The morning sun glimmered through the thick boughs of the forest as Red, Selena, and Lio walked north along the Elderholm Trail, the dirt path weaving through thickets and quiet glades. A pair of squirrels scattered across the mossy path as birds chirped overhead, unconcerned by the travelers with swords at their hips and tension in their muscles.
Selena skipped slightly ahead, humming a tune she barely remembered, while Lio walked behind with an overly determined look, still trying to impress both Red and Selena. Red, meanwhile, strolled silently in the middle, ever vigilant, scanning the surrounding trees with the calm detachment of someone used to walking into ambushes.
Just as the path curved around a rise, a sudden high-pitched scream echoed from up ahead.
"Help! Somebody help us!" a girl's voice shouted.
Red halted immediately and raised a hand.
Red: Quiet.
Selena blinked.
Selena: Did someone just...?
Another scream pierced the air, and this time it was accompanied by harsh male laughter and the clash of weapons.
Red's eyes narrowed.
Red: Selena. Lio. You're up. Go.
Lio: Huh? Us? He blinked.
Selena looked unsure.
Selena: Wait, don't you mean we...?
Red: Yes. You two need experience,
Red said calmly, unsheathing one of his black blades and handing it over to Selena.
Red: That one's dulled, try not to cut your own leg.
Selena: Seriously? You're just gonna let us?
Red: You'll manage, replied with a small smirk.
As Red melted into the shadows of the forest like a ghost, Selena and Lio charged forward, steps hesitantly.
They burst into a clearing, where a group of twelve rough-looking bandits had surrounded three terrified girls. One held a staff and chanted weak healing magic, another crouched behind a bush with a short bow trembling in her hands, and the last one stood in front of them protectively, her hands glowing with fire.
The girls looked barely older than Selena.
Selena: Hey!" She's shouted.
All heads turned toward her and Lio.
"Who the hell are you?" snarled one of the bandits, a sword already dripping with fresh blood.
Selena: I'm your worst luck!!!
Selena grinned, charging with the dulled black sword.
Lio followed close behind, puffing and puffing.
Lio: Th-this is fine. We've got this.
Selena swung wildly, missing the first bandit completely and stumbling into another's chest. The impact knocked her off balance, but the bandit tripped on a root trying to dodge, slamming face-first into the ground. She blinked.
Selena: …Did I do that?
Another bandit charged her, but slipped on the first one's groaning body. Selena instinctively kicked forward and hit the man square in the gut, sending him crashing into a third.
Selena: Wow. I'm amazing today!
she laughed, only to trip over her own foot and tumble onto her backside.
Lio, meanwhile, had squared up to a tall, burly bandit with two axes. Trying to act composed, Lio pointed his sword forward.
Lio: Surrender now or....uh....you'll regret it!
The bandit smirked and swung both axes down. Lio shrieked and raised his sword awkwardly to block, and somehow the clumsy motion deflected both blows. His counter swing slashed across the bandit's chest.
Lio: Wh...what?! I hit him?!
Lio beamed, only to get tackled by another bandit from the side.
Selena rolled back to her feet and kicked a nearby bandit right between the legs.
Selena: Sorry! Not sorry!
In the chaos, one of the rookie girls, the one with short pink hair and a staff, ran up to Selena.
Hina: Thank you so much! I'm Hina, the healer!
she cried out, clutching her staff.
Selena: I'm Selena! She replied, swinging wildly at another attacker.
"Watch your left!" shouted a second girl, this one with bright teal twin-tails and a bow.
Rika: I'm Rika! I'm the archer!
Selena ducked just in time as an axe grazed over her head.
Selena: Thanks, Rika!
A ball of fire exploded nearby, launched by the third girl, who stood tall despite shaking knees. Her long black hair flowed in the wind.
Yuzu: I'm Yuzu, and I hate bandits
she muttered, her voice deadpan as another fireball left her fingers and scorched the ground near two attackers.
Lio, crawling out from under the bandit who had tackled him, wiped dirt from his cheek and straightened his back. He noticed all three girls were staring at him.
He puffed his chest.
Lio: Don't worry, ladies. I'm here to-ACK!!
A bandit grabbed his leg and pulled him down again.
Lio: Not like this!!! he squealed.
Suddenly, the final bandit, the only one still standing, grabbed Hina and pulled a knife to her throat.
"Everyone stop! Or I cut her open!"
Everyone froze. Selena raised her hands, stepping back.
Selena: Whoa, okay! Don't...don't do anything rash!
The bandit backed toward the trees, Hina shaking in his grasp.
That's when a voice echoed from the shadows behind him.
Red: Don't.
The bandit turned, and a shadow moved impossibly fast.
A blur of black and steel.
Red appeared behind him in an instant, one black blade to the man's neck. The bandit's eyes widened.
"I...I surrender"
Red: Good choice,
Red muttered, hitting the back of his neck and knocking him out cold.
Red turned to the others.
Red: He's not dead. I need to ask him questions.
Selena, panting and bruised, pointed the dull blade at the unconscious man.
Selena: You couldn't have stepped in a little earlier?
Red: You needed the practice.
Lio sat down on a log, his whole body shaking.
Lio: We're alive… right? We didn't die… right?
The three girls ran to him.
Hina: You were so brave! "She said, hugging him."
Rika: Thanks for saving us! "She beamed."
Yuzu: You screamed less than I expected. Impressive.
Lio turned red from the neck up.
Lio: N-no big deal…
Selena narrowed her eyes at them.
Red glanced down at the bandit leader.
Red: I'm going to wake him up. Let's see who sent these idiots.
And with that, the dust settled over the clearing, filled with bruised bodies, thankful rookies, and one clumsy swordsman basking in undeserved glory.