The road has been slow and boring, some few bandit encounters here and there made the road more bearable, but aside from that, it really was just a simple road. As they slowly approached the Remora Forest, a forest that past it lay the largest road in the country, the Royal Path, which connects directly to Aleza, they noticed that the forest was quieter than normal.
Ingvald: Hmm, this silence can only really mean two things, one, there is some sort of predator here, or two, bandits. Looking on the trees here, seeing as there are some simple carvings on it, probably bandits.
Ingvald signals the driver to stop, and he steps out of the carriage.
Ingvald: I'll go into the forest to check out this, you two stay here, okay? Gesalt, don't follow me, if it's bandits, I'll probably have to kill them, and I don't want you to see that, you're too young.
Gesalt reluctantly nodded, he really wanted to step out and see how Ingvald fought, but he knew that it's too dangerous, he might be good at magic for his age, but he's not at the level where he can just fight bandits, right now, he remained in the carriage, the driver decided to use this to take a break, and started to eat some bread to pass the time as Ingvald walked towards the woods.
The forest was dark and foreboding, the air was tense, and it was clear that this was filled with danger. Suddenly, an axe flies directly at Ingvald, of course, that isn't really an issue, and Ingvald catches the axe and throws it back from where it came from.
From the bushes come 4 bandits, all armed with different weaponry.
Bandit 1: You're dead, scum!
Ingvald used his lightning buff spell he had used the last time, and quickly dispatched the bandits, leaving only one alive, as he didn't hold back anymore. Ingvald held the man by the neck and spoke.
Ingvald: You guys have a camp here, take me to your camp.
The man was frightened beyond belief, and nodded vigorously, he pointed towards the camp, and Ingvald simply threw him in that direction, breaking some trees, and also killing that man. He walked in that direction for a minute. and he reached the camp pretty quick.
*Wow, these guys are idiots, they really made this camp right next to the road? Well, this will be easy.*
The camp had tall wooden spikes as walls, and the gate was a pulley system where you needed to grab ropes to lift the gate up, that didn't mean much to Ingvald though as he simply just jumped over. All the bandits looked directly at him, as if they are seeing a ghost, the bandit leader, a man with the most armor and muscle size out of them all, stepped forward.
The Bandit Leader: Who are you, dumbass? I've yet to see someone who looks so weak decide to jump over.
Ingvald: Well, since I'm bored, I might as well introduce myself, my name is Ingvald Ragnar, one of the 5 Sensers, also known as Lightning Personified, you're all about to feel how it is to be struck by lightning.
Before the Bandit Leader could comment, Ingvald held his hand up, and shot lightning to the sky, the lightning shot up, and violently shot back down, hitting the camp and demolishing it in one hit, also killing the bandits in one fell swoop, Ingvald was of course, not affected, he simply checked the Bandits for pulses and for anything that might be useful, and upon confirming that they are neither alive, or own something of worth, he left and went back to the carriage. Gesalt simply leaned on the carriage, waiting and playing with some wind magic to make some leaves fly around to pass the time.
Ingvald reached the carriage.
Ingvald: I'm back, took care of the bandits, we are safe to continue.
Gesalt: Hey, did you hear that loud noise earlier? What was that about?
Ingvald: Oh, that was just one of my spells, I just did a lightning rain to destroy the camp in one move so I don't need to waste time, c'mon, let's get on the road, we still have a week. I'll tell you what I did as we ride.
Ingvald and Gesalt entered the carriage, and the driver finished eating his bread as he started to move. On the road, Ingvald explained to Gesalt what he did, and he told Gesalt about the spell, though he only said the aftermath of the spell, not how to actually use it.
*This dude, he always dodges the question on HOW the spell works, why? Screw it, I'm asking that.*
Gesalt: Mr. Ragnar, I wonder, why do you not say how you did the spell, and only what happens after?
Ingvald, a bit surprised by the question, responds: Well, because these spells aren't in any public Grimoires, they are spells that I made by myself, and I don't want to pass them on just yet, so I usually do my best to avoid telling people how I did the spell, sorry, but hey, maybe one day, if I want to pass on my magic, I'll show you how to do them, as it stands right now though, don't expect me to give you much, sorry.
Gesalt sighed. *Of course, I should have thought of that, it makes sense after all, he did already say to not tell our spells to other mages, if the magic he uses is all made by him, obviously he won't tell.*
Gesalt in the end remained silent, and let it go, deciding that it's a waste of time trying to talk about it. They rode through the forest, seeing the aftermath of the fight, multiple trees are knocked around, and Gesalt is pretty sure he saw one of the bodies charred up, but it could have been just one of the trees burning, he wasn't exactly sure, but he wasn't going to stop to check it out either.
As soon as they passed through the forest, they could see the large and organized stone road in the distance, leading directly to the capital, it's still one week of riding, but at least the week won't be a bumpy road, and there are villages and towns on this road too, meaning that they can stop for some food or water if they want, no more eating provisions.
They joined the Royal Path, and went towards the Capital.