Later that morning, the sunlight streamed through the cracked window, golden and warm. Knight stirred awake, armor still on, muscles stiff from sleeping upright. His helmet was slightly tilted from leaning too long on one side, but he didn't adjust it.
He stood, stretched, and winced slightly. His arms still ached from the cave fight. And from hauling Sairis out of the mine when he fainted. And from getting clocked in the ribs by a falling support beam.
He let out a slow breath, then stepped out into the street. The town was waking up too—merchants hawking bread and salted meat, blacksmiths hammering new horseshoes, dogs barking and kids sprinting between alleyways.
He made his way to the guild.
Inside, Titus was already seated at their usual table. Miriam was hunched over, chewing what looked like a dried meat stick. Darryl was napping sitting up, arms crossed over his hammer. Amber sat quietly, reading a thin leather-bound book.
Sairis was nowhere to be seen.
Miriam looked up and waved. "Gloom Helmet returns."
Titus nodded. "You made it. Good. Eat up—we move in an hour."
Knight blinked. "We're… heading out again?"
"Yup," Miriam said with a grin. "Next quest's on the board already. Real outdoorsy one this time."
Amber glanced up from her book. "A merchant caravan was hit by bandits. The survivors escaped, but some were taken. And the caravan's cargo too."
Titus stood and placed a hand on his sword hilt. "We're going to intercept the bandits before they move deeper into the mountains. Might be our only shot to recover the hostages before they're sold or worse."
Knight nodded. "What's the plan?"
"We ride light," Titus said. "We'll be meeting the merchant's scout at the edge of the forest road. They'll guide us to the ambush site. From there, we track. Expect rough terrain, quick engagements. No more collapsing tunnels, though. Hopefully."
Miriam gave a small salute. "Boss says smash. We smash."
Knight shifted slightly, then asked, "What about Sairis?"
"He's resting. Fever from mana burnout," Amber replied softly. "He pushed himself hard in the mines."
Titus nodded. "We'll manage without a healer this time. Stay sharp. Everyone ready up and meet at the stables."
Without even realizing it, Knight gave a small nod, then turned and left.
Time to prepare for the road.
His mind was drifting further and further from Toby's death as time went by.
Was it all right to just live on like nothing had happened?
Putting that thought aside, Knight moved through the early morning streets, the mist still clinging to the cobbles like breath that hadn't faded. His limbs ached faintly from the mine quest, but it was a manageable sort of exhaustion—quiet, buried beneath his armor.
He stopped by the guild's supply office, picking up some rations, a sharpening stone, and a replacement for the broken strap on his shoulder guard. No one spoke to him. The helmet made sure of that.
By the time he reached the stables, Titus was already there, speaking with a grizzled old man who reeked of stable hay and pipe smoke. Behind them stood a small merchant caravan—three wagons, each loaded with barrels, crates, and visibly agitated horses. A middle-aged woman in merchant robes paced back and forth, wringing her hands.
"There's no way we'll make it to the border checkpoint without losing something," she was muttering.
"Not with us guarding you," Titus replied. "Bandits don't like fair fights."
Miriam and Amber arrived a moment later, both already geared. Miriam had a length of bandage wrapped around one knuckle and was tossing a dagger idly in the air. Amber looked freshly rested but quiet, her white hair pulled back into a braid for the road.
"Knight," Titus greeted. "Mount up. We're flanking the rear wagon. Expect trouble before sunset."
Knight said nothing, just climbed onto his assigned horse and took position.
The sun bled orange through the canopy as the caravan made its way into a narrow pass—flanked by overgrown trees and rocky outcroppings on both sides. Knight didn't like the terrain. Too many blind spots. Too many choke points.
Titus held up a hand from the front.
Miriam whispered, "...They'll hit us here."
As if summoned by her words, the woods exploded.
A crossbow bolt slammed into the side of the second wagon, and horses reared, screaming. Shadows burst from the treeline—half a dozen bandits in mismatched armor, yelling as they charged with blades drawn.
"Form up!" Titus roared, already dismounting. "Amber—rear guard with Knight! Miriam, on me!"
Knight dismounted in one fluid motion, drawing his blade. Amber was already at his side. She gripped her staff tightly as her expression focused.
