"What was that!! What just happened?!! That!! What did he do just now?!". Vincent retorts, losing his freaking mind over how Mikeal grew a tree from the ground and how he used it to uproot a part of the earth.
"Calm your horses. The likes of you are in no position to question His Highness's actions". Says Anna.
"You! You are a mage". The realization dawned on Vincent as stated with wonderment.
"You know about the world of mages". Mikeal asked, dropping the uprooted earth away from where he dug it out, leaving behind a deep wide scar.
He got closer to the hole he had created so he could peer into it and see what lies beneath.
"I have heard tales of them from the village heads, about their existence. But never in my life have I come across one... A real mage". He says with astonishment, following Mikeal to the edge of the hole.
"Now I see why you were so confident and why I wanted to believe in you". He added, getting to the edge of the hole and tilting his head inward.
"You really do have the power to save them". He praised, his view capturing the hostages appearance that is below.
"You- you don't think I am weird for being a mage?...". Mikeal was rendered confused by Vincent's reaction to his ability review.
He was surprised at first but was too quick to change his reaction. Now he is calm around him which triggered Mikeal asking.
"Your mage-like abilities are about to be responsible for rescuing my kinsmen. I am in no position to debate what is weird and isn't about you". He exclaimed.
'Ah that?... Makes sense'. Mikeal thought.
He grew his vines out of the ground they were standing on and designed it as a foothold for all three. The crafted foothold vine was then used as an elevator that lifted them and took them into the hole to get into the underground cave.
...
As Mikeal had uprooted the ground, the sun shone down on the hostages. It also alarmed the two guards who were standing at the entrance.
The two guards opened the door to the cell and got in as they turned their heads to the sky. They saw the hole that was created and marvelled fearfully at what could have created the hole in a matter of minutes.
"Quick! Go and call for the chief while I!!!".
One of the guards was in the middle of giving the other guard orders when a shadow was cast over him from above.
They both tilted their heads to the shadow's source and saw a flat vine slowly descending on them. The vine got to more than half the distance only to reveal to the guards the three figures that were standing on top of the vines.
They couldn't tell how they were controlling the vines or who was responsible as all three were calm and their actions stalled.
The vine footing landed on the ground and touched the cave's inner surface.
"Are these all the hostages". Mikeal asked, ignoring the presence of the two guards.
From behind, a spear came flying in and intended to stab Mikeal. Anna had moved so swiftly to protect Mikeal's back.
She caught the spear midway to Mikeal and directed the pointy head back at the guard that threw it. The spear shot through the air, stabbing the guard straight to the heart and hanging his body on the wall.
When the second guard saw what happened, he hastily ran out of the place to go and warn the others.
"Your Highness, there is one missing". Vincent called to Mikeal's attention.
"I see".
Mikeal came down from the vine foothold. He got closer to the hostages and got his upper body to rest entirely on his lap.
"Their eyes!!".
Mikeal saw their eyes!! It reminded him so much of a time he had once experienced. Except! These seem darker, they had lost all form of life within them.
Every single one of them.
Mikeal got his upper body up and stood straight.
"Fear not! I shall relieve you all of your suffering". He vowed.
Mikeal stretched out his hand in their direction. With a solemn gaze, he commanded vines to stab through their heart, making their deaths as painless as he could.
It all happened so fast, every hostage attacked by the vine at the same time, giving Vincent no time to stop Mikeal from what he had just done.
There was no way of knowing his intentions and no way of stopping him when he was not even moving to begin with.
He could only watch as the hostages they were meant to save fell at the hands of their supposed saviour.
At first, Vincent could not believe what happened. He questioned and questioned!
Mikeal killed the hostages?! Why... He somehow used his powers to kill the hostages?! Why.. Why?!... Why?!... Why did he do it?! What reason could have caused him to do this?!
Vincent's mouth had crooked in. His mind had a hard time grasping what just happened, hence his external monologue was on the slow side.
His internal monologue however worked so well that questions were all he was riddled with.
Anna who witnessed this scene was as confused and with questions as Vincent.
At this same time, the second guard had rallied his allies and marched them down the cell.
Anger! Frustration! Pain! All such negative emotions clouded Vincent's thoughts as he fell to his knees. He wasn't even crying, he was just... Pained.
He got up with annoyance and was about to attack Mikeal by grabbing his colour to question him. Anna did not allow him such privilege.
She got in his way and pushed him away with one hand.
"You will not touch his Highness without his permission". She says, glaring at him with malice.
Mikeal stunned, tilted his head to look at Anna who was in front of him.
He had just killed defenceless people who meant him no harm, yet she showed no sign of infidelity. Even protecting him from Vincent's rage.
This moment is when the bandit leader made his way into the room, having the bandits clear the path for him.