"Mountain tribesmen," Surena whispered, her grip tightening on her sword.
Lyan raised a hand, signaling for calm. "It's fine," he said, his voice steady. "We have wonderful bodyguards."
Lyan's confidence in his summoned monsters was well-placed. As the mountain tribesmen advanced, his creatures emerged from their illusionary concealment, a spectacle that left the bandits momentarily stunned. The monsters had inherited Lyan's talent for illusion, allowing them to remain hidden until the opportune moment.
The mountain tribesmen were a formidable sight. With their muscular builds and swift, nimble movements, they exuded an aura of menace. The girls exchanged worried glances, their concern growing as they counted the number of enemies—more than seventy or eighty, likely aiming to seize the women and their caravan.
