The morning sun shone faintly through the forest canopy as Reyn and Lirael prepared to depart from the village. Irvin and Adelia stood at the outskirts, seeing them off.
Despite their repeated attempts to convince Reyn to stay behind during the past two days, they had finally given up. The look on Reyn's face had told them all they needed to know—he was determined to go, no matter the risks.
"Please, Lirael," Adelia pleaded, her voice thick with emotion. "Make sure he comes back in one piece. We can't afford to lose him… not like we lost his parents."
Irvin placed a comforting hand on Adelia's shoulder, his expression somber as he nodded in agreement. "He's stubborn, like his father," he said. "But we're putting our trust in you. Reyn's been through enough already."
Lirael shifted her gaze to the couple, her expression unyielding. "I'll bring him back," she replied, though there was a hint of reluctance in her tone. "But I can't guarantee it'll be in one piece."
With that, she turned and walked toward the forest's edge, not bothering to look back. Reyn hesitated for a moment, offering a reassuring nod to Irvin and Adelia before following after her.
He was determined to prove to himself—and to Lirael—that he was capable of more than just surviving.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, Reyn took the lead, guiding Lirael along the narrow trails and winding paths that he had memorized from his previous encounter with the bandits.
Reyn tried to make conversation as they walked, hoping to get to know Lirael better. "So, where are you from?" he asked, his voice tentative.
"Nowhere you'd know," Lirael replied curtly, her eyes focused straight ahead.
He sighed, trying again. "How long have you been doing… this?" he gestured vaguely toward the sword sheathed at her side.
"Long enough," she answered without glancing at him.
Frustrated by her unyielding demeanor, Reyn tried one last question. "How'd you find the village?"
Lirael's reply was as flat and uninterested as her expression. "Through the forest."
Reyn felt a flash of irritation. Her dismissive tone made him want to argue, but he held his tongue. He'd seen her training just the day before—her movements were swift and deadly, her strikes precise.
It was obvious she was far more experienced than he was, and challenging her would only make him look foolish. Instead, he let the conversation drop and focused on the path ahead.
After what felt like hours of walking, Lirael was the one to finally break the silence. "Are you sure you know where you're going?" she asked, her voice edged with impatience.
"Just be patient," Reyn replied, a bit defensively. "We're almost there."
Minutes later, they arrived at the opening where the bandits' hideout lay. The familiar sight of the clearing sent a chill through Reyn as memories of his last encounter rushed back. The cluster of makeshift buildings at the center remained unchanged.
Before Reyn could even react, Lirael dashed forward, heading straight for the wooden structures. Her movements were swift, her eyes darting around as she scanned for any sign of the bandits. "Wait, Lirael—" Reyn called after her, but she was already far ahead, moving with the confidence of someone accustomed to danger.
Reyn broke into a run to keep up, but his pace was no match for hers. Even as a Null, he struggled to match the speed and agility she displayed effortlessly.
By the time he caught up to her, Lirael had already searched through five of the twelve buildings, her expression growing more frustrated with each empty room she found.
As she stormed back toward him, her frustration clear, she stepped onto a patch of grass that gave way beneath her boot with a metallic click. Reyn's eyes widened as he recognized the telltale signs of a trap—his heart leaping into his throat. "Lirael, watch out!" he yelled, his legs moving before his mind could fully register the danger.
He lunged toward her, throwing himself against her with enough force to knock her clear. As they tumbled to the ground, a metal cage sprang up from the earth, encasing him within its iron bars. Reyn's heart pounded as he gripped the bars, realizing too late that he'd been the one caught.
"What in the—" Lirael began, turning toward him with a scowl. "Why did you push me?" She froze when she saw the cage wrapped tightly around him, her eyes narrowing as she quickly pieced together what had happened.
Reyn's voice was strained but steady. "You… have a better chance against them than I do," he said. "It was the most logical thing to do."
Before Lirael could respond, figures emerged from the shadows of the buildings, surrounding the cage. The bandits had been waiting in ambush, their grins wide and lecherous as they sized up Lirael.
"Look who's back," one of the bandits sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. "Brought another of lady friend, did you, boy?"
Another added. "I knew he'd come back for his lover even after denying her."
The one who interrogated Reyn the last time sized Lirael up, her figure was beautiful and he wanted her to himself. "Shame she'll be joining you in our little cage."
Lirael's hand tightened around the hilt of her sword as the bandits continued to speak lewdly, their intentions unmistakably vile. Her jaw clenched with fury. Saved by a Null, and now taunted by these vermin? It was more than her pride could bear.
Without a word, Lirael's sword left its scabbard, and she flew into motion. The blade danced in her hands, a blur of steel that flashed through the air.
...ssshlick!
The first bandit's eyes widened in shock as her sword sliced effortlessly through his chest. She moved like a storm, cutting down anyone who dared come close. Her strikes were swift and brutal, each one precise enough to end a life in a heartbeat.
Reyn could only watch from his cage, his breath held in anticipation as Lirael tore through the group. Now, he understood why they called her the Blade Witch. In less than two minutes, the clearing was littered with the bodies of two dozen bandits, blood soaking into the ground beneath them.
Panting slightly, Lirael sheathed her sword and approached the cage where Reyn was trapped. She inspected the iron bars and frowned. There was something off about the metal—it emitted a faint aura that disrupted the flow of Mana. She recognized it immediately as a material used to restrict magic.
"It's made to block Mana," she muttered. "If I'd been caught in it, I'd be as helpless as you." Her voice softened as she rummaged through the pockets of the slain bandits until she found the key. With a swift turn, the cage door swung open, and Reyn stumbled out.
"Thank you," Lirael said, the words sounding almost reluctant as they left her lips. "You saved me back there."
Reyn blinked, surprised by her gratitude. "It was nothing," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just did what made sense."
A sudden chime echoed in his mind.
Ding!
[You have forged a Tier 1 Bond with Lirael, the Blade Witch!]
[You have received the abilities: Increased Agility and Basic Sword Conjuring!]