Chapter 3 is up in my Wordpress Account. Maybe I will do this normally. I will first upload the chapter in Wordpress and then the last chapter will be posted here. So the wordpress will always be one chapter or two chapters ahead than of RoyalRoadl. :)

AN: I am severely lacking in my vocabulary and i tend to drag on and on even in my writing so forgive me. I am trying to be as concise as possible. :) As always any constructive criticism and corrections are highly appreciated.

Chapter 2: From the Frying Pan into the Fire

Running as fast as I can without really knowing where to go is terrifying but it is a hundred folds more terrifying for a little girl of four years to be doing just that. I ran with all my might, tears streaming down my eyes, even in my small mind I somehow knew that I won't be seeing my Dad and my Mom anymore, that they have died and left me alone. I stopped running at that thought. I was alone in a forest without anyone to help me and protect me. I was scared as anyone would be. I cannot help but cry, try as I might to be strong I can't seem to stop crying. I was confused, scared and lost in the middle of nowhere.

Suddenly I hear a sound of something coming near me. It seems like the sound of footsteps. I immediately stopped crying and made a mad dash behind a tree to my right. I sat and hugged my knees and tried to remain as quiet as possible. I can hear it coming closer and finally arriving in the place where I was just a while ago. I can hear them talking it seems like they have no need for stealth.

Bandit A: "Hey stupid! Are you sure you heard someone here?!"

Bandit B: "Don't call me stupid! Yes, I heard someone sobbing in here from just a while ago!"

Bandit A: "Well that person seems to be gone now. Let us go back."

Bandit B: "I could swear that I heard something but I might be wrong. Yeah, let us go back."

I let the breath I didn't know I held as I felt relieved that those bad people did not find me. Not to know that from the very start they already knew where I was hiding and was just toying with me. After talking they took the path they came from only to stop after a bit and then come around from both sides so that they can surprise me from both my left and right.

Hearing that they were gone, I stood up and peeked at the clearing that was near the tree I was hiding from. Confirming that they left I made the mistake of putting my guard down as when I was unguarded that was when they suddenly rushed out of the shrubbery at both my sides. Seeing them coming near me I panicked and ran from where I was hiding. I can hear them laughing at me while giving me a head start. After a while they gave chase to me as I can hear them laughing and trying to scare me by saying scary words.

Bandit B: "This is going to be fun brother! You are so smart! He he he."

Bandit A: "Let us play a bit before bringing her to the base camp. He he he. She looks quite delicious, I don't mind having a bit of fun with her before giving her to the Captain to sell. He he he."

AN: Wow that turned dark. Sorry for people that is squeamish to these kinds of plot.

Bandit B: "He he he, you sure are such a sick bastard brother. If you take her for yourself the Captain might found out, he will not be happy if the product loses its value."

Bandit A: "I'm sure the captain will allow us at least this kid. After all our harvest this time was higher than what we expected. And he can't do anything if we already did something to the kid. He he he."

Bandit B: "Your'e right. Let's enjoy this brother! Hey kid run faster! We love a good chase. A good exercise before eating is the best you know! Ha ha ha!"

Hearing them taunt me and getting nearer I tried to run a bit more. After a few minutes of hearing them taunt me I can feel my feet giving up on me, they feel like it was lead. I am growing more tired as minutes past by until something so cliche happened to me. I tripped and somehow I tripped in another clearing at the center of the forest instead of where trees where growing.

I tried getting up but now my feet felt like it turned to jello. I have no more strength and I can see the two bandits exiting the see of trees in a slow pace. They were now just a few feet from me. I can see the excitement in their eyes. Looks like the game of tag is over and i would fall and become their prey. Of course this thoughts are something I wasn't able to think as a small child. At that time my mind was blank because of panic and extreme fatigue. I cannot move anymore. I just stared at them and felt my eyes blur because somehow tears started to flow. I was terrified and that excited the evil bastards more.

Bandit A: "Looks like we finally caught you little lady. He he he."

Bandit B: "That was trilling as usual brother. But now I'm excited for the next game we are about to play. He he he."

They were now almost at me. I can see such deep evil in their eyes. I braced myself for the end.

Bandit B: "Let us play another game little girl. Why don't we play peek a boo this time. We will take a cloth off each alternately until one of us has none and the person with more cloths still remaining wins. Isn't that fun! He he he."

Bandit A: "That is a nice game little bro. Well why don't we start now. Since we are such gentlemen why don't we let the little girl go first."

