Ralph was shocked at how few bandits approached as Beth worked at opening the cage. He would have expected more than just three. The only explanation he could think of was that the bandits had taken the bulk of their numbers with them with the first two wagons and had left a handful to finish loading the last wagon.
Not that the villagers it held were going to be going with it. However, Ralph couldn't help but shake the feeling that something, somewhere, was wrong. He couldn't say what it was, just that it felt like they should be turning there focus somewhere else. Somewhere that needed them to do something. Something that he just couldn't think of.
As Beth finished helping the last of the captives in the wagon get out of the cage, Ralph turned to look at where they'd be heading back to. He wasn't sure what else to expect, but he knew there was something that was nagging at the back of his mind. He just wished he knew what it was. It certainly wasn't something that was going to let him ignore it.
–Guys, get back here.– Ralph heard Wes say with his magic.
–What's wrong?– Beth asked.
–Tim went to help with Amelia, because she's got some trouble she's dealing with, but you guys know about that place the villagers were gathering because it's supposed to be safe?–
–Yeah, we know it.– Ralph answered, feeling like Wes was beating around the bush with telling them what the trouble was. –What about it? If they're not letting you in, don't worry. They wouldn't let me or Beth in when we brought some survivors with us.–
–Uh, no, that's not it.– Wes said, sounding rather unsettled. –It's just that the entire building's on fire now.–
–Wait, what?– Beth asked, clearly startled.
–Yeah, this plume of fire came out of nowhere. I saw it because I heard someone chanting or something and I was heading to take a look when it just went up in flames.– Wes explained.
Ralph sighed. Now he knew what his bad feeling was about. However, even though they'd been so rude to them, he couldn't just let them burn like that. He had to do something to help. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't.
Besides, he needed to get that girl and her sister out if possible. He wasn't going to let them die and ruin his hard work if he could help it.
–Beth, I'm heading over there to see what I can do.– Ralph informed Beth, letting Ride of the Valkyries trail off. –Keep an eye on these people and get them somewhere you can keep them safe. I'll let you know if I'm able to help anyone.–
–No problem.– Beth replied. –I'll let you know when I find somewhere we can hole up.–
Ralph nodded, even though he knew that didn't exactly travel through their magical communication. He hoped his intent would at least be communicated.
Letting Beth do her own thing, Ralph mounted his raptor and began riding it towards the building. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he doubted he'd like what he found. For one thing, he doubted he could just ride in there like he was the cavalry coming to save the day.
If the bandits lit up the building, either they were planning on killing everyone in it or planned on taking at least some of the survivors captive. Ralph knew that if he did what he wanted to right now, he'd only either get himself killed, get himself captured or get others killed as well.
As he made his way quickly to the building, he couldn't help but wish this was something happening in a video game. At least then if he royally screwed up, he'd at least be able to log out and continue on with his life. However, here, if he screwed this up, even just a little, he might not be able to go back to living how he had. That kind of pressure was more than a little unnerving for him.
It also didn't help that the plume of smoke from the burning building kept getting larger in front of him. It was constant reminder to him that this wasn't something that didn't have consequences. Whatever he chose to do would have an impact in one way or another. For good or bad.
When he was getting near the building, he could feel the heat from the fire, even though he wasn't facing it directly. He also could hear sounds of people shouting, although he couldn't make anything out of what was being said. Though, one thing he was confident of was that those who were talking weren't any of the villagers.
When he reached the building with the bush that he remembered Beth crouching down by when they had started making their way back to the wagons, Ralph dismounted, having his raptor go around the other side of the building. He needed the bandits' eyes in another direction than where he was, so he'd be less likely to be targeted by them as he did what he could to save as many people as he could.
He could see several people fleeing the inferno that was the building they had made a 'safe' zone. The villagers didn't seem to care anymore that they were running into the open arms of the bandits who were more than happy to tie them up and make them their captives. Which only made Ralph sick to his stomach.
He didn't wait to see when might be an opportune time, he merely started out with a musical selection. Highway to the Danger Zone. He couldn't recall who sang it right off hand, just that it was part of the original Top Gun soundtrack. At the moment, he figured it would fit this situation.
As his raptor came around the building and started slashing bandits with its claws, Ralph looked around, determined to find a way to end any magical support the bandits had. If possible. He wasn't going to back away this time.
He also noticed a few bandits with bows and a couple crossbows. Which let him target them first with the suggestion Beth had given him about creating magical bullets that were shot by an unseen 'sniper' somewhere in the area.
