After the bath, Jackson felt refreshed. Gypsy looked much happier and told him he no longer looked like he was on the verge of death. A white tarp was now over the Bird’s nest, and Barbara was still hiding under his cape. He ignored her as he took his watch. The sun was setting, and his eyes moved from one person to the next while checking the sand. He couldn’t help but let his eyes get stuck on Gypsy when he found her from his post. His chest tightened as he remembered what she said.

The sunset behind the dunes. Jackson kept an eye out into the distance. This desert was known for bandits at night, and a sitting wagon was their favorite prey. He couldn’t afford to study that night as it would distract him.

Time past, and Gypsy finished her rounds. So far there was no signs of attackers, but the night was still young. Despite their claims, she couldn’t fully trust Jackson as her guard. He indeed fought the Berserker and lived, but she couldn’t help but think he was hiding something. Hiding a lot of things, and she didn’t like people keeping secrets while protecting her girls. She would need to pressure him later. She went to reenter the wagon when a sound made her jump. She turned to see Jackson standing a few feet away, his eyes glowing and staring into the distance. He noticed her and held a finger to his mouth. His dagger was drawn, and he looked serious. She mouthed the word Bandit to him, and he nodded his head.

The pair stood waiting; Jackson eyes locked onto his target. He placed his dagger into its sleeve and lifted his hand. He knew as soon as he snapped his fingers, that the battle would start.

While in the Bird’s nest, Barbara seemed to react to something making Jackson use magic to increase his eye sight. He found the bandits a few moments later waiting for Gypsy to enter the Wagon.

He could clearly see them, even though the sand. He focused on a point at the center of the group and prepared to create a large blast. Gypsy readied her own spells and cast one on the wagon.

The silence of the night was disturbed by the sound of a large explosion. It lit the entire area up, and shocked both Gypsy and Jackson. He may have over done it as the few survivors rolled down the hill aflame. Had they been the only ones, Jackson would of went to his post proud. He turned, snapping his fingers to the surprise of another group of Bandits. The smoke from the blast rose into the night sky, covering the crescent moon.

Jackson pushed Gypsy back as a sword swung at her from the ground. Some bandits came from the sand as they commenced their attack. They looked shaken, as their plan had failed. Jackson drew his dagger again as he started to duel two Bandits. Despite using a dagger versus their swords, Jackson was able to counter their every attack. Compared to the things he fought so far; they were push overs.

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“Cut!”

After his spell was casted, the bandit in front of him started to bleed heavily from his chest. A massive cut formed on his body, and it was deep. Jackson turned to block as another Bandit tried to attack him from behind. One went to swing at Jackson but seemed lost as he hit midair. He looked around for a moment, and then jumped in surprise to find Jackson actual location.

“Cut!”

The confused bandit screamed in pain as a cut formed across his body starting on his face and ending half way down his left leg. Jackson really like the spell. He had thought it up a few days ago, after remembering the effects of saying ‘Rot’. However, a fight was not a place to congratulate oneself. Jackson turned to attack the next Bandit on his right. Another strange thing. The bandit went to block but moved his blade to the opposite side of his body leaving himself open to the attack. He seemed just as confused as his comrade. Jackson moved the dagger to block up as another Bandit swung down at him.

Jackson imitated the Berserker as he kicked the bandit off him and moved back. Four bandits surrounded him, each carrying a sword. One jumped to attack him but landed on his right with the blade stuck in the sand. Jackson slit his throat while he looked around in surprise. It was the strangest fight Jackson was ever a part of. Jackson was having problems now concentrating on the attacks while he’d tried to figure out why the bandits kept attacking and blocking in the wrong place. In this state, a bandit took advantage. He charged and prepared to strike Jackson’s side. Jackson skipped back dodging the swing. He moved to the side and went for the throat of this bandit. The bandit twisted and blocked the attack.

Jackson stepped back and looked to see where the others were. This was the first time he’d spotted Gypsy, who was being attack by seven bandits.

“Cut!”

He casted his spell on the bandit he was fighting as he headed over to help Gypsy. He watched as they attack the air, just like they did when they targeted him. He snapped his fingers and cleared a path to her side. She looked shocked as he blocked an attack coming for her side. Jackson charged at two of the bandits.

“Burn!”

The two burst into flames. Jackson blocked his left, and headbutted the bandit. They both fell back from the impact. Jackson scolded himself as a bandit came to attack him. However, he attacked in front of Jackson, and his blade dug into the sand.

“Shield!”

Jackson created a gold shield behind Gypsy as a bandit tried to attack her. She turned, and a flaming magic circle formed around her right hand. Jackson impaled the one that just tried to attack him. The one that attacked Gypsy was thrown back by an explosion. The few bandits looked at each other, then started to retreat. They made one mistake, they grouped up. With a snap of his fingers, the last of the bandits were burned to a crisp.

Jackson fell onto his back and looked at the stars. Gypsy came into his vision and looked tired.

“What magic was that?”

“That what I want to know! What were you doing to those guys?”

“You answer, I answer.”

“I use old magic. It very hard, but I’m still learning.”

“Illusion magic. I was born gifted with a natural talent for it. Just so you know, it was very hard protecting you and the wagon. Better question, why weren’t you effected by my spell?”

“I cast a spell on my eyes before the fight, it sees through things. Even magic.”

“So, your skill is to cheat. No wonder you can fight the Berserker.”

“I only just learned most of that. I might not have lost my arm otherwise.”