10 Field of Flowers

It was nighttime Leo's group was camping on the side of the road. It had already been two days since they left the fortress of the wood elves. The party that consisted of only Leo and Eli multiplied.

Now there was Tenri and Rika. "Oh shit! I should've asked Raigar for horses. Say, Rika how long will it take to get to Regon by foot?"

Rika placed her index finger in the side of her cheeks, as she answered. "Well considering our progress I guess it will take about three more days. But if we run without rest tomorrow, it should take about a day to reach Regon."

Leo lay on the ground and started throwing a tantrum "I can't take it anymore, it so boring. How about we fight for a while Tenri."

Tenri nodded vigorously "sure, sure, let's do it Leo." Leo and Tenri were readying their weapons when Eli came between them. "STOP! It was hard enough when we had one idiot in the group now we got two."

Eli shook her head in dissatisfaction. "Well there is another way to get there faster without running." Rika suggested "If you had another way. Why didn't you say so sooner?!" Leo protested. "Well I just thought of the solution right now."

"So what's this brilliant plan of yours?"

"It's taking a detour to a nearby village and buy horses."

"So the plan is to get some horses, how about we ask those kind people hiding." Leo smiled his canines were showing.

†

A group of humans were looking at Leo and company from the tree branches. They were hiding their presence as they observe Leo's group.

"Hey boss what do you think? Should we go in now?" One of the men wearing a mask asked.

"Hmm it might get dangerous, they have an elf and a vampire in the group." The man who looked a bit short, was wearing lighter clothes and stood on a higher ground answered. Among the men hiding, he was the only one not holding any weapons. "Let's target the human first he looks like he's the weakest."

†

The group that was hiding in the trees all rushed toward Leo without looking at the others. "Don't kill those guys!" Leo shouted at his companions. They all nodded in acknowledgement, while the approaching bandits heard that and were greatly angered.

"Don't underestimate us brats." One of the men said while stretching his arms toward Leo.

"Freeze earth." Eli immediately casted a spell. 12 of the 30 bandits were trapped by ice that covered their whole legs.

Tenri was flicking her finger at the bandits heads, and they flew backwards. Rika was hitting a part of the bandits arm with her arrows and stuck them in the surrounding trees. Then out of nowhere a man did a diving kick at Leo.

Leo was only able to sense the man when he was already so close and barely dodge the attack. When the man landed he saw that it was just a kid who looked even younger than Hina.

"You guys are pretty good, but now that I'm here you better surrender." The kid arrogantly proclaimed.

"What will you do if we surrender?" Leo asked while smiling boldly.

"We'll take all of your belongings and sell you to a slave trader." The kid answered as if that was normal. "Well that does sound like fun, but no thank you."

Leo spoke while chuckling. "If you don't surrender then I'll beat you up, then take everything and then sell you to a slave trader."

"All by yourself?"

"What do you mean all by myself?" The kid finally noticed that all of his subordinates were subdued. "What! That's not fair." Leo was having fun messing with the kid.

"Then how about we do this to make it fair. I will fight you one on one, bare handed. If you win we will surrender unconditionally, but if I win you'll need to provide me and my companions' food, a warm bed and some horses."

Hearing Leo's requests, the kid smirked. "That's fine with me, but if you want, you can use your swords." Leo smirked as well as he answered. "There's no need. For a brat like you my fist are enough."

†

The group of girls were simply listening at the exchange between Leo and the kid.

"It's not as if he'll lose but to bet others in his game." Eli sounded unhappy.

"Well this seems fun wanna bet who will win Rika?" Tenri asked Rika

"No thank you I'm not much of a gambler."

"HEY YOU GIRLS! How can you be so calm?! You're about to become slaves you know!" The kid shouted irritated by the calm atmosphere.

†

'What's with these people their not scared at all? They're really underestimating me just because I'm a kid. Damn it I'll show you what happens when you underestimate me.'

†

The kid took a stance his right fist extended forward while his left fist was beside his face. He dashed forward and did a sweeping kick from below. Leo jumped upward, the kid placed both his hands to the ground and pushed forward trying to kick Leo in mid-air.

Leo grabbed the kid's right leg but soon after the kid's left leg was coming to hit Leo's face from the side. Leo barely avoided it but because of that attack, he unintentionally released the kid's leg. The kid held Leo's shoulders and tried to throw him to the ground. But Leo held the kid's arm instead and did a counter throw.

The kid did a mid-air somersault and landed gracefully on the ground. "Hahaha you're pretty good for a kid! So what's your name I'm called Leonard, Leonard Tranor" Leo was delighted and the kid was smiling too.

"You're the first adult I fought that was able to keep up. The name's Rex though I like you, I still need to get your money."

Rex charged and released a series of blows with his fist and legs. In the instant he unleashed a middle punch, Leo's body stepped lightly to the side to evade. When Rex stepped forward for a heavy punch, Leo coordinated with Rex's motions and stepped forward to counterattack with his knee. If Rex chose to counter this incoming attack, Leo would then crouch down and attack his pivot foot. Leo was really delighted but he needed to finish this at some point. Leo raised his right hand like a blade Rex sensing the danger tried to avoid but Leo was faster. His hand came down like a sword and actually slashed at a part of Rex's skin before Rex could do anything Leo's Left hand was by his neck. "It's my win or do you wish to continue?" Rex gritted his teeth "Fine I lose!"

