"Noooooo!" Yirili screamed as his brother's lifeless body collapsed onto the ground.
The group now faced two threats.
The first was the enraged younger brother, swinging his axe around like a madman.
The second was the swarm of low-level thugs belonging to [The Crossed], who had poured out of the house after being ordered to fight what their boss considered the least important group.
"Graaah!" Blinded by rage, Yirili swung his axe with all his strength.
"Tirino, help me with the others! Let Kaida and Cole handle him!" Yani wasted no time, launching her attack at the regular thugs.
Tirino hated being relegated—not once, not twice, but three times now. Still, this wasn't the time to dwell on petty frustrations.
While Yani picked off enemies from a distance, Tirino stayed close to protect her from anyone who slipped through.
"Brotheeeer!" Yirili roared, striking his axe down at the heavily-armored student.
The blow was stopped by Cole's shield, reinforced by Kaida bracing it with all her strength.
The axe became lodged in the shield. But Yirili's sheer strength was enough to lift both students off the ground.
They let go before the bandit hurled his weapon like a tomahawk, shattering part of a nearby house.
Realizing the mistake, the students used the loss of his weapon as an advantage.
Cole tossed aside his lance, switching to his fists. He knew he couldn't outmatch Yirili in raw strength, but if he could restrain him long enough, Kaida could deliver the finishing blow.
"W-wait, Cole! I'll distract him—cast Rock Infusion," the pink-haired girl whispered urgently.
"Can you hold him long enough?"
"I'll try… no. I will."
Her determined expression drew a brief chuckle out of Cole despite the danger.
Kaida darted forward. She didn't attempt the impossible by trying to overpower him; instead, she slipped between his attacks, dodging and weaving, occasionally striking back to keep his attention.
For thirty long seconds, it became a deadly game of cat and mouse.
"[Rock Infusion]!"
Cole's gauntlets hardened, wrapped in jagged stone.
He charged, slamming a rocky fist into Yirili's stomach. The giant bandit doubled over in pain, then swung a wild punch that cracked against Cole's cheek, forcing him back. The blow was brutal, but Cole endured it and countered with a hook.
The strike missed, and Yirili kicked him away to create distance.
But before he could press the advantage—thrust! Kaida's rapier pierced his left arm.
An instant later, one of Yani's arrows sank into his shoulder, rendering his entire left arm useless.
"AAAGH! BROTHEEER!" Yirili thrashed wildly, drooling like a rabid dog. "I'll avenge youuu!"
Seizing the moment, Cole locked his arm around Yirili, pinning his right arm and restraining his movements.
"NOW, KAIDA!" the boy roared.
She answered, slashing the back of Yirili's knee. He howled in pain, collapsing as both legs gave out.
With three of his four limbs disabled, Cole released his grapple. As Yirili fell—
A stone-coated uppercut slammed into his chin, knocking him out cold.
On e the body fell heavy against the ground, both students could finally have a single moment to catch their breaths and collect their thoughts.
"He probably… won't wake up for a day… or two," Cole panted, bracing himself on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.
"Yani, Tirino!" Kaida called, noticing most of the thugs fleeing after the brothers' defeat. "Take care of Cole. I'm going to help Alen and the princess!" Without hesitation, she sprinted off.
Seeing the pink-haired girl sprint away as if she hadn't cast two taxing spells and fight a hard battle, the entire group she assembled thought that Kaida Thican, known for her sinner title, had infinite stamina.
...
Two bodies slid across the grass in the backyard.
"So you're the rat that dares challenge me!?" Yute, leader of [The Crossed], felt humiliated to be matched against a noble lady he thought weak.
"I'd start using a more respectful tone if I were you," Fran spat, her fury burning hotter than ever. To her, this was the man who had injured her friend. "But maybe I expected too much from a no-name gang."
"You'll regret those words, little rat."
Their voices dripped venom with every exchange. The tension rose higher with each passing second.
They tightened their grips on their weapons, muscles coiled like springs, waiting for the first explosive move.
Fran struck first, darting forward with elegance.
