

“ I will kill them, insane, hungry, depraved, no matter what state they are in their lives, I don’t care, I will kill them.” He whispered.

Naga smiled. “ Thank you for your consideration this one time, I’ll be careful next time.” Naga said.

Jaeger gave him a kiss on the forehead before he turned to look at the woman and the mana swords vanished around her.

Naga grabbed his necklace and handed it to the woman as he bent over to look at her.

“ Head to Rurik kingdom, find Eliot, he’s a craftsman, tell him I recommend you for being a helper, my name is Naga the bard, just show him this necklace.” 

The woman nodded and cried.

“ Thank you! You’re an angel sent by Goddess!” she wailed tears smearing her face.

“ Please be careful.” Naga said smiling.

They both watched as the woman held his sick child and returned all Naga’s belonging to him.

Jaeger watched Naga’s kind gaze towards the woman.

Is he even real? He’s too kind to be true, almost saintly.

Jaeger wondered.

I’m so lucky to have him. He thought again.

He walked towards Naga and from behind he grabbed his waist and pulled him into his embrace.

“ I’m afraid you’ll die early cause you’re too kind.” He said in Naga's ears.

Naga smiled. “ I feel their pain, cause I’ve suffered before.” He said.

Jaeger gently cupped Naga’s face and softly planted a kiss over his lips.

“ I spared the woman’s life, in return, you shall never leave my side.” Jaeger said and Naga smiled and he leaned closer and kissed Jaeger longer.

They pulled apart and Naga smiled.

“ It’s my pleasure, my Lord.”  He answered and rubbed their noses together.