After the fight against I’shil’s forces. Fil’Gharn told his companions to heal Morgana and Lance. He reasoned that without them, they would never have defeated I’shil.

As they were being healed, Lance mentioned that the reward should be shared among them, one for their guild and another for Fil’Gharn’s guild to which Fil'Gharn agreed.

“I agree. Morgana is the one who took down I’shil after all.”

“Hahahahaha. I never thought you would agree”, laughed Lance.

“I never thought about this at the start of the day.”, chuckled Fil’Gharn.

Both looked at a sleeping Morgana, exhausted from her fight with I’shil. Although she was heavily bruised and wounded from the fight, she was still standing when Fil’Gharn’s companions went to her and healed her injuries. She only fell asleep when she was being healed.

“You have a wonderful leader there.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“I know. That’s why I followed her.”, said Lance.

“When we get back to Kuldro, we are going to be rivals.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”, said Lance.

“Don’t tell I said all of this.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“Hmmm. I know, you are one prideful person.”, said Lance.

Just then, Grizelda walked towards Morgana with her fists closed, and fist bumps her. With a faint smile, her brother was in her thoughts, and she thanked Morgana for defeating I’shil.

Thank you for avenging my brother

Grizleda decided to approach the still unconscious I’shil, with the intent of destroying him, but decided not to. She felt that it would be a tainted victory at best and would deprive the young sorcerers their own victory.

I came back from the sorcerer prison, and I will not let my anger cloud my judgement.

Grizelda then stood up and bid farewell to the other sorcerers. Unlike Morgana and Fil’Gharn, there is no monetary incentive for her in defeating I’shil. With her anger subsided, Grizelda then walked away from the group of sorcerers.

“Let’s go back too.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“Yeah”, said Lance.

Lance picked up Morgana and decided to carry her back to Kuldro. To Lance’s surprise, Morgana felt light. But also, to his surprise, this sleeping Morgana would pull his hair from time to time. To him, Morgana appeared helpless at first, but with her constantly pulling his hair and giving him light punches, a sleeping Morgana seemed dangerous to him.

This is Morgana all right

Just as they were walking towards Kuldo, they saw Grizelda. In front of her stood a man that both Lance and Fil’Gharn recognized. They realized that it was the thief from earlier.

“Hi”, said the thief to the group

Lance gently dropped Morgana into the ground and aimed his mace and shield towards the thief, while Fil’Gharn aimed his staff to the thief. Both are ready to strike him down.

“Calm down guys. I’m not your enemy”, said the thief.

“Convince us that you’re not an enemy”, said Fil’Gharn and Lance.

“He is not an enemy. He is not an ally either.”, said Grizelda.

“Allow me to introduce him to you. He is Vul'Kish, a thief and a conman. But he is not a bandit. He does not attack people without reason.”, said Grizelda.

“That’s way too good of an introduction for someone like me.”, said Vul’Kish.

“Hmmm. Unlike you, we used to attack people for money. You never considered doing that.”, said Grizelda.

“Maybe. I just don’t know what my family would think of me if I actually did those things.”, said Vul’Kish

“Anyway, we’re getting off topic. I’m here to tell you that I’shil’s forces are merely a scouting team for the real attack. I have observed these bandits and realized that they are not part of the same bandit group.”, said Vul’Kish

“What do you mean they are not the same group. Of course, they’re different. My village was attacked by the KarKhon Bandit Group.”, said Lance

“I know. I’shil’s group is called the GalBorn Bandit Group. Another group that is currently on the move is the HilDread Bandit Group led by someone named Deshin.”, said Vul’Kish.

“Isn’t Deshin a warlord from another village?”, said Fil’Gharn.

“He is. But they do not simply act on their own. They are led by someone, but even I cannot figure out who is the mysterious leader of these bandit groups.”, said Vul’Kish.

“Bandits usually do not attack in groups. They always have their own interests”, added Grizelda.

“That’s right. A random bandit attack would simply be raiding a village and leaving it afterwards, not to invade it.”, said Vul’Kish.

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“So, the attack on my village was not a coincidence?”, asked Lance.

“If it was simple raid, then, it was a coincidence, but if it was an outright attack, then the attack is a coordinated one.”, said Vul’Kish

Lance thought hard and realized that Konrad’s attack on Azuran was not a simple raid, but an outright invasion.

“So, the attack on my village was an invasion. If Deshin’s group is going to attack, we need to stop them, or else they would destroy everything in sight.”, said Lance.

“You and your injured states won’t help anyone. All of you, and that includes you, Grizelda, come with me.”, said Vul’Kish

Vul’Kish then led the group to an abandoned barn. With his magic, he started a small fire inside the barn. He then went outside for a while. When he returned, he brought some meat with him, ready to be cooked.

“Eat. We need to recharge our energies first.”, said Vul’Kish

As Lance was eating with the sorcerers, he wondered about Morgana. Still sleeping soundly, he thought about sharing his food with her, but decided not to, since she appears to still be in a deep sleep.

“She’ll be fine. Out of all of you, she needs rest the most.”, said Vul’Kish.

I hope she’ll be alright, thought Lance.

“You all should rest here for a while. I’ll keep watch over you.”, said Vul’Kish

While Vul’Kish is on guard and outside the barn, Fil’Gharn went to Lance and whispered to him,

“I’m not sure if we can trust him.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“I’m not sure either. But he is right about one thing, we do need to rest.”, said Lance.

