Chapter 32: The Village Attacked

Leisure turned to disaster. The bandits with their thundering charge and first volley of arrows made the war band defenseless. Without any positions assigned, with all of them drunk and wasted. The first attack killed many men and women.

The bandits who wore boiled leather and used iron weapons started to kill on sight. The peasants of the village tried to defend their homes but it was no use. The overwhelming amount of the bandits outmatched even the war band. He thought it would be doom. But he saw the raging light coming from the Lady’s carriage. There the lady of Asmara glows as if blue steam leak out of her body. She wielded a lance and plate armor. And with her aura leaking out that greatly, even the bandits would know that they are dealing with an ascended knight.

The lady made a strike. The strike destroyed twenty bandits and obliterated a house. The house contained the villagers and seeing it get destroyed and the people under the rubble made his face pale. He drew his sword to defend himself. He followed the Captain who after witnessing the attack rushed to defend the village.

Arden moved like a panther. Unlike he who relied on clashing swords with the bandits. The Captain fought with simplicity. He would first cripple the enemy’s movement then strike at the throat or any vital part of the body. Unlike him, the Captain wore no armor and just had a simple black robe and black leather body armor under his robe. Even without his magic, the Captain fought like a beast. He followed him and along the way they met up with a few people that manage to strike back. He wasn’t a drinker so he was able to be like this. The others he and the Captain found were the same. They found things to unerringly peaceful. They heard stories about the overworld so they could not believe that peace would last.

Their guess was true. Now the village the war band stayed is filled with screams, shouts, and metal clashing. Spells came crashing down everywhere and he could tell that if this continues the village will be destroyed. There only a few of them who can fight clearly. The others were too frantic and were now throwing spells everywhere. As for the Captain, he wore no fear on him. They find it admirable but when a stray arrow flew and hit the captain in the shoulder.

Everyone understood.

The Captain had no way to defend himself without his magic. He would be killed the moment he takes more attack. He understood this greatly. The others also saw how the Captain stumbled back as the arrow hit him right in the shoulder. They had some spells so they helped the Captain out and healed his wound. The Captain thanked them and when advised to escape. The Captain didn’t even make any moment to think about it. He didn’t want to escape. He wanted to fight the horde of bandits.

The others saw that fearlessness. Yet they were too afraid to stay. Thus, they decided to bless the Captain and him goodbye. The Captain also turned to him. He told him that staying here would be dangerous. But he didn’t leave. He clutched his sword tightly and decided to follow the Captain. The Captain wanted to convince him but seeing his stubborn eyes. The Captain, Arden, could only grip his shark saw dagger and fight.

...

The village started to burn. Among the chaos stands Gisela, the maid of the Lady of Asmara. She took shelter near the carriage where the guards are defending. The carriage had a minor barrier that allowed it to become a fort. She stayed here for protection. She could fight and utter spells but with a number of bandits around the village. She thinks that doing so would only amount to suicide.

So she stayed hidden in the carriage while everyone fought for their lives. Blood spilled everywhere she looks, and even though the place looks hopeless to boot. The figure of her lady glowing under the darkness made her feel hope. She wasn’t the only feeling it. The guards provided for the lady also felt the beaming hope. Even the ones who were unable to fight stood up and saw that light.

The lady commanded no respect ever since she made the war leader leave. She constantly made mistakes and many deserted the war band because of it. She could not fault the lady for this. Her ritual of ascendance was quite troublesome. She got ascended but what she got imprinted was a soul that had far more ego than her. Her lady was quite tolerant and honorable. She would never do something so stupid but because of the soul, she could only act upon it until she takes control.

That is why even though everyone might hate her. Gisela, who was saved from the slavers by the young lady of Asmara, could never hate her. The world might turn on her but she will never do so. She respected the lady and even though the lady has been rather moody lately. She will not seize her affection. And now in this village where the bandits are attacking in waves, she could only put more hope to the lady.

Outside the carriage, the guards were struggling against the bandits. The bandits wore boiled leather and brittle iron. Their grungy appearance and along with their unkempt hair that made them look like beast made her feel fear. She prayed to the God of Light to give the guards strength. But her prayers were thrown away like nothing. The guards got overwhelmed and they started banging their weapons on the carriage.

She felt fear. The unruly bandits have seen her. Their tongues move like snakes. Lust could be seen clearly on these rough bandits. They continued banging the barrier nonstop. They surrounded the barrier and with all of the constant attacks from left to right. She could feel the barrier break.

The sound of glass breaking made her heart drop. The bandits who saw the barrier drop immediately went for the door and started to loot the carriage. She was seen by the bandits. She uttered spells to protect herself but the bandits dragged her out of the carriage and ripped her long maid outfit. Her breast was seen and seeing one of the bandits wore a devilish smile forcibly opening her legs. She could only make a fearful sound.

Help me!

That was the only thing she could yelp. Her worries for her mistress disappeared. And she could only think of herself out of fear. And then, as if someone heard her plea, a shark saw dagger pierced the side of the bandit’s neck. Followed by that a robed man with his black cape flapping wildly appears as he kicks the other bandits down and clears the area in order for the another man wearing armor and cape to take her away from the carriage.

The man who took her had black hair. He was kind of average. He waited for the robed man to finish fighting the bandits around the carriage before following. She recognizes the man as the foolish Magus who the mistress had his magic sealed. She thought he would be dead by now but it seems she was wrong.

“Are you okay?”

The man carrying her asked.

“I am.”

“That’s good. Captain, we need to go!”

The man called the foolish Magus his captain. The Foolish Magus heard him and while carrying her. The Foolish Magus defended her and him until they arrive at the encirclement where some of the war band stayed to fight. They saw the three and quickly poured support fire to help. After arriving, she was put into the ground, and was given a cloak to cover her ripped outfit.

While on the encirclement she felt that there was safety. The lady of Asmara fought most of the bandits with her power while the encirclement protected the injured. In the time of danger, many wanted to flee but these brave men stayed to fight. She wondered why and then she saw the foolish Magus standing in front of the encirclement.

His back stood strong. The tail of his robe fluttered like a cape as it faces the bandits. The others stood along with them as if sharing the courage. She heard that when in a time of need. Men are forged in fire. Seeing this scene, she felt like she could believe that.

The man that was near her kneeled as he readies his sword. She was scared but asks why not escape. The man who followed the Foolish Magus smiled wearily.

“His fighting without magic and you think that we can just take it lying that he will fight while we cower like chickens? We are afraid, outnumbered, but this is the best time to be brave.”

The man said with confidence. He then along with the others stood like a wall to fight the bandits.