A week has passed since Will and Elaine agreed to join arms in their joint battle against the so called Zodiac Beasts, the only member they know of is Scorpiel. Sitting at the wooden chair at the kitchen table tending to his injuries, the wound on his chest and shoulder still damaged from their battle against Hyrix. Applying new bandages he suddenly hear the front door swing open and he sees the familiar figure of Elaine entering the hut with a basin of water and some apples.

"How are you feeling Will?" Elaine's concerned voice filled the before empty hut. Gently caressing the wounds he answered, "No difference Elaine, the black markings are still festering at the wound, not letting any healing affect the wound."

Sighing in response to Will's answer she placed the water basin in the kitchen and took one of the apples and began chewing on it.

"Do you have any ideas how to fix it?" Elaine questioned whilst looking over the wounds, frowning at the horrid appearance.

"I would have, but my party have long since departed the area to head south, hoping my second-in-command followed my orders he would have gone towards the far south, have you ever heard of Salamish?" Will asked.

"Salamish? Is that a country?" Elaine responded, unsure of the name Will talked about.

"Yes, it is a kingdom in the southern part of the continent, ruled by sultan Emry. His and my father had a loose diplomatic alliance with trade, and I hope we can use that connection to amass an army." Will explained, contemplating his plan for the hundredth time since the destruction of my home.

"Is this connection sure enough for the travels ahead?" Elaine asked, having never left far away from Cymbal forest she was unsure of the dangers of traveling across the continent.

"Do you have a better option?" Will asked, pretty sure he already knew the answer.

"No." She simply answered.

"The it may be the only option we have." Will concluded, a sense of acceptance filled Elaine's mind, accepting it is their only solid lead for now.

"Where is our next destination?" Elaine asked.

"Ishban. I sent my party there to rest before heading towards Salamish, hopefully we find them in Ishban otherwise we have to head towards some of the bigger cities, like Eredin or Ruun." Will explained while finishing tending the wounds.

"When are we heading out?" Elaine wondered, seeing Will had finished tending to his wounds she lobbed an apple, catching it in the air he nodded in thanks before chewing on it.

"As soon as possible, We can head out tonight, do you have a lot to carry?" Will asked while checking out from the window, seeing the sun on the recline he tells Elaine they have about five hours before twilight.

"I carry nearly all my belongings on me already, just rations and traveling gear, let me get it." Elaine responded while taking out cheese, fruit, nuts and other rations from different cabinets in the kitchen. Placing them on the kitchen table she hurriedly scurried of to her bed where she gathered her cloak, purse and some small trinkets from the coffer. Seeing his companion scurrying around the hut his lips curl into a small smile in amusement at her actions.

Sneakily looking over the bare top male human sitting at her kitchen table, she sees the sly look on Will and she hastily turn back to attach different vials and pouches on her belt.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"Why is he still shirtless?!" Elaine panics to herself in her mind.

Noticing his companion is finishing her assembly he takes the repaired shirt hanging from the chair, affixing the buttons he takes the dark, navy-blue traveling coat and puts it on. Looking at each other they for the first time since their first meeting in the glade seeing their attire. Will looks over Elaine, her dark brown hair tied into a single braid gently flowing down her left shoulder, her eyes a sparkling blue, like a still lake at night and underneath them a single scar disfiguring her otherwise fair skin. Her outfit a loosely fitted dress at her legs and a tight fitted patchwork of leather and loose fabric. Meanwhile Elaine looked over Will. His woolen short and dark brown pants loosely hugging his muscled body, the patchy traveling coat over his clothes he looked like a noble from old, his two blades inside the scabbards hanging from his belt underneath the coat. His brown eyes the color of bark and black hair complimenting his outfit. Two scars covered his face, one reaching from his his neck to his left cheek and the other underneath his right eye.

"Do we have any transport?" Will asked while dusting of his coat.

"I can call upon two horses to aid us." Elaine simply answered while tying the last pouch on her belt, containing medicinal herbs.

