The raid of the mountain bandits

Adelaide took her leave, but her thoughts remain on Catherine. Something was clouding her mind that the thought was so vivid about something that's close in her grasp, yet she can't take it just yet. It was at the tip of her tongue, but she just can't make it come out. The girl's green hues left her with mysteries, thus her spitting image of her lost sister. Adelaide could've stayed, and question her with the thoughts she had, yet Catherine's face reminds her of the pain of her inability to protect a loved one, so she chose to go.

~~~

Right before the wedding of both powerful noble family's first child, the Menrice took back their words and committed an act of treachery towards the Xenon. It was supposed to be a busy day full of preparations for the wonderful dawn of the next turn of the clock, but they were alarmed when it was announced that the Xenon's Lord along with his three wives is dead. They were assassinated.

Without the leaders, the family fell into great chaos as they were raided by the traitors to obliterate them, while the Xenon gets disarrayed and unprepared. Gladly, Adelaide and her three other sisters managed to escape, but the soldiers from the enemy are still after them, having no plan on giving them any escape. As the eldest, it is Adelaide's responsibility to protect them even as she herself is helpless, too. The four girls chose to split up planned by Adelaide, and have all the men chase after her head.

It didn't go as planned since one of her sisters, Ariella, has been shot dead leaving Adelaide with anguish, disgust, and hatred towards the rivalled family.

~~~

Adelaide's hands balled to a fist, which made her knuckles turn white, while memories flash back to her mind. She walks with anger in every step, going to somewhere she doesn't know herself.

"Such a fine noble lady who visited our land," a voice speaks which made Adelaide stop in her tracks; then, quietly turned towards the voice. It was an old lady who was shorter than her, so she was looking up at Adelaide with a smile plastered on her face. Behind the grin's motive was unknown, and all it shows is its creepy front. The young maiden stayed unaffected, keeping her eye contact back at the old lady's amused eyes. Little did Adelaide know that she was under this sorceress' spell.

"What do you want?" She's having the urge of ignoring this person, and go back on her way, but somehow there's something that's trying to pull her back. Penelope chuckled, pausing for a moment before she answers.

"I heard that a noble lady is coming. And, while I'm here, I saw a young lady passing by, wearing glamorous, and fancy clothes." The old lady looked at the accessories Adelaide wore; then, up again at the maiden's eyes. "I thought you were here, so I just grabbed the opportunity to talk to you," the old lady said, which was obviously a lie.

They stayed still on where they are as silence filled the air. Adelaide stayed quiet and suspicious of the person before her presence. With no plan of wasting any more time with Penelope, Adelaide left, but before she could go further away, the old lady speaks in a low voice, "don't get involved any deeper with that girl. Your sister was already lost the day she was born." They have a fair amount of distance from each other, but the voice was so clear as if it was said jus beside her ears.

