A bright morning welcomed Lucas, Finn, and Evelyn as they prepared to embark on their journey to the city of Ardenia, a few days' journey from the village of Veiron. The footpath connecting the two places stretched through dense forests and open fields, with several small hills adding to the beauty of the scenery.Finn yawned widely, raising his hand in the air as he stretched."Ah, a morning adventure! There's nothing better than fresh air and a long road," he said enthusiastically, though his eyes still looked sleepy.Evelyn, who was walking confidently in front, snorted."Adventure? You're more like a lazy bum just looking for fun. If you want to help, at least do something useful."Finn chuckled, unaffected by Evelyn's comment."Hey, I'm helping in my own way. I can be your best scout here, you know?"Lucas smiled as he listened to their banter."They're like oil and water," he thought. However, he knew they had to work together to reach their goal safely.As they continued walking, Lucas thought about the lucky draw he had earlier with the Cloak of Shadows. He was curious when the cloak would be useful, but he kept it as a surprise for the right moment.The three of them continued their journey along the forest path, which was full of thick leaves. Evelyn, who seemed more serious than the others, stopped for a moment and observed her surroundings with sharp eyes."We need to be careful here. This path is often used by bandits and small monsters who like to attack merchants and adventurers," she said.Lucas nodded in agreement. "Yes, we can't let our guard down. The sooner we get to Ardenia, the better.""Alright, Buddy," added Finn, glancing suspiciously at the surrounding forest."But if any bandits show up, make sure you're in front, Lucas. I'll support from behind... as usual."Evelyn glanced at Lucas with a half-smile."Oh? You're relying on him to protect you? Interesting. Make sure you don't get in his way when he's actually fighting, Finn.""Trust me," Finn replied, winking. "I'm an expert at survival. And running."They walked for a few hours without incident. However, in the middle of the forest, they arrived at an area that seemed darker and quieter. The air around them became colder, and the sound of the usually bustling birds disappeared, replaced by the wind whistling through the trees.Lucas felt a bad feeling. "This doesn't look good," he said calmly. "Stay alert."Evelyn nodded, her hand already reaching for her magic wand from her waist. Finn also looked more serious, though his casual smile was still there."Hey, I smell something fishy in the air," Finn said, sniffing. "Maybe we should..."Before Finn could finish his sentence, a loud noise from the bushes made all three of them on guard. A big man in a ragged robe emerged from behind the trees, followed by four other men, each carrying a sword or mace. They were bandits with rough faces and evil-looking eyes."Hey, look who we've found here!" one of the bandits shouted in a hoarse voice. "Looks like we can have a little fun this morning, huh, guys?"Lucas raised his sword, ready to fight. "You better leave if you don't want to get hurt," he said firmly.The bandit who seemed to be their leader, a big man with a scar on his cheek, laughed loudly."Oh, look, this kid is threatening us! Listen, kid, this is our territory. So, if you don't want to get hurt, hand over all your stuff now."Evelyn raised her staff, and magical energy began to gather at its tip. "You think you can threaten us? Try it."Finn, on the other hand, scanned his surroundings, looking for any gaps or opportunities to act quickly."Okay, Buddy, looks like we're gonna have to do this the old-fashioned way," he muttered softly, his voice serious.Without further warning, the bandits attacked. Lucas charged forward, intercepting one of the bandits with a powerful swing of his sword. His blade met the bandit's sword, sparks flying from the clash of metal. Lucas pressed with all his might, causing the bandit to lose his balance.On the other side, Evelyn deftly swung her staff, chanting a magic spell. "Fireball!" A fireball shot from the tip of her staff and hit one of the bandits, exploding and sending him crashing to the ground with a cry of pain. However, two other bandits approached quickly, trying to attack Evelyn from the sides."Not so fast!" Finn shouted.He threw several small knives with a quick flick of his wrist, causing the bandits to retreat."You didn't think I'd just stand here, did you?"Lucas saw an opportunity when one of the bandits tried to attack Evelyn again. He activated Blazing Slash and swung his sword quickly. A wave of flames lit up the air and struck the bandit who was trying to attack from behind. The bandit was knocked back, on fire, and fell with a cry of pain.However, the bandit leader did not retreat. He attacked with a large mace that he swung with full force. Lucas tried to dodge, but the mace nearly hit his shoulder. He felt the wind generated by the blow and realized this was no ordinary enemy."Finn! Evelyn! Focus on their leader!" Lucas shouted as he jumped back, preparing himself for a more intense fight.Evelyn nodded and raised her staff again, while Finn moved among the shadows of the trees, looking for the best position to attack from the side."Don't worry, Buddy, I'm here!" Finn exclaimed as he got ready.Lucas knew he had to act fast. Quickly, he opened the System Window in his mind and chose to use the Cloak of Shadows. Instantly, his body was shrouded in a dark mist, and he became invisible. The bandit leader was confused, his eyes searching for Lucas who had suddenly disappeared.Evelyn saw this as an opportunity. "Water Prison!" she shouted, and a burst of water emerged from her staff, encasing the bandit leader in a bubble of water that restrained his movement. The bandit shouted in anger, trying to break free from the water prison.Seeing the bandit leader vulnerable, Finn moved quickly. He jumped from behind a tree, ran towards the trapped bandit, and with one swift motion, he kicked the mace the bandit was holding out of his hand.Lucas used this opportunity to reappear behind the immobilized bandit. With one quick slash of his sword, he struck the back of the bandit's knee, causing him to fall to his knees. As the bandit gasped for breath, Lucas pointed the tip of his sword at the man's neck."Enough," he said in a low but firm voice. "If you want to stay alive, leave this place now."The bandit leader gasped, his eyes filled with hatred. However, he knew he was defeated. He nodded slowly, and Lucas lowered his sword. "Go," he commanded.The other bandits, seeing their leader surrender, immediately fled into the forest. Finn laughed and patted Lucas on the shoulder. "You really know how to give orders, Buddy."Evelyn smiled thinly. "I must admit, that was pretty impressive. Maybe you're not as bad as I thought."Lucas chuckled. "Thanks for the compliment, even if it sounds a bit forced."