Rian and Ria were aboard the mechanical carriage, heading for Altechna. The carriage, powered by complex gears and a steam engine, boasted the ability to travel rough terrain without difficulty, but the harsh environment of the snowy mountains was a great challenge for them. The blizzard grew stronger, and the cold wind slapped their faces with a sharp sting.
The mechanical carriage was struggling to move through the treacherous mountain terrain when a sudden noise began to come from the engine. Ria grew tense as she felt the carriage's vibrations grow stronger.
Ria: "Rian, this isn't a good sign. I think there's something wrong with the engine."
The carriage lurched and finally ground to a halt, letting out a puff of white smoke as it completely broke down. Rian stepped out of the carriage to assess the situation. The weather continued to worsen, and there was no way they could cross the mountains like this.
Rian: "The carriage is completely broken. We can't go on in this state."
In the midst of the raging blizzard, Rian and Ria were momentarily stunned, but they couldn't just stay put. Just then, they saw a figure walking toward them through the snow. A dwarf in a thick coat approached them calmly through the storm. He held a powerful gun in his hands, and his footsteps were silent even on the snow.
It was Brunok, a Dwarven hunter who lived and hunted alone in the snowy mountains. His face showed the traces of a rough life, and his eyes were sharp and hard. He seemed to grasp the situation upon seeing Rian and Ria's mechanical carriage and walked over.
Brunok: "Breaking down in a place like this... not something that happens easily. I've been through it a few times myself. Looks like I can help you out somehow."
Rian and Ria watched Brunok with a sense of caution. But his demeanor was friendly, and his hands, as he inspected the carriage, looked very skillful. Brunok examined the engine of the mechanical carriage and diagnosed the problem.
Brunok: "The fuel supply line is frozen. It's a common breakdown in these mountains. Luckily, I have the equipment I need. Just wait a moment."
Brunok took a portable heater from his bag and began to thaw the fuel supply line. His hands were practiced, and he moved with the familiarity of someone fixing his own home. After a few minutes, the mechanical carriage once again started its engine with a struggle and came back to life.
Ria: "Thank you. We were about to be stranded in these mountains. Why are you hunting here all by yourself?"
Brunok slung his gun over his shoulder and grinned.
Brunok: "The name's Brunok. These mountains are like my hometown. My family lived here long ago, and I grew up here, learning to hunt. I make a living hunting dangerous beasts. I know this mountain better than anyone."
Rian looked at Brunok's weapon with interest. It was not a simple gun, but a powerful weapon that combined magic and machinery. Rian sensed that Brunok was no ordinary hunter and felt that his skills would be useful.
Rian: "Brunok, your skills are impressive. We're on our way to Altechna. We're on an important mission there to stop the ambitions of the Noktus. Would you join us? I feel like your skills would be a great help on our journey."
Brunok listened to Rian and Ria's proposal and thought for a moment, then nodded as if he had made up his mind.
Brunok: "If you need my gun, I'll gladly join you. I've wanted to go to Altechna for a long time myself. There might be something there that I'm looking for."
Ria welcomed Brunok's joining them and said:
Ria: "It seems we all share the same goal. Let's work together to overcome this crisis."
The three of them tested their skills and got to know one another. Rian's swordsmanship was precise and powerful, and Ria's magic was accurate and aimed at its targets with speed. Brunok handled his gun skillfully, able to hit targets accurately even from a long distance. Their cooperation was perfect, and their individual abilities created a powerful synergy, turning them into a strong team.
Rian, Ria, and Brunok, now a team, headed over the snowy mountains toward Altechna. The blizzard blocked their path, but they were unshaken. The guardians of Elysium and their new companion, Brunok, were now ready to fight together and begin a new adventure.
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Episode : The Truth of the Bandits
Rian, Ria, and Brunok were aboard the mechanical carriage, crossing the snowy mountains. The cold wind and blizzard beat fiercely against their faces, and the carriage occasionally staggered as its frozen wheels slipped. The treacherous terrain and harsh weather were a constant challenge to their journey. Just then, up ahead on the snow-covered road, they saw a group of people being attacked by bandits.
