I woke up in the middle of the night. I didn't know why. I hadn't remembered having a nightmare like that, but I felt anxious.
The sound of the carriage wheels against the snow was the only sound heard at night.
My Counter Arrow group and I had finally managed to enlist in an escort mission for a caravan heading to Ars, the capital of Asura. I'd be getting off first, though. I'd already discussed it with the group, and they'd agreed. I'd be getting off right where the Red Wrym Mountains begin and continue through the lower jaw until I reached the Milbotts region. Lilia's parents are supposedly there. I hadn't planned on visiting them, but it was something that had stuck in my memory.
We were currently a week away from the border. This would be my last leg with this group, and I would always treasure it. After all, I owe them my life.
"Trouble sleeping?" Suzanne said softly as she sat down next to me.
"Yes... sorry for sounding repetitive, but I'm worried about my family," I said with a grimace of a smile.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of. You're capable of many things and too mature for your age... but you're still a kid," she said as she stroked my head.
Man, I really miss Mom...
"Thanks. Without you, I literally wouldn't be here, haha," I laughed as I scratched my neck.
It was almost summer, but it's still snowing in the northern territories. I can't even imagine what this place is like in winter...
"What are you guys doing?...in Asura," I asked.
"Hmm? We don't really have anything planned yet. In fact, I don't even think we'll stay in Asura. After all, there isn't much work for adventurers there," she said with a smirk. "And you? Besides looking for your family and all that."
"Uh?...Well, I was planning on studying at Sharia Magic University. Let's hope everything works out after all," I muttered as I peeked out of the carriage.
It was the middle of the night, and we were taking turns keeping watch. It just so happened that it was Suzanne's shift.
"Hmm...honestly-" Suzanne trailed off as she looked out of the carriage.
It was the sound of horses galloping, several of them, and they were heading straight for us.
"Tch...Everyone wake up!" Suzanne announced as she drew her sword.
I drew mine in the same way while illuminating the area with a fireball.
(Phow!)
The fireball illuminated the path, revealing a total of 15 horses running in our direction.
I instinctively tensed at this and channeled my mana into my sword.
"Rudeus! How many are there?" Timothy shouted as he leveled his staff at the enemies.
"About 15, be...careful!" I yelled, and a horde of arrows headed our way.
I quickly raised a wall of earth, and the arrows became embedded in it.
"There's the mage! Be careful!" one of the enemies shouted, and I tensed.
The mage? Are they looking for me?
"Ugh!" My train of thought stopped when the carriage suddenly stopped, causing me to stagger inside.
"What the hell is going on?!" Timothy yelled.
"We're surrounded!" Patrice responded in an alarmed tone.
I gritted my teeth as I tried to locate the enemies, but I couldn't see anyone, so I created another fireball, but I threw it into the sky, just like I had done when I rescued Eris that time.
(Phoow!)
The fireball exploded in the sky, illuminating and blinding our attackers. Everyone was in shock, but because of that, I could see them.
About thirty...
I tensed again. Where did these bastards come from in the first place? Were they following us?!
"Tch!" Without wasting any time, I drew my sword and lunged at them. It took a second. That second of distraction was more than enough for me to advance.
(Zing!!)
I caught three of them in just a fraction of a second.
I could see the terror on their faces as they tried to draw their swords, but I was faster, and with a sword of light, the upper halves of the three separated from their bodies in an instant.
"Shit!" He's a swordsman too!"
"What?! That bastard tricked us!"
"Attack him together!"
The guys yelled as I ran between them.
Most of them had already dismounted and rushed at me...and only me.
Apparently, they didn't have the slightest interest in the caravan, which just scared me even more.
Why only me? What do they want?!
"Die, damn it!" one of them yelled as he lunged at me.
He was slow...
No, if his stance was good and his movement was fine, then why? His sword seemed to be in slow motion for some reason...
Ah, they're intermediate swordsmen, average swordsmen...
"Haa!" I created a Quagmire, and the bastard's feet immediately sank in.
I managed to catch several and burned them with fireballs.
"What the hell are you doing?! He's a child! Kill him, damn it!"
One of the bandits was screaming at the top of his lungs while the others continued to rush at me, but I saw that some were also going towards my companions.
They could barely keep up with Patrice and Suzanne as the main attackers.
"tch!, bastards!" I screamed in fury as I unleashed a long sword of silence that managed to cut two more followed by a long sword of light in a diagonal arc.
The latter even cut down a distant tree where the archer was hiding.
How many have I killed? Ten? Fifteen? I don't know, but they don't seem to run out.
"Enough! I'll take care of it myself! Everyone back off!" A voice shouted and the others stopped fighting immediately.
Before I knew it the bandits started to retreat into the darkness and as I turned to chase them a dagger came towards me.
"!!!"
I barely had time to dodge it and another dagger was thrown towards me which I had to repel with my sword.
"I see that bastard gave us half information..." The voice grew louder by the moment.
I quickly looked towards the carriage, Patrice was injured but Mimir was already healing him so I returned my attention to the voice.
"A magician without enchantments and a sword saint... that's something you don't see every day." The voice became increasingly closer and from the bushes a burly man emerged.
