We arrived at the spot where the bandits and nobles were going to meet.
It was deep in the forest. We were hiding behind a bush. All eagerly awaiting.
I was scared.
My breaths started to ramp up faster.
"Hey, it's going to be okay." Akame kindly reassured me.
I still felt very uneasy about this ordeal, however.
I feel like we should have told Gozan.
Our first combat experience. I barely know how to cast magic. Something about mana fiber?
Oh well. Here goes nothing.
The time fastly approached.
The five bandits walked onto the scene unashamedly, behind them was a cage, and within it held a young elf slave.
She was very beaten up and tattered. She had bruises all around. She looked very timid and afraid, while also looking like an empty husk, simply accepting her fate.
Disgusting.
The nobles arrived soon thereafter.
The negotiation began, while we bid our time waiting patiently.
There were three nobles, they were escorted by a golden chariot.
"Did anyone follow you?" The noble asked, looking around with a worried expression.
"No, it's safe. We can assure you, we are men of our word." The bandit leader said.
The noble still didn't look sure of this situation.
"I sure hope so. We would be in a world of trouble if we were ever caught making a deal with a lowly bandit."
"Lowly huh?!" One of the bandits angrily pressed, his shallow sense of pride was hurt by this comment.
"Stop. Let them talk about us however they wish." The leader stuck out his arm, calming down his subordinate.
"Wise words. Now show us the goods."
They stepped aside to let them get a good look at the elf.
"By the grace of Indra, why is it so beaten up?! Selling damaged goods is not satisfactory."
"My good sir, I assure you it will heal in the matter of a day."
The nobles continued to examine the girl.
"How much?" The noble inquired.
"Three thousand." The bandit retorted. As though they had already set the price in stone.
"Hmm, that was the original price huh? Very well. Get her out of the cage first so we can be sure of our purchase." The noble said while rubbing his chin.
The bandits took her out, and lay her in front of the nobles.
She was tied up, her mouth taped.
She looked like she was only a year older than me.
She had cuts and bruises all around.
Her atmosphere radiated pure fear and anguish.
What was to happen to her if she were sold to the nobles?
No. What have the bandits already done to her?
These thoughts raced through my mind.
As she was in front of the nobles, she closed her eyes. And felt a blunt force against her face, flying her back.
The noble had kicked her.
"What the hell!" The bandit shouted.
"Oops, my bad. I guess that means the product is even more damaged... it seems we are deserving of a discount no? About two hundred should be fine right? Unless of course, you'd like us to expose your doings to the king..."
"You bastard! We'll just kill you and take the money ourselves."
Soukou, hearing this entire thing grew more mad as the seconds went on. He could not bear to watch this scene unfold anymore.
He jumped out of the bush.
The symbols "ගිනි" appearing before him as he shouted: "Faiaburasuto!"
A large fireball came out of his hand. The heat unrivaled. Soukou still did not know how to control his magic, as a result of this spell he had burnt his hand.
The fireball launched, and set one of the nobles on fire.
Just from the fire passing by the elf, her blindfold was burned.
Soukou looked dead into her eyes as he made the bold declaration.
He stood tall.
The birds chirped.
The zephyrs echoed
The trees fluttered.
The ground shook.
"I will save you."
TO BE CONTINUED.