Chapter 7 – Bandits – part 1
1606 Words
On their way home, Anna had a strange look while watching Seya that was enjoying the scenery. “Well, it turned out okay, but you surprised me in there, Seya, with those questions to the King. And what was that about experiments in your fields?”
“Sorry mother, I just wanted to check some things. Seems like it's possible for a person to have some new ideas about planting and caring for a field or a new way for having a better harvest and sell that idea, gaining money every time that someone uses that same idea. And the possibility of gaining money by creating some new tool is also there.”
“I think it's too soon for you to be worrying about something like that. You already have a lot of work with your Denar’an training and your Magic training. And it's not as if we are short on money, you know? The King even forced me to accept this big purse full of gold coins!”
“I know... Mmmhhhh... mother, you said that you received a message from the Village Chief that the King was calling for you, right?”
“That's right.”
“But if the Royal Capital is at two days travel by carriage at normal speed, how did the message from the King arrive at the Village Chief on the same day that the Princess got hurt?”
“Your father never took you to the Village Chief’s house? You didn't see the Communicator Device?”
“A what? I went to visit the Village Chief once, but I don't know what that Device is.”
“It's a pyramid, the size of your head, placed on a pedestal on top of the Chief’s desk. There's a Magic Crystal inside that pyramid. When you place your hand on top of the pyramid and say to whom you want to talk, it connects to that other pyramid, using the Magic inside the Magic Crystal.”
Seya stood up, surprised with that new and amazing information. “What? That's amazing! How many pyramids are there? Who made them? What kind of Magic makes it work? Can I see it when we get back?”
“Slow down, I will answer all of your questions, just wait. There's one pyramid in each village and city in the Kingdom, other countries also have them. The first one was made by an Elfian Great Sage, 1.000 years ago and she taught other Mages how to make it. It uses Light Magic. We can go to the Chief when we return, I also want to ask how the Princess is feeling.”
“Amazing, such a thing already exists, and I never knew!”
“You are always doing a lot of training with Sully and practising Magic, it's natural that you don't know some normal things. Maybe I am also to blame, always leaving you because of my travels and your father is always patrolling the Eternal Forest or hunting. I guess that sometimes you feel lonely...”
“I understand mother, but I am never alone. Father Sully, mother Cemil, and brother Null are always there any time I need company.”
“Yeah, the Denar’ans helped in raising you since you were born, they even consider you like their own son. By the way, you better start practising your Magic and your fighting, you wanted to fight Sully on our return, right?”
“Yes, I will start with my Magic then, you can sleep a little. I will practice fighting later when we stop to rest the horses and the driver.”
…
Seya was sensing the Magic Flow around him, increasing the radius of it exponentially, when he noticed something strange. “||... Magic Flow around... outside... tree... jumping mouse... further away... trees... further... further.... men... two...five... ten men ahead... three with Earth Magic... horses... hiding? ...|| … Mother! Mother, wake up!”
Anna woke up with the sudden pushes and yelling, and stretched and yawned a little. “What's the matter Seya? Uhuuaaaaahhh...”
“Mother, there are ten men ahead, hiding near the road, with ten horses next to the trees. Three of them use Earth Magic. Not as strong as father, but together, they have the same amount of Magic.”
Anna looked worried, it was dangerous facing so many. “Bandits... How far ahead are they?”
“Two hundred meters ahead.”
“You can sense them so far away?”
“Yes. By bandits, you mean that they are waiting to attack carriages like ours?”
Anna mumbled while thinking, “Ten men in hiding, near a road, with horses next to trees and with three Mages... that can only mean trouble. I suppose they are also armed... Driver! Driver!”
The Carriage Driver opened the small window at his back, and he looked through it to the inside of the carriage. “Yes, Milady?”
“Driver, slow the horses, there are bandits ahead.”
The Driver got scared. Bandits were dangerous. And since they didn’t have an escort, they could all be killed, leaving no witnesses. “Bandits, Milady? Better if we turn around and get away as fast as the horses can!”
Seya was disappointed. He was bored. “They would be a good training...”
Anna was thinking aloud, trying to figure out an escape for all that. “... If we turn around, we could get home from a different road, but it would take a lot more days... but if I try to fight them, those three Mages will be difficult to handle... and there are the other ones...”
Seya was itching for a fight, he wanted to practice. “Mother, I think we can handle them. If you stop the Mages, I can beat the other ones. And when you finish, you can help me.”
Anna bit her lip. Even with that plan, it was too dangerous. “Your father will kill me if anything happens to you. No, we are turning around.”
“Mother, they are only Humans, they are not RabbitKind Warriors like Sully and Null! I can defeat them. Besides, if we let them, they will just attack the next carriage and that could end badly. I brought my bow and my Naginata. I can hit at least three of them when we get near, and with your Magic and mine combined, we can take care of the three Mages. The other ones, they will run away. If some of them still try to fight, I will use the Naginata while you protect me.”
Anna was silent, looking at Seya and looking at the Driver, that was still waiting at the small window, and Seya tried to convince her. “Mother, we can do it.”
Anna took a deep breath, she thought that leaving those bandits there could be dangerous for another carriage. “Okay, go with your bow to the front next to the driver. I will lay down on top of the carriage and wait my turn. Driver, stop the horses!”
…
Seya was at the front, with his bow ready and detecting the bandits ahead. He started to use Body Strengthening Magic, to increase his eyesight and the strength of his arms, for using the bow at such distance. The plan was for Seya to hit three bandits at a great distance so that they couldn’t attack. It would also be difficult for the Mages to react if they were attacked by surprise.
Anna was gathering her Magic and starting a Magic chant as soon as she saw Seya pulling the string of the bow. When the three bandits were shot, the Mages should be the first to leave their hideout, and to try to attack. Only to fall into a trap.
Seya was sensing the Flow of the bandits, while using Body Enhancement on himself. “||… One hundred and fifty meters... no changes... one hundred meters... eye enhancement, body enhancement... Magic Flow inside of me...||"
While his mother began chanting to use her Magic. “Oh, Water from the Goddess, hear my call...”
Seya shot his arrows, in quick succession, hitting every time. He aimed at the bandit's legs or stomach, because he wanted to immobilize them. “… First target hit… second target… third target! Mother, here they come!”
Anna shot her Magic, targeting the three Mages. “... and freeze ahead! Ice Spear!”
Seya imitated her. Without the need to chant, he could act fast and he shot his Magic right after Anna. The three Mages didn’t have a chance. “||... Eat my Ice Spear! ...|| … Six down. Mother, two of them are running away. But there are two that are holding swords.”
“On it! “Oh, Water from the Goddess, hear my call and gather on my enemies! Water Cage!” Those two are not getting away from there!”
Seya was already putting down his bow and grabbing the Naginata. “Great, mother! So, there's only those two with the swords... Can I, mother?”
Anna nodded, still looking worried. “Okay, I will provide backup to you. As soon as I see you in trouble, I will drown everyone with a “Water Spread” Magic. Hold your breath when I shoot. But remember, those two are desperate, they will try to kill you.”
Seya shrugged his shoulders. “Father Sully and brother Null are always trying to kill me when we practice...”
…
- Writer