While the bandits' attention was on his raptor, who seemed to be more than most of the bandits could handle, Ralph was able to eliminate all the bandits with ranged weapons. He was speculating if he should try to make it towards the building that was entirely engulfed in flames to see if he could at least get that girl and her sister out. He had a strong feeling that the girl wasn't going to just let her sister stay in that building, which meant that he had a chance to help her out.
Yet, as he was about to make his rush, he saw her again. The mage with the bandits who'd eliminated his raptors earlier so quickly. He also suspected that she'd have eliminated him too if she had been able to see him.
The mage looked at the raptor who was surrounded by bandits and was holding its own against them. While Ralph was sure part of it was because the velociraptor was an unfamiliar opponent for them, he had the sense that these bandits weren't really that well trained. They just relied more on their numbers and brute strength to get what they wanted.
As Ralph suspected, the mage looked at his raptor and just blew it apart like she'd done with his other raptors. So, he merely sniped the mage before she even had a chance to do more than that. Which Ralph was sure would cause a stir with the other bandits.
However, the bandits didn't seem to care. They merely continued tying the villagers who'd escaped the burning building, while they recovered from the smoke and heat.
They'd gotten most of the ones that had already come out, but there were still several staggering out at the moment as well. Which were easily picked up by the bandits.
Some were even leading the captives away in lines. With three bandits standing guard over them. Not caring if the villagers weren't up to the task being demanded of them. Or even capable of meeting the demands.
If one of the villagers fell down, the bandits would drag them along the ground by their feet, not caring about any of the cries from any of their captives.
Ralph wanted to do more, but he could feel his body was starting to tire, which meant that he didn't have much more to go before he was pretty much out of commission. Plus, he was certain that he wouldn't be able to handle those numbers by himself anyway.
At best, the count he had was there was at least twenty bandits rounding up the villagers and now he didn't even have a distraction to keep them from targeting him if he tried to do something. Like charging into the building.
He was sure they wouldn't care if he went into the building, but he also suspected that they weren't just going to let him do that if they could capture him.
Yet, as he felt paralyzed by indecision, he saw a pack of other raptors running towards the bandits. Ralph was sure that Tim, Wes, or both of them had arrived. Which meant that he'd be able to go into the building sooner than he was expecting to. Which he was grateful for.
The only thing he wished was that the bandits hadn't led off so may already. He wasn't sure how long it had been since he'd taken out the mage, but it was at least long enough for the bandits to have led away the bulk of the villagers who they'd captured from the building that Ralph was sure they had caused to become engulfed in flames.
As the raptors tore into the bandits, Ralph quickly made his way into the building, ignoring the flames, and hoping that he'd be able to find the girl quickly. He was confident that he had enough magic to float the girl's sister out, so he was sure that that wouldn't be a problem. The problem he foresaw was the fact that there was so much smoke, that if the two girls were too far away from a viable exit, that they might be trapped in there.
He really didn't want that to be the case, but he knew reality didn't really care what anyone in particular wanted. It just was.
All he could do was figure out how to make the best of any situation, even if meant enduring some discomfort in order to make the situation better. For another person he wanted to help if nothing else.
While Ralph searched the building, he felt himself getting disoriented from the heat. He was able to keep himself low enough to avoid most of the flames by moving in a kind of half-crouch, but it didn't help that it seemed like the entire building was made out of wood.
While he couldn't have expected much better, given the level or technology he'd seen so far, it did make it harder to see where anyone who might still be alive might be.
As he continued on, he couldn't help but think he was hearing some sounds that were distinct from the fire, and nearby. Not that knowing that helped him any. He wasn't sure he'd be able to find his way back if it was a straight shot down a hallway.
The building felt like it might have been an important building in the village, but that didn't mean it held any significance to Ralph. Just that it was larger and so had more area that he needed to explore.
Still, he moved towards where he thought he heard the sounds coming from. He wasn't sure what to expect, just that he didn't have any better ideas. It was at least a direction to move in.
He felt himself getting ready to pass out from the heat and wondered how much of a blunder he'd made coming in her in the first place when suddenly he was in a place free of flames and smoke.
He didn't realize it at first, he just fell to his knees and started coughing. When he was able to breathe regularly again, he looked around him and was a little surprised to see he was in a room that wasn't on fire.
He looked behind him and could see the doorway that he'd come through and that the rest of the building was still on fire, but now he was in a place the flames didn't seem to be able to reach.
"Are you okay?" he heard a voice ask.
He looked around again and this time saw a bed, where the girl who he'd escorted over was kneeling next to, with her older sister laying in it. Ralph could see tears streaming down her face.
