Placing Amaragnum's marking they haste. Aided by an endurance potion and Amaragnum's magic Akatosh was a blazing wind on the road. Equipped with elven-steel apparel and weapon, they set out for a nighttime desert.

Half an hour through the forest, Amaragnum sense a barrier coming towards the west side. A faint energy suppressed by a somewhat powerful mage. Not a replant force, rather a confusion of illusion guiding them in circles.

Invisible to the naked eye, grasping his hand Amaragnum easily erases the barrier. And when the barrier was broken the mage from the bandit's camp felt their coming, very chaotic energy the mage had sense.

Informing the bandits busy feasting themselves to take arms. The only problem is, they are already at their place, waiting for them to prepare themselves and once they are fully equipped, the two in one make their entrance.

Green gleaming eye from his left side, Akatosh slowly makes his way towards the group as they grin for carnage. The whip greatly illuminates from the darkness shelling Akatosh in spiral form.

They felt it, the evil and chaotic atmosphere lingering form Akatosh. Even the mage together with his five servants was thinking for a retreat but when they prepare a teleportation, Amaragnum already had anticipated their escape disabling them from running away.

"HERE WE GO BABY!... IT'S DESSERT TIME!" Akatosh sneers in a sinister voice.

They grind the bandits as they amuse themselves. The mages were inferior to the stillmage's power, resulting in panic as they cast every single spell available.

Using his stocks of energy. Amaragnum together with Akatosh's help they make a finishing touch to the remaining enemy. Entangling the bandits with thick spider's web. He then bends his back, and when Akatosh's burning hands horizontally sway through the air, the ground rumbles.

"Firestorm… hahaha, tremble!"

Far away from the towering kingdom of Mavigrid, they saw dozens of burning meteors descending through the sky. Arousing the royal people from the high tower to watch the marvelous sight.

Before it showers, Akatosh saw ten people chained and cowering in the open kitchen.

"This is bad!" He instantly moves his body passing the bandits in sitting duck. "Rag!" He shouts Amaragnum for anything that protects the imprisoned slaves. However, the stillmage was long from humanity to have some heroic feet under his name.

"HAHAHAHA… this brings back memories!" He bewilders himself.

He hisses instead of helping Akatosh saving the people from the raining fire-boulders of his magic. Inconsistently from their action especially Akatosh, the result from their madness turns into a threat.

The firestorm which Amaragnum created is now a double-edged sword to them all. Akatosh knows that once, the meteor shower drops, the bandits' fortress would perish, everything, the hordes of spoils to be loot. The life of innocent slaves is now in his hand.

"Damn it!" Akatosh shout gritting his teeth.

Easily cutting the iron shackles, "GO, GET OUT OF HERE!" He shouts, carrying the young ones who are too weak to run.

Away from the area Akatosh hurriedly put them on the ground. After that, he returns, seeking other prisoners before the place would turn to ashes. Forcing his way inside the large hut, he found a pregnant elf unable to stand or walk.

"If you don't want to help me motherfucker then let go of my other arms so I can—"

Without delay, Akatosh felt his left arm coming back to him. Scooping the elf in one go, "Hold on to me! And close your eyes" Akatosh says, carrying her like a princess she was.

Unfortunately for them, the storm had reached the ground crushing the camp, burning the woods. Unable to avoid the falling meteors, Amaragnum finally takes action. Erecting powerful barrier, so powerful that the boulders are the ones being destroyed when they came in contact with the red globe of energy.

"That's the last of my energy, the rest is up to you," Amaragnum says. "Pitiful." He hisses fading away from Akatosh's body,

Once he'd taken her to safety, Akatosh slowly lay her down from the soft grass.

"Take care of her." He says to the people he rescued.

As they watch the last flaming boulders fall, he then returns running towards the bright orange fire. Seeking someone, luckily there were huts untouched by the flaming-boulders but on flames.

Using the whip to cover him from the falling flaming debris he found another gravid woman, panting and trembling, frozen by fear.

"F…" He rushes towards her.

Taking off his shroud, he sorts her from the radiant heat.

Lifting her to safety, he sprints like a chased dog ignoring the screaming agony of the bandits.

After rescuing four more, like a saw he, again and again, search for soul survivors. Consuming five endurance potions for him to sustain the restless night.

When the first morn light strikes the land, there he was sweating, kneeling, and incapacitate to move. The overdose was too much, tired but unable to rest, his eyelids fall heavy to him such as his body similar to a tranquilizer. Barley flinching his fingers he faces the burned bandit camp.