A brute with a rusted axe rushed him. Knight parried the first swing and slammed the man backward with his shoulder. The bandit hit the ground hard, groaning.
Although the man was exposed and unarmed, Knight couldn't get himself to thrust his blade into him. Instead he kicked him hard, sending him rolling into the woods.
To his right, Amber muttered an incantation under her breath. A bolt of compressed wind shot from her staff, striking a bowman mid-draw and sending him crashing into a tree.
More were coming.
Knight heard Titus shouting up ahead, steel on steel clashing in the front line. Miriam was weaving through enemies like smoke, her daggers dancing silver and red.
"Three more, coming left!" Amber called.
Knight pivoted, intercepting a pair of them mid-sprint. He ducked a clumsy sword swing and retaliated with a low kick that knocked one off balance. As the bandit stumbled, Knight swung upward with the side of his blade catching just beneath the ribs. With a blunt clanking noise, the man fell unconscious with his nose bleeding.
The second lunged at Amber.
She stood her ground.
Her fingers flared with blue light, and a burst of freezing mist erupted around her. The bandit slowed just enough for Knight to close in, sending a point blank punch at his face and sending him flying to the nearby wall.
Amber exhaled. Her hands trembled slightly.
"You okay?" Knight asked.
She nodded once. "Keep moving."
A scream rang out—a caravan guard, tackled off his wagon by a man in blood-red armor. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried a war axe with brutal weight. It was clear that he was the leader and the strongest.
Titus cursed. "Knight! Amber! Handle him!"
Knight didn't hesitate. He charged forward, Amber flanking wide.
The war axe swung first, a vicious overhead blow that Knight barely blocked. The force rattled through his arms, but he stayed upright, gritting his teeth behind the helmet.
The bandit leader barked a laugh. "You're the one with the tin head? Heard you almost got eaten by a snake."
Knight didn't answer. He slid in low, aiming for the knees. The bandit blocked it with his boot and retaliated with a punch that sent Knight staggering.
Amber struck from the side, chanting a longer spell. Vines surged from the underbrush, wrapping around the man's legs—but he roared and ripped through them.
Knight caught his breath. Then rushed again.
Steel rang. Sparks flew.
He ducked under a wide swing and landed two quick slashes—shoulder, then thigh. Blood spilled. The bandit growled, raising his axe for a final blow—
A sharp crack of thunder echoed.
Amber's spell slammed into him full-force, a burst of concussive wind that knocked the bandit backward into a rock.
Knight didn't waste the opening. He surged forward and rammed the hilt of his sword into the man's face.
It ended with a thud. The axe fell from limp fingers.
Knight breathed hard.
Amber stepped beside him, a bit of blood on her sleeve.
"You alright?" she asked.
"…Yeah," Knight said.
She looked like she wanted to say more, but then Titus called out from behind them.
"Area's clear! Round up the injured!"
Knight turned toward the carnage—the scattered bandits, the frightened but unharmed merchants. Miriam was already binding wounds, her mouth moving fast and sarcastic as always.
They'd done it.
No casualties. Just bruises. And another silent victory added to the list.
The caravan rolled back into the city just before sundown, its wheels coated in a thick crust of mud and blood. The guards dismounted in silence, tired but whole. The merchants offered shaky thanks, some even bowing, pressing payment into Titus's hands with murmured gratitude.
Knight stayed behind as the wagons dispersed, standing in the same place where he and Amber had fought the bandit leader. The blood had already dried on his blade. He watched as it flaked, black and crisp like ash.
"Good work out there," Titus said behind him.
Knight turned his head slightly.
"You didn't hesitate. That's what matters but you could have killed them"
Knight gave a short nod but didn't speak.
Knight's fists curled faintly at his sides.
"I… I can't just kill a person easily"
Titus raised an eyebrow. "Most rookies would be patting themselves on the back for surviving that fight. You're different."
Knight looked down at the sword in his hand. "I don't want to survive. I want to be stronger."
Titus gave a small, thoughtful grunt. Then turned.
"Good. Then I can train you"
A surprised look on Knight's face formed under his helmet
"Come visit the training yard tomorrow at dawn. I can train you"