The Bandits I

After the encounter with the bandits Aster had grabbed his belongings and joined the father and daughter who after calming themselves continued their way towards the village.

Shortly after they began to move Aster asked the father what had happened.

Aster had hit the bullseye when first assessing the situation. The bandits had in fact ambushed the both of them using the surrounding trees, and took the girl hostage in order to make the father give them anything valuable that he might have had.

'I guess they decided he shouldn't be a problem to deal with but didn't bother to check if he was actually worth robbing in the first place.'

"Are you guys okay?"

"I'm fine. It was mostly the scare that got me. My daughter has the small cut on her neck, but like me she is just shaken. "

After the event Aster had bandaged the little girls neck and told her father she should try to rest in the wagon which he immediately agreed with.

'She probably won't be able to give her eyes a rest tonight.' He then looked at her father. His hands were still shaking while he was holding the horse's leash. 'If he is like that I can only assume how she might be.'

"Thank you." The father said out of no where. "If you didn't show up... well I'm not sure what would have happened. You have my word I will repay you for the crystal whenever I can."

Aster had a soft smile on his face has he heard what the father said. He was aware the man was definitely not on a stable financial situation, yet he wanted to pay him back despite that.

"Don't be stupid. I didn't help, I got robbed there is a difference. Also, If anyone needs to repay me it's those bandits not you."

The father's eyes widened in surprise. He had already understood from the way he acted after the bandits left and the way he is acting right now that Aster had been acting when the bandits were taking her daughter hostage. He definitely wasn't robbed. Yet he did not only lose at least 200 credits, he also refused to being paid back. His respect for Aster had greatly increased.

"By the way do you have any idea who they might have been?" Asked Aster.

"No. I was aware that the area around this village was currently being targeted by bandits so merchants have been avoiding it in their routes. I haven't been doing so well lately, so I was hoping I could make a profit considering that, but... well" The father lowered his head in shame.

"Why isn't anyone taking care of it?"

"Small village and small-time bandits. The village itself isn't really that important both in exports or location wise. And from what I heard the bandits have only been stealing and lightly injuring travelers so importance wise there are way more things that take priority. I don't know how the village is handling the situation but I guess we will find out soon enough."

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...

They both talked for a while longer about various things before finally reaching the village. There were a couple guards stationed at the entrance, but after a quick examination they simply let them trough. By the time they arrived it was already dark so Aster made his way to an Inn while the father and daughter went to find a place to park their wagon.

...

...

Aster once again woke up slightly before dawn.

"I feel like I should be felling more tired considering how early I've been waking up. Well whatever might as well do some early training while everyone is asleep."

He then proceeded to do his Aura exercises he has been doing the past days until once he reached his energy limit. He then washed himself and went to explore the village.

...

Aster had made this way to the middle of the village which was called "Fresh Wood". Compared to Initium the village had a much more rural vibe to it. The houses were wood based instead of brick and the village was completely surrounded by fields and had a large amount of animal farms. The few shops Aster had seen where all farm based and rarely sold anything fancy.

"Actually now that I think about it... does this village even have a communication center?" Aster asked himself before immediately facepalming himself for not checking beforehand.

"I sometimes forget the Wind Continent is not really up to date on the whole technology department. No wonder that clever bastard moved out as soon as he could." *sigh* "Well I might still get lucky and besides I guess they should have at least one communication device in this village so the question now is... where do I go now."

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...

After asking a local who was leaving his house to water his crops if there was a communication center, and the local bluntly laughing in his face and asking what the hell that fancy term meant, Aster had gotten the answer to his previous question and decided to then ask where the town hall was to which the local bluntly laughed in his face and asked what the hell that fancy term meant.

Aster was now at the "Town Hall" and was met with a secretary who was taking care of documents in the corner of the room. He assumed she was also the receptionist, and while she was calmly and silently doing her job two men were screaming at each other from a room to the side.

"I told you already! We found where the bastards are hiding, so I just take my men we go get them and the whole problem is fixed!" Said a middle-aged man with a deep voice.

"They are "A" not your men, they are the village guards. "B" they are not guards they are a bunch of useless drunk heads and lazy asses who only have a job because we need a minimal guard count in the village. And "C" the problem will not be fixed. At best, they will get their asses kicked and at worse they are gonna die. We just need to wait for 2, no 1 proper elementalist from the capital or a neighboring town to show up and then you, my men and him can go take care of those bastards." Said another middle-aged man with a much less manly voice.

"You have been saying that for the past month! Almost no merchants have been visiting us and the ones that do, have jacked up their prices massively! How long do you plan on waiting for a knight in shining armor to come and save your sorry ass! Why the fuck would a proper Elementalist even pass by, not to mention, even bother to help this village in the first place".

"Well if you hate our situation so much why don't you go and take care of the bandits yourself then. You thick-headed muscle brain."

"Maybe I will you Fat Bald Bastard."

Just as the man was about to leave, the door opens and in the room enters a young man with hunter clothes.

...

After asking the secretary if there was a communication device he could use she took a look at Aster and simply pointed to the room where the barely muffled shouting could be heard.

"Just go In."

After a few confused stares that did not invoke any more words from the secretary Aster decided to enter the room.

"Excuse me, I was told to come in here." Aster said as he entered the room and was meet with two distinct figures.

Standing up was a man in his fifties with a muscular build and a sharp look in his eyes, he was in uniform and had a very firm aura to him. Seated down next to him was a man around the same age who looked much older and had an average build he was wearing a semi-formal attire and had his fingers linked.

They both looked at Aster and before he could get another sentence out the Commander had already turned to look at the mayor.

"Well here is the Elementalist you were waiting for now if you excuse me I'm gonna go get those drunk heads and lazy asses ready." Said the Commander before attempting to leave the room.

"You stay right where you are!" Shouted the Mayor before turning to look at the visitor.

"Young man, are you perhaps an Elementalist?"

"K-kind of"

' What did I just walk into...'

After calming himself by taking a couple deep breaths the mayor turned to Aster and in a serious tone said: "Would you kindly listen to my request."