''Damn... I feel bad for them. Is there anything I can do to help?... Well, I think I have an idea.'' Rya thought as she knew of a new spell she wanted to use. So she started to channel her mana into her hands before motioning them with a series of gestures, forming a complex pattern that shimmered with arcane power.


    ''Flame Familiar'' Rya said in her mind as she used wordless casting.


    A moment later, the air in front of the knights started to spark and flicker before a fiery humanoid figure spawned in front of all of them. The knights were startled by the appearance of flame creatures but quickly realized that it was a familiar.


    "It''s alright. Lady Rya cast the spell," The General said out loud to his men.


    The knights sighed with relief before continuing to follow the General''s orders. They appreciated the extra protection against the weather that the flame familiars were providing. Rya''s gesture to the knights didn''t go unnoticed, most mages wouldn''t bother helping them in such a way.


    lf int


    ''It''s a nice change to see a mage helping the common folk like that... She''s proven me wrong in so many ways already, she''s nothing like what I expected... Quinus! You lucky bastard! How''d you pull off finding a gem like her?... Damn! Why can''t I find a woman like that?'' The General thought as his jealousy of his prince took hold for a brief moment. Luckily the rain was hiding his tears from the world.


    As the convoy moved through the storm, the Duke''s men were waiting down the road where the forest was thicker. Alac was looking over the road as the rain was beating down hard on them.


    They were lucky enough to catch up to the Prince''s convoy which stopped in the town of Edermines City. But instead of staying in the town, they decided to go ahead of them while leaving a scout behind to make sure they would take Eldridge Road which went through the forest. And luckily for Alac. He and his men stumbled across a sizable group of brigands. This group wanted to rob Alac and his men at first. But they turned the tables on them and once Alac took down a few of their leaders, then the rest of the bandits surrendered and agreed to Alac''s demands to become the new leader of their group.


    Alac knew it was a risky move to trust a group of bandits. But he had no other choice. He needed canon fodder to draw the knights away from the caravan. But to his surprise, this group knew a few other brigands in the area. They were all working together to rob the wealthy nobles and merchants that used these roads.


    "Shut up! The rain is giving us cover! This makes it better to ambush them. We can get the job done and be gone before they can get help," Alac growled.


    ll... S


    "I know, I know... Don''t worry. We''ll make our move when we see the dark el~ I mean when we see the mage focused on your group. Just make sure you really get her attention... Or this plan will go belly up," Doug said with a sinister look.


    Stolen story; please report.


    "I''m not underestimating her. So, you don''t have to worry about me. I''ll get her attention. You just focus on getting the job done. We don''t have time to waste. The Duke is counting on us," Alac said.


    On the northern side of the road, Alac watched as the convoy came closer, "Men! Get ready to spring the trap," Alac shouted.


    The Flame Familiars went out, as they were riddled with arrows. The knights tried their best to avoid the incoming volleys until the bandits exhausted their supplies. Alac ordered his men to charge at the convoy and the bandits who were hiding on the southern side did the same.


    The bandits on the northern side were the first to be greeted by these strange horses that they had never seen before.


    These earth horses had mud dummies riding on them and their bodies had these weird pyramid rocks lining all around their sides. Alac was the first to realize what these were but he was too late to respond.


    ''Golems! We''ve been tricked!'' Alac thought as the Mud Golems charged at the bandits.


    The rocks exploded into a hail of spikes that impaled dozens of bandits and vaporized ten of the closest men as a mist of blood filled the air.


    "AAAHHH!"


    "Shit! They''re attacking us with exploding horses!" another bandit yelled.


    The second golem charged at another group of bandits and it exploded, showering them with spikes.


    The last of the horses exploded, killing about forty more men and wounding countless more. The bandits were in disarray after feeling the shock of this strange trap.


    Before anyone could answer him, the bandits heard a few horses neighing in the distance. The survivors turned to witness their horror as they saw twenty knights on horseback staring them down with their swords out.


    .


    "That she is, sir," Sir Bret said.


    "Charge!" Sir Bret yelled.


    "Kill them before they get away!" Another Knight growled.


    "For the crown!" Hollered the rest of the knights.


    "Looks like Lady Rya and the Prince''s plan worked. Hah hah! Let''s finish off the stragglers, men! We can''t let Her Ladyship''s efforts be in vain," Douglas shouted.


    smashed into


    Most of the party was standing under a rock canopy that Rya created so they could stay dry while Rya had her eyes closed and held her arms out so she could perceive what her golems were seeing.


    The wolfkin wanted to argue but she knew that tone coming from Rya''s voice. She would have to wait to have this discussion later with her Chieftain.


    pouted


    ''This is hilarious!... I know this wolfkin is annoying most of the time, but I''m starting to understand why Rya is friends with her... Heck, I''m starting to take a liking to her myself,'' Nieren thought.


    "I would appreciate that, love," Tayna said with a smile.


    Johan just smiled before turning his attention back to the road. He wished he could see the battle but all he could do was listen to the conflict from a distance. And he could barely hear the skirmish through the sound of all the rain hitting the canopy.


    ''I wish I could be of more help,'' Johan thought as he looked down at his legs. He thought he was so close to casting Shadow Self. But he always did something wrong before casting it.


    ''Haah... Stop beating yourself up, Johan. You just found out that you were a mage a day ago. Not everyone gets it right away. You will get there. You just have to believe in yourself,'' Johan thought as he looked up. The group was all waiting for the sounds of battle to end so they could relax and return to their journey.