Chapter 6: Arrival

The night air hung heavy with the scent of blood and burnt wood. The aftermath of battle lay scattered across the ruined bandit hideout, corpses and broken weapons littering the ground. The group stood in weary silence, their bodies aching from the grueling fight. The flickering flames of a campfire cast long shadows over their faces, exhaustion evident in their eyes.

Harvis stretched his arms and let out a deep breath. "Well, that was something." He turned toward Alex, who was still gripping his sword tightly, his knuckles white. "You alright?"

Alex hesitated before nodding. "I... I still can't believe we actually won."

Liz, the silver-haired maid, was tending to Lily, ensuring she had no injuries. "Victory or not, we need to eat. Fighting on an empty stomach is a terrible idea."

Lily, wrapped in a warm blanket, clung to Alex's arm, still shaken. "Are we safe now?"

Harvis glanced around the desolate hideout. "For now. But we can't stay here too long. We'll rest, then head for the town at first light. Liz, think you can whip something up?"

Liz nodded and pulled out a small cooking pot from her bag. "I managed to gather some ingredients. It won't be a feast, but it'll keep us going."

As Liz worked over the fire, stirring a makeshift stew, Alex finally allowed himself to sit, rubbing his tired eyes. "I never thought I'd be this glad to eat something warm."

Harvis smirked. "Food always tastes better after battle. Even if it's just stew."

As they ate, conversation slowed, each of them savoring the simple meal. Lily leaned against Alex, her breathing steadying as the comfort of safety settled in.

"We should get some sleep," Harvis said after finishing his meal. "We've got a long walk to town tomorrow."

Alex nodded, his exhaustion finally catching up with him. He lay down near the fire, keeping Lily close. Liz wrapped herself in a thick cloak, resting near her supplies, while Harvis leaned against a tree, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded but alert.

Unbeknownst to them, a lone figure crawled away from the wreckage of the battle. Blood dripped from his wounds as he stumbled into the dense forest, each step a struggle. The last surviving bandit, barely clinging to life, muttered through ragged breaths.

"I... I won't let this go..." His vision blurred, but his mind remained fixed on one thought. "Elder brother... he'll make them pay..."

With sheer will, he forced himself forward, disappearing into the night, heading toward the city of Solis.

---

Morning arrived with the golden light of dawn seeping through the canopy of trees. The scent of damp earth and morning dew filled the air. Birds sang softly, heralding the start of a new day.

Harvis was the first to wake, stretching as he stood. He glanced at his companions—Alex was still asleep, one arm protectively draped over Lily. Liz stirred slightly, but remained nestled in her cloak.

Harvis smirked. "Guess I'll let them sleep a little longer."

He took a few steps away from the camp, listening to the rustling of leaves and distant sound of a flowing river. His senses, ever sharp, picked up the faint traces of life in the forest—small critters, birds, and far beyond, the fading remnants of something larger. He frowned slightly but dismissed the thought. If danger lingered, it had already passed.

Before long, Liz awoke, rubbing her eyes. "You're up early."

Harvis shrugged. "Old habit."

Liz yawned. "I'll get breakfast ready."

By the time the stew was warmed, Alex and Lily had woken up, rubbing sleep from their eyes.

"Morning, sleepyheads," Harvis greeted. "Eat up, we're moving soon."

As they finished their meal, Alex glanced toward the path ahead. "How far is the town from here?"

Harvis crossed his arms. "Not too far. If we keep a steady pace, we should reach it by noon."

Lily clapped her hands. "That means real food! And a bed!"

Alex chuckled. "That does sound nice."

Liz stood, brushing off her skirt. "Let's not waste time then. We've got a long walk ahead."

---

The journey toward town was mostly uneventful. The path winded through dense foliage, the towering trees stretching toward the sky. Sunlight trickled through the leaves, painting golden patterns on the forest floor.

Alex walked alongside Harvis, glancing around. "So... where exactly are we headed?"

"A town called Eldoria," Harvis replied. "It's a decent-sized place, good for restocking supplies. Plus, it's safer than the wilds."

Lily tugged on Alex's sleeve. "Can we get sweets when we arrive?"

Harvis smirked. "If Alex has the money for it."

Alex sighed. "We'll see."

Liz, walking slightly ahead, stopped near a bush. "There's some wild herbs here. These might be useful."

Harvis raised a brow. "You know medicine too?"

Liz shrugged. "A little. It's useful when you're traveling."

As they continued, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. He glanced around but saw nothing unusual. He gripped his sword tightly, forcing himself to remain calm.

Eventually, the dense forest thinned out, revealing a dirt road leading toward the horizon. In the distance, nestled between rolling hills, stood the town of Eldoria. The stone walls glistened under the sun, the sight of civilization a welcome relief.

Lily gasped. "We made it!"

Harvis grinned. "Told you we would."

Alex exhaled, tension draining from his shoulders. "Finally."

Liz adjusted the strap of her bag. "Let's get moving. The sooner we reach the gates, the sooner we can rest."

The group picked up their pace, heading toward the town, unaware of the shadow creeping behind them. Somewhere, beyond the trees, a wounded bandit limped toward Solis, vengeance burning in his heart.

And so, their journey was far from over.