We left the guild while it was still morning. The sky was partially covered by gray clouds, and the cold wind coming from the north carried that strange feeling that had become common over the past few days. The more time passed, the more I felt that something enormous was approaching.
The road leading to the kingdom's trade regions was long and surrounded by dense forests. Some trees had already dried out because of the demonic mana spread throughout the area. Small dark cracks appeared in the ground in certain places, as if the earth itself were slowly being corrupted.
As we walked, Lyannis studied the open map in her hands.
"According to the guild's information, the attacks mainly happened in this area."
She pointed to a narrower section of the road.
"Perfect terrain for ambushes," Vespera commented as she adjusted the bow on her back.
Scarlett crossed her arms.
"If they're just ordinary bandits, this will be over quickly."
"Don't underestimate human enemies," Elara replied calmly. "Desperate people are often more dangerous than monsters."
Rai'kanna walked beside me in silence. She seemed more serious than usual ever since we left the city.
"Thinking about something?" I asked.
"Yes. My father mentioned months ago that some criminal organizations had started moving near the borders. This might be related."
Liriel carefully looked around.
"The mana here is strange..."
"So you noticed it too," I said.
She nodded slowly.
"It doesn't feel like just human mana. There's something mixed into it."
We continued forward until we found fresh tracks on the ground. Footprints. Wagon wheel marks. The ashes of a campfire that were still warm.
I crouched down and touched the ground.
"They passed through here not long ago."
Scarlett smiled faintly.
"Good. Then we won't have to waste time looking for them."
We followed the tracks until we reached a section of the road surrounded by large rocks and tall trees. It was the perfect place for a trap. There was enough space to hide dozens of men without being easily seen.
I raised my hand, signaling everyone to stop.
"They're here."
The group immediately became alert.
Vespera silently climbed onto a high rock and surveyed the area from above.
"I see movement behind the trees on the left."
Lyannis closed her eyes for a few seconds.
"There's magic concealing part of their presence."
Scarlett let out a small smile.
"So they really aren't ordinary thieves."
We watched in silence.
After a few minutes, I was able to get a better look at the men hiding among the trees. They wore dark clothing, carried short weapons, and light armor. Some had magical scrolls attached to their belts.
There was far too much discipline for ordinary criminals.
"They're organized," I said quietly.
Elara agreed.
"And trained."
One of the men pulled a rope partially hidden across the road.
A trap to overturn wagons.
Soon after, another appeared high in the trees holding a reinforced crossbow.
"They're waiting for someone important," Rai'kanna commented.
Then we heard the distant sound of wheels.
A carriage was approaching.
The bandits immediately tensed.
I watched the carriage in the distance as it slowly advanced along the road. It was a large vehicle, protected by metal plates and escorted by several mounted guards.
Then I saw the crest.
I immediately looked at Rai'kanna.
She had noticed it too.
"The demi-dragon crest..." she said in surprise.
Scarlett raised an eyebrow.
"What's a royal carriage doing here?"
The carriage continued forward without slowing down.
The bandits began taking their positions.
Two stood near the hidden rope. Others aimed crossbows at the guards.
One of them appeared to be the leader. He wore a dark cloak and held a short sword wrapped in mana.
Vespera narrowed her eyes.
"That man in the center... he knows how to use magic."
"Yes," Lyannis replied. "And not just a little."
I observed the situation for a few seconds.
The carriage was getting closer and closer to the trap.
Then Rai'kanna spoke quietly.
"That's my father's official carriage."
I looked at her.
"King Drakarion is inside?"
She nodded.
For a moment, I was almost impressed by those men's courage—or stupidity.
Robbing any noble would already be risky.
But trying to attack the King of the Demi-Dragons was practically suicide.
Even so, the bandits seemed confident.
That bothered me.
"Do they know who's inside?" Elara asked.
"I doubt it," Scarlett replied. "If they did, they'd probably have run away already."
I continued observing carefully.
Then I noticed something strange.
There were very few guards around the carriage.
Far too few.
I smiled faintly.
"I get it..."
Liriel looked at me.
"What is it?"
"They're being watched."
Scarlett realized it soon afterward as well.
"Hidden soldiers?"
I nodded.
"A concealment spell."
Rai'kanna let out a small sigh.
"So my father was already expecting trouble."
The bandits finally made their move.
The man holding the rope pulled it with all his strength.
The trap was triggered.
Huge logs fell across the road, trying to block the carriage's path.
At the same time, several men leaped down from the trees.
"NOW!"
Crossbows fired.
Spells began to form.
But before any attack could reach the carriage, Vespera drew an arrow.
The sound of the shot sliced through the air.
The arrow pierced straight through the chest of one of the bandits charging at the front.
He fell instantly.
At that very moment, Scarlett raised her hand.
Lightning exploded among the trees.
Three men were struck simultaneously and collapsed to the ground, trembling.
Elara charged forward immediately afterward.
The wind around her spun violently, hurling two bandits against the rocks lining the road.
Rai'kanna practically vanished from beside me.
Before I realized it, she had already appeared in the middle of the enemies.
Her punch struck one man directly in the stomach, launching him several meters backward.
Lyannis created several magic circles above the road.
Chains of mana emerged, binding part of the enemy before they could even react.
Everything happened too quickly.
The bandits didn't even understand where the attack had come from.
I calmly watched as the group advanced with precision.
It was exactly the kind of coordination I wanted to see.
No hesitation.
No disorder.
Fast and efficient movements.
The bandit leader realized they had fallen into a trap far worse than the one they had prepared.
He tried to retreat.
But Vespera was already aiming another arrow at him.
"Don't even think about it."
The arrow pierced through the sword in his hand and forced him to his knees.
At that very moment, dozens of soldiers emerged around the carriage, stepping out from the invisibility spell.
The remaining bandits froze.
They were completely surrounded.
The carriage door slowly opened.
And an incredibly overwhelming presence emerged from within.
Rai'kanna's eyes widened slightly.
"Father..."
The man stepped out of the carriage wearing dark robes with golden details. His long hair swayed in the wind as his draconic eyes calmly surveyed the entire road.
Even without releasing any mana, his pressure was overwhelming.
King Drakarion quickly examined the defeated bandits lying on the ground.
Then he looked at me.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It seems we've arrived at an interesting moment."
The bandits immediately began trembling.
I think they had finally realized who they had tried to attack.
And at that moment, I became certain of one thing.
The war was drawing ever closer.