Chapter 4 - Saving Mr. Damsel (1)

Running through the forest, Andros' worry only grew more. He thought he would've come across tracks of some sort of fight by now, but there was nothing, not even a trace.

He remembered an incident a few months ago, when a group of slave traders and bandits started to use the safer areas of the forest as a trading post. One of the people of the village went out picking berries and went missing, it was later that Valor went out with a hunting party that they found the missing villager and the gang of slavetraders.

They rescued the girl and scared the traders off, but it seemed that even that didn't stop them. So Andros automatically assumed that they had someone strong enough to take down Rodion, and maybe would try to sell him as some sort of gladiator or a combat slave.

'Damn it! I really hope that isn't the case!' Andros thought, being worried over someone he used to find the most annoying person on the planet, which surprised even him.

He could soon see smoke rising in the air through the leaves of the tall trees, he kept running until he was within sight of a group of tents where he could hear loud mischievous laughter.

Approaching the tents, he hid behind a big rock in between two of the bigger ones, there he peered over at the bonfire where the bandits and slavetraders were laughing. There he saw Rodion on his knees near a metal barrel that had some sort of iron stick sticking out of it, and behind the barrel was someone reaching for it.

"!"

Andros immediately knew what they were about to do, and he knew he had to stop it at all cost, so without thinking he picked up a stone and threw it at the man reaching for the branding iron.[1]

"HEY! Who threw that!?" The buff man shouted, turning around and feeling the back of his head.

"Threw what? Bob, all of us have been over here chatting and laughing! You must've imagined it!" One of the bandits said, shrugging.

"Pfft, yeah right! I know one of you did it!" Bob yelled, stepping away from the metal barrel and towards his companions on the other side of Rodion.

The gang then started arguing, and eventually, the "Bob" guy punched one of the others. It was something about how he knew the other always had a problem with him, but Andros didn't pay it any attention.

Instead, Andros used that moment to sneak over to Rodion and untie him without being noticed, then he led him back to behind the rock.

"Andros!? What are you doing back? And here of all places!" Rodion questioned in a hushed voice. He was genuinely surprised at seeing his old rival, considering that he thought the other and his brother left for good.

"I'm here to save your sorry ass! And for the other question…I'm visiting, I've completed the training from my teacher so I'm back for a short while before we go to a city and apply to an adventurers guild," Andros explained in turn, ticked off at Rodion.

"Oh…well, welcome back?" Rodion shrugged, then looked back towards the still arguing bandits/slavetraders, "Shit! My sword is still in there!"

"Ugh! Seriously? Well, can't be helped, we'll have to leave it behind," Andros sighed, turning towards Rodion and giving an apologetic look.

"What?! No way! That was a gift from my master! I can't just leave it with a group of slavetraders and bandits! We'll have to fight for it back because I am NOT leaving without it!" He said, walking out from behind the rock and making his way to one of the tents.

"Hey! Argh, I really don't want to fight!... Fine. I'll help you get it back, but if I get scratched even once, I am leaving the area!" Andros pouted, annoyed at the sudden change in plan.

They walked into the third tent from their rock, sitting there on the right side of the tent was Rodions sword. It had a beautiful scabbard that was embroidered with a wolf and a fox on it, the hilt of the actual sword had a phoenix on it.

"There, now can we leave before they notice us?" Andros said with sas filling his tone.

"Sorry to break it to ya boy, but we've already noticed you!" the bandits said from behind them, blocking the exit from the tent, "Why don't you surrender quietly, that way we won't be too rough with you two, we wouldn't want our goods getting too damaged!"

The group laughed but was soon interrupted by Andros unsheathing his sword and pointing it at the group with an expression full of annoyance and a death glare.

"Sorry, but we won't be able to comply with that little wish of yours, i have other things to do, like getting home to my worrisome, muscle-brained brother," Andros snarled, adjusting his stance to an aun-Garde, "So, yeah…I think I'll pass on that little suggestion of yours."

"Pfft, suit yourself tough guy, but I wouldn't let my confidence get ahead if I were you!" one of the bandits in the group said, unsheathing his daggers.

Before Rodion could unsheath his sword, Andros dashed forward and swung his sword down in an arch, making a giant gash in the first guy's chest. Then he ran through the rest of the crowd, swiftly slashing each of them in the chest, or slicing off some of the guys' pants, making them flee.

With all of them either dead or having fled from embarrassment, Andros stood there and twirled his sword to get the excess blood off before sheathing it. Rodion just stood there with his mouth hanging open, shocked at what he just witnessed.

He had never thought of his rival as a swordsman, he knew that Andros always preferred the arts and textbook things, not strenuous activities like swordsmanship.

"Y-You…You know how to wield a sword!?" He gagged at Andros, pointing his finger at him and leaving his mouth open.

"Yes, I do. And close your mouth, you look like a gaping fish!" Andros snapped turning around and walking out of the tent, Rodion following quickly after before Andros sarcastically said, "And thanks for the help!"

"I'm sorry, I was just shocked! I didn't take you for the type to do swordsmanship, not ever!" Rodion explained in disbelief, stumbling behind him like a lost puppy tripping over its leash.

"It's not like I wanted to, my teacher forced me to, saying that there are times when my mind isn't always the solution. Though of course I just told her that, thats why I keep that muscle-brain Valor with me," He paused then mumbled, "But he is my brother so I guess I still have to have some love for him."

