Astrid cautiously approached a significant obstacle that lay in their path. His hooves made barely any sound as they moved into the fighting area, alert and wary. The scene was grim: hostile, rough-looking bandits surrounded a small group of armored soldiers, who were struggling to hold their position. Standing beside the soldiers were a well-dressed girl and boy, and a woman who appeared to be their nanny or maid. The tension was palpable.
Icarius used his light magic to get a closer view of the situation. There was a girl who had blonde hair that shimmered with golden hues and striking blue eyes. Beside her was a boy with much darker yellow hair and similarly blue eyes. The maid, Esmeralda, had green hair and piercing emerald eyes. They were visibly terrified, clinging to the soldiers who were trying to protect them.
Astrid's sharp eyes took everything in. "The soldiers are trained," he noted quietly. "They might have a chance, even outnumbered."
Icarius nodded, eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. "Yeah, it's possible."
At first, it seemed like the soldiers were turning the tide in their favor. They began closing in on the remaining bandits, their movements more coordinated and determined. But just when it seemed victory was near, something unexpected happened. As the soldiers swung their swords for the final blows, their blades shattered like fragile glass. Icarius's heart dropped as he quickly scanned the area.
On a nearby hill, a figure stood, watching. Icarius zoomed in using his enhanced vision, and his breath caught when he saw the red glow in the man's eyes. "A mage," he muttered, anxiety creeping into his voice.
The mage, with a simple wave of his hand, unleashed a surge of fire magic. The soldiers didn't stand a chance—they were turned to ashes in an instant. Icarius gritted his teeth, feeling a surge of anger and helplessness. "I can't just stand here and watch this happen."
Astrid's concern was clear in his tone. "Be careful, Icarius. That mage is dangerous."
"I know," Icarius replied, steeling himself. Without another word, he activated his invisibility spell and moved closer, blending seamlessly with the environment.
He crept closer, each step calculated. The bandits were now gathering the captives—the girl, the maid, and the boy—binding them with rough ropes. The mage, seemingly satisfied, sat down, as if the battle were over. But Icarius knew better. He couldn't let this end like this.
His heart pounded as he floated just above the ground, powered by his gravitational magic. He focused on channeling dark essence into his right hand, feeling the energy pulse through him. With swift precision, he approached the bandits, holding the maid and the girl. With a quick touch, the dark essence spread like a shadow across their bodies. Within seconds, the bandits and even the mage started to wither away, their bodies crumbling into nothing more than ash.
Icarius quickly retreated, becoming visible once more as he rejoined Astrid on the hill. The once formidable bandits had been reduced to dust, leaving only silence behind.
He took a deep breath and urged Astrid forward toward the trembling survivors. Icarius played the role of a concerned passerby as he hurried to untie the boy. "What happened here?" he asked, feigning shock and concern as he helped the maid regain her footing.
The maid's voice was shaky, and her eyes were still wide with terror. "Th-They attacked us out of nowhere… Our soldiers… they're all gone!" Her voice cracked as she struggled to process what had happened.
Icarius frowned sympathetically, pretending to be shocked. "All of them? That's terrible! Where do you live? I can take you back."
The girl, who had been silent until now, spoke up, her voice a mix of fear and resolve. "We're from Turpilia, the Royal Capital."
Icarius nodded firmly. "Alright, get in the carriage. I'll take you home." His voice was calm and reassuring, though his mind was already calculating the next steps. Turpilia was no simple city, and taking these people there meant stepping into a world of challenges.