Tonight, the night sky was empty, without any cloud on sight. It was normally hard to contemplate such a cloudless sky during the end of fall, but it that was another story if one lived near the Talivern Mountain.
Natalie did not know how long she had been climbing the mountain, but she did not stop. It was night time and she did not know the exact time, but she remembered that she had left the village before the sunset.
Her destination?
The abandoned fortress which was located on the top of the mountain.
Natalie let out a huge sigh and decided to take a break. She had been slow in the first place but it could not be helped since he had an injury on one of her legs and it was a sickness she had since she was a child. Still, she had decided to go there because she wanted to know the truth behind her husband's secret.
In the last past few days, her husband, Dorcas, has been acting weird. He had told her that he received a new job and she did not need to worry about money anymore, but every time she mentioned his job, he would always dodge the subject. And even now, Dorcas had never told her so she had decided to follow him today after he went to work.
「But why here?」
After arriving at the abandoned fortress, she will probably know the answer, but in the depths of her heart, she did not want to know it; her heart, mixed with frustration, doubts, and sadness. Why did he not tell her his job? What was he doing at an abandoned fortress at this hour?
Natalie worried that something might happen to Dorcas so she started to walk again, to the abandoned fortress.
* * * * *
「Let's settle there tonight.」
Akira announced as he looked at the abandoned fortress.
「This will be fine. But I'll sleep outside. I can't bring myself to be stuck inside. I prefer a place where I can feel the wind blow.」
Lyn honestly said, Akira nodded and accepted her request.
「Me too as long as I'm at Lyn's side, I'll be fine.」
Florina grabbed Lyn's arm and smiled enthusiastically.
「And for your protection, your man-at-arms Sain will be right there by your side, ladies.」
「Sain, both you and I are to remain awake. We will alternate the watch.」
Sain became depressed and sighed, 「Ah, alas…」
「Your pardon sir,」
Akira turned his head, behind her, a young woman on her early twenties.
「I… Forgive my intrusion… My name's Natalie. I'm from a village not far from here… Ah! Ow…」
「Are you all right?」
「Hm?」
Akira pointed his finger at Natalie's leg.
「Your leg...」
Natalie showed a complicated smile. Seeing that the noble did not seem to care about etiquette, she started to speak normally.
「It's fine. Don't worry it's from childhood sickness… I can't travel far on it, but it doesn't trouble me much.」
「What are you doing here all by yourself?」
「I'm looking for my husband…I heard he was in this area. He said he was going to raise money to have my leg mended. He left the village and hasn't returned. He's a kindhearted man, but I think he might be involved in something dangerous. I got so worried…Here's a sketch of him. It's a poor likeness at best, but…His name is Dorcas. Do you know of him?」
Akira smiled at her inquiry and said,
「 I certainly know Dorcas, but I haven't seen him yet.」
Akira emphasized the word «yet» which had a certain meaning, but Natalie obviously could not know this meaning. She reacted to the positive reply and asked, 「Then if you meet him, please give him a message. Tell him that Natalie is looking for him.」
「I will tell him, I promise. But why don't you stay inside the abandoned fortress? There are bandits lurking there, it's safer for you to stay with us.」
Natalie seemed to hesitate. Akira noticed it and imitate the noble's way of pledge.
「I, in the name of Okamura Akira, promise to bring no harms to you during your stay here.」
Now, Natalie felt bad if she were to refuse and could only accept his proposal.
「I-I...I'm sorry to make you to that. I'll listen to your advice.」
Akira shook his head, not minding it at all. He approached Natalie and touched the injured leg. He then activated his magic and draw the words «Heal Disease» on her skin. A bright light then illuminated the place for a few seconds before disappearing again into the air.
「That's…」
Natalie could not feel the pain on her leg anymore. She still could not believe what just happened and could only stutter as she spoke.
「Thank you... very much... but... how?」
「This is a unique magic spell that I have created. You don't need to learn any more than this information for now.」
Natalie nodded her head. She then entered the abandoned fortress, leaving Akira and the group.
「Do you really know his husband, Dorcas?」
Once Natalie disappeared from their sight, Lyn asked.
「Yeah, he's probably working for the leader's bandit whom the subordinate was the probably the one we killed yesterday.」
「I see… Hm, you're really amazing, I can't deny. But how did you even know that?」
Akira smirked and put one of his fingers on his lips.
「Secret. 」
* * * * *
Not too far away from the abandoned fortress, a group of bandits were lurking underneath bushes. It was a quick home-made hidden headquarters they had made in the past.
Thirty-six trained bandits and mercenaries, they were confident enough that with this many people, it was only a piece of cake for them to obtain their revenge against these travellers whom cruelty had fallen on his weak and loved subordinate, Migal.
「Here are they, We've finally tracked down the band that defeated Migal and managed to ambush them.」
「So they've decided to hole up in this ruined fortress. Perfect. We'll wait 'til it they sleep, and then…」
Carija furiously glared at his subordinate, Ratface.
「You're an idiot! There are only a few of them, and some are women! If we attacked after they sleep, I'd be a laughingstock! Besides, we might hurt the women or woke them up by mistake! I will not be so wasteful!」
「You're right, Carjiga! You're so smart!」
Carjiga smirked and muttered, 「We'll avenge Migal and get some pretty souvenirs to boot. Who knows, maybe I'll be a leader after all. Hahaha! Let's go! Spread out and encircle the place, you rogues! Let's finish this before it gets too dark to see!」
The thirty-six bandits headed out from their hidden headquarters and sneakily walked towards the abandoned fortress. It was the time for the ambush to start.
Carija noticed a new recruit not too far away, looking gloomy. He approached him and called out.
「Hey, you! Your name's…Dorcas, right?」
「...」
Dorcas did not seem to notice Carija's call, he was lost in his own thought.
「You haven't done much since you joined us. If those weapons of yours aren't just for show, today's the day to let us see what you can do.」
Dorcas looked at Carija.
「 …」
「I want you to attack from the back entrance to the east. There's supposed to be a woman inside. I want you to capture her. Do that, and I'll increase your share of the take. If you want gold, you'll get the job done.」
Once Carija left to rejoin the other bandits, far enough to not be able to hear him, Dorcas muttered his first words as he released a depressed sigh,「A bunch of women, huh? It would break Natalie's sweetheart to see me sink so low...」
* * * * *
Akira looked underneath the tower's fortress a huge painted snake made of fire as he observed the approaching bandits. This time, he had decided to not participate in the defence of the fortress and had given them the best strategic defensive position to win the battle.
It was only up to them to show him if they had the quality to become stronger because he needed them to level up as much as possible; this was the only way to secure more possibilities which then become easier to save the world.
「Lyn wishes to surpass me but she's already stronger than me… Kent's movements are still rigid but his posture is good… Florina became better with a normal spear but her speed and strength are still far too weak to compete with bandits… Wil is extremely agile but he lacks strength… Jeanne is the one whose progress had surpassed everyone so far… Guy is the contrary, the slowest… Zeth is not focused enough...」
Analyzing the battlefield, Akira's eyes had the photographic's memory ability so he was the only one who could thoughtfully and perfectly control it to a terrifying extent. If it was not for the lack of soldiers, then Akira was probably the strongest strategist one could meet on the battlefield.
「I have to go now.」
Akira wanted to watch the battle between his comrades and the bandits until the end, but since he had another mission to accomplish, he could only reluctantly leave the fortress's tower, without turning his back.
「I believe in you guys.」