As Erlinda and I traversed the winding path, the ruins of the village gates dissolved into the background, shrouded by the weight of the day's ominous events. Silence enveloped us, allowing us to reflect on our own thoughts. Worry and anticipation mingled within me, wondering what awaited us at Darwin's hideout and whether we were truly prepared for the dangers ahead. Erlinda, undeterred by the heaviness that lingered, strode purposefully beside me, her eyes scanning the surroundings for anyone.
As we walked through the serene landscape, the gentle breeze caressed my face, and the rhythmic rustling of leaves created a symphony of tranquility. It was a stark contradiction to the heavy tension that enveloped us. Dewpoint, our quaint town, was never meant for the likes of soldiers. The emptiness they've left behind is almost more unsettling than their arrival would have been. There are no footprints in the soft soil, no echoes of their departure in the still air. It was as if the just vanished.
Erlinda's voice broke me out of my thoughts as she pointed towards a particular thicket of trees, "We go in there."
"Are you sure? It seems too exposed," I voiced my concern.
Erlinda shot me a glance, reassuringly saying, "Trust me, Lucas. It's our best chance to approach undetected. Darwin's hideout has guards everywhere to prevent people from finding it," she warned, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. I sighed, “Then why don’t we go to the front door so to speak?"
She scanned the surroundings before answering, "I don’t wat others to find it.” “The guards are missing and there is no trace of them,” I frowned, “So you also noticed that. We go with your plan.”
As we ventured deeper into the wilderness, the landscape transformed around us. Towering trees reached for the sky, their branches intertwining to form a natural canopy that filtered the sunlight, creating intricate patterns on the forest floor. The air was thick with the scent of earth and moss, reminding us of the untamed beauty thriving within nature's embrace.
After what seemed an eternity of traversing through the forest, Erlinda and I came upon a clearing, which materialized from the dense foliage, unveiling a concealed path that wound its way towards the heart of the forest. There, Darwin's hideout awaited us, concealed amidst the towering trees and undergrowth. The clearing exuded an air of secrecy and guarded protection, with a river encircling a cluster of trees, as if nature itself had formed a barrier to safeguard the hidden building on the opposite side.
"This is it," Erlinda stated, her voice filled with a sense of urgency as she quickened her pace. "Wait up!" I called out as I matched Erlinda's steps. We approached the entrance, only to be confronted by a man dressed unmistakably in bandit garb. His menacing frown softened into recognition upon seeing Erlinda, a smile hinting at a shared history. "Erlinda, what are you doing here?" he inquired, his curiosity extending toward me.
Erlinda took charge of the situation, stepping forward. "Where is Darwin? It's urgent," she demanded, her tone brooking no further delay. The man's eyes darted between us, assessing the urgency in her voice. After a brief moment of hesitation, he reluctantly replied, "He's inside." Erlinda gestured towards me, stating, "Darwin knows him. He will be okay to enter. Go ask Darwin, but we need to speak to him immediately."
The man sneered at me, showing his hostility, before begrudgingly stepping aside to let us pass. As we crossed the threshold, multiple men dressed similarly emerged from the surrounding trees, most with swords in hand. Instinctively, I gripped the hilt of my sword, anticipating a confrontation, but Erlinda grabbed my arm, guiding me towards the door, opening it, and walking through.
Inside, the dimly lit corridor was adorned with symbols and markings hinting at the mysterious activities that took place within. Arrows protruded from the walls, evidence of past conflicts that had occurred in these confines. The discarded remnants of clothing and scattered weapons on the floor suggested that the bandits had neglected to maintain any semblance of order. It appeared as if these items were the spoils of their plundering, carelessly dropped without regard for organization or tidiness.
As we ventured deeper into the corridor, our steps echoing in the dimness, we approached a room illuminated by a flickering lantern. Behind a weathered table, upon which a meticulously detailed map lay, stood a man with sun-kissed blond hair. It was Darwin, garbed in red leather armor and adorned with a somber black headband. Though our ages were similar, the lines etched upon Darwin's face and the weariness emanating from his gaze imparted an air of maturity that surpassed his years. In his hands was an old, tattered book.
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Darwin looked up as we entered, concern etched on his face before he playfully quipped, "So, what do we have here? Finally decided to join my crew, Lucas?" I shook my head, "No, we are here because you might be in some trouble."
Furrowing his brow, Darwin glanced between us. "What's going on?" he inquired, curiosity and concern lacing his voice.
Erlinda wasted no time in explaining, "Soldiers visited the village not long ago. Lucas spoke to them, and they were asking questions about you."
I added, "Truthfully, they want both of you and they knew my name. Lindy brought me here to warn you."
Darwin's gaze turned thoughtful as he considered the information, his fingers tracing the lines on the map. "Thank you for warning me, but I don't think there is anything to worry about," he said confidently.
