As the sun dipped lower, casting warm hues across the village, parents began to arrive, each one warmly embracing their children and murmuring their thanks to Ophelia and Alexandra. A father, his fur dark and brindled, gave a slight bow. "Thank you, Lady Ophelia, for spending time with them. It's not every day they get to play with someone of such grace."
"Yes, thank you," a mother echoed, holding her young daughter's hand as she looked between the two women with an appreciative smile. "They'll remember today for a long time, I'm sure."
Ophelia inclined her head in a brief nod, her expression returning to its usual reserve, though a subtle warmth softened her gaze. "It was… a pleasure," she replied, her voice carrying a gentler tone than usual. Alexandra, smiling brightly beside her, gave a friendly wave to the families as they departed, the children waving enthusiastically back until they disappeared down the path.
Once the last of them left, Ophelia turned, her posture resuming its elegance as she began to walk back toward the carriage waiting at the edge of the village. Alexandra followed a few steps behind, her eyes lingering fondly on Ophelia's form as they made their way past the familiar stretch of the village, now quiet as evening settled in.
"If I was a noble right now, you would have been imprisoned for staring at my behind, Alex."
Alexandra's cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly caught up, falling into stride beside Ophelia. She glanced sideways at her, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Oh, surely you'd grant me an exception, My Lady. The sight of you in tight leather pants is something only the most privileged will get to see after your inauguration as a Duchess," she teased, her voice laced with a playful innocence. "In fact, I was only making sure no stray paper planes dared assault your person."
Ophelia's lips pressed into a thin line, though her eyes softened as she looked at Alexandra. "Consider yourself fortunate that I am feeling lenient today."
The two continued in silence for a few paces as they saw the village settling down for the night. As they neared the outskirts, the chatter of villagers softened, replaced by the distant rustle of trees in the fading light. The autumn chill grew sharper, and Alexandra noticed Ophelia's body slightly tense due to her lack of warm clothes.
"Did you enjoy yourself, My Lady?" Alexandra asked her tone more subdued now. She then proceeded to take the cape off the back of her chest plate and wrapped it around Ophelia.
Ophelia tightened the cape around herself, and tilted her head slightly, not meeting Alexandra's gaze. "It was… alright," she replied, but Alexandra didn't miss the subtle warmth in her voice.
"Of course," Alexandra nodded, hiding a small smile. "And the children certainly seemed to benefit from your expertise in aerodynamics."
Ophelia sighed, though a faint amusement tugged at the corner of her lips. "Their enthusiasm was tolerable."
They walked a bit farther, until the carriage came into view, the horses stamping lightly as the driver waited by the reins. Ophelia paused, casting a final glance back at the village, now dappled in the evening's soft hues.
As they reached the carriage, Alexandra opened the door for her, bowing in an exaggerated manner. "After you, Lady Ophelia."
"It seems you want another look. Unfortunately, the cape you gave me is quite long," Ophelia playfully smirked.
Alexandra chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she straightened up from her exaggerated bow. "Ah, My Lady, true elegance cannot be hidden, even behind a long cape." She gave Ophelia an appreciative look. "But I'd like to think that being by your side in such attire is already a privilege that no view could surpass."
Ophelia arched an eyebrow, a sly smirk tugging at her lips. "How fortunate you must feel, then," she murmured, settling into the carriage with a graceful sweep of her hand, letting the fabric of the cape fall around her.
However just as Alexandra was about to climb into the carriage, Ophelia placed a hand on her chest, preventing her from coming in.
"I want half the knights, including you, to stay here in this village. Stay on guard."
"As you wish, My Lady," Alexandra bowed before three of the other knights split off from the carriage and followed her back into the village.
As the carriage rolled along the quiet, forested path, the remaining knights walked beside it, each one moving almost as silently as assassins. Their hands were outstretched, and from each palm emanated a faint, golden aura. The warm glow bathed their faces and armor, casting soft beams that stretched through the darkening woods and illuminated the path before them.
The forest around them grew dense and darker as they continued, the village quite far from them now. The knights seemed to move in a trance, their steps nearly synchronized as they followed the road northward, their eyes attentively scanning their surroundings. The golden light they emitted flickered like embers, their glow sometimes catching in the eyes of curious night creatures watching from the underbrush.
Inside the carriage, Ophelia, her gaze sharp, finally leaned forward and unlatched the window. With one swift motion, she pushed it open, the night air rushing in as she leaned out and cast a commanding look over her company.
"Everyone, stop," she ordered, her voice cutting clearly through the evening air.
The knights halted in an instant, their golden auras flickering and then dimming as they turned to face her. One by one, the glow around their hands slowly dimmed, their presence alert as they observed Ophelia stepping out of the carriage.