†

The bandits accompanied Leo's group to their hideout. It was deep in the forest, on reaching the hideout Leo noticed that it was full of old people ranging from guys in their late thirties to people sixty and above. The only one who was young was Rex the leader of the bandits. On seeing Rex the people from the hideout welcomed him home. They all looked like family. One of them finally noticed Leo's group "look everyone Rex brought home some friends."

Everyone flooded toward Leo's group. Rex then whispered to Leo, "these people don't know I'm a bandit so I would appreciate it if you don't tell them. Pass this message to the others" Though confused Leo did as Rex said and told the message to his companions. They all nodded without a care. "Hey guys I offered my friends a place to stay for the night and a hot meal." They all started pushing Leo's group into a house.

†

After eating their meal the group held a conference inside the house they were provided with. "What the hell was that?" Rika apparently switched with Arika at some point and started questioning. "I don't get it either." Tenri announced. "It must be a trap of some sort." Eli stated her opinion.

"No I don't think so. I'm guessing it something much more complicated than that." Rex entered the place without knocking.

Eli immediately summoned her scythe and was ready to cleave Rex's head "you do know that it's rude to enter someone's house without knocking." Eli's voice was below freezing point. Rex prostrated himself before the queen. "I'm sorry I will never do that again."

'Seriously Eli how scary can you be?' Leo commented in his mind.

†

After Rex apologized and begged for forgiveness from the queen. Leo asked "So why do we need to keep you being a bandit a secret."

Rex scratched his head and answered "Well to make a long story short. All the young ones except for me has left the village. So the income we receive and our food supply greatly diminished. There are only a few people here that can still work. So I told them that I'll do random jobs for a rich merchant in the nearby town. But when I did that, he rejected me almost instantly. To get back at him I stole from him and from that day onward I was a bandit."

Everyone looked at Rex with a complicated expression. "You're really a good kid Rex." Leo patted Rex's head but was immediately swept away by Rex's hand "I don't need your sympathy! Tomorrow morning I'll give you your horses, that's all! Goodnight!" Rex exited the house in a hurry.

"What a pleasant child." "That damn brat actually has it rough." "After a few more years I would like to fight him." Eli, Arika, and Tenri commented.

†

Morning came the group was given their horses but as they were about to leave the villagers stopped them. "Wait!" "What is it?" Leo asked as politely as possible. "We have a request to make." "hmm what is your request?"

"Please take Rex with you." Rex looked at the villagers dumbfounded "What are you guys saying?" "We know Rex, about you being a bandit."

"You knew?" Rex asked as he looked at them with a pained expression. "Yes we knew but we waited for you to tell us so we never mentioned it."

Rex was silent for a while, before he spoke. "So you want me to go because I'm a bad child?" Rex was trembling as he said this. He almost looks like he was about to cry.

"No that's not it! We just want you to be free not shackled by this village, and it's stupid old people, that had made you into that. You're young, so you still can redeem yourself."

"But if I leave what about you guys?"

"We'll be fine we can manage on our own. Rex follow these people on their adventures, and learn many things." One of the villagers patted Rex on the shoulder as he smiled gently at the child.

Rex was silent for a moment with tears in his eyes. He hesitated and hesitated, but in the end he still nodded his head and answered "Sure"

"Welcome aboard" "It's a pleasure to have you, Rex. You can call me Lady Elizabeth." "Hmph brat the names Arika don't forget it.... And I'm Rika it nice to have you." "Hello the names Tenri." "It's a pleasure to be with you big brother and big sisters." All the members talked at the same time, making it sound like a jumble of words, and as if the arrogant bandit kid was simply a facade Rex smiled innocently at them. The group had gained a little brother.

†

"So where are we heading Brother Leo?" The group were riding there horses along the road. "Where heading for Regon."

"Regon? What are we going to do there?" Leo then recounted his adventures up to the point of meeting Rex.

"WOW amazing, so big sis Tenri is a Titan no wonder you were able to flick my men so easily." Hearing this, Tenri pounded her chest proudly.

"So we're going to Regon to enroll in the knight academy." Rex continued his questioning. "Knight academy?" Leo answered with a question as well.

"Huh? You didn't know Brother Leo to gain the weapon you're looking for, you must be a student or a graduate of the knight academy."

"Really? So how do we enter the knight academy?"

"Well any race may enter the knight academy. The human kingdom has friendly relations with all races. Their's an entrance test composed of a written exam and many practical exams."

"Well that doesn't sound so hard." Eli inserted. "Only the best of the best can enter the knight academy but with our skills we can probably enter with ease." Rex arrogantly stated.

†

As the group rested their horses for a while Leo felt something nearby calling him. Without thinking Leo headed toward the place that was beckoning him to come. The group noticing Leo suddenly sprinting followed him. They all were screaming his name but Leo did not respond. On reaching the middle of a field of flowers, Leo felt his body becoming hotter and hotter, as if the heat of the sun itself was in him. When he couldn't take it anymore Leo collapsed.

†

When Leo woke up he was still in the field of flowers. He looked around but couldn't see Eli and the others. He shouted their names but no one answered. When he was about to look for them in another location. Somebody pulled the sleeves of his coat. He looked down and saw a little girl. The little girl was wearing a gown of black.

She had silver hair that was tied into twintails, her faced though young was absolutely stunning. Leo finally noticed her eyes, her pupils were of different color, the right was gold and the left was blue. She had heterochromatic eyes. The girl was crying as she screamed "PLEASE SAVE ME!"

As she said those words a gust of wind suddenly blew by the field of flowers.