Author’s Note: Part 3rd and last of the journey. Point out any mistakes you see, and enjoy!

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I quickly looked around to see if anyone could help, but everyone had their hands full. Lomar, bleeding from bite wounds was still fighting with wolf, which was also bleeding from from few holes in its fur. 2 other protectors were engaged with 3 bandit leaders, and they were doing fairly well. One of bandit leaders was already lying on the ground, unmoving. So that left 5 leaders, a wolf, and mob around right?

 I had a chance to pick short sword from the bandit I just slain, but decided to keep my staff, as it gave me longer reach. And it was necessary to have it, while fighting people who were head taller than you, AND you had no combat experience.

My quick glance around almost cost me my life, as grim bandit reached me faster than I could have predicted. In the edge of my vision I saw blade coming for my throat and I desperately brandished my staff to defend against the blow. Due to strength of the strike I took, I fell to the side, almost flying.

I quickly regained my bearings and stood up, only to be rained upon by an onslaught of mad slashes. The man I was facing was one of those wearing studded armor, wielding blade similar to 3 feet cleaver. After two blows my staff couldn’t handle the strength of the blows and broke, and I had to jump back and run away. Quite an unsightly view, but I had no other choice, I had no time to pick up any other weapon, and he was chasing me with his blade swinging just behind my back. I saw a glimmer of hope when Lomar, who was ahead finally finished the beast, and turned around to notice my situation. He immediately ran in my direction and intercepted the man chasing after me.

That gave me time to look for a weapon, which wasn’t so hard. There was wooden mace lying nearby. I thanked the corpse of a villager who had been the previous possessor, grabbed the mace and rushed back to help Lomar. He was fighting rather evenly with the grim bandit, and when I joined him we were able to finish him quickly. I attacked from the side, aiming at path of his swinging blade. It lessened the strength of his blow and disrupted his balance. This created opportunity for Lomar to stab him straight to the heart, and finish the struggle here.

The fight was over. Bandits were discouraged, although loses on both sides were fairly even, we were fighting for our lives, while they for profit. After defeating 4 bandit leaders and wolf, as well as 8 of the weaker mob, first ones of them started to abandon the fight and run into the woods. Quickly all of them left the fight, suffering loss of one more leader and 3 of the underlings, before the rest disappeared from our sight.

I just stood there, exhaustion and pain getting to me. I was struck a couple of times by the first bandit leader I fought, but those were just minor wounds, stomach wound included. It was a miracle that last stab managed to avoid any organs. A miracle, I repeat. I almost had a heart attack when someone patted me on the shoulder. It was the protector, Park, he asked whether I felt good enough to help wounded. I was, and so we started to clean after the battle.

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In the end, from the initial 17 of us, we ended with 9 left. 1 woman and 7 men fell, including one of the protectors. 2 of the survivors had major wounds, and we had no medicine available to help them, so we had to end their suffering. People wore grim expressions, some were openly crying and cursing bandits and gods. In the end, Lomar interrupted grieving. The villager’s bodies were burned, first cutting some of the hair off and putting them in their respective clothes on the cart, with their weapons included as means of identification.

The mace I looted was taken as well, and put near clothes of the person I found it nearby. When we finished departing our fallen, the looting of the bandits begun. First all leaders possessing armor were stripped of it, than it, with all metal weapon and valuables were put in a pile. Weapons left were short sword, two handed axe, longsword and cleaver from the grim bandit. Only 2 studded leather armor’s as well as two wooden shields. And 4 moneybags, which after counting, consisted of only 30 silvers and a bit of coppers.

I was allowed to pick a weapon first, so I swiftly picked the cleaver. Although I probably looked funny, it was after all over half of my size, I was able to wield it with ease. Rest of the pile was put on the sides of the cart, while all the money was all taken by protectors. Apparently that was how they earned their money, that, and small tax taken from villagers monthly.

We left after doing that, continuing towards Plenty. Lomar, when I asked him about the hair cutting and burning of bodies, answered that it was their custom around here. You never knew when the corpses may be reanimated, and clothes and hair served as the memento of the dead. It was put in shrine at home, to make them reincarnate in same household they belonged to.

Well, well, so creators of this game took reincarnation concept as base for NPC’s spawn? Nice if I say so myself. I wasn’t overly sad, after all, it was just a game, and these people were strangers to me. I was actually happy, though I hid it, because I should have gained some exp, or even level from that encounter. Also people around treated me as one of their own, so my reputation also must have risen. All in all, I was starting to really enjoy this game.

Hour passed after the encounter, and we left the forest. We were on the hill, gently going down towards mountain range. The mountains were huge, their peaks hidden in the clouds. They were called Teeth of Rasgar, which was said to be an ancient dragon. And at their base, was village Plenty, home of miners and forge masters. Our destination. A place, where I learned the truth.