1.1- Fateful Encounter

A dirt pathway opened before them, flanked by towering trees on both sides. The young man, clad in a flowing blackish robe and wielding a staff, walked alongside a slim woman with long, raven-black hair, her sword sheathed at her waist. They strolled casually down the path, seemingly at ease but alert.

"We're surrounded," the agile swordswoman whispered, her eyes scanning the shadows. "How many of them are there?"

"Two of them have been tailing us since we left town. Their comrades have caught up, and I sense a total of nine, though I can hear ten," he replied with a voice that conveyed both weariness and composure sensing and analyzing during the walk. Unwanted to get involved.

"Come out, I know you're there" she declared boldly, taunting the lurking figures concealed in the shadows. Three men emerged from the bushes, stepping onto the main path in front of the young duo. Six others followed suit, encircling the two companions. A total of nine assailants surrounded them: three in front, two on each side descending onto the path from the tree line, and the last two cutting off their escape route from behind. Smirks and confident grins adorned their faces, revealing their experience as seasoned marauders. It was evident that they were ruthless bandits seeking to plunder their victims of valuables and supplies.

"Drop your weapons and surrender your belongings!" the leading barbarian bellowed, his voice dripping with authority. "And we'll only have our way with the girl," his two lackeys added with laughter and leering smirks at the young, hooded swordswomen.

The woman drew her sword and let the scabbard fall onto the dirt path. Crash, Clunk, Thump. In a mere 2 seconds, she took three steps, covering a distance of ten feet, and swung her sword, beheading the barbarian. SPLAT! His head hit the ground, and his body soon followed with a macabre testament to her skill with the sword. She seemed to be in a hurry and must have sensed talking to them was pointless. Killing him must have been quicker and easier than talking it out. Another bad trait of hers...

"You bitch!" the barbarian's comrade beside the severed head shouted, unsheathing their swords, and charging at the woman with rage. Undeterred, she turned her gaze to the inferior human who had just insulted her. Towering over them in peer presence, she emanated a dark aura with red eyes. Flinching in fear, the barbarian wept and froze. Losing grip on reality itself. Seizing the opportunity, she lunged forward, breaking his waving sword and slicing deep into his chest, likely reaching his spine, and surely ending his life.

The last of the three men paralyzed with fear, drew his sword and ran toward the woman, attempting to strike her from her blind spot. BOOM! A magical fireball collided with him, sending him flying and probably breaking his arm. The wizard swiftly turned 90 degrees, shooting two additional fireballs that struck the two bandits charging out of the brush onto the dirt road, sending them flying backward and crashing to the ground. In a matter of seconds, the sound of two other bodies being cut and hitting the floor reverberated through the air.

"You didn't have to kill them, you know," the wizard sighed, raising his staff towards the last two trembling bandits. Fear gripped between, making them shake in their boots as they faced the formidable adversaries. The wizard got distracted; knowing killing isn’t the answer and there is a better way of doing things.

As a gentle breeze rustled the surroundings, an arrow silently floated towards the wizard's blind side, piercing through the air and lodging itself just outside his scapula and below his armpit. Darkness shrouded his mind as he collapsed onto the dirt ground, his consciousness slipping away. "Kenzie, Kenzie, Mackenzie!" the swordswoman called out desperately, her voice filled with panic and concern.

His heart raced in his chest, thumping wildly as his blood boiled with a mix of adrenaline and fear. At that moment, reality blurred, and the world around them melted into a surreal dreamscape.