Though she normally favored heavier lances, today she carried a smaller spear for mobility.
Patience—that was what her training demanded. Wait for the perfect moment. Strike neither too early nor too late.
She danced around him, weaving gracefully, landing only when a completely safe, unpunishable opening presented itself.
As the first princess of Montanev—a kingdom of warriors forged in icy plains and mountains—Fran was no exception to the rule. She had been trained from childhood, and now her skill eclipsed the bandit leader's.
The fight looked like that of a seasoned veteran dismantling an amateur.
But here, the veteran was a teenage girl, and the "amateur" was the hardened bandit leader of his own gang.
Fran stepped back, admiring the small cuts she had inflicted. She stood unscathed.
"Iceborn soldiers, attack from below."
Yute charged, with all I tent to try interrupt the spell she was casting.
"[Ice Stalagmite]!"
Spikes erupted in a circle around her, piercing Yute's feet and forcing him back.
"AGH, you bitch! I'll make you pay!"
"I'll make you pay for hurting my friend." Fran's icy gaze glared at him from behind the jagged peaks.
For the first time, Yute faltered. He recognized that look—the look of someone who would protect their loved ones at any cost.
"…I see he's very important to you," he muttered, his tone softening unexpectedly.
"He is my friend. And I won't let scum like you escape punishment for hurting him."
"I'm the same," Yute smirked suddenly, confidence surging back. "Your boy fights my girl. If he loses and she walks out alive…" His grin widened, fearless and unwavering. "Your whole group is as good as dead."
---
She's definitely faster than those other two.
Compared to Cecil at the start of the game, I'd say she stacks up pretty well.
But I have something she doesn't.
"Northern winds, attack!"
[Wind Scythe]
A blade of wind shot from my hand.
She sliced it apart with her sword, immediately sprinting toward me.
But before her sprint finished, while she was still recovering from the swing—I slipped past her side.
A shallow cut marked her stomach as I dashed by.
"You're really strong." The wound wasn't deep, but it proved she wasn't untouchable. "Why stay with a group like this?"
She brushed her black hair back. "Because of love. Yute and I love each other. That's all there is to it."
Love, huh? I wanted to scoff—but I couldn't. I was fighting to protect the people I loved, too.
"I don't get your relationship with him, but… you don't seem to agree with what he's doing."
For just a moment, her eyes flickered away. "…He's just a little misguided." She buried her emotions quickly.
I lunged, slashing horizontally.
She caught my blades with her sword.
"What did he do to make you follow him like this?" I gritted out.
"He's my childhood friend." Her strike was powerful enough to hurl me back. "He saved me when no one else would."
She charged before I could land, but I spun midair, parrying with desperate strength.
"And you're not going to stop him!? He's doing horrible, illegal things, and you're just letting him run wild!?"
I hit the ground in a crouch, bursting forward with every muscle screaming.
"If he's your childhood friend, your boyfriend, or whatever…" My fist smashed against her face in retaliation. "…Then you should be guiding him to a better path!"
Her eyes widened in shock as I tightened my grip on my daggers.
"Because that's what you're supposed to do for the people you care about!"
"One of my friends used to bully someone. She's a good person at heart, just… misguided. I confronted her about it. I helped her."
Our blades clashed again and again, so focused we didn't notice we'd left the house and spilled into the backyard.
Fran and Yute were still locked in combat nearby.
We separated, each moving back to our partners.
"And what are you doing here!?" Fran stormed toward me, poking my chest. "Look at your face! You should've stayed safe!" She grabbed and squeezed my cheeks, flustered.
"But I can't just leave you guys alone!" I protested, cheeks still squished.
"Don't care! Your safety comes first!" She pouted, finally letting go.
"Bu—"
"No buts!"
"Hey, rats! This isn't the time to act like a couple!" Yute barked.
"W-we're just friends!" Fran blurted, her cheeks blazing red as she stomped the ground and pointed furiously at him.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Gissy's face. She looked at Yute with a faint blush, hiding her mouth behind her hand.