Snow crunched softly underfoot as Alexandra peered around the rocky corner, her gaze fixed on the towering entrance ahead. The bandit base loomed like a fortress carved from the mountain itself, its stone walls rough yet imposing, fortified with age and wear. Alexandra's breath formed small puffs in the cold air as she muttered…
"This is more of a fortress, isn't it?"
Tridra, crouched slightly ahead, didn't turn as she replied, "I did say I assumed this was built upon ruins. This place is ancient, and they haven't necessarily kept it intact… but it's still quite massive. Something beyond what bandits are capable of."
The crescent path curved steeply upward, with steps carved long ago into the rock, now dusted with snow. The entrance ahead was framed by thick, tall, weathered walls, with signs of repair scattered inconsistently—a patch of newer stone here, a hastily erected beam there.
Ophelia stood slightly apart from the others, as composed as ever. Her dark cloak, trimmed with silver edges that shimmered faintly in the pale light, shielded her from the biting wind. She gazed at the path ahead, her silver eyes calm, calculating.
Tridra straightened slightly and turned to face Ophelia. The two locked eyes briefly before Ophelia gave a slow nod. Tridra inhaled deeply, her breath misting in the cold air. She closed her eyes for a moment, steadying herself, and when they reopened, her violet gaze shimmered faintly.
Under her leather armor, she shifted and stretched, molding into a rugged, bandit-like appearance. Her already athletic build took on a chiseled, hardened edge. Her face, though subtly altered, retained her shoulder-length black hair and the striking violet eyes that now held a sharper, more cunning gleam. Her green earrings, faintly visible, added a final touch of familiarity beneath her new guise.
The transformation complete, Tridra let out a controlled exhale, rolling her shoulders to adjust to the form. The group watched her without comment, their trust in her abilities unspoken but evident. The path ahead was treacherous, but with Tridra paving the beginning of this raid, they had their foothold in this perilous mission.
Tridra looked up at the castle, her violet eyes scanned the imposing structure. The castle walls stood tall against the snowy backdrop, its grey stone walls weathered. Towers with jagged crenellations loomed high, their silhouettes cutting into the growing darkness. And at its heart was a massive arched gateway, its shadow stretching down to the long staircase that wound precariously down the mountainside.
The long staircase leading to the castle's entrance stretched before her. Tridra ascended slowly, each step crunching lightly against the snow-covered stone. As she climbed, the dark clouds above churned, their heavy forms swelling ominously, the air growing colder with each passing moment.
At the top, two bandits stood guard before the colossal wooden doors. They were unlike the brutish bandits she had encountered before—these two were watchful, their sharp eyes following her every move. Both carried large scimitars, their grips firm as they eyed her down.
Tridra met their scrutiny head-on, her violet eyes flashing briefly once again. The faint shimmer seemed to placate them, and they exchanged a brief glance before nodding. Together, they turned to the doors behind them, their fists rising simultaneously.
Then, seven simultaneous precise knocks echoed through the air.
The massive wooden doors groaned as they swung open, the sound reverberating through the stillness. Beyond the threshold lay the organs of the bandit base, its secrets waiting to be uncovered. Tridra adjusted her posture, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips, and stepped inside.
Inside the fortress, the scene resembled a makeshift town. The top was still exposed to the outside weather but a massive cliff jutted overhead, shielding much of the fortress from the worst of the wind and snow.
The space could only be described as chaotic yet functional.
The central courtyard had been transformed into a bustling hub, with wooden shacks and crude shelters crammed together in uneven rows. Bandits moved about, some sharpening weapons near crackling fires, others hauling supplies to and from a dilapidated market set up in the open. Stalls constructed from scavenged planks displayed everything from stolen jewelry to barrels of ale and sacks of grain. The air carried a mix of smoke, damp earth, and the faint metallic tang of blood.
Along the edges of the fortress, there were the obvious stone walls with various towers allowing easy access to the top of them, and with some of the outside snow flowing over the wall, piles had collected in the corners of the fortress.
The bandits had claimed the fortress as their own, decorating it with banners stitched together from mismatched cloth and trophies from raids—helmets, shields, and flags. Weapons leaned against nearly every surface, from spears propped against walls to swords slung over shoulders. Despite the disarray, there was a sense of hierarchy; larger, sturdier structures were set apart, belonging to leaders or higher-ranking members.
Tridra proceeded ahead, her boots making barely a sound as she slipped through the chaos of the fortress. She headed toward one of the towers connected to the wall, her eyes scanning for anyone who might obstruct her.
When she encountered bandits who looked even slightly suspicious, her gaze softened, her voice smooth and melodic as she wove her charm over them. One by one, they paused, their hostility fading as they found sudden excuses to leave or simply stood frozen, distracted by her words.
Reaching the top of the tower, Tridra crouched low, surveying the wall's narrow walkway. A few guards patrolled it, their footsteps echoing faintly in the cold air. As she walked towards them and sparked up a conversation, with a subtle flick of her fingers and a faint shimmer in her eyes, she planted the suggestion that it was time for a break. Most of the guards yawned or grumbled, but they turned and headed toward the stairwell, leaving the wall nearly empty.
All except one.
As she tried to charm him, she was met with resistance—an invisible wall that slammed against her will. Her breath hitched as a bead of sweat rolled down her cheek. The man, tall and broad-shouldered, fixed her with a sharp gaze and stepped closer. His voice was firm, his tone suspicious. "What are you doing on the wall?"