He had brown skin, an eye patch over his right eye and had two swords.
"My name is Joshua Blackwood and-"
Before he could finish speaking, I threw a stone bullet straight at his head.
"Agh!" The guy barely managed to dodge it and I rushed towards him quickly.
I threw a long light sword at him but to my surprise my sword collided with his in a quick movement.
(claaank!!)
The metal clanged and sparks flew, the impact numbed my arms but I shifted and went for his legs but again I missed.
The guy did a flip in the air and landed about five meters away from me.
"You bastard child, don't interrupt me!" He shouted angrily.
"..." I stood still as I analyzed the guy.
He must have been at least Saint level to have blocked my attack and by the two swords he must be a North Saint...
"Rudeus!" I heard Suzanne scream and sweat started running down my forehead, those bastards were still out there while this other guy was stopping me...
"Haa!...as I said! My name is Joshua Blackwood!, North Saint and I have come to take your life Rudeus Greyrat!"
"Take my life?! With what argument?! Who sent you?!" I screamed while in my mind I searched for an answer in the same way.
Does this have to do with Thomas at the mansion? No... that guy was executed the day after the kidnapping....
So what?...
"Whoever sent me is not important, brat, we are mercenaries and we do what we are paid to do, so it is your day to die!!" He screamed and lunged at me at a terrifying speed.
I used flow to repel his attack, he seemed momentarily confused but with his second sword he attacked me again and I had to get away from him with a Sonic Boom.
"Haa!!, So you're a Water Saint too, huh?!, When I'm done with you, I'll also kill that damn monkey face for the poor information!! He shouted as he ran back towards me.
Water Saint?, What is the basis for calling me that?...
Before I could continue my mental debate his sword came dangerously close to my neck, I created a wall of earth to stop him but he cut it like butter...
I had no choice but to move away again with a Sonic Boom and throw stone bullets at him.
He adapted with terrifying speed to my fighting style and the distance between us closed rapidly.
"This is as far as you go, kid!" He shouted and made an "X" shape with his two swords and attacked me with a diagonal bow.
I didn't have time to get away from him and he cut me severely in the chest.
The wound was about forty centimeters and went from my chest to my hip.
"Haagh!!" I screamed in pain as I lost my balance and the guy smiled sadistically.
In a millisecond, my mind raced as I tried to figure out a way to beat him, but I couldn't find anything.
He was faster, stronger, and more experienced than me.
Sure, I was strong, but I lacked experience, and that would be my grave if I didn't do something fast.
I rolled on the ground like a rag doll, and Joshua didn't give me a second to think.
Just when I thought I was finished, a ball of fire rushed toward him.
"Nngh!!" The guy barely dodged it, but his chest burned just the same.
It was Timothy, who was already running toward me with the others behind him...
"Get away from him bastard!!" he yelled as Suzanne and Patrice lunged at Joshua.
I could clearly see the guy grinning sadistically, so I got up as quickly as I could.
"You won't!!!" I yelled as I ran toward him.
I used wind magic to speed up, and luckily I reached him before he could hurt Suzanne, and I was able to land a direct hit on his right shoulder.
"Yeaaagh!!" He yelled, and one of his swords fell to the ground.
"Bastard!" I yelled, but I was already running back toward him.
I quickly threw a stone bullet at his injured side.
"Tch!" Joshua clicked his tongue as he repelled the stone bullet, but that distracted him again, and Suzanne buried her axe in his back.
"Uurgh!!" The guy made a guttural sound as he tried to attack Suzanne, but she was out of reach.
Patrice attacked him in kind, burying her sword in his already injured shoulder, severing it in the process.
"Aaagh!!" Joshua could only scream, and I took advantage of the opportunity to deliver the finishing blow.
with a long sword of light cut off his head in a fraction of a second.
"haa...haa.... " I had run out of breath in that last attack but quickly felt dizzy and instinctively touched my chest.
The blood was running from my chest rapidly, I was bleeding to death.
Fortunately, I healed the wound with advanced healing magic and it was as good as new.
"They...they defeated Joshua..."
"It c-can't be!"
"run!!"
Murmurs were heard from the forest and the hidden bandits began to flee.
"No!" I screamed as I ran towards them but they were already gone.
"damn..." I spat out as I stood there thinking about what to do.
Someone had hired all these people to kill me...
"monkey face..." I didn't know who the hell it could be which only made me more anxious
Someone wanted me dead and apparently a lot.
"Rudeus! Are you okay?!" Suzanne ran to me with concern but when she saw me unharmed she sighed in relief as she hugged me tightly.
"Yes, I'm fine...thank you very much for your help" I said while hugging her.
"There's no need, you're our partner after all, it's the least we could do," Timothy said as he ruffled my hair.
"Yes...and what happened to the caravan leader and the merchandise?" I asked.
"intact...they never approached the caravan..."
"Only me..." I muttered, completing Timothy's sentence.
A somber atmosphere filled us all as we analyzed the weight of what had just happened.
"It doesn't matter, if we stay here they're likely to come back, we won't be safe until we reach Asura." Timothy said as he helped me up from the floor.
"If they try to ambush us again this time we'll fight together!" He said and I could only smile.
This group has really helped me a lot...