The next day at the market had been fruitful, with Erwin and Xavier selling nearly all their trinkets. They had not only earned enough to stock up on supplies but had also enjoyed a rare day of peace in Foosha Village. But as the afternoon drew on, Erwin's instinct warned him that not everything was as calm as it seemed. He had noticed, several times throughout the day, the same group of rough-looking men loitering near the edge of the marketplace, casting sidelong glances at him and Xavier. Their movements were too intentional, their focus too steady. Erwin knew that those were the signs of people marking him as a target.
As the evening approached and the market began to wind down, the men finally disappeared, blending into the shadows beyond the marketplace. Erwin's eyes followed them as long as he could. It was clear to him that these men weren't merely curious townsfolk; they were scouting him and Xavier, likely assessing what valuables they carried and considering a plan to strike. Erwin suspected that it wouldn't take them long to report back to their leader and make a move.
"Xavier," Erwin said as they packed up the remaining trinkets. "Stay close tonight. I have a feeling we'll have some unwelcome visitors soon enough."
Xavier looked up, sensing the tension in Erwin's tone. He gave a small nod, his eyes flicking back to the emptying market as if he, too, could feel the change in the air. Erwin knew Xavier's instincts were still developing, but he could tell the boy understood the importance of vigilance. Erwin gave him a reassuring smile.
"We'll be fine," Erwin said, clapping Xavier on the shoulder. "Just stick with me, and tomorrow, we'll get back to the ship without any trouble."
The two returned to their lodging for the night, keeping a low profile and staying watchful. Erwin was alert, listening to every creak and footstep as they prepared to rest, half-expecting an attack even in the dead of night. But the hours passed quietly, and when morning arrived, it seemed as if the tension from the previous day had dissipated. Still, Erwin's guard remained up.
They awoke early to begin loading their supplies onto the ship. Xavier was eager to help, filling small crates with food and fresh water while Erwin stowed away their earnings and other necessities. They worked efficiently, with Xavier carrying what he could while Erwin managed the heavier items.
As they made their way down the path to the port, Erwin's senses remained on high alert, scanning for any sign of the men from yesterday. He didn't have to look far. Blocking the entrance to the dock was a group of men, their faces shadowed under the early morning light, each one carrying a rough, hardened expression. Erwin counted ten of them, all looking poised to block their path and leave no room for escape.
Standing at the front of the group was a man dressed in a dark, threadbare coat, a wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over his scarred face. His stance was confident, exuding an air of arrogance that instantly put Erwin on guard. The man looked them over, sneering slightly before stepping forward, arms crossed.
"You two had a good day at the market, I hear," the man said, his voice dripping with smugness. "Name's Jammy. I run things around here—at least when it comes to people like you passing through." He looked over Erwin and Xavier with a sneer, clearly sizing them up. "Hand over your earnings, and we won't have a problem."
Xavier stiffened beside Erwin, his fists clenching instinctively. Erwin placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, keeping him steady. He gave Xavier a calm look, his gaze steady and reassuring.
"Xavier," Erwin said quietly. "Keep your distance away from me. I'll handle this."
Xavier hesitated, looking between Erwin and the group of men blocking their way. Though he was reluctant, he nodded and began moving back. Erwin then turned his full attention back to Jammy and his men.
"Look," Erwin said, his tone even and calm, "we're just travelers passing through. We haven't caused any trouble here, and we don't plan to. You don't want to make this any harder than it needs to be."
Jammy laughed, a mocking sound that echoed across the empty dock. "Just travelers, huh? A couple of 'harmless travelers' who show up with enough valuables to catch my men's attention? I don't think so." He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "You can do this the easy way or the hard way, but either way, you're giving us what we want."
Erwin's gaze remained steady, his face expressionless. He didn't move, didn't even tense, but something about his posture shifted, a barely perceptible change that caused a flicker of uncertainty to cross Jammy's face.
"I told you, we don't want trouble," Erwin said, his voice dropping to a tone of quiet warning. "But if you insist, I'm more than capable of giving it to you."
Jammy's smirk faltered, replaced by a scowl. He barked a command, and his men began to fan out, each one positioning himself to surround Erwin. They closed in, forming a rough circle, blocking any escape route, and brandishing clubs and crude knives.
One of Jammy's men lunged forward, brandishing a club aimed at Erwin's head. Erwin sidestepped smoothly, grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it just enough to force him to drop the weapon. Before the man could react, Erwin struck him in the chest with a quick jab, sending him sprawling to the ground, gasping for breath.
Another man came at him from behind, but Erwin ducked, letting the man's swing go wide. With a sharp kick to the back of the knees, Erwin sent him stumbling forward, crashing into two of his companions.
The remaining men hesitated, glancing at each other with newfound wariness. Jammy, realizing his men were faltering, snarled and shouted at them to keep going. "Don't just stand there! Get him!"
With a reluctant battle cry, the remaining bandits rushed forward. Erwin met them head-on, his movements quick and precise, each punch and kick landing exactly where he intended. He didn't need to use his full strength, choosing instead to incapacitate rather than kill. He parried each attack with fluid, practiced motions, moving through the group seamlessly and leaving the bandits stumbling and disoriented.
Xavier, watching from away, could hardly believe his eyes. Erwin moved like a force of nature, his were movements sharp. It was as if he was dancing through the attacks, his calm demeanor completely at odds with the chaos surrounding him.
As the last of the bandits lay groaning on the ground, Jammy stumbled backward, his once-confident expression now twisted with fear. He looked around at his fallen men, his bravado crumbling in the face of Erwin's calm, unyielding gaze.
"Now," Erwin said, his voice low and commanding, "I suggest you and your men leave and don't come back."
Jammy stammered, searching for words, but one look at Erwin's cold stare was enough to break his resolve. He scrambled to his feet, mumbling a string of curses as he beckoned to his remaining men, who stumbled away, limping and groaning.
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