Chapter 27 "The bandits' hideout and the treasure"
The steady creaking of the carriage wheels broke through the quiet night, stirring Caelan from his restless sleep. Despite the cramped, uncomfortable space, he had somehow managed to doze off, lulled by the monotonous sway of the carriage. As he opened his eyes, he glanced around at his companions, who had also fallen asleep sitting up, their faces softened in sleep.
He leaned forward, pushing the heavy curtain aside to peer outside. Darkness stretched in every direction, dense and unbroken. The only light came from the flickering lanterns dangling from each carriage, casting a faint glow over the road. The moon was hidden behind towering trees, their thick branches reaching up like clawed hands to grasp at the sky.
In the distance, he heard the low, haunting howl of wolves echoing through the forest, followed by the occasional soft calls of night birds hidden in the treetops. A light rain had begun to fall, its quiet pattering on the carriage roof adding a soft, rhythmic beat to the night. Even this gentle rain had transformed the path into a muddy track, slowing their progress and making each movement of the wheels a struggle as they pressed forward through the darkened forest.
Caelan pulled the curtain back and leaned into his seat, listening to the sounds of the forest and the rain. When they were jolted awake by a sudden, piercing scream—bandits! "Whaaaaa!" The shout echoed through the trees, immediately followed by arrows slicing through the air from all directions. The sound startled my companions awake, tense and disoriented inside the carriage.
"Get down! Stay low and don't leave the carriage!" Geo’s voice was firm, his tone urgent as he shouted over the chaos.
We dropped to the floor, pressing ourselves against the wooden boards, desperately trying to shield ourselves from the onslaught. "Damn it, they can see us, but we can’t even get a glimpse of them," Mario growled, frustration sharpening his voice.
"They’re hiding in the trees, waiting us out," Hiddan muttered, his gaze darting around, searching for any hint of movement in the shadows.
"Jason, cover me—I have an idea," I whispered, a plan forming in my mind. Slowly, I crawled toward the front of the carriage, my heart pounding with each movement. When I reached the front, I saw the coachman, trembling as he crouched behind his shield, clutching it tightly as if his life depended on it.
“Jason!” I hissed, gesturing him forward as he crept up beside me. “Get the shields ready. I’m going to grab the lantern. Cover me!”
Jason’s eyes widened with uncertainty, but he nodded, determination hardening his features. "Alright… just be quick," he whispered back, keeping his eyes on the shadows outside.
I lunged for the light, my fingers closing around it just as an arrow pierced through the thin cover of the carriage. Jason shielded me, deflecting arrows with his own shield as I aimed and threw the light as hard as I could in the direction of the incoming arrows.
The lantern arced through the air, casting a sudden glow across the forest. In its fleeting light, the outlines of the bandits emerged among the trees. The adventurers around us seized the moment. Arrows flew, striking the bandits caught off guard by the sudden illumination.
"Take that!" a voice yelled from one of our archers, laughing as he loosed arrow after arrow. More adventurers tossed lights around the area, flooding the forest with bursts of light, each revealing more bandits crouched in the dark.
With the lights cause by the lantern that we throw to the bandits , our archers unleashed a hail of arrows on the ambushers, forcing the hidden bandits out of their cover and into the open.
The adventurers inside the carriages finally stepped out, weapons at the ready, their eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement. "Let’s go," one of them murmured, determination in his voice. We climbed down from the carriage, tense and alert, weapons raised. "Stay sharp," Geo warned, glancing at us with a stern expression as we joined the battle.
The adventurers wasted no time, swiftly dispatching the bandits one by one. In the shadows, the bandits had not realized they had stumbled upon a group of adventurers instead of a caravan full of valuable goods. Who would have thought that so many carriages were filled with adventurers rather than merchandise or precious cargo? Their confusion quickly turned to panic as they noticed their numbers dwindling. Frantic whispers broke out among them, but it was too late—the adventurers were too numerous, and the bandits were completely overwhe
I watched the chaos unfold as the bandits faltered, struggling to regroup. Some turned to flee, but arrows and blades met them before they could get far. I noticed Van fighting enthusiastically, effortlessly defeating the bandits who tried to escape. Suddenly, a burly bandit charged toward Van. Van seemed ready for the attack, but as the bandit closed in, he did something unexpected—he tore off his ragged cloak and flung it straight at Van’s face.
“Van, watch out!” I shouted, seeing the fabric hit him, momentarily blinding him. The bandit lunged forward, seizing the chance to strike while Van struggled to clear his vision.
But I was quicker. I darted forward, intercepting the blow with my sword, deflecting the bandit’s blade before it could reach Van. Without hesitating, I drove my weapon toward the bandit, feeling it cut into his arm. He hissed in pain, clutching his bleeding arm as he staggered backward.
The bandit’s face twisted in fear, and he spun on his heel, scrambling to escape into the forest. "Come back here, you coward!" Van yelled, his voice brimming with fury as he started to chase the fleeing bandit.
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"Van, let it go! Don’t chase him!" I called out, desperation in my tone, but my words fell on deaf ears. Van was too caught up in the heat of the moment, anger and pride pushing him forward. I had no choice but to follow, hoping to catch up before he ventured too far into the darkness.