"Loot…" He mutters helplessly sighting the charcoals and smoking timbers.

Concentrating most of his energy towards his right hand, he slowly removes his mask. His chest is heavy as if his lungs are strangled. Concluding to hard breathing, he forebodes this might take him.

Fortunately for him, the people whom he rescued came to his deathbed. A she-elf with bruises in her body gently pressed both of her palms to his chest. Creating little sparkling yew, Akatosh suddenly gasp, panting as he stepped out into the water.

Freed by the clutches of insensitive leaving only aching muscle.

"T-Thank you." Akatosh pants, hiding the mask.

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

In her response, the elf only shakes her head while giving him a sign of her muteness.

Shortly thereafter an open wagon emerges from the fogy dense forest. Unsure if it's an enemy or a friend Akatosh forces himself to stand taking the front line as he conjures the whip.

Waiting for it to get closer, Akatosh was relieved when he saw the man's face.

"Oh, it's you." Akatosh sigh folding back his whip and sheathing his katana.

"Are you all alright, I came as soon as I saw smoke and flames coming from this direction."

"Yeah, I'm a little bit fine," he replies slowly sitting on the ground. "Can you take care of them." Pointing at the prisoners.

The man looks at them, raged clothing, bruises, dirty and malnourished. "You don't have to say it." He nods.

"Okay good." Akatosh shrug calling for them.

"Excuse me but… my father!" A young boy said.

"M-Mother…" mutters the young lady.

Both of them could hear their sorrows of whispers and murmurs from their lost ones. Akatosh knew that when the firestorm desolated the bandit's camp, he knew he couldn't save all of the prisoners leading him to guilt himself.

"Sorry kid," Akatosh pats the young boy's shoulder. "It's my fault and I couldn't save them all, that goes for some of you. But at least you got a legacy to carry. My friend there will aid you all if you're willing."

With that said, the people faintly oblige by his words. Stacking like a can in a box, they manage to accommodate the single wagon.

Calling the man, "I'm sorry but I didn't quite get your name." Akatosh ask.

"It's fine, you can call me Roel."

"Roel it is." Handing him a pouch of coin worth five gold Shar. "Use this to help those people, food, water, clothes, anything. Can I trust you for this?" Akatosh says, patting his shoulder.

"You can trust me." Roel nods in a serious face.

"Mm-hmm… I'm counting on you then." Walking towards the burned camp.

"Aren't you be coming with us; you don't seem to be in good shape."

"Don't worry, I had a far worst experience than this. I'll be in a flash at your place once I'm done investigating this place."

Making excuse to loot the remains of the place, Roel gave his last look at Akatosh zoning out. Lashing the two-horse, they left the place averting their eyes from their savior.

He ponders after they left, carefully studying the place while imagining. Inclining to one of the rocks he searches for an antidote the potion that revitalizes intoxication.

Wondering what will it do, he swallows the entire 20ml liquid without thinking twice. Subsequently, he muddles on the ground, drooling saliva. He can feel his whole veins compulsion, much as his stomach turns to pit pressure.

Throwing up all the toxic black water his tense body begins to ease. And the pain gradually decreases leaving only physical injuries.

"I'm torturing myself!" He slackers to the ground for a power rest.

Not more than an hour, he fixes himself from the ground. There's still a dose of pain left in his flesh but it was enough for him to search what's left from the burned camp.

He considers the place, that a large-scale camp like this run by bandits is hard to attain. Unless this organization is a fund or very good at being a marauder. Seeing the way, they are well hidden, well-kept, and well equipped, he concluded it was provided by either a high standard person or a kingdom.

Ignoring the burned corpses, he silently rakes the whole place. Amassing twelve gold Shar and myriads of unscathed weapons, he moves to the two slightly damaged huts. Drawing cupboards and drawers, turning beds to see what's underneath all he found were books, clothes, papers, scrolls, gems, pieces of jewelry, and some copper and silver Shar, which he didn't falter to hoard it all.

After completely taking all the spoils, he searches for a teleportation scroll in his unkempt inventory.

"Gahh… I need to fix my things."

Following his grueling to find that teleportation scroll, Akatosh calls Amaragnum to trigger the spell. And without a word, the scroll was used transferring them to Roel's house.

When they arrive, the people were neatly cared for, taking a bowl of stew to quench their hunger. Moreover, their sloven clothes and appearance were no more to be seen. It looks like the couple is very thoughtful in handling these people.

