The air crackled with tension as the clash of steel and desperate cries filled the forest clearing. The entourage of the Order of Runes, tasked with escorting a group of high wizards through the treacherous woodlands, found themselves under a relentless attack by a bandit gang. The hired adventurers and guards fought valiantly, but the sheer number of bandits slowly started to overwhelm them.

The adventurers made up the vanguard using their shields working in tandem with their swordsmen. The guards protected the flanks and the entourage itself that consisted of a giant blackwood carriage that slowly retreated away from the action. The mages of the adventurers stood in the middle conjuring what meager spells they could to deter the bandits from moving forward.

Steel clashed against steel, followed by the sounds of blade tearing flesh and screams of pain. The adventurer vanguard was winning the skirmishes but were slowly pushed back as more and more bandits advanced like hordes of undead.

Splutch!

An adventurer stabbed a bandit straight through his chest. The bandit grinned like a madman as if the fatal injury was nothing. He swung his rusted blade cutting deep into his shoulders. He recoiled and kicked the bandit pulling his sword back, the bandit fell lifeless still adorning his grin. He struggled to stand as blood gushed of of the wound;the splitting pain got worse. More bandits rushed as him seeing his inability to defend properly.

BAM! THUNK!

The approaching bandits fell pused by something heavy as a burly man with a shield entered the vision of the wounded adventurer.

“Bram!“, he shouted clutching his shoulders.

The shieldholder looked back for a brief moment before eyeing the bandits who struggled to regain their bearings after suffering the bash. “I have told you not to overextend countless times. A serious injury is the end of the line for someone in this profession!“, he shouted in return and rushed forward with a grunt to finish the weakened bandits.

The man clutching his wounds merely smiled as he stabilized his footing again. “You worry of injuries but, never worry that I may die—urk!“ His words gets interrupted by a pained grunt as arrows pierce through his light armor.

“RHOODY! Hold on I am coming!“. The shield bearer quickly retreated to his friend holding his shield up to protect himself the barrage of arrows. He picks him up under his arms still falling back to where his other comrade are , now trying to save his wounded partner from the arrows too.

A heavy blow assails his shield making it crack while he falls down from the force. He doesn't get time to look around as magical projectiles that explode on contact hit just a few meters away from him. He frantically keeps his shield covering as much of his body and his friend as he can. His last bastion is soon shattered and lies; defenseless on the forest floor. Arrows pierce his body making him wail. He closes his eyes accepting his fate.

His comrades few metres away avert their eyes for a moment to unsee the burst of blood and viscera. Some make hard faces while others scowl.

“They have mages among their ranks. They are getting reinforcements too! We must retreat! Head to the city as fast as possible”. One of the remaining shield bearers shouted as the barrage of magical projectiles relented a bit.

Desperation tinged the voice of the leader of the guards as he shouted orders, his sword parrying blow after blow in combat with three bandits. "Fall back! We cannot hold them any longer! Form a defensive line!". He performed a heavy slash cutting through two of the bandits he fought. He held the sword hand of the third and cut into his leg making him fall and then swiftly beheaded him as blood fell all over his body.

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The battered defenders obeyed the orders, retreating to create a protective formation. However, the chaotic retreat resulted in more casualties to the falling arrows and projectiles. Two fallen comrades lay motionless on the forest floor, their sacrifices a grim reminder of the dire situation.

“We have two more dead! Defend yourself and the one beside you if you want to survive! Fall back!“. The guard captain swiftly retreated back into his ranks and took the fallen adventurer's shield. They were not surrounded yet, but the bandit were receiving reinforcements and he was sure they would be in a tough spot soon.

Amidst the chaos,the carriage of the mage entourage creaked open, revealing a figure cloaked in robes, their hood obscuring their face. A well armed man just beside the carriage rushed forth, a personal guard the high wizard. He stepped forward in haste, concern etched across his face. "My Lady, you mustn't expose yourself to danger…if things become worse i will enter the fight".

“Why have you not entered if you are so …this is not my father's territory Gyrus. I am not obliged to listen to instructions”. Their voice was serious as they looked towards the guard's face. The guard sighed and took a step back.

“What are you doing? Let them do their job. You need not go out their…you will get covered in filth”. A second voice resounded from within the carriage, from a middle aged man in the same robes as the hooded figure. His sharp eyes looked on with scrutiny and disgust.

The hooded figure,carried forward undeterred, brushed off his words. Her voice carried an air of authority and determination. "I will not stand by. I say it's time to end this infestation”.

Pushing through the ranks of guards and adventurers, the figure emerged, her voluminous blonde hair cascading around her shoulders. She removed her hood making the others around her stare. The curvy sorceress possessed breathtaking beauty along with a face that was both serious and stunning. Her striking features, accentuated by piercing emerald eyes, exuded an aura of intensity and purpose.

The bandit leaders who had joined the charge seeing the enemy retreat basked her figure their lecherous stares. They were blown away by her beauty as were the others standing alongside her. Their lust overcoming any strategic judgment they had, they barked orders to their men, “A wizard hah what a sinful body you have! Bring her to us men! Just look at her pretty face….you can enjoy her screams as we ravish her later at night! Ahahahha”. One of them declared rubbing his groin without shame.

Their crude remarks about her body echoed through the clearing, met with a scornful scoff from the young woman.

In an instant, Elara's hands moved in intricate patterns, conjuring the very essense of magic, 'raw mana' . Powerful wards shimmered into existence, shielding the defenders from the onslaught of arrows and the feeble magical projectiles from the would be mages of the bandits. With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a torrent of high-ranked spells, characterized by their complex magic circles as the raw energy teared through the ranks of the bandits with merciless precision.

Stunned and awestruck, the remaining bandits faltered, their morale shattered. The battlefield which was filled with unpleasant noises not minutes ago fell silent, save for the pained groans of the charred bandits. Elara stood amidst the chaos, her gaze unwavering, as she surveyed the aftermath of her devastating display of power.

The survivors of the entourage, once on the brink of defeat, now regarded Elara with a mixture of awe, gratitude, and curiosity. Whispers spread among them, tales of the young sorceress with voluminous blonde hair and a serious yet beautiful face, who had emerged from the shadows to protect them.

They did not notice her pained expression; blankly staring towards the destruction caused as the routed bandits ,the remnants of their group limped back into the safety of the undergrowth away from from them.

As the clearing descended into a somber silence, Elara gathered her blonde hair and turned back towards the carriage. She heard someone mutter, ”….she came only after…they died”. She couldn't make much of it but she saw Gyrus grow agitated as he reached for his sword and started to move past her. She quickly grabbed onto his arm pulling him back in front of her.

Gyrus had a grim expression and that would have given any child the fright of their lives but she looked into his eyes nonetheless. “Calm down. He is right…lives were lost, lives that may have been important to some”. Her emerald eyes sad and tone melancholic, she ducked back into the carriage as the remaining entourage cleaned up the aftermath.