Tridra's mind raced, but she quickly straightened and offered a nervous laugh. "I think I might have gotten lost," she said, her tone light. She began backing away, careful not to appear too hasty. Her steps quickened when she noticed the man following her, his boots clunking steadily against the stone steps.
Reaching one of the towers inserted into the walls, she turned sharply down the stairwell, her fingers twitching as she called upon her magic. Her form shifted in an instant, skin rippling as she took on the appearance of the bandit leader she had glimpsed earlier in the day. Her demeanor changed as well, her posture now commanding, her eyes sharp and unforgiving.
"Hey! Come back here! Who are you—"
"B-Boss," he stammered, his earlier suspicion crumbling into nervousness as he rounded the curved stair case, only to run into his worst nightmare. "I apologize, but I think somebody has infiltrated our—"
"What are you babbling about?" Tridra snapped, cutting him off with a click of her tongue. Her voice was sharp, filled with impatience. "Did you not hear? I ordered everyone off the wall. I have something important to handle."
The man hesitated, confusion flashing across his face. "Th-Then who will watch—"
Her glare silenced him mid-sentence. "Do you think I'm so incompetent that I can't watch it myself?" she barked, her voice rising. She stepped closer, her intensity making the man visibly flinch. "Get out of my sight. Now."
"Y-Yes, Boss!" The bandit stammered again, bowing his head as he shuffled past her and disappeared down the stairs.
Tridra waited until his footsteps faded before allowing herself to relax. She leaned against the wall for a moment, her breath coming in short bursts as she felt her mana waning.
"Seems his form is a bit too much to handle," she muttered under her breath, clicking her tongue in annoyance.
Straightening herself, she made her way back up the tower and exited out from under the tower's conical roof, supported by its weathered stone pillars, and stepped onto the wall's path. The cold air bit at her skin as she raised her hands high, waving toward the corner where her allies were hidden.
Alexandra spotted Tridra waving her hands from atop the wall and turned toward the Holy Knights behind her. Her voice was steady as she said, "Let's go."
Without hesitation, the group moved out from behind the rocky outcrop, taking a longer, winding route around the base to avoid detection. The snow beneath their boots muffled their steps as they carefully skirted the exposed areas and made their way to a section where they could scale a large rock face and infiltrate the bandit's base by hopping onto the wall.
Ophelia remained behind, her silver eyes steady on Tridra as the shapeshifter sprinted southward along the wall, keeping close to the shadows. Ahead, the Holy Knights were scaling the jagged rock formation that flanked the fortress, their movements deliberate despite the biting wind and snow. Tridra's sharp gaze swept over the wall's edge, identifying a narrow gap where the stone abruptly ended, creating a dangerous separation between the wall and the rock face.
"Jump here!" she hissed, her voice low but urgent as she waved her hand to signal the lead knight.
One by one, the knights leaped across the gap, landing silently on the wall's surface. Tridra darted along the edge, directing each knight with precise gestures to ensure they landed unseen and stayed low, their armor muffled by careful preparation.
Once the last knight had crossed, Tridra turned back toward the rock face. She crouched and leaped, her boots landing on the icy stone. The force of her jump loosened the snow beneath her, and her footing gave way. For a split second, she dangled precariously, her fingers clawing for anything as her body slid. Her heart skipped as her hand found the jagged edge of a rock, her grip firm but strained. Gritting her teeth, she hauled herself up, her muscles burning as she fought against the slick frost.
Breathing hard, she steadied herself before scaling down the face of the wall, her hands and feet finding small grooves and holds. As she descended, the cold wind bit at her face, and loose flakes of snow fell from her movements.
When her boots finally touched solid ground, Tridra didn't stop. She moved quickly, darting around the base of the wall and weaving through the rocky terrain until she reached the crag where Ophelia waited. The woman's silver eyes glimmered faintly in the dim light as Tridra approached.
From beneath her cloak, Tridra pulled out a coiled length of rope, its fibers rough but sturdy. She stopped in front of Ophelia, holding the rope loosely. "Excuse me," she said softly, stepping closer. She began wrapping the rope around Ophelia's wrists carefully, making sure it wouldn't mark her skin, but Ophelia's voice interrupted her.
"Make it tighter," Ophelia voiced, her tone firm. "We need it to be believable."
Tridra nodded and adjusted the knots, ensuring the rope looked secure without actually causing too much discomfort. Once satisfied, she stepped back as Ophelia tested the bindings with a slight tug before walking ahead, her posture composed even with her hands bound in front of her.
Tridra crouched briefly, pulling a small blue vial from her boot. She uncorked it with a quiet pop and downed the contents in one swift motion. Her face twisted at the taste, but she quickly shook it off, her violet eyes glinting faintly as her form shifted once again. Her features sharpened, taking on the rugged appearance of another female bandit she had glimpsed earlier in the compound.
Ophelia, watching her closely, asked, "Ready? Need a bit of a break to recharge more of your mana?"
Tridra straightened, her expression resolute. "We should be good."
Ophelia's brows knit together, and her tone became more insistent. "I need a definitive answer. I do not want this to be screwed up because you failed to calculate your limits."
Tridra, not even realizing it was a problem, stumbled over her words before giving her a definitive answer. "I-I a-apologize. I'm ready. The mana potion took me up to 80%."
'She really is thorough…' Tridra thought to herself.
Ophelia held her gaze for a moment longer, then gave a curt nod. "Then let us get going."
With that, Ophelia began walking ahead, her silver-edged cloak trailing behind her. Tridra followed closely behind, her newly assumed bandit persona seamlessly falling into step, the tension between them dissipating into the cold mountain air.