"Yes! We help escort all kinds of nobles!" A woman with blond locks and golden eyes cheerfully announced. "Would you like to join? You seem to be quite the capable soldier yourself."
"U-Ummmm…"
As I pulled my sword from out the wolf's head, I took a few steps back from the troop of eight knights who had found me hunting wolves in the forest just beside the fallen fortress. I was completing a task for the nearby adventurer guild residing within a nearby town.
It seemed as if they were escorting somebody of high stature seeing as how grand the carriage was. Possibly a Baron? Maybe even a Duke? It was hard to pinpoint, but as soon as an old man with short gray hair and a thick bushy beard stepped out, I immediately took a knee.
"No need," He gently smiled, walking over and raising me with his own hands. "You seem to have been through a lot. Are you an adventurer?"
"Yes, your grace."
It was the Duke of The Sunshine Lion Dukedom.
"Do you enjoy completing menial tasks?"
I hesitated with my words before uttering, "N-No, your grace."
"Why not join these knights on an escort mission? We aren't too far from my destination. I doubt you would get in the way with your current skills."
"W-Why are you giving me such a chance? I'm a nameless fallen knight. To become a knight of their stature I would need to graduate from the Holy Knight Academy."
"Because I see you are strong," He continued to smile.
His words cut through me like a knife. Tears leaked from my eyes for the first time since I had finished my adolescence.
"Th-Thank you."
…
Ophelia's instincts flared to life as she sensed movement outside the tent, snapping her awake from her dream. Swiftly and silently, she reached for the dagger lying beside her cot, her fingers curling around its hilt as she brought it close.
The curtain rustled slightly before Alexandra stepped in, her golden eyes bright with a hint of admiration as she took in the elegant, luxurious interior of Ophelia's quarters. Detailed tapestries hung from the tent's inner walls, their intricate patterns illuminated by the warm glow of a small lantern set near the cot. Plush, dark cushions adorned the space, and a soft, regal-looking fur blanket lay draped over Ophelia's cot.
Alexandra froze momentarily, her gaze snapping to Ophelia, who sat poised, the dagger now lowered but still in hand. Ophelia's stern expression softened only slightly upon recognizing the knight, but she held her posture, her grip firm on the dagger's hilt.
"M-My Lady, I apologize if I scared you. I didn't happen to wake you, did I?"
"Sigh… you did… but it's fine. What is wrong?"
"I-I apologize deeply. I just wanted to check up on you as you seemed pretty mad earlier. You didn't even finish your meal," Alexandra stuttered, revealing her half-finished dinner plate from behind her back.
"I'm fine. Leave the dinner plate beside me and leave," Ophelia responded, looking down at her arm which was rimmed with goosebumps. 'Seems I was not wrong,' She then thought to herself.
"My Lady, I just wanted to apologize again. We were aware of the fact that you were going to be crowned a Duchess, but we still fooled around on our trip here. I assure you we will make no mistakes from here on out."
Ophelia's left eye twitched before she turned her head towards one of the tapestries hanging on the tent wall. She then muttered, "Then start by getting rid of the pests."
"Hm-?"
The moment Ophelia's words registered, Alexandra's demeanor transformed her presence instantly turning into a chilling one. Gone was the warm, apologetic woman, and instead, in her place stood a fierce, seasoned warrior. Her golden eyes narrowed, their softness replaced by an intense, icy focus, and the gentle warmth that had softened her features melted away, leaving behind a gaze as sharp as the blade at her hip.
Her posture straightened as she set Ophelia's dinner plate on the ground beside her. From that same kneeling position, Alexandra drew her sword in a fluid motion, the polished steel catching the faint light within the tent.
In a single, powerful thrust, she drove her blade through the tapestry Ophelia had glanced at, tearing through the intricate fabric with a precision born from years of combat. The sword sliced cleanly, and as Alexandra drew it back, the unmistakable sheen of fresh blood coated the edge, dripping onto the ground in crimson streams.
Outside, the night erupted into chaos as shouts filled the air. The knights, recognizing the unmistakable signs of an ambush, scrambled to arms. "Ambush! Protect the Lady!" voices echoed through the camp.
Alexandra remained unfazed by the commotion, her stance unwavering as she pivoted to position herself directly in front of Ophelia. She raised her bloodied sword, her voice ringing with authority and unshakable resolve as she called back, "I'll personally defend the Lady! Protect the perimeter!"
"Do you know how many there are?" Ophelia asked.
"My Lady, please don't distract me so I can protect you to the best…" She turned around, pivoting around Ophelia and blocking a throwing knife that pierced through the tent's cloth with her sword. "... of my capabilities!" She finished.
Ophelia's eyes glinted with a calm, deadly awareness as she ignored Alexandra's warning and began to speak. "Two at sixty degrees northeast, one directly at one hundred eighty degrees south, and three more circling at forty-five and ninety degrees southwest," she stated, her gaze unwavering as she watched Alexandra's reaction.
