Afore the wagon begins its travel, the lady paladin conveys a message to Natalak.
"Listen, I want you to look at the rear path. If you spot any suspicious activity, raise an alarm. Is that clear?" Ashalain suggest, eyes gaze down at the man.
As for Natalak, he stares back with a blank expression. "Well, uh… I'm not an adventurer, not even at your level. Should you perhaps call reinforcements, and can we just use that teleportation thingy?"
Her expression changed, and the patience she had for Natalak's complaint wore thin. More so, her hand itches for violence.
Leaking a sense of frustration, Natalak gradually agrees once he feels her frustration.
"I cannot call for the others; the sudden appearance of a demon's disturbance forces the members to spread all through the kingdom. And as for the teleportation, the capital shuts all connections until this situation is resolved." Ashalain looks at where Ravalind is located, eyes show worry. "Now… is that clear enough for you?" She continues returning to the man.
"Yes, madam." Like a soldier's replied, Natalak then trailed a nod.
"Almost forgot," Ashalain said, searching for an item in her belt satchel. "Take this, it will come in handy when a fight breaks out."
In her hand was a strange, white, luminous gem, framed with iron-like materials. Though the moment his hand received such vestige, he felt a vibration from his blood. Too it tingles from the touch.
"How do I use it?"
"Crush it, and it will grant you protection. And don't waste it, those kinds of items are hard to find."
Immediately, the two finished their arrangement and took their seats at their station. The lash cracked, signalling the horses to move, pulling the wagon to start its journey.
As hours pass, the wagon travels no more than eight miles from its starting point. Natalak finds the breathtaking valley views enough to keep himself entertained as he observes the scenery. Other than the beautiful view, the road was rough, and the bumpy wagon ride made Natalak uncomfortable. He tried switching his position, but would frequently jolt back to discomfort.
"Ain't this ride going to get comfortable, my ass sore from the bumping!"
Not much he could do; Natalak could only knead his behind. Twisting and stretching his torso for comfort.
"If I may ask, sir adventurer…" Spoke the child. "You seem to be uncomfortable. I do have a pillow that might help you get some relief."
"Certainly, that would mean much to me." Natalak followed a rapid nod.
Cushioning the impact, Natalak could finally relax. Returning his eyes to the child, baffled by the child's look, the ragged clothes he wore, and the holes in his shoes. Though from the closer he looks at his body, the boy was well taken care of.
"Is there anything that you need of me, sir adventurer?"
"Ah, I'm rather admired by your perseverance. Your father must have gone a great length in these troubled times." Natalak said, shifting his gaze to the driver.
The boy smiled and shook his head. "Well, these are my working clothes, sir adventurer. And my father died a long time ago—"
"Oh… my bad."
"He died there at Aghraim during the demon incursion. He was a simple soldier nonetheless."
"I see, I'm sorry to hear that."
"That's fine, after that, my uncle took me in, and here I am learning tricks on how to be a merchant."
"By your uncle, you mean—" Natalak nudges his head towards the driver.
The boy nods
With nothing to speak, silence follows.
He tilted his head toward Ashalain; somehow, her posture was stiff as a statue. The jarring wagon ride didn't bother her, nor did it break her stillness. With her shield securely strapped to her arms, her right hand edged closer to the hilt. The more he watched, the more her head kept turning at each corner. Moreover, the Norrevelian Paladin would keenly note the horses' actions, their eyes, and their reaction.
Occasionally, she shifts her glance at Natalak, prompting him to do his job.
"This woman—"
Fleeting midday, earlier for dusk to arrive. Natalak's eyes were little by little jaded from the long hours of surveying. Now, even the jolting wagon wasn't enough to keep him awake.
"Damn it! I want to sleep! Should nightfall come, I won't do the night watch. Heck, even if this brute strangles me to death."
Indifferent to what will come, Natalak slowly lost interest in his part. His eyes merely stare through the surroundings, unoccupied by the dangers of the road.
Neglecting the passage of time and the gradual change of the scenery. They enter not a valley of grassland but a forest. Not dense but scattered. The first tree that welcomed the wagon was bent, almost touching the ground, and its branches created an arc, shading the sunlight.
"As if looters would suddenly spring up." Smirks Natalak.
Just as Natalak ponders other thoughts—of money, the carriage stops.
Fifty meters or so, in front of them, a woman approached, a mother. Gasping for air, and a womb that holds life. Ashalain looks at the horses and notices a slight discomfort in their eyes. The closer she gets, the more the paladin tightly grips her sword.
"Natalak." She calls, eyes still focused on the advancing person. "The item that I gave you."
"Is-is there an enemy!?" Sudden and alarmed, Natalak stood, catching what stopped the wagon.
"Use it." Ashalain continues, before descending from her seat.
He did as the paladin suggested and as he exerted his utmost strength. The gem cracks open, releasing thousands of sparks, which slowly cover the wagon. And thus, an invisible barrier was made.
A touch of her flames changed the appearance of the horses. Their bodies crack with embers, hooves set ablaze, even their manes change into crimson fire. And the straps of the harnesses didn't burn from the flames that possessed the horses.
"Natalak… come here for a second." She calls not loudly but moderately, instigating the traveller to descend from the carriage.
"What is it?!" Comes Natalak, his weariness was now overcome with adrenaline.
"Your hand." The paladins extended her arms.
No faltering from her offer, he quickly grabs her hand, absorbing Azarus's blessing. And much like before, all his physical abilities doubled, or rather, tenfold compared to what he felt when receiving her first blessing.
