Capítulo 15: Chapter 14 : The Escort Mission
Chapter 14: The Escort Mission
It had been a month since Alan settled in the city of Tallian. In that time, he had established himself as a capable and reliable adventurer. Alan had booked his room at the Sunny Days Inn for a month, paying the money upfront, and the innkeeper Melina had quickly come to respect him for his discipline and efficiency. Now an Apprentice level adventurer, Alan had completed 13 out of the 50 missions required for the next level increase. His reputation was growing, and with it, his physique and equipment had also evolved. Alan was now six feet tall, more muscular, and carried a giant black sword on his back. He wore a grey-shaded armor that didn't hinder his movements.
Currently, Alan was traveling in a carriage as part of an escort mission for a merchant group traveling from Tallian City to Kassir City. The journey was expected to take a week, and this was the second day of their trek. Alan was accompanied by three other adventurers: Shavin, an assassin skilled in scouting; Alameda, the mage; and Felix, a fellow swordsman. They had been recommended for this mission by Thomas and Gregory, and the merchants felt reassured having such a well-regarded team escorting them.
The sun was high in the sky as the caravan rolled along a dusty road. Alan sat in the carriage, his giant black sword resting beside him, while Shavin was perched on top, keeping an eye on their surroundings. Alameda and Felix rode on horseback alongside the carriages, their eyes scanning for any signs of trouble. The merchants, meanwhile, were busy with their own conversations and logistics, leaving the adventurers to their own devices.
Alan's reputation as the new star of the guild meant that his companions were curious about him. They had tried to engage him in conversation several times, but Alan's responses were often short or a single word, making him somewhat of an enigma.
As the caravan continued, Alameda finally decided to break the silence again. She rode up beside Alan's carriage and leaned in slightly. "So, Alan, how did you get that giant sword? It's quite impressive."
Alan looked at her briefly before replying. "Found it."
Alameda raised an eyebrow, not deterred by his curt answer. "Found it where?"
"In a goblin camp," Alan said simply.
Felix, riding on the other side, joined in. "A goblin camp? That's unusual loot for a goblin camp."
Alan nodded. "It was well-hidden."
Shavin, who had been listening from atop the carriage, jumped down and landed gracefully beside them. "You must have some stories to tell, Alan. Goblin camps, boar hunts, and who knows what else. What's been your most dangerous mission so far?"
Alan thought for a moment before answering. "The boar hunt. It was huge, and it destroyed a lot of farmland."
Felix laughed. "A boar? That's what you consider dangerous?"
Alan shrugged. "It was bigger than usual. And strong."
Alameda smiled. "Well, you must be quite the fighter then. We've heard a lot about you in the guild. They say you're a rising star."
"Just doing my job," Alan replied.
The conversation lulled for a moment as they continued down the road. The landscape around them was a mix of rolling hills and dense forest, with the occasional farmhouse dotting the scenery. The atmosphere was peaceful, but the adventurers knew better than to let their guard down.
After a while, Shavin spoke up again. "So, Alan, what made you decide to become an adventurer? Everyone has their reasons."
Alan hesitated before answering. "Needed a purpose. This seemed like a good fit."
Alameda nodded. "It can be rewarding, in its own way. Helping people, protecting them. Plus, the thrill of the fight, right?"
Alan's eyes flickered with a hint of something—perhaps agreement or understanding. "Yeah. The thrill."
Felix, sensing an opportunity to lighten the mood, grinned. "And the pay's not bad either. Speaking of which, what do you plan to do with your earnings, Alan?"
"Haven't decided yet," Alan said. "Probably save it for something important."
"Smart," Shavin said. "Never know when you might need a stash of coins."
As they continued their journey, the day wore on, and the conversation became more sporadic. Alan's companions respected his desire for short answers, and instead of pushing him, they shared their own stories and experiences.
Alameda talked about her magical training and her family's reluctance to let her become an adventurer. Felix shared tales of his duels and the various swordmasters he had learned from. Shavin, ever the mysterious assassin, hinted at his past missions without giving away too many details.
Despite Alan's reticence, the other adventurers found themselves liking him. His quiet confidence and undeniable skill were reassuring, and they felt safe knowing he was part of their team.
As dusk began to fall, the caravan came to a stop in a small clearing by the side of the road. The merchants and adventurers set up camp, lighting fires and preparing for the night. Alan took the first watch, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of danger.