The chill of the night air pricked her skin as she adjusted to the dim, dense forest around her. The golden glow from the knights' hands soon vanished with a raise of Ophelia's hand, leaving only the faint gleam of moonlight filtering through the treetops above.
Ophelia took a step forward, surveying their surroundings. "This should be close enough," she murmured, her voice low yet firm causing the knights to nod slightly.
They fell into formation around her, shields at the ready and swords quietly unsheathing as they moved in a protective circle. Together, they descended the slope of the forest path and into the thick undergrowth, branches crunching softly beneath their boots.
As they ventured deeper, everybody's sharp eyes darted around. They all expected the wilds to stir, for the sounds of forest beasts to rise around them in warning or attack. Yet the forest was eerily silent, with not so much as a rustle to disturb their progress.
Captain Edwin, growing increasingly uneasy at the unnatural calm, edged closer to Ophelia. He was about to whisper something to her, but she raised her hand sharply, signaling him to silence.
The knights obeyed immediately, their attention shifting to the steep incline ahead of them. Quietly, they crept up the rocky hill, careful to keep their steps light. At the top, Ophelia stayed still, peering over the edge of a cliff with Captain Edwin and the knights close at her side.
Below them, a sprawling canyon opened up like a great pair of jaws in the earth, its walls rough and deep. In the hollow center of the canyon, a sight met their eyes that was both rowdy and unsettling.
Torches lit the vast space, illuminating a chaotic scene. A hundred bandits—rough, ragged figures in mismatched armor and tattered clothes—were scattered across the canyon floor, reveling in a rowdy, drunken celebration. Fires crackled around them, casting long shadows as they danced, cheered, and clashed mugs together, the echo of their shouts reaching Ophelia and her knights like the faint rumble of distant thunder.
Ophelia's eyes narrowed, studying the scene. She could see their weapons glinting in the firelight, scattered carelessly across the ground or strapped loosely to their sides. They had a river of supplies composed of barrels and wagons full of stolen goods that had been piled up against the canyon walls.
'Just as I thought… the butterfly effect has already begun,' Ophelia thought before clicking her tongue.
"What is wrong, My Lady?" Captain Edwin asked.
"This troupe is supposedly made up of about two hundred bandits. From here, how many can you roughly count?"
"About… a hundred… wait, don't tell me…" Captain Edwin jolted up. "We must get going, My Lady," He urgently whispered.
Ophelia nodded before she and her knights sank back from the edge of the hill. As the squad comprised of a future Duchess and holy knights quickly maneuvered the forest, back in the direction of the carriage, Ophelia covered her mouth, appearing deep in thought.
…
(Back at the village)
The village was calm as half of Ophelia's knights patrolled its perimeter, armored and moving in coordinated patterns around the quiet clearing. The village itself sat nestled within the surrounding forest, with only the evening sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls breaking the silence.
From the dense northern forest, a figure suddenly burst forth, revealing a beastman clad in sleek leather armor, his face twisted in pure terror. His strides were erratic, stumbling over roots and rocks as he ran. His fur was matted with sweat, and he glanced back over his shoulder repeatedly, panic filling his wide eyes as he sprinted toward the village.
The knights noticed him immediately, their training kicking in as they tightened their grips on their weapons and moved to intercept. "What's wrong?!" one of them called out, raising a hand in caution as they neared him. But before the beastman could reply, a faint whistle pierced the air.
An arrow shot out from the shadows of the forest, striking him squarely at the back of his head. His body went stiff, eyes widening one last time before going vacant. He collapsed forward, his lifeless form skidding across the dirt, coming to rest just short of the knights, who halted, a drop of sweat sliding down their foreheads.
The knights had barely formed up when a thunderous, guttural cry echoed through the trees, rumbling like distant thunder and growing louder with every second. It was a bundle of voices, deep and bellowing, like a storm rolling through the forest. The ground almost seemed to tremble beneath them as the sound grew closer.
From the shadows, flickers of orange and red light began to appear, wavering at first, but multiplying rapidly. Within moments, dozens of torches cast a fiery glow across the forest, illuminating the sight of a massive mob of people charging toward the village. It was a chaotic wave of bandits moving like an unstoppable flood sweeping through the trees.
Their ranks were an unruly mix of shapes and sizes, all dressed in an aimless assortment of armor and mismatched clothing. Some wore rusted breastplates or dented helmets, while others had only scraps of leather or thick animal hides. Their faces were contorted with malice, eyes gleaming in the torchlight, and their hands clutched a myriad of weapons—rusty swords, heavy clubs, jagged axes, and makeshift spears.
"Prepare for attack!" Alexandra shouted, raising her sword as she and the others braced themselves.
The mob surged forward, their cries growing louder, drowning out the natural sounds of the forest. Branches snapped under their boots, and leaves scattered in their path, a few among them even hurling rocks and debris as they charged.
Clearly, the only thing on their minds was how to cause as much carnage as possible.