Chapter 7: Chapter 6: Ambush

Gus stood on a small rock ledge near the main road in to Njord, perhaps a day’s ride out from the city.

The ends of his golden-blond hair bounced from his broad shoulders as he walked towards the edge of a short cliff, dancing with the rag-tag fur cloth mixed in with pieces of leather armor. The protection was notably lacking, as he didn’t have enough to protect all his vital areas, leaving most of his stomach exposed and revealing a well-defined core.

On his side he carried an iron long sword, which unlike the rest of his gear, was probably the only thing worth any proper value.

He pulled a small brooch out of his pocket, fondly touching the picture stored inside. It was an old family picture from when he was a young child with his baby sister plopped square in his lap, and his mother and father standing behind them.

“Don’t worry Nina, even with Mom and Dad gone… after I do this job, I will be able to take care of you. I won’t have to do work like this anymore.” Gus quietly whispered to himself.

Life at the edge of the wilderness was a hard one. Adventurers who tried to breach into the... uncivilized parts of the world faced death, dismemberment or worse on a regular basis. Military life was not much better, if you didn't have the means to be anything other than fodder.

If you couldn't land a good trade apprenticeship or get into work for one of the noble houses, then you were left to struggle relentlessly at any of the myriad bulk labor jobs for barely enough money to live on.

Just a little more... and we can move to somewhere quiet and warm. We'll be able to buy a cozy little tavern to work and live in!

“Hey boss, we just got word from out lookout, the carriage is coming through and it perfectly matches the description! Yessss, we are gonna be rich with this one! I don’t get why it’s so urgent we do this so quickly, but who cares!”

A beautiful girl jogged out from the trees behind Gus, longbow in hand. She wore all fur armor unlike Gus's mixed outfit, and she had intentionally cut out the midriff, the calf-section and part of the chest piece to reveal her ample cleavage.

“Amala, I still can’t stand you cut up the armor we made for you. Do you know how hard it was to hunt a dire-wolf and get such an undamaged piece of its hide?” Gus lamented, his mouth curled in dismay as he looked upon the results of her handiwork.

“Oh come on boss, you have to admit nobody questions a pretty girl even if she is selling stolen goods! Plus, it makes the guys drop their guard and we get so many better deals!” Amala leaned in seductively, squeezing just enough with her arms to accentuate her form.

Damn manipulative witch, if he didn’t know that she was a bandit just for the thrill of it, he might fall for her. Even knowing better, resisting her temptation was really hard to do. After all, she got us to give her the dire-wolf hide...

Gus averted his eyes, attempting to hide a slight rush of blood to his cheeks as he did so.

*cough* “Anyways, we can deal with this later. Let’s move in to position. Tell the lookouts to slip in an ambush them from behind.” Gus reasserted his focus. He needed this job to go right. Nothing good would come from dealing with a girl like her, anyways.

“Hmph. Fine.” She pouted.

Amala could wrap all the other bandits easily around her finger, not only because she was the only woman in the group, but also because she was pretty and she knew it.

However, she had to scrunch her face in frustration once again.

Getting good deals was an excuse, she could easily choose another outfit for that. The problem was Gus only ever got involved with the group when he had a job, so she had gone to great pains and taken considerable risk to herself to get his attention! Does he have a secret lover?!

After this mission, she would surely not let him slip away again, and if there was another woman, she would make her disappear!

---

It had been a little over a week since they left Versailles.

The carriage ride had continued to be a quiet one, as they avoided staying in any of the settlements and villages in case of any danger within the Duke’s territory. The fewer people that saw them, the better. Still, with a carriage as notable as Diane's, as she was still the daughter of the Duke, they had been quite fortunate so far.

Thistleman was utterly perplexed at the situation before him, and so he mostly kept quiet during the ride. Not only could he see the distress and worry on Diane and the coachman’s face, but he could also feel the pain Diane was holding in. It seemed to him that she was just trying to put up a strong front.

I get that we are all too weak right now to properly deal with this... but still, running away and hiding like this just feels so absolutely wrong.

While still griping to himself, Thistleman noticed someone watching them, hidden within the wood-line just beyond the supposed border of the dukedom. Power… pathetic. The only people who caught his eye as anyone of marginal significance was the Duke and the Knight back in Versailles. They would have been a lot of trouble in his current state, even if his hands weren't tied by the contract. He cast an eye towards Diane again.

Slowly does it. It’s not like I am short on time.

Now that his life-force was starting to stabilize and his self-healing was gradually returning, Thistleman was taking great care in feeding and pushing Diane’s mana heart a little bit at a time to grow. The greater her strength, the faster his recovery.

