The carriage jolted along the uneven road as we traveled toward the town of Galford. Inside, the constant, sidelong glares from the knights riding ahead had become so routine that I hardly noticed them anymore. Instead, I buried myself in a newly purchased book on support magic, its pages rough but filled with potential. I had picked it up after a brief conversation with Izula, the youngest member of the other party. With time on our hands, studying seemed wise.
The princess rode in the central carriage alongside the two brothers and their female companion, while the party's mage traveled with me. Before departure, the princess had revealed that the town we'd left behind was the capital—Exium. Our destination, Galford, was under the thumb of a rogue noble: once loyal, now corrupted. Whispers of spiked taxes and missing townsfolk had finally stirred the king to action. Interestingly, in this realm, it was females who usually ascended the throne—something foreign to me.
We were due to arrive by tomorrow, but with the sun dipping low, we needed to camp. The map indicated a forest gap ahead, with a river running near it—our next stop.
I called Kyoko down and mounted her. "There's a stop point ahead with a river. I'm scouting," I told the lead knight. He waved me off, but the ever-glaring knight clenched his jaw, clearly holding back more than just words.
From the sky, I spotted a small clearing by the river—ideal for a camp. Kyoko dipped low, and I leapt down, landing atop a branch. But something felt off. Instinct screamed at me.
I pivoted mid-balance, just in time to avoid a knife that lodged itself in the bark where my chest had been.
Bandits.
Twenty emerged from the shadows of the trees, blades ready and eyes hungry.
"Bandits, huh?" I said coldly, sliding into a stance, my daggers untouched. "If you think you can take me, go ahead and try."
Their leader sneered. "Cocky bastard. You'll be nothing but a stain."
They charged.
Two came first—I grabbed their arms and hurled them into another pair. Using a tree trunk for leverage, I vaulted, slamming a heavy punch into the leader's chest. He crumpled. Another tried to flank me, but I spun mid-air, heel crashing into his skull.
Three with swords came next. I danced between their strikes, a blur of sidesteps and calculated counters. My roundhouse dropped the last of them. An arrow zipped past—I twisted left, letting it graze air, then barreled into the final group, fists a blur. When the dust settled, only one remained.
"Who sent you?" I asked, walking toward him.
He bolted.
Coward.
I sighed and raised my hand. Roots burst from the earth, snaring his legs and slamming him into the ground before dragging him back.
"You ran," I said, my eyes glowing dark violet. "Abandoning your comrades makes you lower than scum."
I stomped his skull.
After tying the rest and rinsing the blood from my boots with water magic, I sat quietly. I questioned the ones who were still conscious. All they knew was that they were paid to kill anyone who passed through. No names. No identities. Just blood money.
An hour later, the others arrived. I had already set up camp and started dinner. The lead knight had the prisoners sent to Exium's dungeon.
While the others relaxed by the fire, I sat atop a tree branch, gazing at a star-filled sky. The stars here... they were unfiltered, beautiful in a way I hadn't seen in my previous world.
"I wonder what Híroÿ's group is up to," I whispered, folding my arms behind my head as I drifted off.