Rushing to the Store

"Men!"

"And women!" Amma smiled at the captain of the guard and added, now standing before a line of a dozen guards. "It's early, but your first assignment is already waiting for you. Head to the general store and surround the premises. Some guards are already there, but your reinforcements are necessary as a dozen armed bandits are holding up the store.

"For now, keep the peace. The safety of the hostages is our top priority, but don't give in to useless demands."

Then, the door of the meeting room casually swung open. A young man with medium-length, auburn red hair and crystal blue eyes halted the moment he spotted the mayor and captain. He instantly stood at attention and saluted. "Madam! Sir! Forgive my intrusion!"

"No need," replied the captain. "You're early, but we're glad to have another man."

Nodding, the young man looked to the mayor. "Trainee Jash, at your service!"

"A trainee…" Amma was intrigued by the boy but she wasn't sure why. "Be careful and follow orders. Do that, and you'll be fine."

"Everyone, move out!" ordered the captain, guiding the guards out of the barracks.

Jash hurriedly put on the basic armor supplied to the trainee guards, shoulder plates and a helmet along with an old, plain sword. He caught up with the running guards and quickly found his trainer. "What's happening?"

The middle-aged guard summed up the report, "The general store is being held hostage. We're to keep peace and negotiate for hostage safety."

"THE GENERAL STORE!?!"

The trainee's shout startled the guards and the scared citizens. Immediately, the mayor spotted the red hair under the helmet and shouted back, "Quiet! We keep the peace! Don't start an unnecessary panic."

"Ma'am, we must hurry or it will be too late!" Suddenly, Jash sped up and outpaced the rushing guards. He reached the front in seconds, running between the captain and mayor.

As Jash tried to pass them, the captain grabbed the boy's arm to stop him. In a hushed tone, the captain shouted, "Calm down! If you panic, then so will the people."

"We have to hurry!" insisted Jash, matching the captain's tone. "If we're too late, then there's no telling what may happen!"

"Explain," ordered the mayor, even more intrigued by the young man.

"My sister should be there now to ask for a job."

"Oh? So you're worried about her–"

Shaking his head, Jash interrupted the captain and continued, "Our guardian is with her. It's him I'm worried about!"

"Don't worry. We'll take care of–"

"You don't get it.." Jash sighed, trying to speed up again. "If we don't act now, then–"

CRACK, CRACK! CRASH!!

Just as the general store came into view, an explosion of wood planks and splinters burst out of the entrance and at the building directly across the street. The bandits around the store were in shock the moment they heard the commotion. The few guards already stationed about the store stiffened in confusion. Amma and the captain were baffled but they each turned to Jash out of reflex, curious how he'd expected the unexpected.

"We're too late!" Breaking into a full sprint, Jash took off without caring about orders. "DON'T KILL THEM!!"

The surrounding guards and bandits were jolted out of shock as they spotted Jash with no blade drawn. No one understood the order, and no one understood why a guard in trainee armor was the one shouting.

CRACK!! CRASH, CRASH, CRASH!!!

More splinters and planks filled the air, both at the store entrance and the building across the street. This time, it was more obvious to the bandits and guards what was going on.

Three bodies had flown out of the store, expanding the hole of the first explosion. Those bodies were the cloaked bandits, and they speedily crashed into the wall of the building across the street, piling atop the first person that had been thrown.

"DON'T KILL THEM!!" Jash shouted again, passing the posted guards and nearing the bandit perimeter.

"Huh!?" A voice from inside the store groaned in response to Jash's cry, startling the bandits further. "They threaten Nelphy and you want me to let them off so easily!?!"

The store's door gradually opened as a lone figure slowly stepped into the street.

Every bandit froze. All eyes weren't on the lone man but on what the man was dragging behind him. Even the guards were in shock at the situation, especially the mayor who had finally caught up.

"Th-th-th…" Amma began to shake and convulse, collapsing to her knees in the street.

"Madam Amma!" The captain was utterly confused, trying his best to help the mayor. "Madam, what's wrong? How can I help?"

"Th-th.. That.. man…." With a trembling lip, Amma's eyes were fixed on the man in front of the store.

Not sure what to do, the captain of the guard shouted, "STAND DOWN! Or we'll–"

"I'm no bandit!" bellowed the lone man, still holding his walking stick in one hand. He casually tossed the lifeless body to the captain's feet. "That's the man you're looking for. Don't be mad that I did your job."

"Bil, I said not to kill them!" Jash shouted, offering a little clarification for everyone's confusion.

But Bil shook his head. "I'm not done. Either they surrender to the guards, or they surrender their lives to me. They have ten seconds to choose."

"W-WE SURRENDER!" All remaining bandits cowered in unison, throwing their weapons to the ground and kneeling before the town guards.

"B-Bil.. It's.. Bil…." Amma muttered as a wave of terror and old trauma overtook her.

"Mayor, what's wrong!?" Concerned for the mayor and confused by the drastic change in the situation, the captain stepped toward Bil and shouted, "Who are you?! We'll be taking you in for questioning, for disturbing the peace and for obstruction of justice!"

The blind man had already started walking back to the store. But that shout stopped him in his tracks. For the first time, Bil glanced at the captain from under his head wrap. "... Huh?"

Already knowing what was next, Jash rushed to Bil's side. "Please, don't–"

"CAPTAIN!!!"