Chapter 2: The Bandit Ambush
Leonidas trudged through the dense forest, his armor creaking with each step. As a historian, he was more accustomed to dusty scrolls and quiet libraries than the rugged wilderness.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. Without hesitation, Leonidas found himself running towards the sound, his spear at the ready. He felt a strange autopilot taking over, as if his body knew what to do before his mind caught up.
As he rounded a bend, he saw an elf woman being pinned to the ground by a bandit. With a swift thrust of his spear, Leonidas killed the bandit, saving the woman from a grim fate.
"Thank you...thank you so much!" the elf woman sobbed, clinging to Leonidas' arm. Her face was bruised, and her clothes were torn and bloody. "They attacked us without warning...please, you have to help us! They're headed for the caravan, it's not far from here!"
Leonidas' face hardened with determination. "Tell me, how many bandits are there?"
"I don't know, maybe 50 or more? They're led by Gorthok, a ruthless man with fire magic...please, you have to stop them!"
Leonidas nodded and dashed towards the caravan, his spear at the ready. As he burst into the clearing, he saw a group of elves huddled together in terror, surrounded by guards who looked like they had just survived a massacre.
The elves were battered and bruised, their armor dented and bloody. Women and children were among them, their faces pale and frightened. Some had bandages wrapped around their heads or arms, and others had visible scars on their faces and necks. They looked like they had been through a war, and Leonidas could see the fear and desperation in their eyes.
As the battle ensued, Leonidas fought with a ferocity he never knew he possessed. He took down bandit after bandit, his spear slicing through the air with deadly precision.
When the dust settled, Leonidas stood panting, surrounded by the bodies of his victims. He gazed at his spear, now stained with the blood of his enemies.
"How... how did I do this?" Leonidas wondered, his mind reeling with the sheer scale of the carnage. "I'm a historian, not a warrior! And what world is this? Am I in some sort of fantasy novel or game?"
"But you are now," a voice whispered in his mind. "And you have a new purpose. Find your place in this world, Leonidas. Find your way."
Leonidas' eyes widened in surprise. Who was speaking to him? And how did they know his name? He looked around, but the elves were still huddled together, unaware of the voice in his head.