Rem's group had arrived at the inn. Oswald and Curtis unloaded their carriage while Rem went ahead and reserved three rooms that were all adjacent to each other. After they had secured rooms, they all went and brought their belongings to their rooms and agreed to rest and meet downstairs later.
Oswald slept immediately as soon as his back felt the soft bouncy bed, at the same time, Rem unpacked his things and neatly placed them inside the provided wardrobe. They will be staying there for a couple of days, might as well put everything away neatly, he thought.
Curtis as always, took care of the horses and the carriage and made sure they're well housed. His tasks for these couple of days doesn't differ from his normal ones, except the one where he was to look out for some rumors that might be of help with the masters' investigation.
While everything ran smoothly on Rem's side, Leon's group of two, somewhat experienced an unwanted situation. As planned, Leon and Clive left Minow village past noon but once they reached half of their way to the town of Louka, a group of bandits came out of their hiding. They spooked Clive and Leon's horses, if not for Clive's quick movements their wagon would have met an unwanted accident.
"Surround them!" A young man not much younger than Clive, ordered the group as he stood at a big rock not far from them.
The wagon stopped smoothly but got surrounded tightly with no opening for it to escape.
"What is it?" Leon, who was seated at the back of the wagon asked Clive as he heard some movements and voices outside the wagon.
"Some bandits had surrounded us and I believe they wanted every valuable thing in our possession." Clive said as he observed them. He made plans of escape, all the while talking to Leon with caution as he made sure the bandits won't know of Leon's presence.
The bandits, with their weapons at hand, moved towards the wagon cautiously as they observed Clive who was seated at the front of the carriage with the reins of the horses still on his hands, not moving.
The leader of the bandits felt something was off. The man in front of them did not moved, any sign of defending or attacking was nowhere to be seen. Even a sign of being scared or bargaining for his life was not there. He alerted his comrades, "Tread carefully, he does not seem a normal merchant."
After uttering those words, a sudden forceful gust of wind passed them. It knocked out half of the bandits on the ground lifelessly. Everyone was shocked and stopped their advancements. They looked everywhere to find no one sight that might have caused that powerful gust of wind. There was only that one person who hasn't moved an inch ever since they had revealed themselves.
"He's a magic user!" One bandit shouted.
Another gust of wind was released but this time it was countered by a shield-like energy protecting the bandits who were still standing. "What are you all doing there standing idiotically?" A young lady, whose body was covered in exquisite and luxurious clothes, ordered the bandits. It was obvious that she was the one who countered Leon's wind.
The bandits attacked as Clive defended. "This is so troublesome." Clive heard Leon utter as he swiftly climb down from the wagon all the while clashing swords with three or four bandits.
"Why don't you surrender? It is clear that you are outnumbered. Even if you are a magic user, it is not an advantage as we also have magic users with us." The young leader said arrogantly.
Clive only glanced at the young leader and did not spare any energy in answering him. He skillfully fought the bandits that surrounded him. It would be bad for them if Leon got angry, Clive thought.
The young leader gritted his teeth. No one dared to ignore him ever since he set foot on this land. This merchant surely does not value his life anymore. He, who was watching and observing on top of the big rock, jumped down and pulled his sword. He was, without a doubt, annoyed by Clive's indifference to existence.
"His emotions got better of him again." The young lady muttered as he saw their leader who jumped down towards the fight and decided to join in on the 'fun'. "This might get bloody", she muttered again as she ordered everyone to fall back not wanting anymore casualties from this little raiding of theirs.
The leader clashed swords with Clive. The bandits who saw their leader fought with the merchant moved away to a safe distance. It was been so long ever since they had seen their leader that serious in fighting someone, let alone a merchant who was very skilled with his swords.
Some bandits cheered, some pulled their comrades who were all knocked down earlier to safety and some discreetly made advancements towards the 'unmanned' wagon. Little did they know, Clive was never alone from the start.
The two swordsmen were almost equal in wielding their swords. Both never let their guard down as they both tried to strike down each other to the ground.
Leon, who sat idly inside the wagon, was becoming impatient the longer Clive fought with the young leader of the bandits. When suddenly, the backside of the wagon was opened and revealed some bandits who took the chance to sneak inside the wagon but they didn't know that Leon was there.
Leon casted a spell that made all the bandits flew far from the wagon. This made the fight stopped. Leon walked out of the wagon looking grim and annoyed, "How long will it take for us to continue our journey?"
Clive looked at Leon and sighed, "I was about to finish", he said as he moved quickly subduing the young leader of the bandits.
The young leader was shocked as he was quickly defeated, "Where you toying with me just now?" he asked him wanting some answers but before he got any answers, he disappeared from Clive hands and was transported to the young lady.
"This is no time for you to play." The young lady said, "We are no match for them especially that person." She turned her head towards Leon, who had knocked out every bandit in his sight. Leon looked at the remaining bandits, before he could do anything everyone disappeared in a flash.
The two did not pursue them as they have more pressing matters at hand. They both walked towards the wagon and sat at the front. "We have been delayed for too long." Clive nodded his head and quickly climbed up the wagon and started it towards the town of Louka.
-----
It was already late in the evening when Clive and Leon reached the town of Louka. Like any other travelers, they too paid for the entrance fee and let the knights guarding the gate inspect the wagon. Once they were cleared, they were let in.
"This is new." Leon commented as they got inside the town.
"You are right. This is too strict." Clive agreed with Leon. They made their way to the inn where Rem, Oswald and Curtis were staying.
Clive found a boy loitering outside the inn and asked him to take care of the wagon during their stay in town as well as feed the horses and guard the goods inside it in exchange for a good sum of money.
He then followed Leon inside.
Clive and Leon walked inside the inn, they rented two rooms. Surprisingly, their rooms where near Rem's and the others' rooms. They both went in took some rest as tomorrow will be very busy day for all of them.
Once inside, Leon summoned his familiar and tasked it to deliver a message to Rem informing him that they have arrived. Rem was resting on his bed when he heard a knock on his window. When he looked to it, he saw Rin, Leon's familiar, He smiled and quickly opened the window letting Rin inside.
"Master Rem!" Rin exclaimed happy to see Rem as he flew towards him clashing on Rem's chest.
Rem chuckled at Rin's actions. "I believed you have something for me?" he asked Rin, knowing Leon had asked him to deliver a message.
"Yes! Yes! Master Leon told me to inform you that we had arrived." Rin said as he relayed the exact words Leon had said to him. "He also said that you should all be careful as the town seems off and the night's getting deep."
Rem listened to Rin patiently as he relayed the messages. "Okay. Tell him we will and they should be careful too. Oswald and I think that the mayor still has something to do with what was happening here?"
When Rin was about to fly back to Leon's room, Rem called him back. "How was the journey here?" he asked Rin out of curiosity. Rin's eyes widened as he remembered what Leon had warned him about the events of what happened earlier. "Ahmm…it was smooth sailing." Rin said before scurrying out towards Leon's room.
Rem was confused with Rin's actions but did not dwell on it further. He again laid back on his bed. It was already late in the evening. Leon was right the night's getting deeper, no one knows if the flutist will come but it won't hurt anyone to be prepared.
Midnight came and no sound was heard. Rem was awake all throughout the night and nothing suspicious happened. He did not even heard any weird sound. The night was very still. "It seems like it did not happen every night." He concluded after all the knights' stories happened on their last day in town.
Rem relaxed a little as he let himself get taken in by sleep.