"As always, the Duchess never ceases to amaze us with her combat abilities. I don't think I can even remember the last time she used magic in battle." One of the guards who was near to Soren, said to himself as he was picking up one of the corpses.
"Wait, she wasn't- Owowow. She wasn't using any magic at all, even when her axes were literally flying around the battlefield and proceeded to slice and dice the bandit leader into a thousand little pieces?" Soren said as he was struggling to move, thanks to the fact that he had overworked himself when was already injured.
"Hahahaha... Of course she wasn't using any magic. After all, this is a perk of a Master Combatant, any weapon skills can be cast without the usage of your own personal mana supply. You should know this kind of stuff, if you intend to go pro on battles." The guard answered back at Soren in a slightly casual manner before he left.
"Master Combatant. Will there be a day where I can obtain that?" Soren said to himself while looking upwards and holding hand in front of him.
"If you want to put in the effort to train and learn, it should be doable within a few years upon starting." Diana spoke with a happy expression after sneaking to Soren from behind.
"Miss Diana! Ow- You suprised me." Soren said while he turned around suddenly.
"Not bad. Didn't know you had it in you when you fought these guys. Usually the heroes are afraid during their first battle against other members of their own race, but you were rather composed." Diana spoke while giving a good look at Soren.
"How did you know it was my first battle against them?" Soren asked with a suprised expression.
"Experience. I have seen a few heroes who had similar actions to yours, but with a lack of composure, unlike you." Diana answered back with a serious expression.
"I see... I guess I still have a lot to learn." Soren said with a dejected voice.
"Don't be so sad. Be proud for winning your first battle against criminals. After all, you don't get to fight these guys often, so be proud that you get to live another day, instead of being killed for a pretty coin." Diana spoke in a more casual manner than before. Just as the two of them were talking, Kana and Dallius also came from the carriage and decided to join their conversation.
"Hey mom, did you beat those guys down into submission?" Kana spoke with a look of excitement on her face while carrying Dallius who struggled to even move his head.
"We did, but why are you carrying Dallius like that? I thought he only had a broken arm." Diana said while looking at Dallius.
"I do have only a broken arm, but I also have a ton bruises and those bruises are making my body quite hard to move." Dallius answered with a calm and expressionless face.
"Then shouldn't you be somewhere to rest, why are you here?" Diana asked with hint of suprise and concern for Dallius.
"Actually, father just called because the alarm on the carriage went off and asked if you needed reinforcements, he is still on the line." Dallius explained while Kana took out a shellphone that she had hidden behind her.
"Aureus? Give me the phone quickly. Yes, Aureus is that you on the phone?" Diana then started speaking on the phone for a bit.
"Say, can I ask you two something?" Soren asked in a casual manner.
"Anything, except than being your date." Kana answered back with a fierce expression.
"Feel free to do so." Dallius answered as well with a calm expression.
"Alright then. During the end of the battle, I heard that the Duchess is a Master Combatant. Can you please tell what that is?"
"The Master Combatant title? It's literally a title that you obtain upon reaching LV.10 on three different combat professions, such as warriors, assassins, swordmasters, elementalists, mages, archers and the list goes on." Kana explained in a casual manner.
"I see. Thank you for the information." Soren then bowed a bit in front of them.
"You don't need to thank us, since this kind of information is elementary for those who are going to follow the path of power." Kana spoke with a calm expression.
"I see. Anyways, now you Lavenza. When did you learn light magic? Because the last time I checked on yoir status, you didn't have light magic into the mix." Soren then asked Lavenza who was swimming near him.
"Kyuu~ kyuu~ kyaaaah~ Reny~." Lavenza then tried to explain with a few weird motions.
"Hmmm... So you are saying that it was Lumious who taught you?" Soren asked Lavenza with a normal expression.
"Kyuu~." Lavenza then nodded.
"Wait, you understood that? How? I couldn't understand half the things she was imitating and I don't speak in monster language as well." Kana retorted in shock while looking at the duo.
"Let's say we understand each other very well." Soren answered back with a smile.
"You two are one unique duo for sure." Kana answered while holding her head with her free hand.
"Hehe..." Soren just chuckled for a bit before he went to his own thoughts for a bit.
'This attack was rather suspicious, for just a group of mere bandits that could be taken out like this, so I wonder if someone lent a hand to then. I think during the battle, their leader seemed to stall, rather than go on full power, because the difference between the start of the battle and end, in terms of power, was as clear as night and day. And the two hooded guys as well. Those two seemed pretty adept in what they were doing, using stealth while hiding behind decoy bandits and then land a pincer attack. In a way, they were better than Torque in terms of battle, but they were weaker than him. Maybe it could be my status which is higher than normal, either way I'm just glad that the Mana Wall stopped them and the Light Ball disarmed them, otherwise I wouldn't be pulling such a crazy move in the first place.' Soren thought to himself while looking the two black hooded figures being taken away by one of the soldiers.
While Soren was still in his thoughts, Diana came after putting away the shellphone and decided to grab the attention of the four of them:
"Kids. While I was talking with the Duke, one of our guards gave the damage report of the carriage and unfortunately, one of the wheels is broken and guards are coming with another wheel as we speak, but it will take around an hour or so, until it comes and manage to repair the carriage as well."
"..." The four of them were silent for a moment, before Diana decided to continue.
"So, you have two options. The first option is to wait until repairs are done and then leave altogether and the second option is to split up for a bit go a bit ahead of time to Crystalia City, since we really are only a couple of kilometers away, but you will need to have an escort knight with you. So, what will you do?" Diana asked with a serious expression.
"I don't know about you, but me and Lavenza will go ahead, since we have some work to take care of as well and I would like to take care of it today." Soren answered with an indifferent attitude.
"I would like to get my arm fix as soon as possible, so I would like to go ahead as well, since the earlier I leave, the earlier I can fix it." Dallius answered expressionlessly as usual.
"Ummm... Uhhh... Fine! I'm coming with you three as well, since you are already going ahead of everyone." Kana also answered a bit angrily after hesitating for a bit.
"Then it's decided. You four are going ahead of us, while the rest of us will take care of the carriage." Diana then spoke with a stern expression.
"Wait a minute." Soren decided to object.
"What is it?"
"The four of us? What about the escort from before?" Soren asked with a serious expression.
"Oh that? It's you. Or do you want me to use one of our limited pairs of hands, who are needed to clean up the battlefield, get repairs done and tending to the wounds of the others?" Diana asked in a very menacing manner.
"I'll gladly be their escort, hehe. Forget I sajd anything." Soren answered back nervously while breaking a cold sweat. Incuring her wrath was the last thing Soren wanted, so he decided to go along with her plan.
"Oh, nearly forgot. This is yours, so don't forget it here." Diana said in a casual manner before throwing Soren's helmet at his hands.
"Thank you miss. And I almost forgot about my request." Soren decided to speak in a casual manner.
"Fine, speak quickly, we don't have a lot of time in our hands." Diana decided to hear Soren's request, since he had earned it with his actions.
"I wish to find a teacher who can teach me dark magic."
"Heh. Consider it done Soren." Diana answered back with a smile on her face.
"Take care Duchess Diana." Soren waved as he was leaving with Lavenza, Kana and Dallius.
"See you later mom." Kana waved her free hand as well.
"We will meet you back at the mansion mother." Dallius also said his goodbye, albeit he could barely move his body.
Once the four of them left, Diana kept watching the direction they left, before speaking to herself:
"I miss the days where I could talk so casually without having to worry about my title."