On Rise's side, the tension was palpable as Kleto's group relentlessly pursued them. The carriage rattled and shook as it sped down the uneven forest path, the merchants inside clutching their belongings in fear. Kleto and his gang were hot on their trail, using magic to fly or running at incredible speeds, their laughter echoing through the trees.
"Hahahaha! Run all you want, rabbits!" Kleto shouted, his voice filled with mockery. His friends joined in the laughter, their confidence unshaken as they closed the distance.
Rise, sitting inside the carriage, clutched his side, his face pale from the pain. "Damnit... If only I weren't this badly injured," he muttered, his voice strained. Despite his usual cheerful demeanor, the severity of his injuries was taking its toll.
Mara, one of the commoner healers, looked at him with concern. "W-we're sorry, we can only heal you that much. You were terribly injured earlier with internal bleeding, so it was really hard to heal you completely," she said, her voice filled with guilt.
Rise forced a weak smile, his playful nature still shining through. "Oh, it's okay, Mara, ahehe. So, you three wanna be my wives?" he asked cheekily, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Liva, sitting nearby, pinched his cheek in annoyance. "Hey, stop harassing the commoners, Rise! Lina, Mara, and Tessa are all uncomfortable," she scolded, her tone firm but not unkind.
Rise winced, rubbing his cheek. "Ow! Okay, okay, I'll stop," he said, though his grin suggested he wasn't entirely serious.
Suddenly, Ewan, who was driving the carriage, shouted, "Hey guys! I can see Ateria now!" His voice was filled with relief, but it was quickly cut short as a blast erupted beside the carriage. The explosion sent debris flying, but Ewan managed to keep the horses under control, steering the carriage away from danger.
"Holy—!" Ewan exclaimed, his heart racing.
Liva, her expression darkening, moved to the rear of the carriage and began casting fireballs toward Kleto's group. One of her spells hit its mark, causing one of Kleto's minions to stumble and fall. "What are they doing? Why are they shooting? The merchants are here! Do they want to fail the exam!?" Liva shouted, her voice filled with frustration as she glanced at the six terrified merchants huddled inside the carriage.
Kleto, however, seemed unfazed. "Who cares if the merchants die? We have healers in our group. We just need to escort at least one of them—their goods aren't that important too!" he said with a grin, launching another fireball toward the carriage. His minions followed suit, unleashing a barrage of water balls, wind blades, and other offensive spells.
Riri, one of Kleto's followers, looked uneasy. "Hey, Kleto, are you sure we should be attacking the carriage? If the merchants die, we'll fail the exam," she said, her voice tinged with worry.
Kleto waved her off, his confidence unshaken. "Relax, we've got this under control," he said, though his reckless actions suggested otherwise.
Just as the situation seemed dire, a booming voice cut through the chaos. "HOLD IT!!!!" The shout came from behind Kleto's group, and when they turned to look, they saw Razen sprinting toward them at an incredible speed, her grin wide and her eyes blazing with determination.
"It's the tomboy! Rear squad, stop and bombard that ugly bitch! HAHAHA!" Kleto shouted, his voice filled with disdain. His minions obeyed, halting their pursuit of the carriage and turning their attention to Razen. They unleashed a barrage of magic attacks, their spells lighting up the forest as they targeted her.
In the grand hall of the castle, Kalavan's face turned red with anger as he watched the scene unfold. "That snotty brat! How dare he call my daughter ugly!?" he roared, his fists clenched. Despite Razen's tomboyish nature, Kalavan knew his daughter was beautiful in her own way—handsome, strong, and fiercely independent. But because of her demeanor and personality, she had always been misunderstood, and no boy or man had ever shown genuine interest in her.
The other nobles and generals in the grand hall couldn't help but chuckle at Kalavan's outburst, though their amusement was tempered by the seriousness of the situation. Razen's determination and strength were undeniable, and they all knew she was more than capable of holding her own.
Back in the forest, Razen dodged and weaved through the barrage of spells, her movements swift and precise. Despite the onslaught, her grin never faded. "You think a few magic tricks can stop me? Think again!" she shouted, her voice filled with defiance.
As she closed the distance, Razen's red mana flared, her speed increasing even further. She was a force to be reckoned with, and Kleto's group quickly realized they had underestimated her. The tide of the battle was turning, and Razen was determined to protect her friends—no matter the cost.