Let's Play Bard's Tale: The Gathering, Part 4

From Elena's Journal:

Our party is coming together nicely. I must admit, I'm feeling more excited about this quest.

I was standing outside the Scarlet Bard when I heard someone screaming. It was faint, but distinct. It wasn't uncommon to hear adventurers crying out once they are ambushed by a pack of mad dogs, or a group of mercenaries or barbarians. But something about this scream send a shiver down my spine.

I hurried down an alley toward where the scream came from, and began to hear voices.

"Leave me alone! I don't have anything of value!"

"You got blood. That's good enough for me."

I turned a corner and saw a charr dressed in robes, cowering against a tall iron gate. A thief was advancing on him, a dagger raised high for a strike. The charr was much taller than the thief, towering at least a head over him, but the thief still advanced.

"You're a tall one! More for me to cut."

I called out and ran at the thief, tossing a barrage of Arc Fire immediately. "Pick on someone your own size!" I admit it may have sounded silly at the time, but it was something I had always wanted to say.

The blue flames singed the thief and made him shift his focus to me. He swung wildly, but I was able to dodge. I smashed the end of my staff against his knee, making him topple and drop his dagger. The thief scrambled up to his feet and tried to limp away. I picked up his dagger and threw it. The blade sank into his back and he fell to the ground, dead.

The charr had meanwhile curled up and was shivering with his paws over his head. I crouched down and patted his head. "Don't worry. You're safe now."

He slowly stopped shivering and uncovered his eyes. They were big and bright green. "I... I am?"

I smiled. "As long as I'm here, you're safe." I helped him up to his feet. "What's your name?"

"I'm Sai," the charr said.

"What were you doing in this alley?"

"I wanted to see what this big tower was... but I wasn't expecting a gate." He sniffled and leaned against me. "I just want to go back to the guild. I'm no fighter..."

I looked up over the gate and saw a tall amber tower. It's been in Skara Brae for longer than I can remember, and not once have I seen those gates open. "I'll take you back to the guild," I said. "By the way, my name's Elena." I smiled, putting an arm around the charr's shoulder.

"T-Thank you," Sai replied, smiling a little himself. "Are you an adventurer?"

"You could say that. I joined a party earlier today."

"You're in an adventuring party?" Sai's smile widened. "Would that party, by any chance, need a magician...?"