chapter 23 : "Where there's smoke, there's fire,"

The population of Aurendale city was around thirty thousand, and nearly half of it consisted of individuals under the age of eighteen. This city could be said to have significant potential. The biggest problem of the city was being surrounded by mountains and the presence of bandits hiding in the mountains. These bandits had grown so bold that even the ruling count of Aurendale had struck a deal with them, leading to the rebellion of the city's residents. The former count was a corrupt man, and thus, the Royal Guards were dispatched by King Richard himself to capture him. Later, he was executed by the royal court, and his head was displayed in the city square.

Due to the former count, the bandit groups had become considerably stronger, numbering in the hundreds. Ethan, in command, had only 150 men under his leadership. Ethan wanted to rid the bandits as quickly as possible and knew he had to do it cleverly. But first, he needed someone familiar with the mountains and forests.

Ethan was determined to find someone well-versed in the mountains and forests to rid the bandits. So, he decided to take action to find someone, and chose a hunter named Elyan. Elyan was known in the city as a skilled hunter who was familiar with all the routes, hideouts, and secret places of the bandits in the mountains.

Ethan assigned a guard to summon Elyan to his mansion. A few hours later, Elyan was waiting in front of Ethan's office. Despite a voice inside him suggesting this might lead to trouble, he raised his hand and knocked on the door. Upon hearing "Come in," he entered.

He saw a boy sitting at a desk, with deep blue eyes and dark hair. Even from his posture, one could tell he was authoritative. "You've summoned me, Your Majesty," he said as he took off his hat.

After scrutinizing the man for a while, Ethan began to speak. "Yes, I summoned you. The reason for your presence here is my need for someone familiar with the forest, and you fit the criteria. But are you aware of what awaits you once you leave this room?" he said. Elyan thought the boy speaking in front of him seemed more like a wolf than a boy. "Yes, sir, I know how to keep my mouth shut," he said calmly.

Ethan roughly outlined his plan and asked Elyan about the forest-covered mountains surrounding the city. After a few hours, the two concluded their conversation. "I will call upon you soon. You will lead us in the forest," Ethan said, and they parted ways.

Ethan's plan was comprehensive, and he trusted Elyan's knowledge. He had found the right person to rid the city of the bandits. Elyan accepted Ethan's offer and set off for home. However, he harbored a concern; he feared the consequences of this mission.

Ethan decided to increase his soldiers' training to prepare for this task, and about a week later, they needed to be ready to attack the bandits.

A few days later, while Ethan was having dinner, Eleanor asked, "May I wander around the city tomorrow? I would like to explore it and get to know it better."

"Sure, exploring the city tomorrow wouldn't be a problem."

"Will you come with me?" Eleanor asked.

"Yes, would that be an issue? I wanted to see the people of the city up close," he said.

"No, I have no problem with that," she said, and after they finished their meal quietly, Ethan kissed Eleanor's cheek, and they retired to their rooms. She had become accustomed to the kiss, so she wasn't too surprised, but his face still blushed with embarrassment.

The next day, as Eleanor was getting ready, there was a knock on her door. When Eleanor opened it, she found Ethan waiting there, ready. Ethan smiled, "Are you ready?" he asked. Eleanor nodded slightly, "Yes, of course," she said.

They exited from the back of the mansion and soon reached the heart of the city. They were accompanied by a guard. The reason for the guard's presence was to prevent any trouble since Ethan and Eleanor appeared to be merely children from the outside.

While the guard followed them at a distance, Ethan asked, "Where would you like to go first?" Eleanor replied, "We could go to the market in the city square first." They headed towards the city square.

As Ethan and Eleanor made their way to the city square, a pleasant conversation ensued between them. Eleanor became absorbed in observing her surroundings and began exploring them with curiosity. Ethan, meanwhile, smiled as he watched her reactions.

"This city is truly beautiful," Eleanor murmured, observing the bustling crowd around her. "Did you grow up in a place like this?"

Ethan shook his head. "No, this isn't where I grew up. But still, I think I could make some good memories here in Aurendale."

Eleanor smiled at him. "What kind of memories could you make here?"

Ethan hesitated for a moment, then began speaking earnestly. "Maybe the kind of memories we make together. Like exploring the city together."

Eleanor was taken aback by Ethan's seriousness and blushed slightly. "Yes, maybe that could be," she said gently.

By this time, they had arrived at the market. As Eleanor examined the colorful stalls, Ethan stood silently by her side. Despite the distance between them, the attraction between them was palpable. However, Eleanor was disgusted by this feeling.

Ethan gifted Eleanor a beautiful black jewel from a colorful stall, and Eleanor clumsily accepted it. They spent a few hours there before entering a fancy restaurant to dine, eating their meals while noticing the strange looks from the people around them. When they returned home, it was already night, so they retired to their rooms.

The following days passed normally, and finally, the day arrived when Ethan would go after the bandits. As Ethan summoned Elyan, they began to leave the city with all their soldiers, bringing along about fifty carriages. The people of the city watched this activity with curiosity and prayed that nothing bad would happen to them.

When they reached a large canyon, they left all the carriages there, as if a temporary wall had been erected. On one side of the canyon was a lake, and the only way out was blocked. Ethan meticulously checked each carriage's placement, as it was crucial to his plan.

Then, with his soldiers, they headed into the forest, and soon, they saw a large column of smoke rising into the air. Thinking "'Where there's smoke, there's fire,'" they cautiously approached the source of the smoke. As they advanced through the forest in groups, they could finally see the enemy camp.

When everyone was ready, Ethan signaled and lit the end of his arrow, pulled back his bow, and released it. Simultaneously, dozens of fiery arrows struck the area where the tents were. Before the bandits in the camp could understand what was happening, the tents were already on fire.