"Don't look so pale. I don't bite, much," the figure said, his words tinged with a playful menace that did little to ease Toga's apprehension. As the dragon slayer studied the newcomer, he quickly realized that this man was in a different league entirely compared to the bandits he had recently subdued. Taller than Toga himself, the stranger possessed an otherworldly quality, with ash-pale skin and medium chocolate-colored hair styled in an eccentric manner. His white robes, adorned with purple and black accents, seemed to flutter in an unseen breeze, adding to his enigmatic aura.
What struck Toga most, however, were the man's eyes, framed by dark bags that spoke of sleepless nights and hidden secrets. The purple masking paint that surrounded his eyes only served to amplify their intensity, drawing the gaze to the large, eccentric marking that stretched across the bridge of his nose and down to his cheeks, a tattoo or a brand that hinted at a past steeped in mystery.
Instinctively, Toga balled his fists, his body tensing as the stranger began to approach. Yet, the newcomer merely smiled, his hands waving leisurely in a gesture of non-aggression. "Don't be so hasty, little dragon. You wouldn't want to act recklessly towards someone who could help you, now would you?" the man chided, his tone sharpening as his words cut through the air, racing to meet Toga's ears with a clarity that belied the distance between them.
"Do you know what happened here?!" Toga demanded, his hand sweeping towards the village that still reeked of soot and ash, the scars of the recent conflagration etched into every charred surface. A laugh escaped the stranger's lips, a sound that was equal parts amusement and condescension. "Bingo," he replied, his eyes glinting with a knowing light.
"And I'll be more than willing to share what I know, Toga, if you'll indulge me in a little request."
The mention of his name sent a chill down Toga's spine, his eyes widening in surprise. "How do you know my name?" he asked, taking an involuntary step backward, his foot catching on a piece of rubble and sending him stumbling slightly. The brown-haired interloper's laughter rang out once more, a sound of genuine mirth at the dragon slayer's discomfiture.