#! Chapter 6: Unexpected Allies
Alexander's eyes slowly opened after his scary encounter with the Nightshade Prowler. The first thing he saw was the face of an incredibly beautiful woman looking down at him with concern. His heart skipped a beat when he saw how stunning she was. The woman had long, flowing hair and sparkling eyes that drew him in. She was more stunning than any character Alexander had admired on a screen back on Earth. Her delicate features and warm smile seemed almost ethereal.
Despite the terror of nearly being killed, part of Alexander felt that being reborn into this new world was worthwhile.
"You're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with relief. "How are you feeling? Are you in pain? Can you move?"
Alexander blinked, trying to process everything. "I... I'm okay, I think. Just a bit sore."
The woman smiled warmly. "That's a good sign. I'm Elara, by the way. I'm a healer."
Elara's hands glowed with a soft, healing light as she carefully inspected Alexander's wounds, her touch gentle and reassuring. Alexander noticed her ample bosom was dangerously close to his face, and he felt his cheeks heat up. Before he could say anything, Elara suddenly hugged him, pressing his face into her chest. He was momentarily suffocated but couldn't help but feel a mix of embarrassment and bliss.
"Thank goodness you're alright!" she said, squeezing him tightly. Alexander's face turned a deeper shade of red as he struggled to breathe.
"I... can't... breathe," he managed to gasp.
"Oh! Sorry!" Elara quickly released him, her cheeks flushing. "I got a bit carried away."
Alexander took a deep breath, relieved but also somewhat disappointed. "It's okay. Thanks for saving me."
Just then, another adventurer walked over, shaking his head with a grin. "Elara, you need to be more careful. You nearly smothered him."
"I'm Roderick," the man said, extending a hand with a reassuring smile. "Glad to see you pulled through."
Alexander shook his hand, grateful for the friendly gesture. "Thank you for helping me. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up."
"No need to thank us," Roderick replied with a chuckle. "It's what we do. We're a C-rank party, after all."
Alexander looked around and saw the other members of the party. There was a tall, muscular man with a large sword, a woman with a spear, another with daggers, and a man with a bow. Each of them exuded confidence and skill.
"I'm Alistair," the man with the large sword introduced himself. "That's Kiera with the spear, Lila with the daggers, and Felix with the bow."
Alexander nodded to each of them, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events. "I'm Alexander. I can't thank you all enough for saving me."
Kiera smiled warmly. "No need to be so formal, Alexander. We're just glad we got to you in time."
As they spoke, Alexander remembered why he had been in the forest in the first place. "Please, I need your help. My village was attacked by bandits, and they took my mother and several others. Can you help me save them?"
The adventurers exchanged looks, and Alistair stepped forward. "About that... it seems your worries were uncalled for. We were actually commissioned by a merchant from the city to deal with those bandits. They had attacked his cargo, and we were hired to track them down and eliminate them."
Alexander's eyes widened in disbelief. "You already took care of the bandits? But how do you know it's the same group that attacked my village?"
Felix, the archer, stepped in, pulling out a small, rolled-up map. "When we raided the bandits' hideout, we found a crude map showing their recent movements and planned raids. One of the marked locations was a village called Valewood. That's your village, right?"
Alexander nodded eagerly. "Yes, that's my village!"
Alexander's heart swelled with hope and relief. "So, my mother and the others... they're safe?"
Kiera, the woman with the spear, nodded. "Yes, they're safe. We rescued all the captives we found and made sure they had enough supplies to return to their homes."
Tears welled up in Alexander's eyes. "I can't believe it... thank you, all of you. You have no idea how much this means to me."
Alistair placed a reassuring hand on Alexander's shoulder. "It's our job, but it's also the right thing to do. We couldn't let those bandits continue terrorizing innocent people."
Felix added, "When we arrived at the hideout, it was clear they were well-prepared for another raid. Their leader had a bounty on his head, and while it was only D-grade, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to take them down and collect the reward."
Alexander's curiosity piqued. "What was the bounty for?"
Roderick grinned. "The leader of the bandits, a man named Garrick, had a reputation for brutality. He had a bounty for multiple crimes: robbery, kidnapping, and murder. The reward wasn't much, but coupled with the commission from the merchant, it made the effort worthwhile."
Elara, the healer, chimed in, "When we stormed their camp, we found Garrick trying to rally his men. The fight was intense, but we managed to overpower them. Garrick tried to flee, but Felix's arrows found their mark."
Felix nodded. "He wasn't getting away. We brought his head as proof to the adventurer's guild. The money from the bounty and the commission will help a lot of people."
Alexander felt a deep sense of gratitude. "You didn't just save my village. You made sure those bandits won't hurt anyone else."
Alistair smiled. "That's the idea. The merchant who hired us mentioned the bandits had been a growing problem in the region. We were glad to put an end to their reign of terror."
Kiera added, "The captives told us that the bandits were coming back from plundering their village when they spotted the merchant's cargo. The bandits had few guards and thought they could easily take it. Their leader ordered two men to return the women captives to their hideout while the rest of them tailed the cargo, planning to strike at night."
Alexander was moved by the details. "So, they were splitting their forces, trying to get as much loot as possible."
"Exactly," Lila said. "But we were able to catch them off-guard and put an end to their schemes."
Elara, ever the caring one, leaned in closer to Alexander. "How are you feeling now? Are you sure you're alright? You've been through so much."
Alexander smiled, his heart lighter than it had been in days. "Thanks to you, I'm feeling much better. Knowing my mother and the others are safe is the best news I could have hoped for."
As Alexander stood up, he felt a bit wobbly, but Roderick and Alistair steadied him. "We should get you back to your village," Alistair said. "Your people will want to see you and know that everything is alright."