Nodding at the confirmation he followed Elaine outside, seeing Elaine grabbing her staff and performing a spell, a few moments later two brown furred horses entered the glade, gently caressing their mane Elaine and Will mounted the horses, following Elaine they after two hours of traveling they exited Cymbal forest from the west, close to the stone road.

Following the road for another two hours Will suddenly called for Elaine to stop, unsure of the reason Will informed her that its dangerous to traverse the stone road during the night due to frequent raids since the calamity. Understanding their sudden stop she led them towards an incline between two hills where they set up camp underneath some trees.

Lightning a bonfire Elaine and Will enjoyed their dinner, consisting mostly of jerky, cheese and some fruit for Will and only cheese and fruits for Elaine.

"So we head towards Ishban first to locate your friends, if they aren't there we head towards the cities?" Elaine asked, wanting to confirm their plan.

"Exactly, hopefully they seek shelter inside either Eredin, Ruun or Altan, then we head towards Salamish." Will explained.

Talking for another hour a yawn escaped from Elaine, seeing his companions tiredness Will offered to take first shift. Accepting his offer Elaine rolled out her sleeping bag and said good night to Will, responding Will sat alone in the darkness, the only light emitting was the light of the twin moons and the bonfire. A few hours into the shift Will's attention was suddenly jerked towards the hills to the west of their camp site, slowly and silently he drew one of his sword from its sheath, looking out into the darkness he couldn't see anything, but suddenly the glimmer of a metallic object shined in the dark, behind one of the trees, not wanting to inform their ambushers of his discovery he sheathed his sword and slowly moved towards the sleeping body of Elaine. Grabbing one of the thick branches they chopped down to build the bonfire he placed one end inside the fire, creating a torch. Nudging her Elaine was startled but Will reacted in time and placed his hand on her mouth.

"We have visitors, and they are not invited." Will whispered while sneakily pointing towards the direction of the glint. Nodding in response she slowly grabbed her staff laying beside her.

"Anything to create a wall between them and us?" Will whispered.

"I might have an idea, do you have a plan?" Elaine whispered back.

"On my signal, cast it and target the rangers, I will deal with the melee wielders, you stay with the horses." Will responded while slowly drawing his two swords, firmly holding them in each hand he suddenly threw the torch, seeing the torch flying in an arch the light cast down on seven bandits surrounding them from the left.

"Now!" Will shouted while rushing towards the bandits wielding melee weapons. Seeing clearly for a moment the two bandits carrying bows she slammed her staff into the ground and several vines appeared in the canopy above the bandits, not reacting in time the bandits with bows were caught in surprise as their bodies were entangled in vines and carried up into the canopy. Meanwhile Will had arrived at the first opponent and with a flurry of slashes he slew the first opponent, cuts formed on his chest and throat. While rushing towards his next opponent his steps were stopped as he was surrounded by the remaining four bandits. Looking around for a moment he saw one of the bandits more nervous than the others, rushing towards him Will at the last moment hastily turned left and surprised by Will's speed the bandit to the left didn't react in time as his throat was slashed. Seeing their companion killed the two more able bandits clenched their weapons and rushed towards Will. A fierce fight ensued as Will had to parry and block the two bandits relentless attacks, but suddenly a burning pain filled Will's mind as one of the bandits blades penetrated Will's defence and stabbed him in the right shoulder, were his injury from before was located, lashing out in pain Elaine rushed towards the noise, seeing Will staggering from the wound Elaine held her staff in front of her and shouted, "Ice shard!" as white shards of ice formed in the air and flew at high speed, impacting the bandits chest they were launched back. Scared of the sudden appearance of a magic practitioner they looked at each other before fleeing in fear. Rushing up to the staggering Will she held him up.

"Will are you okay?!" Elaine asked.

"I... am fine, just... need some rest." Will slowly spoke as he suddenly fell unconscious.

"What the..." Elaine reacted as she tore the shirt, seeing the black ichor flowing from the wound on his shoulder she thought it couldn't be good, Whistling to call over their horses she chose to call back one of the horses and with difficulty successfully got Will atop the horse.

"Come on Will, don't you die on me!" Elaine thought as she mounted the horse, Will laying behind her they rushed towards the nearest town.