The sound of horses' hooves hitting the road was steady, a soft rhythm in the quiet afternoon. I sat inside the carriage with Princess Rimu. She sat across from me, her arms crossed, looking out the small window at the passing trees.
The ride was a little bumpy, but I didn't mind. The trees outside were tall and thick, their leaves glowing in the soft sunlight. It felt calm, but my thoughts were restless.
"You're so quiet," Rimu said suddenly, turning her gaze to me.
I looked at her. "Do you want me to talk? You seemed to enjoy the silence."
She rolled her eyes. "You're always like this, Uzu. You don't say anything unless someone pushes you. How do you not get bored?"
I shrugged. "I'm used to it. Besides, I've got good company—trees, the horses, and you."
She sighed loudly. "You're impossible. Don't you feel nervous about this journey at all?"
"Nervous?" I paused to think. "Not really. But I am curious. The Prince of Pushkaradweep must be someone special if we're traveling this far to see him."
"Prince Paraksh is important," Rimu said, sitting up straighter. "Pushkaradweep is Jambudweep's closest ally. If anything goes wrong with that relationship, both kingdoms could be in trouble."
"So, this isn't just a friendly visit," I said.
"Of course not," she replied. "But Prince Paraksh is known for being kind and easy to talk to. I think you'll like him."
"Do you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Do I what?"
"Do you like him?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Why are you asking that?"
I gave a small smile. "I'm just curious. You seem to know a lot about him."
She looked away quickly, her cheeks turning a little red. "I've only met him a few times. He's... fine."
"Fine, huh?" I teased.
"Stop talking," she snapped, trying to hide her flustered expression.
I leaned back and chuckled softly. The rest of the ride was quiet, but the tension in the air was lighter now.
The road to Arvalis stretched ahead of us, flanked by trees that swayed lightly in the breeze. Though the journey had been uneventful so far, the air carried a strange tension. The escort of three mages and five knights traveled alongside Rimu and me, their eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble.
I adjusted my sword at my side. Despite not having magic, I always carried the weapon—more out of habit than necessity. Rimu, riding beside me, seemed unusually quiet. Perhaps she sensed it too: the eerie stillness that crept into the atmosphere.
"Something's not right," one of the knights muttered, pulling his horse to a stop.
Before I could ask what he meant, a loud rustling erupted from the trees ahead. The sound grew louder, like something massive forcing its way through the undergrowth. And then, without warning, they appeared.
From the shadows emerged three creatures: a snake-like monster with scales as dark as night, a giant bear with blood-red eyes, and an undead figure made entirely of bones, wielding a rusted sword.
"Monsters!" one of the mages shouted.
Chaos erupted as the monsters charged. The snake-like creature lunged at the leading knights, its fangs glinting with venom. The giant bear roared, its claws tearing into the ground as it charged toward us. The undead bone soldier moved slowly but deliberately, its sword raised high.
"Protect the Princess!" shouted the head knight as the group sprang into action.
The three mages immediately began casting spells. The air mage created a whirlwind to block the snake's advance, while the ground-water mage attempted to raise a barrier. The water-healing mage stood behind the group, ready to assist the injured.
The knights rushed forward with their swords and shields, but the monsters were relentless.
"Uzu!" Rimu called out, snapping me from my frozen state. "Stay back!"
"Stay back? With these things attacking us?" I replied, gripping my sword. "Not a chance."
The snake monster was the first to break through the air mage's whirlwind, its body slithering unnaturally fast. It knocked two knights off their horses, its venom dripping onto the ground and sizzling like acid.
The bear swung its massive paw, sending another knight flying into a tree. His armor dented from the impact, and he groaned in pain.
The bone soldier clashed with one of the remaining knights, its rusted sword striking with surprising strength.
Despite their efforts, the mages and knights were quickly overwhelmed. The air mage's spells were strong but couldn't hold off all three monsters. The ground-water mage raised walls of earth, but the bear smashed through them with sheer brute force.
"Princess, stay behind me!" a knight shouted, moving to protect Rimu.
But Rimu wasn't the type to cower. She raised her hands, summoning flames that danced around her like a living shield. "I'm not some damsel in distress!" she snapped, hurling a fireball at the bear.
The fire scorched the bear's fur, but it only seemed to enrage the creature. It charged toward her, its massive form barreling through anyone in its path.
I tightened my grip on my sword and stepped forward. "We're not going to make it unless we work together!" I yelled.
The knights and mages turned to look at me, a mix of desperation and doubt in their eyes.
"Ground mage, raise barriers to slow them down!" I ordered. "Air mage, keep the snake at bay! Healer, focus on stabilizing the wounded!"
For a moment, no one moved. But then the ground mage nodded, slamming her hands into the earth to summon jagged walls of stone. The air mage redirected his efforts, whipping up a powerful wind that pushed the snake back.
Rimu stepped beside me, her hands still glowing with fire. "What's your plan, genius?"
"I'll handle the undead," I said. "You focus on the bear. Keep it distracted long enough for the knights to regroup."
She smirked. "Let's see if you can keep up."
With that, the battle resumed.
The bone soldier turned its hollow gaze toward me, raising its rusted sword. I charged forward, my blade meeting its weapon with a metallic clang. Despite its skeletal frame, the creature was unbelievably strong. Each strike sent vibrations up my arms, but I gritted my teeth and held my ground.
Meanwhile, Rimu unleashed a torrent of fire on the bear, forcing it to retreat temporarily. The air mage's whirlwind pinned the snake in place, giving the knights a chance to regroup and strike at its vulnerable spots.
The healer worked quickly, tending to the injured knights and mages. Though her spells weren't offensive, her presence was vital in keeping the group from falling apart entirely.
As I battled the bone soldier, I noticed its movements becoming slower, more predictable. With one final swing, I shattered its rusted sword and sent its skeletal frame collapsing to the ground.
Turning back to the others, I saw Rimu land a direct hit on the bear's face with a concentrated blast of fire. The beast roared in pain before collapsing, its body finally succumbing to the burns.
The snake was the last to fall, its massive body slumping to the ground as the knights and mages worked together to take it down.
The battlefield fell silent, save for the labored breathing of our group.
"Is everyone okay?" I asked, looking around.
"We've got injuries, but nothing life-threatening," the healer replied, wiping sweat from her brow.
Rimu approached me, her face flushed but victorious. "Not bad, Uzu. Maybe you're not as useless as you think."
I rolled my eyes, but a small smile crept onto my face. "Let's just hope the rest of the journey isn't this exciting."
As we regrouped and tended to the wounded, I couldn't shake the feeling that this attack was more than just a random encounter. Something—or someone—had sent these monsters after us. And whoever it was, they weren't done yet.