Even at his current meager form, Thistleman may have been a mountain of power compared to a pebble. Yet this pebble was his master, and by courtesy of such an arrangement, her current strength was significantly above that of the watcher.

Even so, he had to be incredibly careful. Too much power would easily send Diane in to shock and destroy the mana heart that had finally been awakened, and could very likely kill her in the process.

Far too much risk, best to take it slow.

He glanced again out the windows, sharpening mana in his eyes. Detect life.

Hmmm? Another pair of watchers? And three more people ahead… a couple of them are close to Diane’s current strength… not counting my little buffs, of course.

Some things just never changed. Trash flooded this world just as his own, blindly slaughtering each other to climb ever so slightly up their imagined ladders. A vicious system worthy of being purged eternally, along with the bastards who made it.

Thistleman seethed. The balls on these stupid pissants.

“Bandits ahead! Hold on tight, I’m turning us around n… keugh!” The coachman’s yell was cut off as an arrow pierced his throat.

The carriage lost control and veered to the side, with the crack and crash of one of the wheels shattering against a large rock and snap of the horses' bridles. The horses whinnied loudly as they dashed into the woodline.

**

“Kyaaah!” Diane screamed, her shrieking continued until the carriage finally came to an abrupt halt.

“No no no no no, not now! Why? Why can’t he leave me be? What am I supposed to do?! Just leave me alone!” She tried to curl into a corner of the carriage.

Thistleman grabbed Diane’s arm firmly, and with his other hand forced her to look straight into his eyes, even while her fresh tears streamed down her face.

“Diane, breathe! You still have your rapier, you are only dead if you give up now! The first bandit is coming for the door, so don’t stop to think about it. As soon as he opens the door, pierce his throat and clear the two behind the carriage. I will distract the bandits up front!” For a moment, Diane felt like she heard a strange language echoing in unison with Thistle's words. What... am I hearing?

She quickly forgot such pointless things. Something in his eyes… felt mesmerizing. A calm began to fill her chest, and the fear felt like it was fading. In its place… rage.

This is unfair! I AM DIANE CULAINE! How dare anyone try and get in the way of my life, my future! I won't lose this time! I WON'T LET ANYONE TAKE MY FRIEND FROM ME! HE IS MINE!

Both of their contract sigils glowed subtly, the effects of the contract pushed both ways. As Thistleman felt her emotions, his emotions affected her. His rage was her rage, and with each bit of pain and fear that was passed to the Demon, it only amplified his rage until it exploded in an inhuman fury. Fear and pain shall be repaid in ash and death!

That voice of vengeance and rage echoed relentlessly through Diane's thoughts.

Then the door opened with a horrifically slow creak, almost as if time itself slowed down.

---

So far, so good.

Her shot was perfect and the coachman was down, and now it was just a couple little kids. Putting them down would be the easiest money she had ever made! A magicless little girl and a peasant, at that!

A smile enveloped her face, although she quickly hid it when she noticed the serious look on Gus’ face.

Why can't he just have fun with it like the rest of us? He always acts like such a golem when we go on raids. Amala pouted again, as she notched another arrow. I'll show him how to really have some fun, then!

The other bandits whooped in excitement, rushing towards the undefended carriage. The first to make the impromptu race towards the carriage door was a gangly fellow with a freakish smile, revealing many missing and rotten teeth.

However, their joy was short lived. The door blasted open, flung aside as a ball of unfettered rage screeched out with reckless abandon. The bandit couldn’t react in time as he saw a small pointed tip fly straight into his eye, followed by a small girl's hand at the hilt of the sword. Her face was twisted in bloodthirsty rage, and then she screeched again.

The blade pierced through the gangly man's eye and skull, and she twisted her body around to use his shoulders as a launching pad. The blade tore through his skull, spilling grey matter as Diane dashed towards the bandits in the rear.

She was followed by a disheveled looking boy who leapt out of the carriage and, seemingly without surveying a single thing around him, dashed straight towards Amala.

“Damnit! You should've just accepted your death, you fucking kids!” Amala screamed, loosing her arrow. An odd drop-step by the boy caused the arrow to fly just over his shoulder.

“Don’t get distracted by rage, Amala! The boy is unarmed, he is probably just trying to buy her time. The girl is the main target, leave no witnesses and I will get the girl!” Gus grimaced, then dashed past the boy, as Amala readied another arrow.

Shooting the boy? He won't get lucky again! Then if I snipe the girl too... he will have to acknowledge me then!

She shot… and she missed.

“A fluke?” she muttered? Visible frustration began to set in.

She aimed and shot again, sure that this time it would hit the boy’s chest… just as the arrow skimmed over his other shoulder.

"You think getting behind me will help you?! Stupid brat!" Her voice shook with anger.

