The bandits weren't subtle about their search. Ryo and Elena watched from the upstairs window as Gareth's crew split up and started going door to door, demanding to know if anyone had seen a young noble who'd arrived in town recently. Most of the villagers pointed toward the old bakery without hesitation—small towns weren't known for keeping secrets, especially when armed men were asking the questions.
"Well, so much for the element of surprise," Elena muttered. "They'll be here in about five minutes."
"Good," Ryo said, surprising her. "Waiting around was making me nervous."
"You're nervous about waiting, but not about facing six armed bandits?"
"Different kinds of stress," Ryo explained, checking to make sure his travel pack was secure. "Waiting means thinking about all the things that could go wrong. Fighting means dealing with things as they happen."
Elena stared at him. "That's either the most zen thing I've ever heard, or the stupidest. I can't decide which."
"Probably both."
They made their way downstairs to the main room, which would give them space to move if things went badly. Elena drew her sword and took a position near the door where she could see anyone approaching. Ryo found himself a spot by the bar where he had clear lines of sight to both the front entrance and the back exit.
"Last chance to tell me what really happened with those bandits yesterday," Elena said quietly. "If you've got some kind of special training or abilities, now would be a good time to mention it."
"I honestly don't know," Ryo said. "I mean that. Yesterday was the first time I'd ever been in a real fight, and I have no idea how I avoided getting killed. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was something else. I guess we're about to find out."
The sound of heavy boots on the front steps announced their visitors' arrival. The door burst open without anyone bothering to knock, and three of the bandits filed in with weapons already drawn. They looked around the empty room with professional caution before the leader stepped inside.
Gareth was exactly what Ryo had expected a bandit leader to look like—tall, muscular, with scars on his arms and the kind of confidence that came from years of intimidating people successfully. His leather armor was well-maintained, his sword looked expensive, and his eyes held the flat coldness of someone who'd killed before and wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
"Well, well," Gareth said, his gaze moving between Ryo and Elena. "The famous Elena Brightwater, and the mysterious noble boy who's been throwing money around like it grows on trees. This is convenient—I can deal with both of my problems at once."
"Your problems?" Elena asked, her sword held ready but not yet threatening. "I wasn't aware we had any business together, Gareth."
"We didn't, until you decided to protect my new business partner here," Gareth replied, gesturing toward Ryo. "See, young noble boy made some enemies on the road yesterday. Three of my men came back with a story about getting their asses kicked by someone who looked harmless and fought like he was dancing. Made me curious."
Ryo felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. "Those idiots were part of your crew?"
"My newest recruits, actually. Boys who thought robbing solo travelers was easy money." Gareth's smile was cold. "They came back talking about some freak who moved like smoke and hit like a hammer. Described you perfectly, right down to the expensive clothes and the attitude problem."
"Attitude problem?" Ryo asked, genuinely offended.
"You humiliated my men," Gareth continued, ignoring the interruption. "Made them look like fools. That's bad for business, because it makes other people think they can disrespect me too. So now I have to make an example out of you."
Elena shifted slightly, adjusting her grip on her sword. "Here's a counter-proposal, Gareth. You and your men walk out of here right now, and I don't report this conversation to the regional authorities. Threatening the citizens of Millhaven is a good way to get yourself declared an outlaw with a bounty on your head."
"You think I'm afraid of some washed-up adventurer playing town guard?" Gareth laughed. "I've got six men and you've got a noble boy who probably can't even hold a sword properly. The math doesn't work in your favor."
"The math might be more complicated than you think," Ryo said mildly.
Gareth's attention snapped back to him. "Oh, you want to demonstrate those mysterious fighting skills my boys told me about? Please, go ahead. I'm curious to see what all the fuss is about."
The bandit leader gestured to one of his men, a lean guy with a crossbow. "Kill the guard first. I want to deal with pretty boy here personally."
Everything seemed to slow down as the crossbow came up. Ryo saw the bandit's finger tighten on the trigger, saw Elena start to move but know she wouldn't be fast enough, saw the bolt already flying toward her chest.