“I’ll try to keep an eye as much as I can.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“Thank you.”, said Lance.

“Why did you become a sorcerer in the first place anyway, Fil’Gharn?”, said Lance

“When I was a kid, I met a lot of friends. They were always picked upon by other stronger sorcerers. I resolved to become strong enough to protect them.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“So, you really do wish to become the protector of Kuldro.”, said Lance

“Yes. Despite what you see today, Kuldro used to be a very violent place. When I was a child, raids were very frequent in that town. Strong adversaries would always come and attack the innocent. Furthermore, the nobility didn’t seem to care. They only cared about getting rich. None of the people here liked them. If I’m not mistaken, the name of their family is Alaborn”, said Fil’Gharn.

“What changed?”, asked Lance.

“When I was around 8, around 20 years ago, Lady Saya and her parents bought the castle from the nobility living there. One could say that they bought their titles.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“Bought their titles?”, asked Lance.

“They were traveling merchants. The nobles were running out of money due to their lavish expenses. Soon they were taxing the town heavily. It wasn’t until Lady Saya’s parents bought their titles that our lives have gotten better.”, said Fil’Gharn.

“What happened to the nobles?”, asked Lance.

“They went back afterwards. They tried to get Lady Saya into marrying their family, but were rejected by them, which led to disaster. The death of Lady Saya changed everything. The rune wielder Musa became more distant to us, and soon, some of us sorcerers decided that we should be the ones protecting this town.”, said Fil’Gharn

“And so, you took the burden to yourself.”, said Lance

“Yeah. With that burden developed an ego and entitlement. I forgot why I decided to become a sorcerer. It was only after this battle, that I understood one thing. We, the sorcerers and townspeople, not I, Fil’Gharn should be the protector of Kuldro.”, said Fil’Gharn.

After listening to Fil’Gharn’s story, Lance simply nodded. He went to where Morgana is sleeping and watched her from a distance until he himself fell to sleep. The only ones awake were Vul’Kish and Fil’Gharn.

I hope Mr. Musa regains his motivation, thought Fil’Gharn.

Fil’Gharn’s thoughts stayed with him throughout the night. Wondering what the future holds, he decided not to take the burden by himself. He realized that one person should not shoulder everything, and to trust his companions even more. With that, Fil’Gharn made a genuine smile for the first time in years.

Soon, everyone, including Fil’Gharn went to sleep. Vul’Kish thought of getting their items but decided not to, since for him, the bandits are of a greater threat and must be dealt with.

Before the rooster even crowed in the morning, Morgana woke up earlier than everyone. Going to Lance, she tugged him, attempting to wake him up.

“What Morgana?”, asked Lance.

“I’m hungry, I need to eat.”, said Morgana.

“I think there are still left…”, said Lance

Before he could finish his sentence, Lance saw that Vul’Kish was still awake and was cooking breakfast for them.

“I would like you to meet Vul’Kish.”, said Lance.

“Oh, the thief from earlier. You were almost unnoticed, but you were following us all this time, haven’t you”, said Morgana.

“Very observant, kid. How did you know I was following you?”, said Vul’Kish

“When we left Kuldro, just a few steps away from the town, I heard some rustle in the leaves. Furthermore, I saw another shadow just as we were leaving with Grizelda.”, said Morgana.

“Interesting, why are you so observant of your surroundings?”, said Vul’Kish

“Because my sister would always watch me in secret, and she knows how to hide herself.”, said Morgana.

Hmmm. Interesting, this Morgana

“Anyway, here you can eat some.”, said Vul’Kish

Without any reluctance, Morgana grabbed the food and ate it herself.

“You trust him so quickly, knowing that he followed us?”, asked Lance.

“He could have tried to attack us while we were battling I’shil but he didn’t. I don’t think this one is a bad person.”, said Morgana.

You are still way too trusting, thought Lance.

After finishing the meal, Vul’Kish also told Morgana everything he told Lance and the sorcerers the night before. Without hesitation, Morgana stood up, she told them,

“What are we waiting for, we should go after this Deshin guy now!”

With a smile, Lance agreed with his guildmate. He prepared his gear, and along with Morgana, the two of them marched back to Kuldro. But Vul’Kish blocked their path.

“We need to wake up everyone first. Deshin will have an army ready to attack.”, said Vul’Kish

“Alright”, said Morgana.

Water dragon, give me your life. Destroy all those who….

WATER JETSTREAM

An incomplete form of Water Jetstream emerged from Morgana’s staff, but it was enough to wake up everyone in the barn. With all of them wet, they looked at the culprit (Morgana), and glared at her, ready to attack.

Morgana, sensing the danger ran towards Kuldro, with Lance right beside her.

Well, that’s one way of waking everybody up, thought Vul’Kish

“Hahahahahaha. Nice job kid.”, said Vul’Kish

“You said we need to wake them up”, said Morgana.

“That I did, that I did.”, laughed Vul’Kish

Water and Fire, she may be a… Don’t come into conclusions just yet Vul’Kish, as the thief thought to himself.

When they were at the outskirts of Kuldro, Morgana and Lance saw Moto and Yuulah currently fighting bandits with the name “HilDread”. The two are fighting valiantly, with both Moto and Yuulah using their swords to defend against the attacks.

“They came earlier than I expected”, said a shocked Vul’Kish.