"Wait, so this entire time, instead of roaming the streets of some city belonging to a foreign country, you and your brother have been with this unknown person, learning swordsmanship and such under them!?" he exclaimed, finally catching up to the fast-paced Andros.

"Yes, but what's it matter to you? It's not like you were supposed to go with Valor and me," Andros said harshly in turn, annoyed at all of Rodions sudden questions.

"Sorry, I'm just really shocked!"

"ARGH! Stop saying sorry, it's annoying!"

"SORRY! WAIT, ARGH! WHAT ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY!?" Rodion yelled back, frustrated at how rude Andros was being to him.

"Haaaa, I'm…sorry, I'm just worried that Valor will come looking for me and end up upsetting a dragon or something," And now it was Andros' turn to apologize.

"...You really care about your brother don't you?" Rodion said, sending a smile full of pity his way.

"Yeah, I do… He's my only family…That's enough of that! Besides, what do you want with all of those questions about what I've been doing!?" Andros said, getting to the point.

"I-I want to go with you! On your journey I mean…" Rodion paused, noticing the appalled look on Andros' face, "..."

"Absolutely not."

"Please?"

"No,"

"Pleaaasseee?"

"NO! Now stop asking!"

"..."

The two kept walking in silence, Rodion a bit embarrassed by his rejection, and Andros ticked off at how long it had taken.

They soon reached the clearing that opened up into the field where the canyon that held the village was. The clearing was two trees winding together to form a sort of arch, it was one of Andros' favorite places in the forest, due to the trees being wisteria trees.

Andros' curiosity getting the best of him, and now being in a good mood, he decided to ask Rodion why he wanted to go with them in the first place, and depending on his reason Andros might just allow him.

"Hey…" He started, stopping as soon as he stepped through the arch, "Why do you even want to go with Valor and me in the first place?"

"Why do I want to go with you?" Rodion replied, stopping and standing in front of him, "Hm, I'm not really sure. Maybe it's because I've missed having someone to compete with, or maybe it's just because I want to see the world outside this village."

Rodion smiled at Andros and they stood there for a moment, the wind fluttering their hair. It looked like a scene straight out of a romance novel, but unfortunately, this story more-so focuses on the plot rather than the romance aspect.

Soon, breaking their little moment, the voice of our other protagonist would ring throughout the scenery.

"HHEEYYYYYY! ANDROSSSS!" Valor yelled, waving and running towards him with a gigantic smile on his face.

"Valor?" Andros murmured, then thought to himself with a worried expression, 'Was I gone for too long? I hope I didn't worry him…'

"ANDROS!" Valor yelled, running over like the road runner from the old children's show, then hugged his brother and exclaimed, "Where have you been? I was looking everywhere for you, and when I went to ask Rodion if he'd seen you he wasn't there either…WAIT! YOUR TOGETHER! 'Gasp' You're not cheating on me with him are you!?"

"What nonsense are you going on about you nitwitt!"Andros said, squirming out of his brothers grasp, "How could i cheat on my own brother!? And why the hell would i do so with my own rival?!"

Rodion did a playful gasp causing Andros to turn his head a look at him, "Are you finally achnologing me as your rival?!" He exclaimed with excitement.

"Ugh, yeah, sure, happy?" Andros added, turning back towards his twin, "But what are you doing out here by yourself? It's the middle of the night."

"Well, as i was looking for you, i heard some people over at the butcher shop talking about how you went looking for Rodion in the forest, so i came to help you…Though i now see that you two are perfectly fine, which is such a relief!" Valor said with delight, hugging his brother again, squeezing him tight enough to not hurt him but also so that he couldn't get free.

"Oh, the way you two care about each other just warms my heart," Rodion commented, putting his hand up to his heart, "Y'know, Andros and I were just talking about what a great idea it would be for me to join you guys on your adventure."

Rodion threw a mischievous smirk at Andros, making Andros' face darken and wear a "what the hell do you think your doing?" look. When Valor let him go, he almost swung at the poor guy, but had to hold himself back.

"Oh my! Yes, you should totally come with us!" Valor exclaimed, his cheerful tone blended with a convincing one, "Having you with us would make it much easier to get around, and considering your such a seasoned hunter, you could help us to catch our food and such!"

He turned to his twin and gave him a knowing gaze, maybe Valor was more than a muscle brain after all. Andros smiled back at him and finally realized what his brother was getting at, so he turned back to Rodion with a strained smile.

"Well, since my brother seems to want you to some along, i suppose we could let you. We leave in 5 days, make sure to have packed all of the necessities and sharpening tools for your blades, you'll need them," Andros finally agreed, causing a big smile to form on Rodions face, then turn to a look of curiosity.

"Wait…what do you mean i'll need them!? HEY! GUYS!" Rodion yelled, chasing after the two brothers who started to walk away.

"Don't worry about it, you'll finger it out on the way here!" Andros smiled with ill intent, undetected by his two comanions.

Days later the three went over to the entrance of the forest from the field, bidding their farewells to their loved ones and caretakers.

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[1]: Back in the older days people would use branding irons to mark

people as slaves or ex-slaves, and depending on who did it, it would have either the house symbol of the owner or the trader's company mark.