Swords, knives, and bows were all aimed at Edén and Lana as they were spotted. Frozen to the ground, either from fear or surprise, they stood momentarily paralysed. The shout of the presumed bandit leader snapped Edén out of it. With quick thinking, Edén brought out two elixirs: a yellow, boiling mixture designed to shift the terrain in their favour and a more acid-green elixir meant to enhance Lana.

Opening the vials with precision, Edén used his magic to turn the yellow elixir into a mist, just as he had done back in the dungeon. Seeing the surprise on the bandits' faces, Edén knew they had no idea what was coming. As the mist settled on the ground and trees around them, blisters began to form. Trees burst forth with tendrils of magical energy, and the ground started to shake and mould according to Edén's will.

As Edén spread the mist further, he saw that Lana had also snapped out of her stupor and had taken hold of her bow. With the quick reflexes of an experienced adventurer, she pulled out three arrows and jumped back behind Edén. Seeing Lana's surprise at the sudden change in terrain, Edén opened the next vial. Turning to Lana, he blew the vapours of the elixir onto her. Her body reacted positively to the elixir, and he saw her eyes sharpen as she loosed all three arrows simultaneously into the distance. Hearing screams of pain, he knew she had hit her targets, but the footsteps did not stop.

Keeping the mist behind him, Edén started to run towards the camp. “We need to warn them. Don’t touch the yellow mist and follow me!” he shouted. Edén remembered testing this elixir before at the sanctum. Its effects on terrain were wondrous as he could change it to his will, but its effects on creatures and organic matter were disastrous. Some had fallen on fish that Brogar had caught, and it had morphed and blistered them beyond recognition before his very eyes.

Running past trees and boulders, Edén suddenly felt a change in the magic flowing around them. He saw that Lana felt it too, and right before their eyes, a massive wall of stone appeared, growing from the ground and blocking their path. As they turned around, they saw a distant figure emanating magical energy. They had found their target. Lana tried to fire arrows at the person, but they were blocked as if a barrier was in the way, making it clear that this was futile.

She wanted to start running another way to escape, but as she turned, she saw that the wall had blisters all over it. Edén, ever alert, had spread the mist over the wall, and within moments, the wall shifted and started to break down. Taking out another vial from his belt, Edén changed the mist around himself and Lana. Jumping through the gap in the wall unharmed by the yellow fumes, Lana saw this and followed Edén’s example.

But only a few steps behind them, the bandits still pursued. Arrows flew over the crumbling wall, and a bandit jumped through the hole after them. However, as soon as the yellow mist touched him, bubbling blisters appeared on his body, growing to an extreme size and bursting through his skin right before their eyes.

The man's death was brutal, Edén thought, the reality hitting him hard as it was the first person he had ever killed. Lana, though, seemed unfazed, focused more on how Edén’s mist had affected their pursuer.

As they ran ever closer to the camp, they saw figures appearing in front of them, realizing quickly that it was their allies. Brogar had been on alert from the start when Edén left the camp, and the sound of battle and screaming men confirmed his suspicions. Throwing the now empty vial aside, Edén and Lana turned towards the bandits once more, reassured now that the others were there to help.

Edén reached for another elixir from his belt, this one crimson red like a blood moon. Though Lana and Brogar now knew what Edén could do and accepted his aid, the other mercenaries looked suspiciously at the liquid. However, when Lana gave a signal, the group settled around him, understanding the importance of protecting their support.

Feeling safer with the group surrounding him, Edén opened the vial. As his energy waned, he carefully poured what was left of his strength into the elixir, covering the whole group in a red mist. Inhaling the mist, they felt their blood start to boil, their tired eyes sharpening with determination.

Edén knew that this elixir was made to wake people up faster and provide a burst of energy to start the day. He had used it many times in the sanctum for that purpose. However, with his magic altering its composition, it now enhanced their instincts.

"Feel that?" Brogar said, clenching his fists. "That's the spirit of the fight. Let's show these bandits what we're made of!"

The mercenaries nodded, their suspicion turning into shared resolve as they felt the elixir's effects. Edén's magic had bolstered their physical capabilities and heightened their awareness.

With renewed energy, the group faced the bandits emerging from the forest. The bandits, taken aback by the sudden appearance of more defenders and the eerie red mist surrounding them, hesitated.

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"Now!" Lana shouted, drawing her bow and releasing an arrow that flew straight and true, finding its mark in one of the bandits. The others followed suit, launching their attacks with newfound strength and precision.

