In the sunny morning, Colin unearthed a chest that lay beneath the earth, his arms increasingly muscular in the golden sunlight. Each muscle looked precisely sculpted, as if he had spent years of physical effort and determination to reach this stage.
As Colin wielded the shovel, Elara watched him discreetly. There was a strange atmosphere between them. Safira observed quietly from afar.
The metallic sound of the shovel hitting something solid echoed when Colin finally reached the buried chest. With a final effort, he lifted the heavy object out of the earth, revealing an ancient chest adorned with the marks of time.
With one deft movement, he opened the chest, revealing a glittering treasure trove of gold coins and precious jewels.
"You'd better pack a big bag to carry all this in."
"Ah, I bought this!"
Pulling it off her shoulder, she showed a small bag that resembled a pouch.
"I'm told it holds fifty liters. It's more discreet and safer to travel with this than with a bag full of coins." She reached into her purse and pulled out another bag. "I bought it for you—here!"
Colin took the bag and looked at Elara, who looked away.
"Thanks. This will come in handy. And how do I get the object I've kept out of here?"
"You can stick your hand in and say it out loud…"
"Got it… Well, let's put all the gold away then, before someone comes along."
Calmly, the three of them began to gather the gold, storing it in their bags. The bag didn't have much of an opening, so it took almost a whole hour, but they finally managed it.
"I think it's time to go," she said, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. "Thanks for everything, you and Safira. We'll see you in Ultan!"
"Right. Have a good trip, Elara."
She approached Colin, still a little embarrassed.
"About yesterday… I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to end like that… I guess I just didn't want to be away from you…"
"It's okay. You don't have to explain yourself to me."
In one swift movement, she hugged him.
"Thank you, really… If it hadn't been for you two… I don't know what would have happened to me…"
Then she went over to Safira, giving her a tight hug.
"Take care!"
They exchanged one last look before the cleric walked away.
Colin slung the shovel over his shoulder and tossed the bundle into Safira's hands.
"This stays with you."
She slung the bag over her shoulder.
"What are we going to do now that Miss Elara's gone?"
"Get more money. We'll do a few more jobs and leave for Ultan. You're coming with me this time."
"I-I?"
"You don't expect me to look after you for free, do you?"
She tightened the strap of her bag.
"I spent all those days cooking for you… I washed your clothes and kept the house clean… Doesn't that count?"
"It does, and I thank you for it." He cracked a smile.
"How about we make a deal? You teach me how to cook, and I'll teach you how to use a sword. I'm no master, but I know a thing or two."
She looked away.
"I don't know if I can fight like you and Miss Elara… I don't think I was born for that sort of thing…"
"Nonsense." Colin ruffled her hair. "You'll learn. Come on, let's go back."
Safira smiled and ran to catch up with him.
[…]
After passing the inn where he was staying, Colin and Safira went straight to the training ground. There was no time to lose.
The troll killer raised his newly acquired daggers, examining the light filtering through the forest trees.
"Look, Safira," Colin began. "Before you get involved in dangerous missions, you must learn to defend yourself, and there's no better way to do that than to start with wild animals. First, you'll start by hunting them. The key to hunting lies in patience and precision. First, remain silent and attentive. Listen to the sighs of the forest, feel the movement of the wind."
Safira nodded, her eyes fixed on the daggers that Colin skillfully handled.
"These daggers are an extension of you," he continued. "Use them gracefully, but with intent. Hunting requires subtlety and strength in the right measure."
She looked at all this in amazement, and Colin couldn't help feeling proud of himself.
"Where did you learn all this?"
"When I was a child, my father used to take me hunting whenever he was at home. He said it would be useful for me to learn this, and, well, he wasn't wrong."
"Wow…" she stammered, impressed.
"Yes, but we never hunted very large animals. Let's go!"
[…]
Colin led Safira through the dense forest, explaining the movement patterns of animals and the signs of prey presence.
As he taught, he shared stories from his own experiences, infusing the lessons with a mixture of wisdom and humor.
When they reached a clearing, Colin chose a sturdy tree and invited Safira to join him.
They both settled into comfortable branches, observing their surroundings.
The silence was broken only by the rustling of leaves and the distant songs of birds.
Suddenly, the now-master raised his hand, indicating that something was approaching.
His eyes sparkled with excitement as a wild boar appeared from between the trees.
He whispered to Safira, "Now, watch. Movement is crucial."
Colin slid silently to the ground, followed by Safira. The daggers flickered in the filtered light as she approached the boar, each step calculated.
Her heart was pounding, and the forest seemed to be holding its breath.
With a deft gesture, Colin threw a dagger, hitting his target with precision—directly in the neck.
Stuck!
The boar, surprised, took a clumsy leap before falling.
He looked at Safira, a satisfied smile curving his lips. "So, did you learn how to do it?"
"I think so."
He bent down and pulled the dagger from the boar's neck.
"This one was quite big. I think it was the mother—the cubs must be nearby."
She swallowed. "Mr. Colin… I don't know if I can…"
"Yes, you can. I'll go back to the trees; the cubs must be getting closer."
"O-okay!"
Safira advanced cautiously through the dense vegetation, daggers in hand, her heart beating in tune with the rhythm of the forest.
The golden sun tinted the atmosphere, highlighting the green tones and earthy hues around her.
Colin, watching her with attentive eyes, was ready to intervene if necessary.
A rustle of leaves announced the presence of a young boar, curious and still wary of intruders in its territory.