"Guard the wagon." She adds, hand firmly grips the shield's handle. "And sir merchant, if the situation turns dire, I want you to turn back without hesitation. To the open valley… one more thing, take cover, I fear a sense of trouble from these woods."
"W-what about you, Madam Shilvia?"
Ashalain didn't answer; she was more concerned about the woman and the unborn child she carried.
"H-help me!" The mother cried, and blood begins to drip from her clothes.
Only a few feet apart, an arrow shot through the woman's legs, prodding Ashalain to quicken her pace. Three more follow, this time are bolts.
"I won't let you!"
Swift as a snake, Ashalain embraces the woman, as her shield covers tightly around the mother's back. The bolts, though sharp and pointy. It shattered when they came in contact with her family's shield.
Effortlessly lifting the woman towards the carriage. There on the tall bushes hidden by trees and shadows. A tall and bulky man sneered upon seeing Ashalain—
"Spear." The man spoke, and right away, his comrades quickly handed him his needs.
"Wait here, I'll—"
Before the paladin could give a command. A lance came forward, not them, but towards the horses. Through and all, the spear changed course as it nailed only three feet to where Ashalain is standing, steered by the erected barrier.
In retaliation, Ashalain hurriedly grabs the javelin and, through her might, does she retaliate.
Enchanted by tenfold of her blessing, her attack struck towards one of the bandits. Precision and formidable, the scorching spear struck through the bandit's head, nailing him to the tree trunk.
To the leader of the marauders, he was impressed by the paladin's prowess in battle. Commending his troops, dozens of projectiles were sent towards the wagon, though even with their magic and enchanted arsenals, they couldn't penetrate the barrier. Even the horses didn't adhere to their attacks.
"This is a dangerous spot we're in. We'd best retreat first. We don't know how many there are." Suggest Natalak as they take cover from the wagon.
"Agreed." Ashalain nods. Signalling the driver to take action.
Turnabout, the merchant attempts to manoeuvre the horses but is halted when the bandits emerge from their hiding spots. Three from the back and five from the front, one stood tall, two are fully armoured.
Their leader's armour is nothing more than fur and leather combined. Two wyvern's tails fashioned into a club, belted on both sides.
Surrounded by death, the two merchants and the woman pray in hiding. And when the bandits heard their prayer, they too prayed for good loot. Smiling and laughing as they mimic the three's words.
Ashalain probes the bandits, their posture, their armours and the presence they gave.
"Are these all the total men you have?" The paladin spoke to the bulky man, unfazed by their number as much as by their presence.
Crossing arms and full of confidence, the leader smiles and commands his soldiers to attack. Four bandits came, and four were delivered to their fate.
At once did they strike, only to be met by the sheer ability of Ashalain. Shield effortlessly parries their attack, as she bashes their face without mercy. Elegant—her evasion is as fluid as water, swiping their feet before the sword's tip strikes their chest. Her flaming sword that cracks in embers, cleaving their armour without any resistance. In minutes, no, in seconds did the four men falter.
On the other hand, Natalak was not as graceful to look at. His fighting style is more survival-oriented. Merits to Ashalain's blessing, Natalak fared to grapple with one of the bandits, dragging him away from his companions as he brutally stabs his throat.
Two rushes to aid their companions, only for one of them to be speared by Ashalain's sword. Watching all of his companions die, one of the remaining bandits flung his weapons for a lighter run. That, however, was botched when Natalak chases him without any sweat. Wrestling him to the ground for a better position, enabling the sword to skewer the outlaw's throat.
The leader of the band didn't take any interest in the death of his servants; he stood with arms crossed. More draws towards the paladin in flames.
"Ah, so you're Ashalain de Shilvia." The man spoke, pulling a black maggot, and inside the maggot's body is a glowing crimson liquid. Its head was that of a mosquito combined.
"I hope you'll give me a good thrill, noble paladin. For I dream of fighting someone like you." The bandit continues forcing the maggot's head into his neck.
Squeezing the fluid through his veins, the man's skin reformed in crimson. Veins crack his skin as his muscles expand. Aura of steam begins to leak from his flesh, and his face is now covered in fury and berserk. It draws its two wyvern's club and roars for a battle.
Ashalain, however, was composed, steadfast to the berserking marauder. She calmly unequipped her shield and nailed it to the ground as she stretched her arms.
He goes to deliver her sword, only for her to decline.
"See through the wagon." She said casually, then walked towards the enemy.
Driven by rage and a brutality that left no room for conscience, the bandit dragged his two clubs. When met, Ashalain swiftly evades his attack before delivering a counter punch to his jaw.
Staggered by her counter, he shook his head and once again returned for another assault. This time, the paladin delivers her martial arts prowess. Parrying the weapons using her arms, she sends another barrage of punches.
Stunned and too absorbed by her elegant movement. Natalak forgot his duty in securing the wagon. He stood there like a statue, eyes unblinking and mouth open.
"Amazing! Hit him harder!"
Not much to say, it didn't take long for the bandit to drop one of its weapons. His left hand was limp, as if there were no bones to give movement. Moreover, the man was kneeling, his jaws fractured. It screams both in anguish and rage.
He attempts one last attack, but the lady paladin disarms him. As she advances, she delivers a crushing blow to his arms, breaking his bones. Ultimately, the bandit kneels, awaiting his end, having not landed a single scratch on the paladin.
Sniggering from his loss, "Do it, paladin of Azarus." The bandit said, now fully open for her to end his life.
"As you wish." Ashalain nods, and from her palm, a blue flame she conjures.
A touch to his head was all it took for the flames to fully consume his flesh into nothing but ashes, leaving only his equipment behind.
"May the gods show mercy on your soul." Ashalain spoke as she gazed through the sky.