She shot again… marking her fourth miss. Four! Instead of praise, Gus will curse me out over this little shitter!

“This damn bow must be broken, you think you can run from me?!” Amala dropped her bow, pulled out her dagger and began to chase the boy, as he turned and beelined straight towards the other side of the forest.

**

Thistleman tried desperately to hid his maliciously satisfied smile. Those arrogant idiots were playing straight into his hands.

If that archer and swordsman were to focus on Diane, their combination would surely kill her at this stage, especially since he couldn't fight them directly.

However...

Splitting them up makes this much easier!

He glanced over, the two lookouts behind the carriage were already dead, one blow each.

Gus seemed shocked at the girl's blind ferocity, and was barely holding on, dripping in his own blood. Diane could easily be mistaken for a little devil, her rapier diving into the large gaps in his armor. Between her small size and improved speed, his large blade would never be able to easily reach her on its own. With nothing to split her focus, it was a sure match.

Oh? What's this?

Thistleman's eyes darted a little deeper in the woods, spotting the mana-outline of a creature. A huge smile stretched across his face! A purely innocent smile. Purely. Innocent.

**

Amala was absolutely focused on Thistleman.

She would never hear the end of it from the others if she couldn’t even kill one kid! She kept chasing him deeper into the woods, ducking through the trees and pressing on through the rapidly thickening brushline. She was breathing heavily, and her hair was thoroughly messed up.

“What the hell is up with these kids? This was supposed to be easy money! Shouldn't I be laughing my way back to the camp already!?" Amala raged with thoroughly uncontained frustration.

I've almost got you, brat! I WILL make this hurt!

Thistleman cut around a very large tree up ahead, and as she came around the corner she ran face first into something large and very furry.

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She fell ass-backwards, cursing before the blood drained from her face. The boy was nowhere to be seen. But the creature in front of her turned and glowered at her, blood dripping out of its fangs. The carcass of a wild boar, partially eaten, lay behind it.

No, no no! Where's the kid?! Shouldn't he have run into it first?! No!

Amala recognized it immediately, just as it seemed to tilt its' head in acknowledgement of the fur she was wearing. She crawled backwards away from the dire-wolf as fast as she could without turning her back towards it for a second. Hunting one with a full group was dangerous enough, and now she had to deal with one on her own.

**

Thistleman savored her scream as he made his way back to the carriage.

It's a shame I can't watch... when was the last time I had to conserve mana like this?

Thistleman sighed. Well, whatever works. Sneaking around and manipulating things like this was certainly not his strong suit, especially when compared to other Daemons. Or demons, now?

Still… it was relieving to see that even at this low of a point, his shadow step can still evade the sight of these pathetic creatures. Silver linings and all.

If I could actually do all the fighting myself, then this would all have been just a joke.

Thistleman sighed again, much more deeply, as he hurried along. His rage at these creatures began to subside. They were just a bothersome waste of his time, inconveniencing him while dying for nothing at all.

---

Diane had never moved this quick nor felt this strong in her life.

From the moment the door opened, it felt as if she had been in a non-stop rush. After leaping off the corpse of the first bandit, she rushed to the closest one behind the carriage. She saw him raise his bow, and it all felt so incredibly slow… she could watch precisely where the arrow was aimed.

Faster. FASTER. I need to move faster!

Diane dodged to the right the moment she saw the other bandit loosening his grip. The arrow missed completely.

She could see the fear in his eyes, the abandonment of joy and the embrace of fear gripping him. The rush was taking over. She saw an opening in neck-guard, and stabbed straight through his throat.

Next one down.

She pulled her blade out deftly and dodged around the falling corpse, dashing to the next bandit.

He turned to run, but not fast enough. She leapt onto his back and stabbed him through the ear.

All of you... all of you! You will never try to take from me again!

She felt almost... liberated with the overflowing rage, venting out her years of abuse, pain and suffering. She didn’t even notice she was laughing as the blood rained on to her.

She turned to look at Gus like a blood-soaked little devil. He was charging towards her much too late.

His face was perfectly calm, he was certainly focused enough if not for the notable tremble through his hands.

YOU came to attack US! And you want to act like a scared victim?!

Diane was thoroughly unaware of how terrifying she looked appeared.

**

Gus strained his eyes and attempted to concentrate some mana into them as he stared at Diane.

While he was never proficient enough to be trained like someone properly talented, he still learned what he could. Strength was important in this world after all. However, what he felt from her was only reinforced by the blood dripping from her blade and splattered on her face.

A monster worse than a damn dire-wolf... how the hell did anyone mistake her as inept? Was this a setup for the Duke to get rid of us?!

Gus panicked at the thought, and he knew he would need Amala’s help if he was going to kill her.

