The Mine’s entrance was compacted dirt and large rocks. Nathan could see abandoned equipment and a few dead bugs from Okutar’s party. The two light sources did a well enough job to ensure Nathan and Brawn could see ahead of them.

They walked in silence for several minutes. Everyone was on edge, waiting for one of the hidden creatures to pop out at any moment. Nathan noticed side tunnels were blocked off with wooden boards. Showing those tunnels were either dangerous or no longer used.

“How much further till we see trouble?” Parker asked.

“Probably down the next level. We will go down this way till we come to a fork. We go Left down the stairs. The last group reported that’s when they had to turn back.” One of the miners said.

It was another five minutes before the group came to the fork. Sitting and waiting was Kira. “Right side is all blocked off, looks like a cave in. Left goes down, but there is another problem.” Kira pointed to an unmoving body that’s on the side of the tunnel.

“Don't worry, I didn’t kill him. But he is for sure a look out.”

The lead miner grumbled in anger. “Damn bandits. Probably taking the chance to get free resources. Lady Mona is not going to like hearing about this.”

“Any insignias?” Brawn asked Kira.

“None, and he is wearing normal clothing. So either a new recruit, or we are dealing with a starter group.”

Nathan was tempted to heal the man, but he trusted Kira didn’t do anything to cause him to die or bleed out. “Why would bandits be down here when the spiders are still around?” He asked.

“Easy cash grab. With no miners or their guards, they can take whatever they want. Shadow Affinity gems are highly sought out by thieves. I have one to help with my stealthing actually.” Kira said.

“I have the authority to increase your pay by double if you clear out the bandits” The red haired leader said.

Brawn looked at everyone and back to the miner. “Triple if they are a known and established group. If there are too many, or we can’t handle them, you can’t claim it as a failure due to the new circumstances.”

He didn’t miss a beat. “You have a deal.”

Brawn drew his sword. “Alrighty, change of plans everyone. You know the Adventure’s Guild rules. Killing is allowed if they are armed.”

That final sentence made Nathan feel like a stone was sitting in his gut. “Shit, I dont’ want to kill these guys.”

Kira put a hand on Nathan’s shoulder. “Hey, you going to be alrighty Nate?”

Nathan took a deep breath. “Probably not. Do we have to kill them? I understand fighting and stopping them, but can’t we just knock them out?”

Kira gestured to Brawn’s sword. “You really think he can not kill with that thing? Ko’Nu casts fire spells, as well. If anyone here is non-lethal it’s you and me. Parker won’t hold back, he enjoys the extra experience.”

Nathan raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you get experience from killing people too?”

“We can talk about that later. Just stay back and safe.” Kira drew her daggers.

Everyone else readied themselves, including the miners. Each of them had a short sword or used their picks as weapons. “Wait, you guys are going to fight as well?” Nathan asked.

“It’s our livelihood. They take what’s ours, that’s less food on our table. We will leave the real fighting to you all, but if they come at us, we won’t hold back.”

Nathan could understand where they are coming from. Yet, he had a hard time believing everyone in this world’s first thoughts to a solution is always violence. He couldn’t leave them behind, they needed him to keep them alive.

Which was worse? Fighting criminals, or leaving his party for his own views?

Nathan didn't have to think long. He walked up next to Brawn and gave him a nod.

Brawn took the lead and walked forward as quietly as he could. What little armor he had didn’t do much to keep him quiet. Once they reached the top of the stairs, a pair of bandits were sitting down, not paying attention.

Brawn pointed at Parker and Kira and then at the two. They both nodded. Kira crept down quietly, while Parker drew his bow. Kira gave a signal and went to dispatch her target. Parker landed two arrows in his, both landing in his back.

Kira knocked hers out, little strangulation to stop the blood flow until her target was unconscious. Nathan assumed she did the same on the first guy. Brawn gave a thumbs up and started to move forward.

He checked the bodies and shook his head. “Still no insignias. I don’t recognize these guys.”

“Probably still lackeys.” Parker commented.

Thu bent down and touched them. Nathan could see a faint pulse of light travel down the one that Kira knocked out.

“What was that?” He asked himself.

Thu nodded to Brawn and the group continued onward. It was a long tunnel. Ko’Nu and Kira’s lights were gone. There were lit torches from the Bandits the group could use to see.

Nathan noticed a shift in color of the walls. The Earthy browns and grays turned to a charcoal color. Much darker and dull compared to the level above.

As they walked Nathan could start to hear the sounds of metal on stone. Ahead the tunnel opened up into a large opening.

“You all better hurry the fuck up. We are expecting the Miners and some Adventurer scum to show up tomorrow. Last day of work gentlemen. We are going to become rich!”

Shouts of approval echoed through the tunnels. Everyone seemed to almost double their efforts to get as much work done as possible.

Brawn frowned and looked back to the miners. “Why do they expect us tomorrow?” He asked in a hush whisper.

“Tomorrow is our due date for a delivery. They must have expected us to only grab what we left behind and set in a minimum cargo quota.” The red haird miner replied.

“Good, then we have the advantage of surprise. Probably why the guard detail is lacking.” Brawn turned to Thu and Kira. “Scout them out. I want to know what we are dealing with.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Kira and Thu both seem to fade from view as they turn invisible. Nathan was impressed with the likeness of their skills of stealth.