The forest quickly closed in around us as we ran, branches tearing at our clothes, shadows thickening with every step. The bandit, knowing the terrain well, managed to keep a lead, weaving effortlessly through the trees while Van stumbled in frustration, unwilling to let his target slip away
No matter how fast or far he ran, we managed to keep pace, guided by the glint of the chain around his waist as it flashed in the moonlight. I stayed close behind Van, never taking my eyes off the bandit. Suddenly, he veered off the path and stopped beneath a large tree. The trail led us deeper into the forest, where the trees grew thicker and shadows stretched long and dark under the pale glow of the moon. Finally, the bandit reached a towering, ancient tree, its sprawling roots twisted like the limbs of some old, slumbering beast. At its massive base was a dark opening.
With a quick glance back, he slipped inside.
“Van, hold up!” I called, a note of warning in my voice. “Let’s be careful.”
We moved in closer, each step cautious, weapons ready. Gently, we move to the massive tree where the bandit go , revealing a narrow entrance. We exchanged a brief, tense glance before stepping inside, following a cramped path that wound deeper into the darkness.dimly lit tunnel, with rocky, uneven walls carved out of stone. The tunnel has a rustic, narrow pathway lined with small lanterns placed on wooden stumps, casting a warm, amber glow that illuminates the rocky surfaces and creates a mysterious, slightly eerie atmosphere. The tunnel extends into the darkness, giving it a deep, cavernous feel, . The lanterns provide the only source of light, creating shadows that enhance the rugged texture of the walls
As we moved forward, Soon, we saw him—the bandit Van had chased—collapsed on the ground. Blood pooled around him, and I was surprised he’d even made it this far with those wounds. He seemed delirious, mumbling to himself, “The treasure is mine… it’s mine… no one will take it…”
The words faded as he gasped his last breath. Van and I looked at each other, the reality of where we were settling over us.
“Caelan… this has to be their hideout,” Van said, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and relief.
“Yeah, no doubt about it,” I replied quietly, gripping my sword a little tighter,
"What should we do, Caelan?" Van whispered, his voice tense with anticipation.
I glanced at him, keeping my tone low. "Let's check it out, but we need to be careful. We don’t know what—or who—might be waiting inside."
Van nodded, swallowing hard. "Right. I’m curious too… but this place gives me the creeps."
We moved slowly, each step echoing softly off the cave walls, until we reached a narrow passage at the end. I grabbed a lantern hanging from the rock. Its dim glow cast long shadows across the stone. "I’ll go first," I murmured. "Keep your spear ready."
Van shifted his grip on his spear, his eyes alert. I drew my sword, feeling its reassuring weight in my hand. We entered the chamber, and the lantern’s light flickered across a surprisingly large space. My gaze swept over tables and chairs, old mattresses piled up for sleeping, weapons of every kind stacked against the walls, and bottles of what looked like expensive liquor.
But then, as my eyes adjusted, I noticed something that made my pulse quicken. Van's eyes widened, and he took a sharp breath
"Caelan… are those…?" Van's voice faded as he stared, wide-eyed with disbelief.
Before them, nestled in the shadows of the dimly lit cave, was an overflowing treasure chest, brimming with riches beyond their wildest dreams. Gold bars and glittering gemstones gleamed under the flickering light, and the chest itself could barely contain its treasure—ornate jewelry, intricate necklaces, and rings cascaded over its edges, their gems shimmering in shades of blue and silver. Gold coins and precious stones lay scattered across the cave floor, mingling with stacks of old books bound in richly embossed covers.
"Oh my god, Caelan," Van whispered, struggling to keep his excitement contained. "We’re rich!"
"Keep your voice down," Caelan hissed, shooting him a look.
Van grimaced, clapping a hand over his mouth. "Oops. Sorry… but seriously, what do we do now?" His eyes sparkled with thrill and a bit of panic.
Caelan took a steadying breath, his gaze fixed on the overwhelming sight before them. How long have those bandits been doing this, and how many victims did they have to rob to accumulate this kind of wealth? Caelan thought to himself. "We need to go back and figure this out first."
Go back?" Van's jaw dropped, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Are you serious, Caelan? Look at this treasure!"
“We’ll come back for all of this,” Caelan said, his voice steady but his eyes still wide with awe. “If we don’t get moving, Jason and the others are going to wonder where we are.”
Van nodded, his excitement barely contained. “Right… I mean, all this is ours, right?” He ran his fingers over a pile of gold coins, letting a few clink back into the chest. “Come on, let’s head back before I lose my mind staring at it.”
as caelan began to turn away. “Wait—are we really going to leave all of this just sitting here?” Van asked, his voice laced with worry. “What if someone finds it?”
Caelan shook his head. “We don’t have time to hide it somewhere else, and this spot is safe. The bandits are gone, and nobody else knows about this place. It’ll be here when we’re ready.”
Van glanced back at the treasure, reluctant but trusting. "Alright… but we’re coming back soon, right?"
Caelan managed a grin. “You bet.”
"Van, we need to keep this under wraps for now," I said as we walked back. "It’s better if we don’t even tell Jason or Niro. If they find out about the bandits' hideout and the treasure, they might start acting differently, and it could tip off the others that we’re hiding something."
"You're right," Van agreed. "I trust both of them not to say anything, but their actions might be different—especially Niro. He can't sit still if he's hiding something."
"It’s not just that," I added. "For this mission, we’re stuck with Geo and the others. If we tell Jason and Niro, we might end up talking about it, and Geo and others could overhear. Once we’re back in Liras City, then we can fill them in and plan out how to deal with the treasure."
"Alright, let’s stick to that plan," Van said, his grin wide with excitement. "I still can’t believe our luck. If we keep this up, who knows? We might even end up as knights." His eyes sparkled, and he gave a small laugh. "Come on, they’re probably waiting for us back at the convoy."