Chapter 3: Preparations

24th day of Finore, year 853 A.C.

Fortress

In the fortress the bandits are arranged in a circle. The noise that they are making, echoes everywhere in the forest. In the middle of the crowd is standing a kid. He is wearing a black leather armor with a thin iron plate on his chest. At his waist he's wearing a half moon like dagger, and in his hand is holding a shiny longsword. His black and empty eyes are giving the sensation that you look at a soulless body.

Many bandits are saying that with his black long hair and his pretty face he could steal the heart of every woman.

In front of him stops a skinny man with only a sword in his hands. He is Nichye.

“So you think you can defeat me Zephyr?” Nichye started laughing in a friendly way.

“I hope you will put an interesting fight!”

“You are speaking big words for a little men”

‘I already know that I can't beat him if I only using the sword, but I should be able to cause some damage.’ zephyr thinks.

The event that taking place right now in the fortress is called ‘New Moon Day’ . Here, the bandits are fighting each other and the winner will became the leader's right hand. The final battle will be Nichye against Zephyr, the boy who beaten every opponent in almost a instant.

Immediately after fight started their swords clashed. Zephyr takes a step back and then try to cut his adversary's right hand, but is blocked. He takes his balance and then strike again but without any success. After a few more attempts he finally injures Nichye's arm.

Zephyr decided to end this fight. He throw his sword and draw the dagger from his waist but before doing some damage, Nichye's sword was already at his neck. He drop the dagger and admitted defeat. The crowd exploded in cheers and Niche start tried to make the boy to feel better.

“Don't worry, it's always next year.”

“Yeah, sure it is.” The kid responded with a fake smile on his face.

After the match, everybody headed to dining room. All the bandits had already accepted him in there big family, so he knew that now was the perfect time to act.

***

24th day of Finore, year 853 A.C.

Cadun

In a room with large colored windows, a man stood at his desk and look through reports.

His clothes were enough to show that he was a important man. On his face you could read the concern.

‘what should I do with the lower area of the city? If the things don't change, we will have a rebellion on our heads.’

He was worried. In case of a rebellion, his family would be jeopardized, and this is the last thing he wants in the world. Before he could think at a solution to avoid this mess, someone knock at the door and start speaking.

“Sir, capitan Stephye is here, and he wants to talk with you!”

“Can't he wait until I’m done with all the work?”

“No sir, he say that is very important.”

“Fine, let him come.”

Few seconds later the door opened and a huge armored person come through it. His name is Stephye Moore and he is the leader of the first legion of knights within the command of the duke Geoffry Bexley Phelrey.

“So captain... What's so urgent that I must interrupt my work?”

“I'm sorry for interruption sir, but we found out the hideout of those bandits.”

The eyes of the noblemen are widening. He couldn't believe that those shits which gave him headaches are almost in his hands.

“Prepare the first legion and go after them. Don't waste any minute and be sure to catch the leader alive.”

“Take with you some mages from the academy to improve your chances.”

“Yes sir!”

The man left the room and the nobleman felt a big satisfaction. If he would catch the bandits leader, not only that the king will reward him but most of his problems will be gone. All the anxiety that was eating him for the past eight years, now is vanished. With a devilish smile on his face, he starts thinking.

‘With this event all my plans will advance at least ten years.’

Three hours later, from the capital are departing twenty five knights, fifty soldiers and eight mages.

***

25th day of Finore, year 853 A.C.

Fortress

Zephyr returned in his room to make some preparations. Today is his first raid and wants that everything to be perfect. The leader of the mission will be Gileon Hyte, the person that he hates the most in the fortress. He put on his equipment and leave the room with a smile on his face. When he steps outside, the carriages are ready to depart.

“I hope that you won't be in my way on this mission you little piece of crap.”

The boy turns around and sees the man who insulted him. It was Gileon Hyte. Beside him was Nichye, who starts speaking.

“Don't worry Zephyr, you will do just fine.”

“I know what I have to do, so it will be good.” Zephyr respond with a forced smile.

“By the way, the leader wishes that you to accomplish this raid without incidents.”

“Don't need to worry brother, we will do a good job.”Gileon is enthusing because this is the first time when he is the leader of a raid.

“Well, then good luck.” With this, Nichye goes inside the fortress and the carriages are departing.

Fifteen hours later the carriages stop. They were in open field, at almost half a mile from their target. In front of them was the Kedron village. A little settlement with less than two hundred people. Gileon start explaining the plan, when suddenly, two of his men fell on the ground. Everyone is speechless, no one comprehend what just happened.

When the amazement cooled down, everyone could see the little boy behind those two men. He is holding in his hand a sword painted in blood.

Gileon cried out “ You… you scumbag, you traitor.”

The men's mind was empty , he draws his sword and charge at the devil but before he could realise, his head was already cut off, and the blood starts spreading everywere. When the bandits have understood what was happening, they formed a circle around Zephyr and start attacking him.

He slaughtered them one by one until they were nothing more then just body parts. When he finished cutting off bandits, Zephyr took a horse and headed back to fortress.

He arrived at noon, the next day, and started to scream at the fortress patrols.