There he is! She thought. He's smaller than the one Mr. Colin killed, but he's still scary…
Safira held her breath, her eyes meeting the animal's. The young boar, with its rough coat and defined curves, watched her with a mixture of curiosity and protective instinct.
Colin, in tune with the tension in the air, whispered encouragingly to the girl:
"Remember, stay calm. Fear is what can betray you."
Her legs trembled slightly, but she absorbed Colin's words and tried to control her anxiety.
The boar, for its part, began to grunt softly, its tusks glistening in the sunlight.
In a move that showed her inexperience, Safira took a quick step, more out of instinct than strategy. The boar reacted immediately, raising its head in alarm. The girl realized that she needed to act more cunningly.
Colin, sensing the situation, beckoned her to get down, trying to reduce her presence in the scene. The boar, now more relaxed, went back to sniffing the ground, but kept a close eye on the girl.
With slow, controlled movements, she approached the boar. Her heart was beating fast, but the connection between them seemed to be transforming.
The boar, perhaps intrigued by the hunter's determination, allowed her to get a little closer.
However, her inexperience showed when, in a sudden movement, she tripped over an overhanging root. The boar, alerted, raised its head, its tusks ready for defense.
Colin, now crouched in the shadows, made a quick gesture for Safira to remain still.
The seconds seemed to tick away as the boar assessed the situation. With a sigh of relief, the inexperienced hunter managed to recover without completely frightening the animal.
The young boar, realizing that she posed no imminent threat, slowly backed away, disappearing into the foliage. The young woman, with a mixture of frustration, looked at Colin, who smiled understandingly.
"You did well. We'll try again later."
She was visibly upset. "I'm sorry I didn't make it, Mr. Colin…"
"There's no need to worry. You're here to learn, and I'm here to teach you."
Colin was calmer, more compassionate. She noticed the change and liked it. The way he behaved now reminded her of her father.
"Let's go back. Maybe you can teach me how to cook a delicious meal now?"
Her eyes sparkling, she nodded.
"Yeah!"
[…]
It was a warm night, and the carriage rocked back and forth on the uneven ground. Elara looked at the woman in front of her. She had a child on her lap, and her husband stood beside her, enjoying the view of the prairies.
At the side of the carriage, men in armor seemed to be escorting them, their eyes always keeping a watchful gaze.
There were other carriages in front and behind, with a contingent of more than twenty soldiers along the entire length.
"Is this your first time traveling with the company?" asked the woman.
Elara gave a gentle smile and nodded.
"Yes, what about you?"
"No, we have close relatives, so we travel whenever possible."
Elara nodded. "And where are you from?"
"Mesonya village, and you?"
"It's very close. I'm from Tucionybui."
"Really? I lived there for a few years. There's great arable land and beautiful sunflower fields."
"Yes!" she agreed excitedly. "I left there almost two years ago. I hope it's still beautiful."
As the two engaged in excited conversation, soldiers from Ultan spotted the excursion in the dark. There were at least seven stagecoaches following in a line.
"Commander, that's twenty men exactly, and luckily for us, none of them are higher than level five in their primary trees."
"Excellent, Cubhishy. It's a big excursion; there must be nobles in there. Kill them all. What we care about now is gold, weapons, and jewels."
"Kill even the women, Commander?" asked one of his men.
"We don't need female slaves now," he replied. "If you want to have fun, good luck, but we don't need hostages. There's another village a few days away. We'll get slaves there."
The soldier nodded. "You got it, boss."
"Lieutenant!" called out the commander, and a man in a dark cloak appeared. "The attack is yours. Do what you know how to do."
"I got it, sir!"
The lieutenant looked over his shoulder at his men. "You, with me!"
The soldiers securing the carriages looked up at the hills, seeing the light of torches getting closer and closer.
"Attack!" shouted one of them. "We're under attack—"
Stuck! Stuck! Stuck!
Fiery lances impaled the soldier and his horse. Everyone went on alert; the carriages stopped abruptly, but the attack had come too quickly.
"Regroup!" shouted one of the soldiers. "Hold formation!"
Elara looked out of the window and saw men in dark cloaks approaching.
Her companion from the journey despaired, hugging her son tightly.
"Honey!" shouted her husband. "Get down! The soldiers will take care of it."
Squelch!
An arrow shattered the glass and pierced the man's temple, leaving his wife distraught while their son began to cry loudly.
"Get down!" Elara pulled the woman to the ground. "Stay calm! We need to stay hidden!"
Climbing down from their horses, a battle broke out between the soldiers and the invaders.
Raising her head through the broken glass, Elara began to analyze the situation. The way things were going, the soldiers wouldn't last much longer.
"Listen," she said to the woman, "we have to run!"
"O-my husband, and he…"
"It doesn't matter. He's dead. Just worry about yourself and your son!"
Still trying to come to terms with everything that had happened, the woman nodded and hugged her child, muffling his cries in her arms.
Sneakily, Elara opened the door and took advantage of the confusion, helping the woman down. They dodged the outbreaks of fighting and ran straight for the meadows, away from the crowd. Halfway there, Elara picked up a dagger from one of the dead invaders.
"Let's go!" Desperate, they ran away from all the chaos. "We have to keep going!"
It was carnage on both sides—severed limbs, dead civilians—but the soldiers didn't last long before they were completely annihilated.
As ordered, the invaders spared no one, not even the horses. Some of them left one or two women alive for their macabre purposes.
The two wandered away from the crowd, disappearing into the dark night.