Chapter 4: The attack

26th day of Finore, year 853 A.C.

Fortress

“Open the gate, open the gate now” One of the men starts screaming.

Six bandits were hurrying to open the gate. When they do it, they are dumbfounded. In front of them is Zephyr covered in blood and smelling like death.

“What's happened? Where's the rest of the team?”

One bandit starts talking but in instead of an answer, Zephyr draws his sword from its scabbard and starts attacking. With every slash, the blood starts spreading out of his comrades bodies. Seconds later, where six people were standing, now are just corpses. He stepped in the fortress and closed the gate behind him.

With every moment that is passing, the number of screams only increase. After he butchered all the living in the yard, he enters the castle to do his job.

In front of him is a huge iron door. He start preparing his equipment. Pushing the door, make a creak and reveals the peoples in the room. In the center of the room is the bandit leader, at his right is Nichye and at his left is a powerful mage. Sideways, along the room are twenty armed bandits. They were waiting for him.

“So you are the man who made all of that mess outside... HahaHa” The bandit leader let out a crazy laugh.

“I thought that we have to deal with some strong enemies, but you, who would have thought.”

Nichye start walking toward the Zephyr. He couldn't believe that the boy which he raised, killed most of his family.

“Zephyr what's the meaning of ...”

Nichye start talking, but before he could finish the phrase, his head falls and the blood begins to flow. Everyone in the room were looking with fear in their eyes. In this time, the leader stood up from his chair and start speaking.

“I’m Brarder Hune, the third leader of this group, I will be your opponent.”

“You got some skills if you killed Nichye in a single blow. Who could think that you are hiding those kind of abilities from us.”

The man draw his sword and launches an attack. Zephyr has blocked the attack, but the force pushes him to the ground. He start speaking in surprise.

"You are much powerful than I thought"

“You haven't seen everything yet”

He launched a few more attacks but they were blocked. Realizing that he can't win if he doesn't fight seriously, Brarder activates his magic.

[Enchanted body], [Flaming blade]

His body start shining a weak blue light, his sword heats up and is shrouded in flames. He raise his sword and engage with full strength. All that Zephyr could do , is to try and block the attack. The two of them crashes and the flames flowing.

In the attack Zephyr almost loses his hand, and he got a ugly burn mark. Understanding the power of his adversary, he throw his sword on the ground.

“Are you going to give up just after this much?” The Brarder asks with a huge smile on his face.

“No” Zephyr respond with a quiet tone. “I just decided that I will fight seriously”

Everyone was looking at him like he was crazy. In the next moment from his body is starting to flow a huge quantity of aether. His eyes and hair changed from black to red. The energy cover the entire room, and everybody crumble in fear.

Five years ago, he found out that he can use magic and he stole a book of spells from a carriage that was coming back from a raid. After three more years he finally understood that he has a huge quantity of aether in his body. When he wasn't training with the sword, he practicing magic.

Brarder is watching in fear. How could this happen to him?

[Explode]

After zephyr said that word, Brarder body starts to swell. The man was desperate, he try to attack the demon before him, but after one step, he explodes. From what was before the leader of bandits, now it was just a lake of blood and few chunks of meat.

The mage can't understand how can a child have such power.

‘A fifth tier?’

‘No, a sixth tier spell?’

When he realizes what he's up against, he try to run, but in the next moment three floating swords stab him to death. The only thing that the bandits could do now, is to watch how they are killed one by one.

***

26th day of Finore, year 853 A.C.

Outside the fortress

Outside the fortress, well hidden in the woods, the army that duke Geoffry sended from capital was preparing for attack. They were waiting for the spies to come back. In front of the army was Stephye Moore, the captain of the first legion. Beside him were Brodi Sumison and Ralfi Mallison, two of the best men he has

“Captain, why do you think the duke is so eager to catch those bandits?” Ralpi asks.

“I don't know but must be pretty important if he send us to attack without any information.”

“I just want to go home and be with my girlfred, she was pretty worried when I left”

“By the way, Brodi I heard that you will get married soon.” Ralpi said with a frendly smile on the face.

“Yeah, I'm very nervous about that.”

Before they had the chance to continue the discussion, the spy approaches Stephye.

“Sir, I watched the fortress and is quiet. There aren't guards and patrols.”

“That's doesn't sound too good. Is possible that they knew that we will come?” Ralpi asks.

“Possible, but we cannot give up now. Tell the troops that we will advance like we planned”

“Yes sir!”

The plan is that they will split up in three teams. The first team will go to the gate, the second team will try to enter through the back of the fortress, and the rangers team will be deployed through the trees for backup

The first team lead by Stephye and Brodi arrived at the gate. They were preparing to attack when the gate opened and someone stepped outside.