The dusty road stretched ahead, lined on one side by dense forest and on the other by open fields waving gently in the breeze.
Three carriages rumbled along the path, two laden with crates and barrels of supplies.
The third carrying a few armored figures: a hired guard team of seasoned adventurers.
Inside the adventurers' carriage, the atmosphere was light but cautious.
"We should stay sharp," said Karr, a broad-shouldered warrior with a hefty battle axe resting across his knees. His eyes scanned the treeline. "There've been bandit sightings along this route."
Eric, a mage with short, messy hair and a staff resting beside him, chuckled lightly.
"Bandits? We're B-Rank. It's nothing we can't handle."
"Still," Mei added, twirling a strand of her short black hair, "let's not underestimate them. A cornered rat is still dangerous."
Vivian, the team's healer, gave a small nod, adjusting the satchel of potions at her side. "Better cautious than dead."
The moment of conversation shattered when
twang!twang! — a volley of arrows flew out from the fields.
Shouts erupted as one of the drivers let out a cry, an arrow piercing his shoulder. The horses whinnied in panic, but the seasoned adventurers sprang into action.
"Defensive formation!" Karr barked, leaping off the carriage with axe in hand.
From the field side, five bandits charged — some with crude swords, others slinging wild bursts of magic.
Eric raised his staff, chanting quickly. "Wind Blade!"
A slicing gust tore across the front lines, sending two bandits sprawling.
Mei followed immediately, flames swirling at her fingertips. "Fire Lance!"
A spear of fire shot forward, knocking another bandit to the ground in a heap of smoke and curses.
Karr grinned fiercely and charged at the remaining two, his axe gleaming under the sun. But just as he closed the distance—
— twang! twang!
More arrows rained down from the forest side.
"Ambush from the trees!" Vivian cried out.
Karr instinctively shifted to shield Mei and Vivian. An arrow glanced off his side, drawing a thin line of blood.
Eric was a little slow raising a barrier; another arrow struck his arm, making him stumble with a grimace.
From both sides, more figures emerged — rough-looking men and women, easily over 10 more bandits.
"We're surrounded!" Mei hissed, panic flaring in her voice.
The B-Rank team fought bravely, but the odds were stacked high and heavy. They were outnumbered, battered, and bleeding when the bandits finally swarmed in.
"Bind them!" one bandit leader barked, a scar running down his jaw. "Get the supplies — we'll fetch a damn good price for 'em!"
Ropes snapped around wrists and ankles. Karr thrashed until a blow to the back of his head sent him reeling.
"Don't rough them up too much. They're part of the merchandise too," a woman said with a sly grin. "They'll fetch a decent price once we ship them out... after all, they'll be sold as slaves."
Eric, Mei, and Vivian were forced down, weapons wrenched away.
Within minutes, the adventurers and the supply-laden carriages were dragged off the road and disappeared into the thickening woods.
The adventurers were dragged roughly into a worn-down building at the edge of the bandit's hideout — a crumbling old village that had clearly been abandoned years ago. Rusted chains and broken fences were scattered around.
Inside, they were shoved into a large, dimly lit cell. The heavy iron door clanged shut behind them with a final, echoing sound.
As Karr, Eric, Mei, and Vivian gathered themselves, they finally noticed they weren't alone.
All around them, huddled in corners or pressed against the walls, were women and children — dozens of them. Their faces were pale with fear, some stained with tears, others hollow from exhaustion. Soft sobs filled the thick, musty air.
The adventurers exchanged grim, heavy glances.
The cell door locked behind them, leaving only the sounds of crying in the darkness.
Scene shift : Outside of Bandits Camp.
A low breeze rolled across the grassy hills, rustling the tall weeds and carrying the faint scent of smoke. Hidden among the overgrowth on a ridge overlooking a half-collapsed village, a small group of adventurers crouched silently.
"We've got visual," murmured Selis, the group's scout, peering through a brass mono lens. Her short brown hair was tucked beneath a hood, and her eyes narrowed as she adjusted the focus.
Behind her, three others waited patiently — all fully geared: a swordsman with a large blade strapped to his back Darven, a tall female archer Rina, and a quiet mage in dark-blue robes Lior.
"Well?" asked Darven in a low tone. "How many?"
Selis exhaled slowly. "More than the quest sheet said. At least fifteen — maybe twenty. This isn't a small camp. They've fortified the whole damn village."
She passed the mono lens to Rina, who took a glance before letting out a quiet whistle. "Four watchtowers," she confirmed. "North, south, east, and west. Bandits are posted in each."
Lior frowned, arms crossed. "Not exactly the ten-man camp the report described."
"No kidding," muttered Darven. "They've got fires going, buildings repurposed, and supplies stacked in the center. Some are patrolling, others are eating and laughing like they own the place."
Selis was still watching, her posture tense. "Hold on… I'm seeing movement near the west side. A group of bandits — they're dragging people in. Prisoners. Looks like they're being herded into that old mansion at the edge of the village… must've turned it into a prison."
Selis narrowed her eyes. "That place was abandoned for years. Figures they'd use it."
Lior expression darkened. "That wasn't in the report either."
"We weren't told anything about hostages," he added after a pause.
"Doesn't matter," Selis said, her voice hardening. "We're not charging in blind. We go back, prepare properly, and report what we saw. We'll need more hands and a solid plan if we're going to break through that place."
Darven nodded. "Agreed. No use rushing in and ending up in chains next to those poor folks."
Without another word, they slid back from the ridge, retreating carefully through the underbrush and fading into the hills as dusk began to settle across the plains.