While they waited Brawn and the lead miner were drawing out the floor plans of the mine.

“We need to be careful with large attacks. Cave ins are not likely under normal circumstances, but explosive or vibrating attacks will doom us all.” He said looking at Ko’Nu. “Your Drake’s people are known for their unyielding fire power. He best not kill us.”

“Ko’Nu isn’t going to kill anyone. He has good control over his abilities. Now, what about the third floor down. You think they went down there?”

“Oh absolutely. Luckily, all the spiders and scorpions should be dead or thinned out enough that they won’t attack us. So that part of the mission is done. All the Shadow Gems are on the lowest level. With that many up here, we can expect as much if not more down down a floor. Unless they don’t know how to properly mine it all out.”

“What do you mean, by that?” Nathan asked.

“Shadow Gems in their raw form absolutely can not be touched by natural light. Only Fairy Lights or special magical ones can be used. If they have none of the equipment to see, then they are going to not excavate them properly.”

That made some sense to Nathan. Just another property of magic he filed away to further study later. “Can we really fight them all? There is what? Thirty up here, and then another fourty or so down another level? We are outnumbered.”

Brawn chuckled. “These bandits are not higher than level two or three, at least the ones who are awakened. As for the leaders, they are around level eight or so if I had to guess. The miners here are all between three and six. We have the numbers, just not the same ones you are thinking of.”

Nathan felt a little better. “How do you know their levels?” Nathan asked.

“No insignias on the guards. Most Bandit groups that are any good all have a calling card like a Guild or sometimes a party. All the good ones are high in Level because they can afford the riskier crimes and make more money.”

“That makes sense actually. It’s like Doctors. No proof of your abilities means you probably don’t have any.”

“Exactly. Now once Kira and Thu get back, they can tell us who we are dealing with and make a better plan.”

It was only five more minutes before Kira returned shortly followed by Thu. “You want the good news or bad news, Brawn?” Kira asked.

“Bad first, as always.”

“We are dealing with the Indigo Wolves crew. Good news is none of the high leveled guys are here. Up here are all the lackeys. Down below is the real trouble. People with insignias, not hired help”

Brawn had a wave of worry go across his face. “Shit, okay change of plans. How many ways are there between the lower level and this one?” Brawn asked.

“Just the one, we are working on a secondary one before the spiders overwhelmed us.”

“Good, that makes things easier. Okay, we are going to clear this group out first and do it quickly. Parker, make sure nobody is able to run down and warn the others. Everyone else knows their roles.” Brawn looked to the Miners. “I can’t ask you to help or fight with us, but if you do anything, make sure nobody gets away. Those who run are probably hired to help or were captured and forced to work for them.”

“Aye, we gotcha. Don’t want anyone running away with our rocks.”

Nathan started to sweat with fear. He was more worried about making a mistake than he was about fighting other people for once. He didn’t want anyone getting hurt because of his mistakes.

“Everyone stay sharp, watch each other's backs.” Brawn gave Nathan a smile and stood up.

He ran inside and cleaved the first Bandit he ran into, causing everyone in the area to stop and look as the sound of meat hit the ground.

Chaos erupted quickly among everyone as they realized someone was here to stop them. “Adventures! Kill them! Whoever gets the killing blow gets double their payment!” The bandit in charge shouted.

He was an Elf with his hair in a ponytail. Nathan didn’t pay any attention to him as he stayed back and readied to heal Brawn and the others as needed.

Parker let out shot after shot of his arrows, not worried about running out. Each one was either a lethal hit or would cause his target to bleed out. Kira sliced her enemies, but ensured to avoid important areas. Her goal was to mame not kill.

Thu fought in hand to weapon combat. Their glove covered hands knocked people back with a single punch. Ko’Nu and his Fire Elemental seemed to hold back their real power. Firing attacks after several seconds to save mana.

Nathan was lucky that no Bandit came at him yet. He kept an eye on Brawn, Kira and Thu. Once he saw them get hit, he would cast an [Invigoration Ray] spending no more than 10 Mana for each one. It was to ensure their wounds did not worsen, not to fully heal them.

However, they are only the three front liners, and two bandits made it past them and ran right at Nathan.

“Get him! He has no armor! An easy kill and easy money!” Said an Orc wielding a pair of short swords.

“No he’s mine!” A Human said holding his miners pick as a weapon.

Nathan stepped back several times in fear, but held his spear out. “Don’t do it! I don’t want to hurt you. Just surrender-”

Nathan’s sentence was cut short as two arrows hit the bandits. “Nathan, they aren't going to listen to you. They are going to kill you! Man up and get some blood on that spear of yours. The Experience you gain is AMAZING.” Parker shouted in glee.

Risking a look back, Nathan saw greed in Parker's eyes. He looked like he was having fun attacking all the Bandits.

Nathan looked forward again in time to see Brawn take a magical blast to his left leg. “Nathan!” He shouted as he fell to his knee.

He rushed forward and placed a hand on the Half-Giant’s back. Nathan pumped in 30 Mana with [Healing Touch].

“Oh, that was more than enough. Shoulda only used half there.” He said as he pushed back a Beast Folk that looked similar to Kira.

Nathan back stepped more as he heard more shouting from the pony tailed bandit.

“They have a Healer! GET HIM!”