With smiles born from the netherworld they stand besides me and blocked any chance of me getting away.

Bandit A: "It looks like you don't have enough strength to move. Since we are kind enough why don't we help you out. Aren't we nice lil bro?!"

Bandit B: "Yes we are Brother. Yes we are. He he he"

I was struck with great fear, at that time I did not know what would happen but I can feel that something bad will be happening to me. Again tears came down my face, I begged them to not do anything to me but seeing my tears made them more excited.

They both crouched down to my level and while Bandit B grabbed both my arms so that I can't move I can see Bandit A's hands nearing my dress. He was gonna rip my dress off. Completely horrified and without any strength left to fight I closed my eyes and waited for my end.

But after a couple of seconds I found nothing was happening. The place grew quiet and the excited breathing of Bandit A and B was missing. The hands that were restraining me were nowhere to be found. I slowly opened my eyes to see the site that until now was burned to my memories.

Completely opening my eyes I found Bandit A looking at a figure of a Man wearing a leather armor set. His head was a mess of silver long hair and his plain face shows signs of aging yet he still looks quite dignified. He is still fit even though he looks someone of an advanced age, his exposed arms look strong and firm filled with scratches and marks showing experience in battle. His stance although relaxed shows no opening and eyes calm yet alert and assessing.

Seeing the man interrupting their fun the two idio...i mean the two Bandits tried to intimidate him into leaving.

Bandit A: "Hey old man. You should leave already if you know what's good for you!"

AN: Really that is the best that you can say to intimidate an old man. Bandit A seem like all bark and no bite.

Bandit B: "Yeah old man, leave while we are still being a bit gracious."

An old man venturing this deep into the Flowergate Forest means that he is nowhere near normal to begin with but this two does not have the brain cells to think that deeply. So they continued intimidating the old man in leaving while I was now trying my best to slowly back away from where I was being held at a while ago. I was young but my fight or flight instinct already kicked in. I somehow knew that things were about to get messy and it seems like the old man was giving me the time to put some distance between me, the bandits and him.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

After a few more seconds and putting some distance between me and the bandits the old man finally spoke up.

Old Man: "You two seem to be quite confident in your strength. Why don't you just try and force this old man to leave this place huh?!"

Well it seems taunting those two worked. I can see them getting agitated even more.

Bandit A: "You'll regret messing with my fun time old man! Lil bro lets show this old timer why we are feared as the Shadow Claw Bandits of the Archidia Empire!"

Bandit B: "Ha ha ha let's go Brother!"

With that the two of them unsheathe their swords and readied themselves to fight the Old Man. The first to attack was Bandit A, he rushed to the Old Man and tried to do a overhead slash which was easily evaded by the old man by stepping back, next Bandit A upon regaining momentum tried to slash the Old Man vertically which was again completely evaded by the Old Man. This continued for quite a bit with Bandit A just hacking away while the Old Man just evaded, after a while I can see Bandit A getting completely tired.

Old Man: "What's the matter? Is THAT all you can do?"

This made Bandit A go at it with the Old Man with renewed gusto but without any result to show with when Bandit B saw that his brother was being toyed at he immediately ran to the side of the Old Man to make some kind of an ambush which completely missed by the way. Now it is clear that the Old Man was toying with the both of them and no matter what the two of them can do they cannot even land a hit to the old man.

Getting really frustrated Bandit A glanced at me for a bit and then glanced at Bandit B. It seems like they are planning to do something else, they were planning to make me as a hostage. Bandit B tried to attack the Old Man and while his attention was at Bandit B, Bandit A sprinted to where I was. I panicked and stood there frozen in fear. I looked at the Old Man pleading for help just to see his calm eyes looking back at me, somehow his eyes assured me that everything will turn out well. All this while he was still evading Bandit B's attacks.

Seeing Bandit A rushing at me I braced for the moment he snatches me but then some huge shadow appeared between us. Stopping himself before colliding at the shadow we were met with a being out of nightmare. A Cat type beast as black as night standing at 2 meters tall with muscles rolling around its body, long legs equipped with razor like claws and teeth as sharp as any knife. But the most noticeable feature of this great beast is the Metal Gray colored eyes and Silver Horns protruding from its head. It feels like its stare can pierce anything it sets its eyes on. This great beast is what I would later learn is a Level 95 Rare Ranked Beast aptly called Night Silver Lynx. A monstrous being able to tear apart a man with just one simple swipe of its paws.