Alexandra hesitated for a split second, caught off guard by Ophelia's words. But there was no time to question. Trusting Ophelia's words, she shifted into a stance of complete focus, her breathing settling as her instincts took over. A faint, golden glow began to shimmer around her, its shape morphing into the fierce outline of a lion, majestic and regal, casting an ethereal light throughout the tent.
Silently, the lion-shaped aura splintered, transforming into lances of pure golden energy that shot out, each one striking through the tent's fabric with deadly accuracy. Outside, faint cries of pain were cut short as the lances found their targets precisely where Ophelia had directed.
The golden spears retracted as quickly as they had struck, melding back into Alexandra's aura as she maintained her protective stance before Ophelia, breathing deeply to steady herself. She shot Ophelia a look of respect, the golden energy gradually fading from her form as silence fell over the camp, her fierce expression softening slightly.
"H-How did you-"
"Don't get distracted. There is one more. Right above us," Ophelia ordered once more, and in a swift arc, Alexandra swung upwards, cutting an assassin in half, leaving the two sides to fall on either side of her.
"You…" Alexandra stared at Ophelia with a hint of fear before the sound of heavy footsteps approached the tent.
The knights burst into the tent, weapons drawn, their faces clearly showing concern. Their eyes scanned the dimly lit space, falling first upon Ophelia, who sat calmly amidst the aftermath, and then on Alexandra, standing firm, her sword still glistening with blood. The knights, momentarily stunned, exchanged wary glances before one of them stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"My Lady, are you unharmed?" he asked, his words laced with anxiety.
Ophelia nodded, her expression as poised as ever. "I am well," she replied.
She gestured subtly to Alexandra, who remained positioned protectively by her side, her lion-like aura fading into a mere glimmer around her form. The knights followed Ophelia's gaze and noticed the blood-stained tapestry, the crimson stains splattered on the ground, and the fallen halves of the assassin who had met his end from Alexandra's blade.
One of the knights inhaled sharply, piecing together what had transpired. "It appears... Alexandra has already dealt with the other threats." The disbelief in his voice was unmistakable as he took in the silent carnage surrounding them.
After a moment of stunned silence, one of the knights managed, "Thank God Alexandra was here…"
The knights gathered around Ophelia, forming a swift escort as they led her from the tent and out into the moonlit camp. Despite the recent ambush, their movements were as professional and precise as ever, encircling her protectively as they moved towards the carriage.
Reaching the carriage, two knights gently helped the horses, who snorted and stirred, their muscles taut from the recent disturbance but otherwise unharmed thanks to the swift action of the band of knights. A few reassured pats to their necks calmed the horses, their bodies relaxing as they recognized the familiar hands of their handlers.
Wasting no time, the knights reattached the horses to the carriage. The harnesses clicked and tightened, the carriage's sturdy frame shifting slightly as it was prepared for departure. The knights worked seamlessly, one overseeing the reins while another checked the wheels, ensuring nothing had been tampered with during the ambush.
Once Ophelia was safely seated within the carriage, a handful of knights broke off to examine the remains of the attackers. They moved quietly from body to body, their faces grim as they observed the lifeless forms scattered around the campsite.
Eighteen in total. Each assassin lay draped in identical black cloaks, their faces scarred so as to not give any hint of their identity, most likely to protect the person who hired them. However, what was a bit telling of their identity were the poor quality cloaks and clothing these assassins had been wearing.
One knight crouched beside a body, carefully lifting the cloak and inspecting the attire beneath. But there was nothing — no emblem, insignia, or mark that could indicate any allegiance or origin. He muttered under his breath, casting a wary glance at his comrades, who exchanged similarly frustrated looks.
"Nothing to go on. Whoever sent them made sure they left no trace… but I guess it isn't some big noble, judging from the cloth," one murmured. The knights looked around at each other, understanding the implications: a threat this organized, yet carefully concealed, meant they were dealing with someone meticulous and well-resourced.
"Do not worry. These were just a few bandits," They suddenly heard Ophelia's voice from inside the carriage.
The knights quickly shuffled back to the carriage after extinguishing the fire pit and opened the door.
"Care to explain why you think that?" Captain Edwin asked.
"Have you heard of the Shadow Bandit Troupe?" Everybody looked at each other, confused, so, Ophelia swiftly continued with, "I guess not. They are not some widely known bandits, so it makes sense you all do not know. However, they reside within this forest and are quite notorious for terrorizing the local villages."
"And you believe it's them?" Alexandra proposed.
"I don't believe it's them, I know it is them. For now, they will not mess with us, but it is still best to get going. Monsters and beasts will smell the blood and go feral, so pack up quickly, and let us get moving again."
"Yes, My Lady. Thank you for the insight," Captain Edwin bowed his head before gently closing the carriage door.