Another One? Really?

Lyan leaned back against the cushioned seat of the grand carriage, letting out a deep sigh, his gaze shifting toward the ceiling. He spoke aloud, though mostly to himself, his voice dripping with mild frustration. "How did it end up like this?"

His words hung in the air for a moment, then he pushed himself forward, lifting the curtain slightly to peek out of the carriage window. The sight that greeted him was a sprawling chaos of bandits, far more than what he'd encountered earlier—their numbers close to 120 now. The men were armed, most of them bearing crude swords or rusty axes, their eyes filled with greed as they eyed the elegant carriage.

Lyan frowned, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "What are the royal knights or feudal lords even doing, leaving such a massive group of bandits unchecked?" he muttered, his voice edged with annoyance. He let the curtain fall back in place, rubbing his temples for a moment.