Bella

The dust was being kicked up everywhere only a silhouette of two figures barely noticeable within the center. The sound of metal clashing against metal and small sparks transforming into big flames. Bella and Draco were having another intense sparring session, no one could get close to their expertise and overwhelming prowess. Bella had been training daily ever since she had joined the Shadow Rebellion. Each day was tougher than the next, but the bond between her and him had increased to that of father and daughter. They completely trusted one another with their lives, after raids against the Avadin Empire there was no room for doubt, and the experience against trained soldiers only improved her skills.

Draco put his hand up signaling for a water break they stepped out of the field and started walking toward the bucket of water left out.

"You are improving, even being able to deflect my flames is impressive, one day you will be able to redirect them and use my own power against me, but you still got to learn how to do that."

With a smug smile, he picks up the water mugs and fills one up for her, handing it over he continues speaking.

"And what about tonight? Are you prepared to fight against Royal Knights? They aren't anything like the foot soldiers we have fought in the past protecting merchant caravans. This is a direct force sent by the queen to snuff us out and start cleansing the city of crime."

Taking big long sips Bella was only half paying attention but nodding to him she gulped down the last drop.

"Yes I know but you and me won't have any problem against those weaklings."

Draco getting serious stopped drinking from his mug.

"Confidence is good, but don't be ignorant. I have trained many of them, you know I was the general of the Empire, don't doubt these are strong fighters. Yes, a lot of my men are defectors and revolutionaries against the Queen's regime but we do not have the same equipment or resources they do. It will be a hard fight. So I want you to rest for the meantime, just be ready when we leave."

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Nodding her head she stayed quiet understanding the importance of this mission. In the past raids, she was allowed to keep any money and loot found by her but this was different. They weren't attacking merchants this was a military convoy and even though her greedy heart wasn't happy she knew she would make something after selling the knight's equipment received from her share so it wasn't an issue, this time. For now, she couldn't think about that though she just had to sit impatiently until night.

As dusk settled the small strike force Draco led waited within the city edge, just out of sight from the main road. Draco signling everyone to lay low as the military convoy approached. After months of different raids, the entire crew knew exactly every call sign and order. Bella stayed towards\ the back, as Draco was the vanguard she was the silent killer remaining in the dark waiting for her target to be caught unaware.

Draco raised his fist as the convoy reached the first buildings, spreading his fingers wide he shouted throwing a fireball at the first wagon. With that, the ambush was set.

The battle went on for longer than Bella had ever fought before, but with all the training she had done she was able to slay multiple Royal Knights. As the rest were fleeing in retreat some of the wagons still on fire Draco snuffed them out with a wave of his hand. They had lost very few soldiers but he told everyone to regroup and check on the wounded as the rest collected the fallen soldier's armor and weapons, Bella of course rummaging in their pockets as well.

As she walked amongst the wagons she checked the very last one as the rest were already being looted. There were only a few metal bars and lock. Pulling her dagger back out she smashed the lock off, this was a common one, more secure cells would have had runic markings etched onto the mana crystal. As she opened the gate hoping in and looked around she was hoping for this to be the treasury, but to her dismay there was nothing. Nothing except a single body, it was a young boy, probably only a couple of years younger than she had been. Looking at him the only noticeable detail is that he was heavily beaten, probably by the guards, and his pitch-black hair. Which struck her as odd, some people had dark brown hair but she had never met anyone with as dark of hair as his.

She stepped out of the wagon and yelled towards Draco.

"There is a kid back here, what do you want to do with him?!"

As Draco started walking over he looked in the cell at the boy, and with a small nod he spoke.

"Let's bring him back to base an we can question him there. He might know something we don't."

With that the raid was over and anything not of value lay abandoned, the successful crew heading back home for celebration.