"Mister-mister…" Comes Roel's daughter dashing like a dog she was. "I'm glad you're alright!" She continues disregarding Akatosh's stench and unpleasant presence.

"Where's your father." A fatigue tone Akatosh responds grasping his stomach.

"He's inside the house, you should take a rest, you don't look well." The girl asserts, grabbing his cloak.

"Mm-hmm… I'm fine, I need to make this quick."

Calling the couple for a private discussion, they head to an isolated room. With no tables only chairs, Akatosh quickly engage in the main discussion.

Appealing to the couple, "I'm very much thankful for your help. And I understand your concern about those people and to your family." Akatosh says distancing himself from the two.

"It's nothing to be thankful, we are more oblige in helping those people." The woman says now with a delighted tone.

"I understand, as for them… Oh, how much farther is Mavigrid."

"I can do half a day if I'm going to use the shortcut, however, the shortest road is now dangerous to use," Roel said.

"Monsters?"

"I believe so."

"I see, I'll ask if they have relatives and families. As for those who do not, the temple in Mavigrid might take an orphanage for those children. And for the rest I let them decide for themselves, just not staying here."

"Um… I have a question about those bandits--" Comes Roel.

"I can't say much, that is one that baffles me. However, if someone came here seeking information about some destroyed bandits' camp… just tell them how those bandits oppressed you."

"I do understand, but why." Roel reply.

"That's one thing that I'm seeking, rest assured there's nothing to worry about. Those marauders won't be causing you any troubles."

From his words and action, the couple breath in relief.

"Oh… do you have some bath or some nearby creek that I can use to clean myself," Akatosh says, before exiting the room.

"There is irrigation not so far, just around the house near the garden. And you're welcome to use the bath anytime you like, come I'll show you the way." The woman said.

"Thanks then…"

While being guided by the woman Akatosh ask her name.

"You can call me Ann." She replies.

Taking his time washing all the sweat, scrubbing his bloody hair. "Damn son." A very tired and distrait tone he mutters staring at the ceiling.

Looking for a decent tree to sleep, Ann and her daughter forced him to sleep in her room. Taking the opportunity Akatosh quickly falls to bed ignoring his hunger so too his stained equipment's piled on the corners of the room.

Later, Akatosh rouse from his bed unsure if it's late dusk or before dawn. Checking his equipment first, to his surprise the blood and mud from his soiled stuff are now clean as the elven skin. But when he hears a commotion from below, he quickly went to see what's the fuss.

"What is going on--"

Before he continues, Akatosh was interrupted by Ann's daughter hastily carrying a small basin of water and a clean towel. The sound of a woman painfully wailing on the room where Ann's daughter rushed towards inside diminish his hunger.

Knowing the situation, Akatosh goes to where the sound is muted. Choosing outside, he searches for a bottle of ale gratifying the cold breezing wind as he sat down near the irrigation.

Drinking one more, Roel called, "I've been looking for you thought you were at the kitchen. And that's very unlikely of you, drinking in the morning without having breakfast first."

"I'm accustomed to this, so how's it."

"It was the elf, don't worry the elf and her child is safe."

"I see." Akatosh shrug as his groaning stomach.

Roel laughs, "You don't seem to be taking care of your innards. Unfortunately for you, you have to wait for a while, they are still preparing for breakfast."

"I see; I think I'm craving for a burger."

"Burger?"

"It's simple, I just need to borrow your kitchen if you let me."

Roel smile, "Well, let see this so-called burger of yours."

For a small family, the kitchen was quite large, enough to hold ten people cooking. Taking his part, cutting vegetables and meat the six people that are assigned to cook were surprised by his skill.

Combining spices, his red wine the smell filled the room sending the fine aroma to the nose chilling their mouth.

"You sure got something," Roel says, staring at his cooking.

"Well, thanks to my scary eldest sister, forcing me to learn how to cook. Bragging me about, 'If you don't know how to cook, how can you get a lady or please one.' That's what she said for a woman who's still single in her 30ths."

Making two burgers, he then cut them into three parts for the others to taste.

"So, this is it, just bread some vegetables… and meat." Akatosh smile.

Thinking they are eating a royal meal, they plead with Akatosh to make more.

"I can, but about those elves, I heard they aren't very fond of meat."

"Now that you mention it, Ann had to cook pure vegetables and fruit though, bread is acceptable to them."

"Fine then, the cooking is on me as for the elves I have some dishes that will surprise them."