I folded my arms, narrowed my eyes at Darwin in displeasure, "I don't get it. If I were you, I'd be concerned right now."
Darwin's face tightened, his eyes narrowing with a mix of annoyance. "Lucas, I appreciate the concern, but I can handle whatever comes my way. This doesn't involve you," he stated firmly.
Rolling my eyes, I remarked, “Well, Darwin, if you’ve got it under control, remind me why I'm here again?”
Growing impatient, Erlinda interjected, "Because I brought you here, so stop making things worse.” Turning to Darwin, “Listen, the soldiers disappear after they left the village and there is no sight of them.”
Just as Darwin opened his mouth, the man who had impeded our way earlier came rushing in, face gripped with horror. "Soldiers outside!" he exclaimed in a panic.
Erlinda went white, her worst fears confirmed. She looked at me, desperation evident in her eyes. “Goddess, they followed our trail. What the hell is our next move?" she questioned, her voice uncertain.
I unsheathed my blade, steeling myself for combat. The man from earlier glanced at us and declared, "They'll string us up if they take us breathing. I refuse to die without a fight." With that, he grabbed one of the discarded weapons on the floor and rushed out of the room.
Erlinda unsheathed her dagger, prepared to join the fray. But Darwin's voice rang out, a mixture of urgency and determination. "Listen, I need you guys to take this book and make your way to the castle town of Parstone, west of here," he instructed. He held out the tattered book he had been examining earlier. Erlinda's eyes locked onto the book, concern, and trust flickering in her gaze. "What? No, Darwin, I'm fighting too," she protested.
Darwin frowned, his voice steady. "Lindy, I can handle the soldiers. Take Lucas, head to town. Speak to no one about this book," he ordered, his voice firm. Erlinda's grip on the dagger tightened, "You sure, Darwin?" Darwin's expression softened with a vulnerability that I had rarely seen “Trust me." Nodding Erlinda took the book from Darwin, tucked it away in her bag and grabbed my arm then pulled Darwin into a rough embrace. “Stay safe,” she whispered. Erlinda's voice trembled slightly as she pushes us apart, “Alright, let's go.” Darwin sighed "Thank you, both of you. I promise I'll find a way to catch up with you once this is over. Stay safe."
Chaos greeted us once we left the building, the resounding clash of steel and distant cries of combat reverberating through the air. Looking around the battlefield, I tried to find a way out of the clearing only to see a mass of soldiers that are winning against the bandits. Dead bandits littered the path and very small was place in ropes and nets. ”Dammit they are losing” I thought. Erlinda, who was shaking, looked towards a black knight who slashed a bandit, ending her quickly. Erlinda moved to go to him I grabbed her arm, “We need to go,” I said. “We made a promised to Darwin to get that book out of here.”
Spotting a break in the soldiers' defense, Erlinda gestured toward two guards stationed near a forest path. We moved swiftly, feet light across the blood-soaked ground. Erlinda broke into a sprint, dagger glinting as she closed in on the first man.
The soldier turned at the last second, fumbling for his sword. But Erlinda was already on him, ducking under his panicked swing. Her blade flashed, sinking deep into the soldier's exposed armpit where his armor was weakest. He let out a choked gasp, eyes going wide as crimson bloomed across his armor. Erlinda drove her knee up into his stomach, twisting the dagger before ripping it free in a spray of red before slashing his throat open.
At the same time, I charged the remaining guard, sword in hand. The man hefted his mace, but I deftly swung my blade to parry the blow aside. As he staggered, I swept his legs out from under him with a kick, my armored boot clanging against his greaves. He hit the ground hard, the air leaving his lungs in a rush. I lunged forward and plunged my sword into his chest.
With a brief nod, we plunged into the shadowed forest path, the sounds of combat fading behind us. As we reached the outskirts of the hideout, we broke into a final desperate sprint towards the cover of the woods. Arrows whistled past, biting into trees as shouting soldiers emerged in pursuit. Pulse pounding, we pushed our weary bodies to the limit.
Just as we stumbled into the concealing embrace of the forest, Erlinda risked a glance backward, her eyes brimming with relief and anxiety. The soldiers crashed after us, their armor clattering between the trees, jaws set with determination. But for now, we had gained some distance, precious time to escape.
Gasping, we paused a moment, hands braced on knees as our racing hearts slowed. Meeting Erlinda's gaze, I saw the conflict written on her face. She ached to turn back, to see with her own eyes Darwin's emergence from the chaos. Standing I look down the path “Let’s go Lindy, Darwin would be ok.” Shaking her head, she oriented herself and moved towards the town that Darwin had asked us to go to. Looking back at myself I said a small prayer to the goddess for Darwin and followed behind her.