"Yeah, I'm-" Ralph started to say, but then had to stop as he started coughing again. It took a minute, but he eventually was able to get over that. "Yeah, I'm good."
"Why're you here?" the girl asked, sounding like she had resigned to staying here with her sister, no matter what came of the rest of the building.
"I came to see if I could help," Ralph answered, then paused as he looked out the doorway again to where the flames ate at the rest of the building. "How is this room not on fire?"
"Uh, well, uh…" the girl trailed off, looking away from Ralph.
Ralph suddenly understood. This girl was the reason and wasn't experienced enough with her magic to explain how. He didn't need her to be embarrassed, just to be able to keep the shield or whatever going a little bit longer.
"Don't worry," he assured her. "It doesn't matter. Just as long as the fire doesn't get in here."
The girl nodded slowly, looking at her sister who seemed to be sleeping soundly on the bed. She looked like she wasn't even aware that there was so much fire nearby in a room completely full of combustible things.
"Any idea how close we are from outside this place?" Ralph asked, looking at the walls, wondering if he'd be able to blast a hole in them and get out that way. If they were close enough to the side of the building, they'd be able to escape easily enough.
The girl looked at Ralph like she didn't understand what he was saying. Ralph suddenly realized how tired the girl was. Not to mention how much magic she had to be using to sustain the shield. It was clear that she was essentially pouring her life into it just to try and protect her sister and Ralph was pretty sure she knew it as well. It was just that important to her to try and save her sister for a little longer than it was to try and save herself.
Ralph sighed. He didn't really have much option right now. Nor did he really understand which side of the building he was one. As far as he knew, the wall he'd be blasting through wouldn't be the fastest route out of here. However, he knew that he didn't really have much of a choice if he was going to save the girl and her sister.
If he just saved the girl, he was pretty sure she wasn't going to make it easy for him. So, if he brought her sister along, then the girl would likely accompany him more willingly. Which would in turn make things easier on him.
"Would you be fine helping me move your sister?" Ralph asked, walking over to the girl, already pulling on his magic as he gripped his focus in his hand. He couldn't help but be just a little surprised that he'd been able to hold on to it this entire time. Although, his hand was starting to feel a little numb griping it so tightly.
The girl nodded, her strength clearly fading fast. Ralph didn't bother wasting any time. He started to levitate the girl's sister at the same moment he blasted a hole in the wall across from the doorway. His hunch was that the door would be on the farthest side from the edge of the building, even though he didn't have any reason to base that idea off of. He was just going on pure luck at the moment. He just hoped it would be enough.
Yet, the wall merely led into another room that was engulfed in flames. However, since he'd already started moving, Ralph didn't let that stop him. He was going to move forward no matter what. Until either he made it out of there or until he and the girl lost all the strength in their bodies and collapsed for the flames to consume.
Ralph wasn't paying close attention to what was on the other side of the room as he blasted a hole in the room across from where he had made the first hole and nearly ran straight outside. Which would have been problematic, seeing as how they were on the second floor.
Ralph caught himself in time before he fell outside, and probably would have injured himself. Not like Amelia would have enough to deal with already, considering how many injuries there had to have been among the villagers. Yet, he couldn't remember climbing any stairs or ramps or anything, so he felt a little dumbfounded about how he'd been on the second floor without realizing it.
As the girl lost her strength to stand, Ralph knew the only way out was to hope that his magic would allow all of them to float to the ground outside. Which was quite possible, but Ralph knew he'd never taxed himself this hard before with his magic, so he wasn't completely sure exactly where his limit was.
He caught the girl as she started to collapse and stepped outside of the burning building as he kept pushing the girl's sister ahead of him, using his magic to slowly lower himself, the girl, and her sister to the ground.
He didn't see any bandits, but wouldn't be surprised if there were any waiting. However, what did surprise him was that when he felt his feet touch the ground, a raptor came up next to him.
If he didn't know that it was an illusion and not a threat to him, he could tell that he'd probably lose control of all his bodily functions right then and there. Fortunately, he was able to recognize that it wasn't there to attack and he carefully settled the girl on the raptor's back before he started to follow the raptor to wherever Tim or Wes was. He was pretty sure it wasn't Beth's raptor.
He didn't have the strength to worry if there was another mage with the bandits who had created their own raptor illusion. He was too far spent and ready to just lay down and go to sleep. He was just done with the day.
The sun however, was still shining a good distance over the horizon, making Ralph feel like time had either stopped or started going backwards. He hoped that this sort of thing wasn't going to be a common occurrence on this world. He was sure if it was, that that alone would probably be enough to kill him.