Chapter 46
The horse-drawn carriage came to a halt by the roadside, and the passengers, weary from days of travel, disembarked. They gathered around a bonfire to rest and refresh themselves.
During their journey, the passengers had grown closer, especially the young merchant who pulled out a flute to play a lively tune. A beautiful woman joined in, performing an elegant dance. Several middle-aged men took out wine flasks from their bags and approached the woman, trying to win her favor. She laughed and seemed to enjoy their attention.
As the atmosphere reached its peak, the passengers began to sing and dance. Even the carriage driver took a break, drinking a few swigs of wine and turning slightly red.
Ron reclined against a tree trunk, casually sipping from a wine flask. Anna, Grenn, and Dexter, his loyal companions, stood nearby, watchful of their surroundings.
The old man, who had been so insistent on traveling through the night, was now content to stay in the carriage. He kept a close eye on his granddaughter, refusing to let her leave his side. Rumors began to circulate among the passengers.
Ron, however, knew that the old man and his granddaughter were not simply being overprotective; they were hiding from pursuers. And those pursuers were drawing near.
In fact, they were already here. Ron turned his head slightly and, with the help of his advanced knowledge and perception, noticed several level 3 acolytes hiding nearby.
Suddenly, chaos erupted in the campsite. An arrow was released, piercing through a man dancing by the fire, causing panic and fear among the passengers.
"Bandits!" "Help!" Cries for help filled the air as chaos ensued.
The carriage driver, in an attempt to protect himself, quickly put on leather armor and crouched down. He had assumed that the bandits would only rob the passengers, leaving the drivers unharmed. However, their plan was about to go terribly wrong.
Dexter and Grenn, Ron's knights, had their weapons ready but remained near Ron, showing no intention of helping. Anna also prepared a pair of daggers gifted to her by Ron and stood close by.
As another arrow was released, it caused even greater panic among the passengers. Men, women, and children fled in all directions, desperately trying to escape the chaos.
Minutes later, the once lively campsite was reduced to a quiet scene of a smoldering bonfire and abandoned wine flasks.
Three figures in black robes emerged from the forest, and Ron's keen vision allowed him to see them clearly. They were two men and a woman, all in their middle years.
The female acolyte had applied thick red lipstick, giving her a somewhat sinister appearance. These three acolytes seemed to be part of a family lineage, as their robes displayed the emblem of a dodo bird.
The way they had surrounded the horse carriage indicated they were not affiliated with any academy. Instead, they were likely family-sponsored acolytes, either because of their poor aptitude or because they had been expelled or graduated.
"Miles, come out! We know you're inside the horse carriage!" one of them called out. They positioned themselves to encircle the carriage.
The three acolytes seemed to have underestimated Ron, thinking he would flee like the other passengers after witnessing a murder. They weren't expecting to encounter a powerful magician.
"Just right, I wish to loosen my muscles after pursuing this old geezer. Leave him to me!" Ron announced himself calmly, surprising the acolytes.
The female acolyte looked at Ron with desire, but he was not interested in her advances.
"Lady, I have no interest in 'aunties'," Ron replied dismissively, much to her embarrassment.
With that, he dispelled the concealment spell and created a powerful force field around the area.
The leader of the trio realized their grave mistake and fell to the ground, while the bowman quickly knelt before Ron, begging for mercy.
The female acolyte, seeing her comrades' fates, also fell to the ground and couldn't speak a word.
With the situation under control, Ron allowed Anna to deal with the three acolytes. She swiftly dispatched the two male acolytes, while the female acolyte pleaded for her life.
"Please forgive me, please, Lord. I will do anything you want," she begged, realizing there was no escape.
Ron allowed Anna to punish the female acolyte as she saw fit, and her screams echoed through the forest.
Ron then turned his attention to Miles, the old man, who was severely wounded. Although Ron was hesitant to use his limited herbs and medicines, he decided to help. After all, Miles wasn't a Warlock, and Ron felt he needed to assist him.
Miles's injuries were life-threatening, and he wouldn't survive without medical attention. Even though he was a level 2 acolyte, he could last only a few more hours.
An hour later, after Ron had administered a vitality potion, Miles felt better. The potion acted as a stimulant, offering temporary relief. It was a small price for Ron to pay.
Miles, with a new lease on life, made a request. He asked Ron to send his granddaughter, Ivy, to the Great Canyon Margaret, where another family member named Marian lived. Ron agreed to fulfill this last request.
However, Miles's condition deteriorated rapidly, and he soon passed away. Ivy wept, grieving the loss of her grandfather.
Ron stayed by their side, and when Ivy had stopped crying, he asked, "We should bury your grandfather. What is your name?"
"Ivy, sir," the little girl replied with respect.
Ron, along with his knights, constructed a gravestone for Miles. Ivy was now under Ron's care, and they left to fulfill Miles's final wish.