Without thinking, Ryo stepped forward and somehow his hand was there to knock the bolt aside. It clattered harmlessly against the wall while everyone in the room stared at him in shock.
"What the fuck?" the crossbow bandit said.
[REFLEXES] has increased to Level 5!
[COMBAT AWARENESS] - Level 3
New skill acquired: [PROJECTILE DEFLECTION] - Level 1
Achievement unlocked: Impossible Save
Bonus experience for protecting allies
Gareth's eyes narrowed. "Well, that was interesting. Boys, I think we're dealing with something special here."
The remaining bandits spread out, trying to surround Ryo and Elena. The crossbow guy was frantically trying to reload while keeping one eye on Ryo, who was standing there looking as confused as everyone else.
"How did you do that?" Elena asked quietly.
"I have no fucking idea," Ryo replied honestly.
Gareth drew his sword, a curved blade that looked like it had seen plenty of use. "Let's try something a little more direct."
He came at Ryo in a rush, his blade aimed at center mass in a strike designed to end the fight quickly. Ryo took a step back to avoid it, tripped over absolutely nothing, and fell backward in a way that made Gareth's followup swing miss by inches. As he fell, Ryo's hand shot out to catch himself, and somehow his palm connected with Gareth's knee with enough force to make the bandit leader stumble.
"Are you kidding me?" Gareth snarled, regaining his balance.
"I'm really not trying to do this," Ryo said, rolling to his feet. "It just keeps happening."
One of the other bandits, a stocky man with an axe, decided to join the fight. He swung at Ryo's head with enough force to split wood, but somehow Ryo was ducking under the blow while simultaneously stepping on the man's foot. The bandit overbalanced and crashed into his companion, sending both of them sprawling.
Elena was dealing with her own problems—two bandits with swords who were trying to flank her. But she was clearly an experienced fighter, her blade moving in precise arcs that kept both attackers at bay while she looked for an opening.
"This is insane," she muttered, parrying a thrust and riposting with a cut that opened a line across one bandit's arm. "You're fighting like you're drunk, but somehow it's working."
"Trust me, I'm as confused as you are," Ryo said, swaying away from another of Gareth's attacks. "I think my body knows something my brain doesn't."
[EVASION] has increased to Level 6!
[ACCIDENTAL COMBAT] - Level 4
New passive ability: Unconscious Counter-Attacks
Warning: Unusual skill development detected
Gareth was getting frustrated now, his attacks becoming wilder as Ryo continued to avoid them through what looked like pure chance. "Hold still, you slippery bastard!"
"I'm trying!" Ryo protested, then immediately proved himself wrong by somehow ending up behind Gareth and accidentally elbowing him in the kidney.
The bandit leader went down hard, gasping for breath. His remaining men looked between their fallen leader and the noble boy who was standing there looking apologetic about the whole situation.
"Fuck this," the crossbow bandit said, dropping his weapon and bolting for the door. "I didn't sign up to fight ghosts."
The other two conscious bandits looked at each other, looked at Elena's bloody sword, looked at their leader rolling around on the floor, and came to the same conclusion. They grabbed Gareth under the arms and dragged him toward the exit.
"This isn't over," Gareth wheezed as they hauled him away. "I'll figure out what you are, and then I'll kill you properly."
"Looking forward to it," Ryo called after him, then immediately felt stupid for antagonizing someone who'd just threatened to murder him.
Elena sheathed her sword and stared at him. "Okay, I've seen a lot of weird shit in my adventuring days, but that was something new. You fought like you had no idea what you were doing, but somehow you completely dominated an experienced fighter."
"I really don't know what's happening to me," Ryo said. "This is all new to me too."
"Well, whatever it is, it just saved both our lives," Elena said. "And probably earned you an enemy for life in the process."
Ryo looked around his new tavern, taking in the scuff marks on the floor and the crossbow bolt embedded in the wall. "So much for my quiet life in the countryside."