As if like a cue, her mind snapped from somewhat like an unknown spell cast on her. Her mind came to, and remembered something from one of her objectives; then, her lost sister popped into her head. Adelaide turned around where the sorceress is, but she was no longer there, not even a trace of her for Adelaide to follow. The maiden decided to ignore the suspicious lady, she doubted that the person would give a hand for what's done, anyway. Then, ran back towards where she saw Catherine. She rushed in a hurry, arriving there out of breath, and panting heavily. When Adelaide looked around, however, Catherine was no longer there and has no sign of the girl she talked to.

~~~

It was the day after the young noble lady's visit at the Bayrock town. The group of three are once again in the middle of the forest and are finding their new training place just as they planned, chatting and discarding the vines of wild plants that come to their way while they walk.

As he swings the weapon, the plants are trimmed out neatly. Some plants let flow out a white sticky substance out of their wounds, others are transparent, and it wafts a fresh raw greeny smell of them.

"Solaris, I told you I can just move the plants away. Cutting them isn't necessary," Catherine told with slight concern in her voice, whilst omitting small pebbles and sliced nature on the ground. Ezio remains silent beside her, simply following to the path where the group is headed.

Solar stops; then, turns around to face her. "Your power might not subsist and already drained once we get there if you do. Let's put by our stamina before we get there, yeah?"

"Well, let's keep her weapon, too. You'll make it dull by cutting those," Ezio said with his neutral voice which Solaris responds with a frown.

"Cutting plants won't make a scythe dull," Solaris responds before slicing a fallen trunk of a tree behind him, and without averting his gaze from Ezio. The trunk was cut in half neatly, making its other half roll over the ground and hitting another tree with a thud. Ezio narrowed his eyes.

The two boys look like they might start a fight any second now so Catherine butts in before they do, "now now, we don't want the clock go running out on us. We need to hurry or we might go home past dinner or later," said in her cheerful voice; then, starts walking on ahead, leaving the two lads behind her. She moved aside the plants with a gentle swing of her hands, ignoring any of Solaris' reasons.

Just then, they heard vicious laughs of voices from nearby. The three of them were instantly alarmed, preparing themselves and the weapon they wield. They searched their eyes around the area, and there they saw a group of mountain bandits not far from them. They were circling around someone and had the person cornered. From the looks of the person's clothes, she's a wealthy woman, wearing fair expensive clothes. Surely, her appearance would attract thieves especially if she's all alone and looking helpless in the middle of the forest.

The group of three friends can't peek a sight of her face as it's blocked by the bandits' broad backs. There are about eight of them, and the poor girl they surround is definitely outnumbered. Before the three could take into action, a crow flew out, soaring away above them, fleeing to the east where the Bayrock town is headed.

"You must be so carefree and ignorant venturing our turf without so much protection but a crow who fled for his life," one of the slender looking bandits mocks their victim and his group with him laugh wickedly.

Surely, their only objectives are money which their victim looks like she doesn't have any at the moment that all she could do is back down to a tree helplessly. The ragged clothes the bandits wore, and the poor hygiene at one glance, truly show they live in poverty and in need of coins. Right before they get any closer to their victim, Solaris springs into the scene, his kana-wa blazing in flames. Levelling his right hand to his left shoulders— weapon in both hands— he accelerates his blades right at the bandit's chest.

The bandits were taken aback by Solaris suddenly storming the scene. They back away, giving a picture for the group of three to see the view of the noble lady Xenon, Adelaide. Her bloody red eyes meet with her sister's emerald and hazel for a second before Catherine jumps into action. The thieves glared at them while Catherine, Solaris, and Ezio circle around Adelaide protectively.

Following Solaris' attack, Ezio's chain moves with the swing of his hands. It clangs as the small pieces of the chain's metal collide with metal along with the splash of water he used to manipulate his weapon. It wraps around two of the bandits, holding them captive. They struggle together, but it did not help, and instead, fell down on the ground while they groan in complaints.

Four at once, the bandits lunge towards them with the knives on hand. The other two must have been considering their decisions as they shake in their place. Solaris handles the other two with the lash of fire he released. It burns their clothes, making them run away while patting out the flames eating up the fabrics of their dishevelled clothing.

"Hey careful, you halfwit! Are you planning on burning down half of the forest again?" Ezio stated before splashing water to the fires which are gradually eating flammable dried leaves on the ground.

While they are busy arguing, three bandits tried to harm them, Catherine discharges her skill from her foot to the vines nearby to get ahold of the bandits' legs. They stumble on the ground; then, Ezio finished them out with the swing of his chains. Only last one bandit remains standing who looks like he doesn't carry any more courage to fight as he trembles where he stands.

The three of them looked at the last burglar and with that, he scurried off to the deep forest, even tripping while he flees. Adelaide is obviously stunned in awe, watching them on and about fighting with their magic which is yet even books were never told.

"Good thing we came in time," Ezio told, facing the lady who still can't speak as she was enveloped by overwhelm. Catherine turns to Adelaide and was about to speak when the crow from earlier came, letting out clucks and caws as he flies back with the Xenon's right hand. He was riding on his brown horse, galloping their way to where they are.

"M'lady!" Aetos shouted, his face coloured worry. Swallowing back her words in mind, she steps back to give way for their land's guests. While Aetos made his way to them, all that's greeted him are seven knocked out bandits, a maiden and two lads, and his lady unharmed. He knows for sure that he's late and if it wasn't for the young strangers, he would have regretted the outcome. Aetos is speechless.

"Are you alright?" Aetos asks. Adelaide didn't say anything but nod.

"The air tells we're now at midday. We better get going," Ezio announced.

Catherine bobs her head up and down with a smile before she follows after her pals. They left, without so much as goodbyes to Adelaide, Aetos, and the Raven crow with them, so they can't help but just watch as their backs disappear through the forest.