We Were Trapped…

Our adventure. It’s been full of many experiences.

We started adventuring together and went to a nearby ruin. I was always fascinated by the text in there, but I could never read it.

But he could.

Together, we completed the dungeon and deciphered all the text within it.

That led us to the capital, where we learned the truth, or at least a bit of it. What we learned is the backbone of the journey we are on right now. Collecting the relics, one gained, one failed, but somehow we still have two.

We want to help the Kingdom of Taelesta. That’s why we did what we had to do, and I’m glad you two are here with us despite what just happened.

*           *           *

Rina finished her monologue, summarizing her and Kaito’s journey and the details of their mission. As Rina talked, Kaito reminisced about their journey.

“So you think the hero’s party might be the benefactor’s allies who have gone awry,” Khrom clarified, aiming to add his own theory to the mix. “Then I guess one of the members of the hero’s party may be betraying their group.”

“I think you're right,” Rina added. “That would be why they must be so careful not to get caught.”

“Don’t you think it could be that old guy?” Kaito referred to Tatsuki. “He just let us go without a fight after all.”

“Evona thinks it’s Lady Kaede— actually, never mind…” Evona suggested, but immediately retracted as she remembered her idol’s true colors.

“Whoever it may be, we’ll likely face the hero’s party in battle again,” Rina concluded.

“Yeah… We’re all going to have to get much stronger in preparation for that,” Khrom mentioned as they had all already talked about how they struggled against ‘Kouki’s Generals’.

In that moment, Kaito remembered one fact they had discussed regarding their one-on-one battles against Kouki’s Generals.

“Wait, Rina! You said you defeated that spider witch on your own!” Kaito announced, not even trying to remember the generals’ names. “How!?”

“I did, but I had to use my special weapon,” Rina explained.

“A special— YOU HAVE ONE!?” Kaito shouted in Rina’s face.

Rina, opening her eyes nonchalantly, from Kaito’s yell, responded, “Yeah, it’s an air-based one that lets me move faster, fly, and launch a variety of air projectiles. It’s very draining to use, so I don’t take it out much.”

“It’s also kinda ugly,” Rina whispered to herself.

“And when exactly were you going to tell me this!?” Kaito asked, sounding annoyed, but he was more shocked than anything. “Can we see it!?”

Rina thought for a second, but declined the offer. Kaito was eager to see it, but Rina successfully drew attention away from him as she started talking about their personal quest.

They were headed north to an abandoned base used in the war against the Demon Lord. According to the vague mission details, bandits have been using it as their hideout. It was the party’s job to disperse the group and retrieve any stolen goods or captives held there.

“Hey! So what would you all wish for if you got all the relics?” Evona suddenly asked during the mission briefing.

Everyone just looked at her, fairly confused. They all realized that Evona likely wasn’t listening to anything they said from Rina’s special weapon onwards. Despite Evona's obliviousness, the group knew she’d be fine as she had the knack of adapting quickly. Instead, they simply laughed it off and humored her.

“I’d wish to learn the truth,” Rina started. “I know it’s vague, but figuring out the truth is why I became an adventurer.”

“That’s so cool,” Evona admired Rina’s determination. “I want to make tons of friends and visit many places, even outside of Taelesta!”

“That’s more of a dream than a wish, Evona,” Khrom laughed. Adding to the conversation, Khrom turned towards Kaito. “I bet you’d wish to get a special weapon, right, Kaito?”

“Aaahhh,” Kaito sighed as he began thinking. “That’s a very tempting option, but I think I’d want a—”

Before Kaito could finish his statement, the carriage they were riding in jostled to a halt.

“This is that destination, right?” The carriage driver asked.

They stopped in a small wooded area near the supposed bandit’s hideout. They gave the carriage a broad drop-off point so he wouldn’t get caught up in their mission.

“Yes, this is fine,” Rina answered the driver, as everyone dismounted the carriage.

It was about an hour on foot from their drop-off point to the bandit hideout, so the group had a bit of walking to do.

Kaito’s party was on high alert as they walked towards their destination. The bandits would be patrolling the outskirts of their base, so they had to be careful not to get caught.

Just as the group predicted, bandits were patrolling the area. It seems like the mission wasn’t bait.

It was going to be a covert mission until they reached the hideout. After all, taking the guards out on the path to the hideout could alarm the whole group. With Kaito leading the way under the effects of Phase, he was able to lead everyone safely to the hideout’s entrance.

Nobody was guarding the wooden staked walls they seemed to have built for defense, but this worked in their favour. They neared the entrance to the hideout to see how many of them there were.

“INTRUDERS!!!” A woman yelled out.

They’ve been found.

“Go to plan B!” Rina ordered as the group started running into the base. It was going to be an all-out raid.

Running into the center of the open courtyard, Kaito’s party stood back to back as all the bandits watched and surrounded them. The party kept their defensive position as the gate they had just entered slowly closed.

No one was aggressing. All the bandits stared as they started mockingly giggling to each other. They clearly thought Kaito’s party was stupid to enter their territory.

Suddenly, all the bandits disappeared into small puffs of smoke.

“Wait, what?” Kaito didn’t know what was going on.

“It’s illusion magic,” Khrom explained. “It’s a trap!”

Just as Khrom announced the danger, a magic circle glowed underneath the group. Before everyone could try to escape from the circle, it activated, crumbling the ground underneath them, sending them all to the depths below.