Upon seeing the Night Silver Lynx Bandit A could only cower in fear. You see he might not know about Beast Rankings but he knows about the Tamer Class. People who set out to this world not to gain riches or find fame but to set out to dangerous places in order to find dangerous creatures to tame and make as Battle Partners or Familiars. Looking at the Beast in front of him Bandit A was filled with fear and helplessness. He knows that once targeted by a Beast like Night Silver Lynx he does not have any chance of survival. And true to what he thought with a swipe of its left paw Bandit A was shredded into ribbons. What an abrupt and pitiful death.

Seeing that the death his Brother, Bandit B tried to escape and abandoned his Brother choosing to save himself. But who is the Old Man? He was the person able to tame and train a Rare Beast like Night Silver Lynx. With arrogance only befitting those with power I heard the Old Man say.

Old Man: "You won't get away that easy. Oh hear me great spirits of the Wind, come to me and hear my plea. Become a blade that will shred my enemy. Wind Cutter!"

Seeing magic for the first time was another thing that I will never forget. Winds started accumulating near his outstretched arm and then rotated fiercely while forming a figure of a blade. After just a few seconds it flew out of his arms and into the fleeing Bandit's back killing him instantly.

Seeing such a gruesome thing made me fall to my knees. I do not want to see the gruesome sight but I cannot seem to take my eyes off. I heard the Old Man come closer and I then looked up. I found him looking at me, I looked at him and then to the beast which stood beside him. I know I should be wary and afraid of the Beast but what I feel right now is awe at its strength and majesty. I was more enamored by how it looks rather than the display of magic the Old Man did. As I was contemplating all of this I missed something the Old Man was saying.

Old Man: ".....name?"

I looked at him and I saw him look at me with expectantly. I pondered a bit on what he was saying and decided to say my name.

Erina: "My name is Erina. What is your name Mister?"

Old Man: "Hello young Erina. I am Agorus Michelle but my friends call me Agor. You can call me Agor if you want."

He ended it with a smile. That made me calm down a bit more.

Erina: "Hello Mister Agor. Thank you for saving me from those bad people."

Agor: "Think nothing of it young Erina. Say, why are you alone here in the forest?"

Erina: "I was running away from bad people with my Mom but she said I have to run away by myself when we saw this Huge and Pretty Snake. My mom said that I am a good kid so I followed what Mom said and ran as fast as I can. I know I won't be able to see Dad and Mom anymore but I am still a good kid, right?!"

While I was talking I can feel my eyes burning, tears were again flowing down my cheeks. A combination of loneliness, fear, confusion and relief assaulted my four years old heart.

Seeing my pitiful appearance and knowing that my mother possibly became a meal for the Petal Snake, Agor made the decision that ultimately change my life.

Agor: "Say, do you want to come with me young Erina?"

I looked at him again but this time with excitement and relief. I was still crying mind you but I can feel a tiny bit of hope entering my heart. I nodded fiercely, somehow or another i felt like Mr. Agor would keep me safe.

Agor: "Ha ha ha that is good. Since you do not have a Daddy and a Mommy now, how about you call me Uncle Agor. So you will not be alone anymore. okay?!"

Erina: "Yes Uncle Agor!."

I smiled from ear to ear, the earlier tears dried up. I was not alone anymore. I have another family member.

Agor: "Ha ha ha. That's good. And while we are at it. You should meet my Partner, you can call this Night Silver Lynx, Leon. He has been my partner the longest so treat him nicely okay?!"

Erina: "Hi Leon. Thank you for saving me."

I bowed to the beast beside Uncle Agor and it seems like Leon understood me as he came closer to me lowered his head and rubbed it affectionately against mine. It purred really loudly as well showing that he likes me. His fur feels nice to the touch, i thought it would feel prickly but it was so soft. Then it gently nudged me by using its head. Which Uncle Agor translated as Leon wanting me to ride him. I looked at Uncle Agor and he nodded his head. I smiled and then i was lifted by Uncle Agor and was placed at the back of Leon. He said that I need to hold on to Leon's horn real tight so that I don't fall off when Leon starts to run as he can run real fast.

Seeing that I am now settled Uncle Agor said that we must leave the forest because it is dangerous and that there might be people searching for us. With a nod he started running at an incredible pace, seeing his master running ahead Leon did not allow himself to be beaten and started running after his master soon catching up to his master's fast pace.

This was the start of my adventure.