Chapter 35
"We have a mage here." The bandit said in not a loud voice. But it was heard by everyone. Everyone stopped what they were doing. No one fought anylonger and stared at the bandit.
"I swear. Right now I hit a shield of some sorts when trying to attack the girl. "
"Do you think all of us would be alive by now if there was mage here. Do your job. "
The man hesisltated for a moment and attacked again the girl again. Everyone was focused on what was happening, the women flinched once again, the man's sword bounced off once again. Everyone saw it this time.
There was a mage among them.
Who was it? They had a clear view of the surrounding. There was no one else othwr than them.
It left the only the passengers as the candidates.
"It has to be that kid. If it was the grown ups, we would be dead already. " The bandit leader had a point. He made the correct judgement.
"We have to make sure to kill him at all costs. If he lives, we are all going to be hunted. " He made a quick decision. He knew if a word of it leaked out, mage association would find them no matter what.
The bandits upped their aggression and their new target was Aaron.
"Sir Mage, use whatever spells you can to finish them off. We will help you."
David's tone was much respectful now. He also had hope now of getting out of this predicament without much loses. He wondered why the boy didnt use a spell earlier. But never late then later.
"I dont know how to attack. " Thought Aaron. When he had seen the girl about to be attacked, he had somehow managed to conjure a shield right at the end. But the shield gave Aaron some confidence. He wasnt the best mage of his batch without reason.
He nodded to David.
David for a change charged towards the bandits. He was full of vigor now knowing that they had support of a mage.
Aaron decided to use simple spells which he knew he could cast instantly.
The two bandits who had broken past David's men moved towards Aaron. But they were very careful this time around. Aaron saw them coming towards him.
"I am going to try and keep them busy, make sure you take a good shot from the back. " Aaron whispered to Maria's father.
For Maria's father Aaron was the epitome of god. He had saved his little girl. He would do whatever Aaron asked of him.
As the two approached Aaron. Aaron first made a shield around him. That used one part of his mind. He wondered how to use it. He finally decided on the spell he was going to use.
As the two bandits approached Aaron, Aaron himself came a couple of steps forward creating a little distance between him and the others.
Once Aaron had a stable mind and he overcame the fear somewhat, he knew his shield would easily hold against these two. The two bandits attacked Aaron at the same time. Both their swords bounced away. Aaron finally used the spell he had on his mind this time around.
He used the basic shrinking spell. He shrinked the upper garment of the man who already had a big gash on his back.
Imagine your clothes shrinking to several size smaller, A adult wearing a kids clothings.
The man was in distress. He felt suffocated, he couldnt breathe. He tried grabbing at the clothes but couldn't grab on to it as it was so tight against his body. He could feel the clothes strangling his body.
As he stood there struggling, he suddenly saw a sword come out of his front.
Maria's father had circled around the bandits while he was struggling and stabbed right through him. It could be considered as a cheap attack, but being alive was more important.
Once he was stabbed, Aaron used the same spell on the other bandit. It was the same result. This time he even saw the sword coming towards him, but he was helpless. Suddenly the whole fight had two casualities.
Aaron felt like vomiting. It was the first time he had seen someone killed. He even played a part in it. He felt guilty and had a revolting feeling. But he knew now wasnt the time.
As the bandits saw two of their comrades fall, they had their confidence shaken. Maria's dad charged towards the bandits. He had a vendetta against them. They wanted his daughter dead.
Aaron too dispelled his shield now. He had two slots of magic to use. Two targets. He chose the two man attacking David.
David was too good to miss such a simple opportunity. He quickly got rid of them.
Once he had less pressure. He began helping others. Soon another fell. The bandits by now were scared. They knew they were dead if they stayed here.
"Run for your lives!" One of the bandits shouted and ran away. That was the last straw. Once he started running, everyone including the bandit leader ran away. He knew he would be chased after this once the caravan reached its destination. But it was a better option to a certain death now.
"Leave them be. Dont chase. Attend to your injuries. " David stopped the couple of guys who started to chase the bandits.
All of them were filled with cuts and bruises. The worst injury was on one of David's man. He had a deep cut on his side.
Although the whole thing seemed to last very long, it was only a whole of 10 minutes that had passed. But the 10 minutes had absorbed every bit of strength Aaron had.
He saw everyone attending to their injuries. He saw the man holding his daughter and weeping with her.
He saw the dead bodies lying.
That gave a sick feeling in his stomach. He never wanted to harm anyone. He just wanted to learn magic. He thought it would be 'cool'. He never knew he would use magic to hurt someone. People would die because of it. As he was absorbed in self pity, David came upto him.
"I thank you Sir Mage on behalf of me and my men. Without you, we would be the ones lying on the ground right now. "
"Without you fighting so hard, I wouldnt have had the courage or time to do what I did. I thank you." Aaron didnt say the words out of politeness. Without David keeping his cool or fighting as valiantly as he did, it would be impossible for Aaron to do anything.
"Sir mage praises me too much. I only did what I was supposed to do. I will leave Sir alone now."
David left out a breath once he was away. He was a little scared while talking to Aaron. He had seen how easily he immobilized men. Or how sword couldnt hit him. Although he had been good natured so far, why take chances.
Maria's father to came to thank Aaron. He even swore to do any favour Aaron asked of him. Aaron someone how managed to send them away.
They decided to camp after going a little forwards and burying the bodies . They didnt want to camp in the place where blood was shed.
Aaron kept thinking and forgot to help with the camp. No one asked him either. They all walked upon eggshells around him. They have heard of mages. But never seen one in action. The spells were simple, but caused the death of 5 men. They couldn't help but be amazed.
Aaron couldnt help but feel the way he felt. Such death was too much for him.
That night, Aaron didnt sleep.