As the group made their way back to the estate, the sun began to set, casting a long shadow across the lonely road. The carriage ride was quiet, a comfortable silence settling among them after the excitement of the day.
Seraphina leaned back in her seat, looking out the window at the passing trees and landscape as she thought about the day she had, and the days she will have going forward.
The knights rode beside the carriage, their eyes alert even in the embrace of the moonlight as they scanned the surroundings. Seraphina was even impressed by their dedication to the job.
The journey back was meant to be uneventful, but they approached a narrow stretch where the trees covered both sides of the wood, presenting a perfect location for trouble. Seraphina noticed something moving in the shadows.
Before she could voice her concerns, a group of masked figures emerged from the trees, blocking the road ahead. The horse that drew the carriage neighed in alarm, and the carriages came to an abrupt halt, causing the people inside to jolt.
"Bandits!"
One of the knights yelled as he hopped off his horse and drew his sword. The apprentice knight quickly followed suit, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination.
The group quickly exited the carriage, forming a defensive circle around it, with Lucy and Adrian staying behind the rest since they couldn't fight. Davanai stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he addressed the bandits.
"What do you want? You should know that attacking the carriage of the Duke of Willows is a grave mistake."
His voice was booming, filled with steady authority. He was a stage three knight, he had fought many battles and killed countless people; bandits were nothing to fear.
The leader of the bandit, a tall man with a scar running down his face, with a mask covering his lower face stepped forward. His eyes were locked on the group before him, malice filled them as he replied.
"We want everything you have. Money, valuable, and those carriages as well. Hand it over, and no one gets hurt!"
Davanai's eyes narrowed, he drew his sword and pointed the end at the bandit leader.
"I don't think so. Leave now, and we'll spare your lives. There is a reason the House of Willows are called the Tyrants of the Empire, do not make me show you why."
The bandit leader laughed, like a hyena mocking its prey.
"Bold words for a pup all alone. How are you going to defeat all of us, with only one other knight and a bunch of children?"
Motioning his hand, the leader signaled for all the other bandits to come forward. Revealing that the group was actually surrounded by dozens of people, all of which had varying weapons.
"I don't need more people to deal with you."
Davanai instantly dashed forward, his sword aiming for the leader's head in one slash. The leader however quickly moved his sword and blocked the incoming attack; getting sent stumbling back in the process.
"A stage two knight? You're no normal bandit."
Davanai muttered, his eyes locking onto the man with more seriousness now. Blocking his sword meant the man was at least a stage two knight, meaning he would be some trouble to deal with in a group.
"Seraphina, stay safe until I finish this!"
He ordered as he dashed forward and resumed his fight. He used a series of rapid attacks to separate the bandit leader and a few other bandits away from the group to avoid them getting involved.
This left only a few normal bandits and low-level apprentice knights behind for the group to deal with.
'I don't have a weapon.'
Seraphina said as she glanced around; she needed a weapon as soon as possible if she was going to fight the people before her. Unlike Davanai she didn't bring her weapon, she didn't see the need, but now she realized how foolish it was to leave it behind.
The remaining bandits charged forward, weapons drawn. The knights immediately engaged in combat with them, clashing swords with the attackers.
The stage one knight was able to quickly slash down some of the regular bandits, giving Seraphina the chance to grab one of their fallen blades. It was rusty and poorly crafted, but it would have to do.
Spinning around, she slashed the sword in an arc and blocked the incoming attack from behind; the blade piercing through the man's side and blood gashing out of the wound, the gore spraying onto her body as she sliced through his stomach.
The fighting around her was chaotic and noisy; the shouts and clashing of steel and weapons filled the air. However at that moment, covered in the blood of the person she had just brought down, she found silence.
The area around her seemingly became silent, all sound seemingly drowning as the chaos happening around her turned into nothing more than a symphony.
Closing her eyes, she calmed her mind. Taking a deep breath, she focused on nothing but herself, she didn't focus on the fighting, she didn't focus on the deaths; only herself.
Opening her eyes once more; her violet eyes glowed in the darkness.
One of the bandits managed to catch her off guard in this moment and lunged at Seraphina. She barely managed to parry the blow, but the force of the attack sent her stumbling back. The bandit grinned, sensing an easy victory.
Raising his blade he was about to strike her down, however before he could bring the blade down, a sword pierced through his throat from behind.
Causing the man to collapse to the ground in a gush of blood; dying instantly. Seraphina looked up to see the apprentice knight standing over her, his sword dripping with blood.
"Are you alright, my lady?"
He asked as he offered her a hand up. Seraphina took it and quickly got up to her feet; stabbing forward with her blade she pierced the stomach of an incoming bandit that tried to attack the knight.
"Thank you, I'm fine. We need to ensure the safety of the others, they can't fight."
The knight nodded and followed Seraphina, creating a close circle around the others. Lucy, Adrian, and Annabeth stayed close to Seraphina, their face pale from the bloodshed.
Gunther, to everyone's surprise, fought fiercely; his previous animosity towards Seraphina was momentarily forgotten in the heat of battle. He even slashed out at an incoming bandit that tried to attack Seraphina; helping the girl.
"Stay close everyone, they need to end this before Davanai returns. We just need to hold on."
Seraphina said loudly, ordering the group to stay close together.