Brogar, positioned slightly behind the front lines, aimed his crossbow with practised precision, picking off bandits one by one. Meanwhile, a burly mercenary wielding a massive sword led the charge, swinging his weapon with such force that it sent two bandits sprawling.

As the bandits retreated into the forest, Edén felt the strain of maintaining the elixir's effects. He signalled to Lana, who nodded and raised her voice to rally their allies.

"We're driving them back! Keep pushing! Don’t let up!"

With a final surge of effort, Edén concentrated, pouring his remaining energy into one last burst of the red mist. The mercenaries, feeling the intensified effects, charged forward with a renewed ferocity that broke the bandits' morale. The attackers scattered, retreating into the forest, their leader cursing and shouting for them to regroup.

The battlefield quieted as the last of the bandits disappeared. The mercenaries stood breathing heavily, their adrenaline slowly ebbing away. Edén, exhausted, collapsed to his knees, the empty vial slipping from his grasp.

Brogar rushed to his side, helping him to his feet. "You did well, lad. You did very well."

Lana joined them, a fierce light in her eyes. "We need to regroup and make sure everyone’s safe. They might come back."

Edén nodded weakly. "Let’s...let's make sure they don’t get another chance."

As the group began to assess the situation and tend to their wounds, they knew this was only the beginning. The bandits had been driven back, but their resolve and unity would be tested again. They had to be ready for whatever came next.

As the group regrouped, one of the mercenaries approached Edén, holding out a vial. "Here, take this. It's not much, but it should help with your magical recovery."

Edén accepted the elixir, examining it closely. The liquid inside shimmered with a faint blue glow, indicating some form of magical properties. It wasn't the most refined or potent elixir he had seen, but it would have to do. With his expertise, he could amplify its effects.

"Thanks," Edén said, nodding to the mercenary. "I’ll make the best of it."

He uncorked the vial and took a cautious sip, feeling a gentle warmth spread through his body. The elixir worked quickly, replenishing some of his depleted magical reserves. It wasn't perfect, but it would suffice for now.

As the effects took hold, Edén activated his magical system, a complex array of runes and symbols that mapped out the area around them in intricate detail. The forest appeared before his mind’s eye, every tree, rock, and stream highlighted with magical energy. He could see his allies, their positions marked by glowing blue auras, forming a protective perimeter around their location.

What caught his attention more, however, were the red auras of the bandits. They were retreating, their presence fading as they moved deeper into the forest, putting more distance between themselves and the camp. The leader’s aura was more intense, a swirling mix of dark red and black, indicating a powerful magical presence.

"They're falling back," Edén said, his voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. "But we can't let our guard down. They might regroup and attack again."

Brogar, still holding his crossbow, nodded in agreement. "We need to stay vigilant. We should set up watches through the night."

Lana, ever the practical one, added, "Agreed. And we need to tend to any wounds and make sure everyone is ready for another fight if it comes to that."

The group moved into action, organizing themselves efficiently. Some tended to the injured, using what supplies they had to clean and bandage wounds. Others began setting up a more secure perimeter, using the natural features of the forest to their advantage.

Edén, feeling his strength returning, walked over to where Brogar was conferring with the other mercenaries. "We should use this time to prepare," he said. "I have a few more elixirs that can help us if they come back."

Brogar looked at him, respect evident in his eyes. "Your elixirs saved us tonight, Edén. Whatever you can do to give us an edge, we'll take it."

Edén nodded, already thinking of the different mixtures he could prepare. He had to make the most of what ingredients he had left. Pulling out his remaining vials, he began to mix and enchant new elixirs, focusing on creating ones that could enhance their defences and provide bursts of energy for his comrades.

As the night wore on, the group remained alert, watching for any signs of the bandits. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of nocturnal animals absent as if they too were wary of the danger lurking nearby.

Edén took a moment to reflect on the events of the night. This was the first time he had taken a life, and the weight of it hung heavy on his mind. But he knew he had done what was necessary to protect his friends and allies. He couldn’t afford to dwell on it now; there was still too much at stake.

When dawn began to break, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold, the bandits had not returned. The group let out a collective sigh of relief, but they knew the respite was only temporary. They needed to keep moving, to stay one step ahead of their pursuers.

"We need to pack up and get ready to move out," Lana said, her voice cutting through the morning stillness. "We can't stay here any longer."