Bright Stellar Magus

The caravan continued its smooth journey through Deadwood Pass, the towering cliffs on either side creating an oppressive atmosphere. Too smooth, perhaps.

Adrian, seated comfortably in the carriage, kept his eyes closed, a faint smirk still lingering on his lips. The earlier show had gone exactly as he planned, and they had managed to pass through the first dangerous part without so much as a scratch.

But he knew better than to let his guard down. This was Deadwood Pass after all, and the real threat hadn't even appeared yet.

The air became cooler as they neared the middle of the pass, and up ahead, the caravan slowed as figures emerged from the rocky outcroppings. A group of bandits, larger and more organized than the last, appeared, their weapons glinting in the dim light as they spread out to block the road. These weren't the terrified stragglers that had retreated earlier—these men had the confidence and arrogance of seasoned mercenaries.