She moved after him quickly. He didn’t have time to yell for her to hurry up and help him, as the blade came straight for his face. He used his longsword to deflect the rapier, but she struck quickly.

He dodged as best he could, but cuts were rapidly appearing on the unprotected parts of his body.

If I just made a full-set of armor for myself instead...

It was too late for him to regret his decision now. He was losing blood quickly. Gus tried to throw a counter, but she was so short she easily dodged under his arm and his blade only hit earth. Then he felt a searing pain in his calf.

Who the hell taught this kid to move like that?! How much has she trained with the sword to plan and fight like this?

Gus despised his lack of talent. Its' what forced him into this life in the first place.

He swung his blade low, sweeping behind himself and forcing Diane to leap back.

Taking the opportunity to breathe, Gus yelled desperately “Amala, where are you? Stop playing around, I need help here now!”

He looked around quickly as he yelled, keen to not waste a moment longer than he had to, but she was nowhere to be seen. Nor was the peasant boy. Dread filled his eyes.

I'm... going to die here?

“I’m sorry, Nina…” Gus whispered as he let the sword fall from his hands, succumbing to despair. His sight went black as the rapier pierced up through his chin.

**

Diane was breathing heavily, a small mist of steam wafting from her body. The rush faded along with the rage. Exhausting seeped into every pore.

She heard the patter of feet running and stopping further down the road.

They had another lookout?!

Diane's surprise was met with an expression of terror on his face as he realized everyone else had died. He naturally wasted no time as he turned to flee.

I won't be able to catch him...

The moments reprieve allowed her to feel the strain she just put her body through.

I am sure I can manage it this time though... I can feel it! I can feel mana!

Although she couldn’t recall the incident with the Grendel, she was confident now that she could use mana.

“Damnit! Fireball!” It was nowhere near as powerful as when she was forcefully awakened, as she drew on far less power.

However, thanks to her relentless failed practice when she was mana-less, it still became a proper fireball. The raging flames flew true down the road, and exploded on contact with the back of the bandit.

He screamed in agony as flames engulfed his body and charred his skin. Diane shuddered, the rush and rage had fully left her, and that spell burned through most of her remaining mana. She looked at the blood dripping off her hands, and the corpses all left in her wake.

I... did all this?

*blergh*

Her vision grew blurry as she heaved again onto the road.

What the hell did I just do? I killed them! Is this what Sir Gregory or Hal felt when they had to fight in war or hunt bandits?

Diane felt a sharp pang in her chest... If I still had them around, it wouldn't have been like this...

**

Thistleman felt a disconcerting amount of stress coming from Diane.

She killed all the bandits though?

Confused, he made sure to add a bit of a huff and puff.

“Hey Diane, I think I lost her. Do you think you can find the horses? They shouldn’t have run far, I will grab our supplies and let’s get out of here! Hey, Diane? You listening?” He prodded, carefully looking for any wounds on her.

She looks just fine...? Ah, right, some humans get a little strange about killing each other. I need to break that attitude out of her before it causes some serious problems.

“W-what? Oh, Y-yeah, your right. Don’t take long, I’ll be right back!” Diane stuttered, before looking around into the woods. She spotted where the horses charged through some brush and followed the trail they blazed.

Seems that got her mind back in order for now... although, there is another odd feeling there?

It was something he couldn't quite grasp. There was some kind of emotion there, but unlike the others, it felt just out of his reach.

Thistleman took stock of the bodies, counting to make sure no one was missed and looting anything valuable along the way. He found some odd looking tokens on them.

Considering their line of work, its probably some identifier that they can use. I bet there's a high chance it helps them find people to sell-off their stolen goods.

When he was searching Gus, he found the locket with a picture in it. He looked it over carefully, judging the picture with a furrowed brow. Diane came running up behind him, having picked up the horses who hadn't run too much further into the woods.

“I got them, hurry! Let’s go! Hey, whatcha looking at?” Diane plodded up, about to take a peek over his shoulder.

If she really is one of those sensitive humans... if she sees this, then her mind will definitely break! No choice, then.

*gulp* Down went the brooch.

“I found a great snack! This guy had a sweet muffin on him!” Innocent. Absolutely innocent! Thistle went for the dumb smile, this time.

“What?!? You found a snack and didn’t share?! Greedy! Greedy! Why am I having to be so nice to you?” Diane smacked him on the side of his head in a huff.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t know you would want some! Fine… I… I will give you the next one! I promise!” Thistleman nodded solemnly.

“You… Next time? You didn’t do anything! I did all the work so everything here is mine! How can you give me what is already mine?”

They continued arguing like this as they mounted the horses and quickly made their way to the Port City of Njord.

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