Safety

Danialla's pov

The bandit's eyes narrow, scepticism flickering across his face. "You think you can bluff your way out of this?" he challenges, pressing the gun harder against my head.

"I'm not bluffing," I say calmly, allowing a small, confident smile to touch my lips. "I may not like to use magic to hurt people, but in this case, I'll make an exception."

For a moment, the only sound is the crackling of the fire and the distant rustling of the night. The tension is palpable as everyone waits for the next move. The bandit's uncertainty is clear in his eyes. He glances at his men, who are all watching, waiting for his command. They seem less certain now, glancing around uneasily. The sense of control he had moments before is slipping.

"Enough of this," he finally growls, his voice shaky with indecision. "Drop your act, princess. You're coming with us."

In that instant, I decide to act. I snap my fingers, channelling a pulse of magical energy that ripples out from me in a wave. The air around us hums with power as a shimmering barrier forms, encircling the campfire. The bandit stumbles back, eyes wide with shock.

"What... what did you do?" he stammers, his confidence crumbling as a few of the men in the forest are heard screaming.

"I gave you a chance," I say, my voice low and steady. "And now you see the consequences of underestimating me, you have 10 seconds"

The other guards and bandits hesitate, fear and uncertainty evident in their expressions. Vider steps forward, his axe ready, eyes fixed on the remaining bandits. The guards from both Sinbad's and my own divisions' close ranks, weapons drawn, forming a protective circle around the campfire.

"Last chance," I say, addressing the bandit leader. "Call off your men and leave, or face the consequences."

For a long moment, the bandit leader stands frozen, weighing his options. Finally, with a snarl of frustration, he lowers his gun and signals his men to retreat. One by one, they back away, casting wary glances at the magical barrier and the armed guards.

As they disappear into the darkness, the tension around the campfire slowly eases. I lower my hand, the barrier dissipating, and turn to Vider, who gives me a curt nod of approval.

"You handled that well, princess," he says, his voice steady.

I nod, exhaling a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Thank you," I say, addressing the guards. 

Though most retreat, some remain sceptical. "Hey," yells Sinbad, his voice cutting through the tension. "You're the kids that robbed me," he says, pointing at one of the bandits. "Give me back my royal regalia."

"Finders keepers," one of them mocks, sneering at Sinbad.

Sinbad's irritation is palpable. He raises his hand, and a purple light envelops the mocking bandit. The kid collapses to the ground, gasping for breath as if being strangled by invisible hands.

"Is that how you talk to your elders?" Sinbad says, his voice calm yet menacing. He walks up to the kid with a majestic stride, squatting down next to him. The purple glow around the bandit intensifies, and despite its faint appearance, the magic's strength is undeniable.

The other bandits hesitate, their bravado wavering in the face of Sinbad's display of power. I can see fear creeping into their expressions as they exchange uncertain glances.

"Sinbad," I call out, stepping forward. "Release him. We don't need to escalate this any further."

Sinbad glances at me, his eyes sharp and assessing. After a moment, he relents, lowering his hand. The purple light fades, and the bandit gasps for air, clutching his throat.

"Remember this lesson," Sinbad says, standing up and addressing the remaining bandits. "Your actions have consequences,'' as he ripes the necklace off the boy's neck.

The bandits, now thoroughly shaken, begin to retreat in earnest, dragging their fallen comrade with them. The camp gradually returns to a semblance of normalcy as the threat dissipates.

"Thank you," I say to Sinbad as he approaches. "Your timing was impeccable."

Sinbad shrugs, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I couldn't let them get away with it. Besides," he adds, glancing at the retreating figures, "they needed to learn some respect."

As the last of the bandits disappear into the night, the guards relax, lowering their weapons. The fire crackles quietly, and a sense of relief washes over the camp.

"Let's get some rest," I suggest to everyone gathered. "We'll need our strength for whatever comes next."

"Vider," Sinbad yells, his voice cutting through the night air, "Go pick up my other regalia from those kids."

Vider lazily looks at Sinbad, his expression indifferent. "No," he replies, stretching and yawning. "I'm sleepy. Get it yourself."

Sinbad's frustration is palpable. "What kind of guard are you? is that how you talk to your king?" he demands.

"One not paid enough," Vider retorts, turning to walk away.

As the guards untie the handcuffed people, Flora runs to me and hugs me tightly. "You can be brave sometimes," she says, her voice filled with admiration.

"Sometimes?" I question a hint of mock offence in my tone. "I'm brave all the time."

"If that's what you say," she teases, grabbing my hand as we chat.

While everyone is distracted, I close my eyes and quickly cast a mind wipe spell. It's a delicate spell, one that only works on those with lower power levels than mine. I don't want anyone to remember me using magic, especially Sinbad. Though his magic seems potent, there's a chance he's a lower-level mage. The real concern is Lady Nabila.

I open my eyes, hoping the spell was effective. Everyone around me looks confused, their memories of the last few minutes seemingly erased.

"Why are we outside?" one of the guards murmurs, looking around bewildered.

"Did something happen?" another asks, scratching his head.

Flora looks up at me, just as puzzled. "What were we talking about?" she wonders aloud.

I smile reassuringly. "Nothing important," I say, leading her back towards the tents. "Let's get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us."

As we walk, I can't help but glance at Sinbad and Lady Nabila, wondering if the spell worked on them. Sinbad looks around, slightly disoriented, but otherwise calm. Lady Nabila, however, catches my eye. There's a knowing look in her gaze, one that makes me suspect she might have retained her memories despite my spell.

For now, though, the immediate danger has passed, and everyone is safe. I take a deep breath, grateful for the brief respite, and focus on the task at hand—getting through the night and preparing for whatever challenges tomorrow may bring.