Banditry 1

Win runs through the forest, the moonlight passing through the foliage above. The prickling feeling hasn’t gone away, rather it has only intensified. Something feels wrong in the air to him, and so he must run. He emerges out of the forest in a small burst of leaves. He stops short of the wooden wall of the village. Beyond it he hears metal and violence, perhaps just the adventurers getting rowdy in the night. Win moves quickly. He sees Ward standing vigil in front of the gate. He’s reassuringly calm, reclined against the wall, standing still, both hands gently gripping the shaft of his spear.

Win approaches Ward and the latter begins to slip, blood smearing against the wall. Win catches him, then drops to one knee to lay him down. Ward is still conscious, his eyes open and aware, but he cannot speak and his breathing is ragged. He’s covered in blood yet his weapon is spotless. Win begins to heal him, and soon enough Ward begins to sputter out garbled sounds, then he begins to form words once more.

“Win… turn back…” Win grimaces.

“Mr. Ward, what has happened?”

“Hrothulf’s brother… He came back… But then he slammed me against that wall… And I felt myself getting cut all over…” Ward begins to cry, his sobs painful in his still injured body. “I’m so weak… how was I protecting anyone…? I couldn’t do anything… Everyone is in danger… It was all useless… I’m pathetic… I’m sure everyone always thought I was a fool…”

“Fool or not, you are not pathetic. To stand and fight to protect others is honorable. It’s worthy of pride. Tell me what is happening in more detail and I shall avenge you.”

“What… Do you need to know…?”

“Is there anyone else attacking the village?”

“A half-dozen men… followed in after Hrothgar…”

“And what of the adventurers?”

“Plenty of them… most of them, I’m sure… Fled soon after…”

“Of all the cowardly—!” Win collects himself. “Is there anyone else in the village who can fight?”

“Only Hrothulf… He was stronger than Hrothgar in the past… But Hrothgar… He’s so much stronger now…”

“I understand the situation now, thank you. Rest, Mr. Ward. Come the morning light, your village will be safe once more, I’ll make sure of it.” Ward says nothing and weeps as Win lets him down on the ground.

Win pushes open the gates to the village and steps inside. There’s nobody in sight as he enters, spurring him to dash around. Stopping the bandits will mean nothing if the village is still destroyed in the end.

Win first goes to the guild hall. He assumes that it would be a likely target for bandits, given its size relative to the rest of the village. Win bursts inside. Before him is a group of villagers, all tied up and left sitting on the ground. Along with the villagers are the guild receptionists. Four bandits stand around as guards, boredom clear in their faces.

Win dashes to the first of the bandits. As they notice his presence, Win jabs the pommel of his sword in-between the bandit’s ribs. The force of the blow knocks the bandit to the ground, leaving him gasping in pain. Win unsheathes his sword then and turns towards the other bandits. One charges straight at him while two others brandish their weapons in a panic. Win pounces toward the two bandits with a powerful gust of wind. He turns his body in the air and slams his shin into one bandit’s head, blowing him away. At the same time, he cuts apart the tendons in the other bandit’s arm, forcing him to drop his weapon, a simple woodcutter’s axe, onto the ground. Win then dashes back at the once charging bandit, now disoriented. Win dulls his blade and swings at the man. As the blade collides with the man’s shoulder a loud crack rings out, and the man drops his simple sword. With a snap of his fingers Win binds up the four bandits in stone. He then sets out to free the villagers. As he cuts the ropes of the villagers he fashions a simple knife out of stone and instructs them to cut the others free. Soon enough the only ones bound in the guild’s lobby are the four bandits. Win turns to Melissa in the crowd.

“Miss Melissa, where is Sir Ago?” She seems frazzled, but collects herself quickly and attempts to seem at least somewhat professional.

“Chief Ago is in his office… but there’s another bandit, and he has a hostage…”

“Don’t worry, I’ll put an end to this madness.”

Win rushes to the next floor and down the hall to the door marked “Branch Chief.” There’s little for Win to gain by waiting or caution, and so he simply walks inside. A bandit whips his body around to face the door when Win opens it. In one hand is a large knife and in the other is a little girl, held up by the neck. She seems weak, too weak even to struggle. Behind the bandit is Chief Ago, grimacing at his desk. The bandit begins talking, almost reaching a shout.

“Stay back! Or this girl gets it!” Ago continues after the bandit.

“Stand down. I believe I asked for nobody to disturb us.” Win sheathes his blade and straightens his back.

“Pardon me, I hadn’t heard, Sir Ago.”

“So it was you. I thought you left this little village behind already.”

“Fate had something else in store. Though it seems all the other adventurers have already abandoned you. They turned tail and fled like the cowards they are.”

“Indeed they did. That man, their leader, Hrothgar’s his name. He must’ve not wanted a fight so he offered to let them leave. He flaunted an army he never had, just to walk in with only six men. They’re a disloyal bunch, after all, not bound to their word, nor to others, nor even to their own values. And they have the gall to call it freedom!”

“I’ve long heard tell of adventurers’ misdemeanors, but I never thought they would be this bad.” The bandit seems irritated at hearing this exchange pass right by him.

“Forget about those losers! I’m a bandit! Do you not care about this girl’s life!?”

“I wonder. Tell me, Sir Ago, do you find it permissible to sacrifice the one for the well-being of the many? Even if it might even mean sacrificing an innocent child?”

“What are you saying, you brat! I know how you start thinking at that age, but those sorts of thoughts are foolish! Whatever stupid thing there is in your head, I need you to stop it! We’re negotiating! Everything will turn out fine! Stand down and leave this matter to adults!”

“Indeed, sacrificing others is among humanity’s greatest follies. Hurting others for our own gain is truly unforgivable. It seems you’re quite wise in your advanced age, Sir Ago. However, another of humanity’s failings is sacrificing justice for peace, confusing the two as one and the same, and allowing evil to go free. I will not stand down.” The bandit begins to shout as Win places a hand on his sword.

“Did you think I was just kid—!”

Win glides on the wind across the room, faster than the eye could follow. The bandit sees blood begin to fountain out of him, and only then does he notice his arms fallen beside him, blood beginning to pool. Win cradles the young girl gently, then heals the bandit to seal up his wounds. He creates a stone binding and forces the bandit to the ground, then turns to address Ago once more.

“Right now, saving the people in front of me is the easiest thing in the world. That’s all there is to it. Peace and justice can both be maintained, all without sacrificing children or allowing malice to grow unpunished. And indeed, though I’ve thought of it only now, is it not sacrificing her to leave her in that man’s grasp for any longer? I protected everything, so all is good. Please keep watch of the guild hall, Sir Ago. Farewell.”

Ago has nothing to say in response. Win turns his back to him and begins to leave, the young girl still cradled gently in his arms.