The atmosphere was tense, the fire had reached new heights burning the wood inside the pit aggressively as if telling everyone what would happen if they were to get defeated by bandits.
Their Village will be the same as dried wood and branches, burning into the ash.
In a short time, villagers were only able to gather a small number of weapons which were placed around to use when needed. The axes and handful of wooden bars from the stocked pile of chopped wood.
The villagers were scared even those who had axes in their hands. The quarrel with the evil men was now unavoidable but the main thing that terrorized their hearts was their background.
They were just mere villagers and all their lives they had done normal things, collecting, buying, selling, and taking care of pigs and sheep and cows.
The other side was robbers who killed many and will kill many as long as they deem worthy. There will be casualties, and who knows how many of them will have to die tonight.
In saying they were under the protection of the empire but they knew faultlessly that even before some help arrived bandits could damage their well-settled village. They always do and escape before authorities take any action.
Jamie's father pulled Jamia to the side, "Listen carefully, don't stay here in that condition. I will fetch my bow and do what I can while you take care of your mother and your husband."
"No wait!" Jamia hesitated, stopping her father midway. "We have to think another way, if we get into a fight they will hurt you"
"Yeah, but I don't see any other-" He smiled looking at a fellow who was already on the verge of blowing up. "Noah!"
The old smith at the corner placed his hammer down on the table, shaking his head with a smile. He also saw Noah making his way to the front from the panicked crowd.
The shouts rang around as people turned to him. "Noah's here!"
"Look, he's here"
Miru bit his tongue glaring at him. "Where was he all this time?"
Reo shouted, relying on all the others. "Bear slayer is here"
The bandits hesitated giving each other looks. The name Noah the Bear Slayer was imprinted in their minds. They knew how capable he was and seeing his presence there made their feet wobble.
Noah calmly walked up to the campfire which was in the middle of the conflict area. His eyes roamed on the faces of the bandits.
They were the same three faces who were camping outside of the tomb. The three ran away after facing the Ark.
Only if at that time Noah had managed to subdue them, the remaining two would have not dared to come into the village looking for trouble.
The bald guy woke up, cursing. "Don't fear him. He is nobody not to mention he had no weapon" He smiled weakly.
His body was in pain after the beat down he got from Miru but he still used a deep voice to get back the morals of his fellow members. He picked up his Axe.
"We can take him down before he gets any weapon, come now" He spat, rotating his Axe in his hand.
Noah remained silent from the outside but he was pissed off. These people ruined his lovely moment!
Although he wanted to slay these scums right before these people he dared not to act on his instinct. The people behind him were just villagers, who lived peaceful lives not to mention among them there were many children, and if he were to act on his impulses and kill the bastards that would change other people's opinions towards him. They will feel uneasiness while talking to him or even looking at him if he killed a human before their eyes.
The Bald bandit dashed first but to his surprise, Noah sent him flying...kicking him in the chest, direct. The tables broke and a barrel of ale poured down on him as he lay twitching and whining.
A laugh circulated among the villagers.
On the other side, Miru froze seeing strength behind Noah's kick. Previously he fought with him and got beaten up but never in his dream, he thought Noah was pulling his punches at that time.
The people cheered for Noah and seeing that many youths felt a splendor to do part in the fight. To do something to impress and prove themselves.
"That's Noah for you" the Innkeeper loud-ed. Astride grinned.
"Did ya see that?" Reo blurted out, failing to contain his excitement.
Noah dodged the next blow effortlessly. The reason he had not brought out his weapon was their power levels. They were just small fries for him not to mention their morale was now ten feet under the ground.
He disarmed the one bandit going for the next one without holding back, going all out while hitting and punching in the process.
"You guys are bandits?" Noah mocked, "Even ten years could beat you"
Bandits felt humiliated as they relied on up to kill the brat before them even after they were unarmed. How dare a green boy like him mock them?
Noah finally Disarmed all four of them and took a step back. He was smiling standing close to sacred fire.
"Give me a hand will you, I cannot take them all by myself" he Reported glancing at his shoulders.
The youths who were holding back all this time broke into dashes jumping on now unarmed bandits. Ganging up on them from all sides, kicking and punching even dragging them around to show their might.
Noah stood awestruck. 'Man they were not planning to hold back' he thought. "This is the best scenario'
The occasion was joyful and if he were to ruin it by killing people in front of children then surely that would have backfired no matter the intentions behind the act.
And another thing if he had finished them alone then other youths around him would have felt jealous so he decided to give them what they deserved. A chance to shine!
Noah's face winched in pain seeing a guy kicking the bandit in between legs. He was overpowering the crowd so the smart guy chose the best methods to put him in his place.
The tense atmosphere seconds ago had turned into one like a friendly brawl. The villager's team was winning and making their families proud. It had become a great sport for them as the adults began betting on them as to which bandits drop first.
Noah prepared a plan about how to deal with the bandit afterward, in this case, he just has to pull back and let these people handle this guy. Either they will get transferred to authorities or pushed far away from the village so they would not dare to come back.
Noah knew the third possibility was to kill them right here and right now but knowing the villagers they will less likely choose this way to deal with them. Not unless someone from their side would have gotten hurt or killed.
The Three lay flat not daring to move a finger and the fourth was on the verge of sleeping on the ground. They won the battle.
Suddenly a bald bandit pressed forward from the crowd, reeking of the smell of ale. He sprinted to Noah, eyes full of killing intent. He did not bother to deal with others but the one who caused the commotion.
The guy who stood in front of raging flames, the bald bandit rushed in the hope to shove that bastard into the flames.
Noah surprisingly took a step back but felt extreme heat from behind, in the next second he moved to move sideways and kicked the bandit's feet which landed him into the Campfire. Noah moved out of instinct.
The bald guy caught on fire, colliding with the burning wood in the process. The expression of horror could be seen on everyone's faces, even Noah felt sick.
The man screamed from the top of his lungs, as the fire began burning him alive. He stumbled on the ground loitering around in the hope of exhausting the flame but it did not help.
Noah froze seeing the scene incapable of saying a word. Nobody moved from their places until the man burned to death. His body lay motionless and caught in flames.
Women had already closed their children's eyes along with theirs. All men looked away from the scene, it was horrific and unholy.
Noah roamed his gaze around to see any face that could have a normal expression or even an understanding expression but all he saw were fearful gazes cast toward him even Astrid's gaze wavered looking at the burned body.
"It's a Bad omen" The Village chief knelt, both hands touching the ground.