First Battle 

As the night settled over Stonehaven, Cole retired to his room at the Twilight Haven Inn, feeling slightly perplexed by the events of the day. 

Tick, tack, tick tack.

A clock ticked the seconds away.

The Mana Compass rested on top of the bedside drawer, its glow dimly illuminating the room. 

'Just what are her intentions?'

He couldn't help but ask himself.

'Why is she being so kind to me?'

He had no clue, but he really wanted to fight off the pleasant sentiments that were beginning to form in his mind. His heart.

Sleep eluded him, and he couldn't shake the perplexity that clung to his thoughts.

***

"Yawn!"

The morning sun brought a new day, and as Cole joined the party, a sense of determination settled within him. 

"Well then, without any wasting any necessary time: Depart!"

With that declaration from the party leader, Aeliana, they embarked on the journey, the two carriages rolling smoothly on the worn path.

The destination: the town of Lumira, renowned for its luminescent flora and mystical atmosphere.

Luminara is nestled between gentle hills, its buildings are adorned with glowing vines that emit a soft, soothing light. The townsfolk thrived on harnessing the magical properties of the flora, creating enchanting lanterns and potions.

Or so Aeliana explained their brief stop into novel details, emphasizing the importance of gathering supplies unique to Luminara and how they have much more value when transported somewhere else, even if the cost of merch is quite overpriced with the current state of the world right now.

Albeit, during their travels, a usual event that probably happens to everyone traveling by carriage in their lives occurred, but to Cole, it was still something new.

On the third day of their journey, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the tranquility of the night was shattered by the sudden halt of their carriages. Shadows emerged from the darkness – a group of bandits, seven in total.

"Aye, aye, anyone who's inside cough up whatever you have if you want to live!"

'... Wha–? They speak like annoying characters!' 

Cole thought to himself as he first heard their words.

"Ohh, show time?"

Aeliana and the party, well-acquainted with the strength of each member, exchanged knowing glances. 

'I can only notice two low-leveled presences that can use mana, the rest are useless. This is a perfect chance!'

Thought Aeliana as she raised her thumbs up to Brander, who was also looking in her direction with a knowing grin.

Returning the gesture and raising his own thumb up, Brander showed his teeth as he decided to whisper and not give an estimate of how many were inside the carriage.

"Guess we'll leave the spotlight to the newbie. Now get out there!"

"Ehhh?"

This was an opportunity for Cole to prove himself as a fully-fledged adventurer. Aeliana nodded toward him with a calm smile, encouraging him to take the lead.

"Sigh, guess I'll just do it then."

The bandits approached, and Cole, with a measured calmness, created an illusion that made it appear as though he was alone in one carriage.

That illusion is the peeking of his head through the curtain.

"Erm, do you have any business with me? Do you not know who I am? My father will–"

"Tch, it's a spoiled noble, huh?"

"Listen, kid, we don't give a rat's ass about your father, get out and empty your pockets if you want to live."

"Sigh, guess I'll just do it."

Repeating 99% of the sentence he said inside the carriage, this time he opened the door wide enough just for him to get out.

Selene, ever observant, maintained her position on the reins of the other carriage with raised brows of surprise when she noticed Cole get out to deal with them.

"Oh, my~? Well then, impress me, young man," Selene teased, blowing a playful kiss toward Cole as he gracefully stepped out.

"Please refrain from doing that, ma'am, it's bad for my heart."

Cole said with a snicker as he walked forward toward the bandits.

Engaging them in conversation, Cole sought to further understand their motives and if they could be persuaded to leave them alone. 

However, the bandits' intentions became clear when one of them lunged at him with a crude weapon.

"Oh, quite a close one, almost had me touched by that thing you may call a sword."

 Cole remarked nonchalantly as if casually avoiding a dead insect on the ground.

"Hurriyah!"

Another swung their blade unprofessionally towards him and the battle commenced.

'We side-step over this… and we guide his arm away from here.'

With every movement, Cole demonstrated an otherworldly fluidity as he remained unharmed from the numerous attacks from the bandits.

'They number… seven.'

His attacks were a mesmerizing dance, each step and strike executed with impeccable precision. 

"Tch, what's with this kid that keeps jumping around like a damned rabbit?!"

The bandits, initially confident, found themselves struggling to keep up with his elusive maneuvers.

As the skirmish unfolded, Cole's combat prowess shone. He effortlessly parried attacks, sidestepped lunges, and countered with a grace that seemed supernatural. 

The air crackled with energy as Cole and the bandits engaged in a rhythmic ballet of blades and blows.

'Now I'll take my worn-off sword and–"

"Hmph!"

Cole swung it towards the neck of a bandit, who easily sidestepped towards Cole's left while looking at the blade in his hand.

A smirk began to creep on the bandit's face as his sight began to turn towards Cole who, instead, was waiting with both hands free.

"Didn't you just– Bluergh!?"

The moment Cole struck with his sword, he let go of it and instead punched the jaws out of the bandit's head, his teeth flowing around.

"One down."

As Cole said so with an authoritative voice, he crouched down to take hold of the bandit's blade, which was at least better than his.

Crri-Crrick!

'The Compass is shaking.'

Whipping his head toward what seemed to be the bandit leaders, who recognized the threat Cole posed, unleashed awakened magic.

Cole's eyes narrowed, and a determination flashed across his face. 

"So those are my first targets, huh?"

In an instant, Cole descended to the ground, becoming a shadow that traversed the battlefield. 

Fa-fwoop~

The sound of his clothes was heard, not his steps.

The two magic-wielding bandits, once confident, now found themselves facing an enemy who moved faster than the flicker of a candle flame.

And in the darkness, as if in slow motion, the only thing that the enemies detected before being struck down was the snow-white hair.

But by the time they did so, it was too late.

Cole's movements were but a blur of calculated strikes and evasions. 

He closed in on the awakened magic users, dismantling their defenses with precise blows, making use of his sword's hilt since killing people was still not of his taste.

"Three down."

"W-What exactly are you? A freak?!"

"Fuck it, make a run for it– Ain't worth it to get raw-shitted by a spoiled kid."

Saying so, four of the seven bandits who were still standing, made a run for it.

Step, step, step.

"You won't chase after them?"

Selene voiced as she stepped next to Cole, whose body was shaking with adrenaline.

'This is the first time I've actually fought someone with my life on the line.'

Cole stood amidst the defeated, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins as he relished in the ecstasy of standing tall between fallen enemies.

 Aeliana and the party, emerging from their carriages, witnessed the spectacle.

"Well done, Cole!" Aeliana exclaimed, genuine admiration in her eyes. 

"You're actually a freak, kid!"

Brander voiced as he slapped Nord's back.

"Ahaha, thank you, but far from it."

"Look at you acting modern and all, let this lady Selene give you a kiss."

"Huh? No, wait, noo!"

Cole's face was caught in the grip of her slender, pretty, soft, thin hands and–

"Mmmwah!"

"Oh?"

'Just on the cheek?'