*Blur!
*Crash!
A sudden flash of light illuminated the dark alley in the city. The flash brought along five people and dropped them roughly onto the pavement.
"Ouch!" (Lidya)
"Argh!" (Rudi)
"My back!" (Micah)
"I almost twisted my ankle!" (Elia)
"Urghh!" (Camel)
They all held onto their respective body parts, wincing in pain. Their bodies felt as if every bone was broken at the moment.
*Rolling!
Rudi emerged from the pile of groaning bodies and attempted to rise.
"It seems like we've been teleported into the city?" Rudi looked around.
They found themselves in a narrow alley surrounded by tall walls of houses. There were no witnesses around. It seemed like everyone was busy working and not at home.
"I didn't expect my magic to just throw me like that..." Lidya said as she got up, clutching her back.
"(Get up) So, you can teleport? Why didn't you say so earlier?" Camel exclaimed in annoyance.
"Actually, I don't quite understand how my magic works?" Lidya sticking her tongue out as she hit her head and closed one of her eyes.
Unfortunately, trying to look cute wasn't something Lidya good at. Her scary face didn't supply cuteness. Camel who seeing Lidya's expression, could only stare at her flatly and disappointedly.
"Sorry(turning her face away)..." Lidya apologized guiltily. Her soul is like try going out of her body.
Camel shook his head, looking at Lidya with a smile. "You should train more to control your magic!"
"It's too random. It's very difficult..." (Rudi)
"Too difficult? Then how could she do it?!"
"It just happened. I can only use magic when the situation demands it(bowing her head)."
"Forget about that, now(looking around)... We seem have got inside the city." (Camel)
The bustling noise of the street echoed through the alley where they were. The hustle and bustle indicated how busy the city was. There was hardly any pause, or even occasionally the city streets sounded silent. The voices of people talking about gossip and prices were heard everywhere.
Footsteps and the clattering of horses' hooves echoed on the street. There were also the sounds of wooden wheels spinning as they were pulled by horses, preparing for something. The wooden wheels seemed to be in a hurry. Their numbers were not just one, but dozens. They were preparing for something, and for some reason, the five people felt that.
The noise in the street was the reason why no one heard the loud sounds in the city alley.
"Camel..." Rudi walked up to Camel. "You should take off your armor. It will be obvious."
Camel looked at the emblem on his chest with wide-eyed. He realized and forgot that he was carrying something dangerous(the rebel symbol).
"Alright(taking off his armor)... (Looking towards Rudi) but now what? I-I actually didn't bring spare clothes." He said with his bare chest, feeling a little embarrassed.
"You didn't bring any?" (Rudi)
"You're a failed as a soldier." Elia mocked, with a sneering expression.
Suddenly, Micah emerged from deeper within the alley. He was carrying a set of clothes.
"As for clothes, I've got them covered!" he said, showing the set of clothes.
"Wait! Where did you get those?!" (Elia)
*Bruak!
Lidya threw the body of someone into the corner of the alley.
"Just borrowed(with a creepy smile)..."
Rudi smiled at the rare sight. Right now, before his eyes, Micah and Lidya were working together. Although not in a good way, at least they seemed to understand each other's situation.
Camel hesitated to take the clothes, but with a little push from himself, his hand managed to grab the 'borrowed' clothes.
"I hate this..."
Camel's mysterious figure seemed to have no dignity here.
***
On the other side, Elia noticed Rudi's smile.
"How could you laugh when your friends are doing this?"
"Because rarely do they cooperate so well."
"Oh(shifting her focus)..."
Whatever Rudi was thinking, it wasn't Elia's concern. Elia felt a little dejected. She remembered when she used to have people she could call friends. However, that was all in the past. They were all gone because of Elia's actions at school.
Back to Camel, the man called his four companions together and asked them to gather around. He wanted to discuss the next plan to both rescue the lady and take over the city.
The main issue with this plan was the directional blindness of some members to the city map. Lidya, Rudi, and Micah didn't know anything about this city because they were not from this world. While Elia didn't have a precise memory of the city map because she had been stuck in school for two years. Only Camel knew the city map for sure.
Camel held his chin as he thought. He had to split the team into two for the plan to succeed. It's just that, between Camel and Elia, who should be chosen to go to the manor and prison?
"Why doesn't Elia go with the team that fights the Count of this city?"
Rudi once again gave advice on this still incomplete strategy.
"Why me?!" Elia objected.
"Even after ten years in the joint will not make you pussy about where the manor location is, the manor's position won't change. So, even if you don't remember the city streets precisely, at least you remember where the manor entrance is."
Camel turned to Elia who still put a doubtful face. "Do you remember, Elia?"
"Ju-just if the gate is still there," Elia answered hesitantly.
The leader's position was confirmed. Now it's just a matter of who would be the members.
"I am and Lidya will go to the manor." (Rudi)
"Both of you? Does that mean I'm going to the cramped prison or more like dungeon alone?"
There was a slight reluctance in Micah's words.
"Why not... I go with you(pointing at Rudi) instead? Because we're going to kick the Count's ass, right?! We need someone who's at least brave enough to make our opponents cringed in fear! And I am that person(spreads his arms)!"
Rudi wasn't afraid of Micah's intimidation. He just nodded once and glared at Micah. "That's true, bringing you to beat up the Count would be easier, BUT-!"
Rudi looked at Lidya with a concerned look. "Lidya and I are not people who can fight in tight spaces."
The underground prison must be in the form of a corridor. And if Rudi and Lidya were there and had to fight, they would be in trouble because their weapons were not suitable for narrow places like corridors.
Lidya carried a knife, but she still wouldn't be able to pierce through guards if they came in a group. After all, the person they were trying to save was the wife of the rebel leader. The guards would surely be heavily armed.
Micah, on the other hand, carried a pistol that could shoot straight ahead. His short axe hanging from his waist could also split his opponents without fear of being bounced off the wall when swung. He would also surely attack very brutally even when cornered.
"Erghhh(muttering)...!" Micah sighed and then pointed towards Rudi tremblingly. "...makes sense... Okay then!"
Micah was brought under control. The plan also didn't change. They were already set to be split into two teams.
Lidya, Rudi, and Elia would go against the Count, while Camel and Micah would go to rescue the lady.
"Uh, should we do this at night?" Elia suddenly raised her hand.
"Why?" Rudi asked, seeming to be in a hurry.
"Well, no matter how you look at it. Attacking at night is much more effective. Besides, we haven't eaten anything yet! Let's find something to eat first! Of course(looking at Camel with a wicked smile), Camel will treat their mercenary, right?"
Camel widened his eyes, pointing to himself. "Me?!"
"You're the one with money here, aren't you(staring at Camel flatly)?"
Camel sighed, nodding in agreement to Elia's request. There was some truth to preparing first rather than being too hasty.
They exited the alley and went to a nearby tavern. They waited there until nightfall.
***
On the other side, Captain Lyke ran through every alley with sweat on his entire face. He seemed to be chased by something.
"Where are they(looking left and right)?! I have to explain everything immediately! I don't want any more casualties! One is enough!"
Captain Lyke continued to run, searching for the five of them.
What made him afraid?
Why did he care about that sorcerer(Lidya)?
Captain Lyke is chased by time.