The bandits were swinging their weapons, menacing the people in another mechanical carriage. Rian quickly stopped their own carriage and assessed the situation. The bandits were pressing the group with vicious laughter, and the passengers were terrified, not knowing what to do.
Rian: "Bandits are attacking those people. We have to help."
Ria nodded with a firm expression, gathering magical energy at her fingertips.
Ria: "Right, we can't just leave them. We'll take care of the bandits."
Brunok raised his gun and nodded.
Brunok: "Guys like this? We can deal with them in no time. Let's go."
The three of them disembarked from the carriage and quickly approached the bandits. Rian's sword flashed like lightning, parrying the bandits' weapons, while Ria's magic erupted in a brilliant light, freezing their movements. Brunok's gun cut down the bandits' morale, each powerful shot hitting its mark with precision. The bandits were pushed back helplessly and soon scattered.
Rian and Ria approached the group that had been attacked to reassure them.
Rian: "You're safe now. You won't be bothered by them anymore."
The group, with grateful expressions, came toward Rian and Ria. They offered them warm tea, saying:
Leader of the group: "Thank you so much. We're so grateful you saved us in this cold weather. Please, warm yourselves up. Have a cup of warm tea."
Rian and Ria let their guard down for a moment and accepted the tea, but they hesitated just before drinking. Having grown up in the royal family, they were accustomed to high-quality tea, and as soon as they brought the cups to their lips, they sensed something subtly wrong. It was different from the tea they usually drank, and the taste carried a faint, unpleasant feeling.
Ria: "This is weird... This tea tastes different."
Rian also took a sip and quickly spit it out. Brunok, on the other hand, was thirsty and drank the tea in one gulp. He soon clutched his head, feeling dizzy.
Brunok: "My head... feels strange and dizzy. What's in this tea?"
Rian quickly sensed the strange energy, and Ria immediately prepared a detoxification spell. A blue light emanated from her fingertips as she cast the spell on Brunok, who managed to regain his fading consciousness and clear his head.
Ria: "There was a sleeping potion in this tea. We've been tricked!"
When Rian and Ria didn't drink the tea, the group grew flustered and showed their true colors. They quickly pulled out lassos to try and subdue them, but their plan failed thanks to Rian's swift reaction. Rian swung his sword to cut away the lassos, and Ria instantly cast a defensive spell to block their advance.
Rian: "We were trying to help you... Don't tell me you're bandits, too."
The group's leader sneered and drew his weapon.
Leader of the group: "Fools. You fell for it just like the others. You can't trust anyone in these mountains."
Brunok, still dazed, listened to their words and gave a bitter laugh.
Brunok: "Ha, this is why you can't just trust anyone these days. You offer help, and what you get back is betrayal."
Rian and Ria agreed with Brunok's words, but deep in their hearts, they felt an even greater confusion and disappointment. They felt the gap between the world they wanted to believe in and the one they were actually facing, and felt frustrated by the reality that they had no choice but to compromise their ideals.
Rian: "Were we too naive about the world? To be betrayed like this, even by people we wanted to trust..."
Ria didn't hide her emotions.
Ria: "It feels like our beliefs were just betrayed. The people we tried to help tried to trick us... What are we even supposed to believe in and fight for?"
Rian deeply empathized with Ria's words. They may have won the fight, but the wound left in their hearts would not heal easily. They vowed to hold each other's hands tightly and move forward, if only to protect their own will.
Rian: "You're right. The world might not be the way we want it to be, but that doesn't mean our reason to fight has disappeared. We have to protect ourselves."
Ria let out a deep sigh and nodded. Their resolve grew stronger, and they decided they would not be shaken, even if reality was full of betrayal and disappointment.
Ria: "Yeah, let's just go our own way. Even if we're betrayed, let's not lose sight of what we believe is right."
The three of them got back into the mechanical carriage and moved on to leave the mountains behind. Through this experience, they decided to strengthen their trust in one another even more. Though the world might be full of betrayal and disappointment, they would not give up the beliefs they sought to protect.
Ria: "What we have to do is clear. Walk the path we believe is right, and not falter on that path."
With a resolute expression, Rian drove the carriage and started once more toward Altechna. Their journey would not be easy, but this experience had taught them a new lesson. The world is not always just, but in spite of that, Rian and Ria would continue to protect their beliefs.