The night passed uneventfully, and by morning, they were back on the road. The journey continued in much the same way, with brief conversations and long stretches of silence. Alan remained focused on the mission, always alert and ready for anything.
On the fourth day, as they approached a particularly dense section of forest.
As the caravan approached the dense section of forest, the atmosphere grew tense. Alan, Felix, Alameda, and Shavin took their positions, ready for the impending battle. The trees around them cast long shadows, and the underbrush rustled with unseen movements.
Shavin, scouting ahead, returned swiftly. "There's a group of bandits up ahead. Looks like they're planning an ambush."
Alan's grip tightened on his giant black sword. "How many?"
"About a dozen," Shavin replied. "They've got the road blocked."
Felix drew his sword, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Looks like we'll get some action after all."
Alameda prepared her spells, her expression serious. "Let's be careful. We need to protect the merchants."
Alan nodded, his expression calm and focused. "Stay close. We'll handle this."
As the caravan moved forward, the bandits sprang their trap. A dozen men emerged from the trees, weapons drawn and eyes gleaming with malice. Their leader, a burly man with a scar running down his face, stepped forward and shouted, "Hand over your goods and no one gets hurt!"
Alan stepped forward, his giant black sword held at the ready. "You picked the wrong caravan to ambush."
The bandits laughed, but their laughter quickly turned to screams as Alan charged forward. His sword cut through the air with deadly precision, cleaving the first bandit in half before he could even react. Felix was right behind him, his own blade flashing in the sunlight as he took down two more bandits with swift, precise strikes.
"Watch your left, Alan!" Felix shouted, parrying a blow from a bandit and countering with a deadly thrust.
Alan spun to his left, his sword slicing through another bandit's chest. "Got it!"
Alameda stood back, casting spells that sent bolts of energy and waves of fire at the attackers. "Keep them off me, I need to concentrate!"
Shavin moved with stealth and speed, taking down bandits from the shadows with his daggers. "They're trying to flank us on the right!"
Alan shifted his position, blocking the path of the flanking bandits. His sword moved in a deadly arc, cutting down three more bandits in quick succession. The air was filled with the sound of clashing steel and the cries of the dying.
The bandit leader roared in anger and charged at Alan, swinging a massive axe. Alan met his attack head-on, their weapons clashing with a resounding crash. The force of the blow pushed Alan back a step, but he quickly recovered, using his sword to deflect the next strike and countering with a powerful slash that severed the bandit leader's arm.
The bandit leader screamed in pain, dropping his axe and falling to his knees. Alan didn't hesitate, bringing his sword down in a final, decisive blow that ended the leader's life.
As the bandit leader's body hit the ground, the remaining bandits hesitated, their morale shattered. Felix took advantage of their hesitation, cutting down two more bandits with swift, lethal strikes.
"Don't let them regroup!" Alameda shouted, casting a fireball that engulfed another bandit in flames.
Shavin appeared behind the last two bandits, his daggers flashing as he dispatched them with deadly precision. "It's over."
The battle was fierce but brief. Within minutes, the road was littered with the bodies of the defeated attackers, and the remaining bandits fled into the forest, their will to fight completely broken.
Alan sheathed his sword, his breath steady despite the intensity of the battle. The merchants, who had watched the fight with bated breath, cheered and thanked the adventurers profusely.
Felix clapped Alan on the back. "You too, Alan. That was impressive."
Alameda smiled, her eyes still glowing with the residual energy of her spells. "We make a good team."
Shavin nodded in agreement, wiping his daggers clean. "Definitely."
As the adrenaline of the battle began to fade, Alan felt a strange sensation. The life essence of the fallen bandits flowed into him, unseen by anyone else. The amount of life essence was large, a testament to the lives he had taken. Alan absorbed it silently, feeling a surge of power and vitality.
'So much....' Alan felt his mind blanking out. It was like someone was shoving water into his throat.
The merchants, oblivious to the exchange of life essence, approached the adventurers, their faces filled with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you so much. We thought we were done for."
Alan nodded, his expression calm and collected. "Just doing our job."
As they continued their journey, the bond between the adventurers grew stronger. Alan's quiet strength and skill had earned their respect, and they knew they could rely on him in any situation.
By the time they reached Kassir City, the merchant group was safe and sound, and the adventurers had proven their worth once again. Alan looked forward to the next challenge, knowing that with each mission, he was one step closer to his goal.
For now, though, he was content. He had found his purpose, his path, and he was ready for whatever lay ahead.
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