Eleanor returned to her seat.
She refused to do what Reynard suggested, enduring the need. Crossing her legs, her hands clasped over her knees, Eleanor appeared to be fighting a silent battle.
"Go ahead and use it. Sylvia won't mind. She's sleeping soundly, see." Unable to watch her struggle, Reynard advised casually, pointing at Sylvia.
Sylvia, indeed, had her eyes closed. Even so, Eleanor noticed the forced pretense — no one fell asleep that fast. She clenched her teeth, but necessity overcame her pride.
It would be far more embarrassing if she let it leak onto the floor here.
Taking the jar and feeling its cold surface with her fingertips, her face flushed red. She grabbed the hem of her dress, lifting the fabric enough to do what was necessary.
She paused for a moment upon sensing a gaze.
Reynard was watching her without a shred of shame.
"Master Reynard..."
"I'm not looking, I'm not looking..." Reynard understood the message and turned his head toward the window. Feigning disinterest, he rested his head in his palm, murmuring something.
Pssssssh!
The sound of running water, strong and unmistakable, filled the small space of the carriage. It was a familiar sound, like pouring water into a glass. It started strong, weakening as the pressure was lost until it finally ceased.
In that instant, however, Reynard narrowed his eyes.
"Stop the carriage. Now!" He suddenly shouted through the window to Old Henry. His order was clear.
The latter hesitated, processing the information in his brain. They were so close to the city; what was the point of stopping now? Yielding only to the conviction in Reynard's firm voice and his serious tone, Old Henry pulled the reins without further hesitation.
Eleanor, who had just removed the jar from between her legs, looked at Reynard with a confused gaze. Her hands quickly moved, sealing the jar and hiding it under the seat. She pretended nothing had happened.
"What's wrong?" Sylvia, opening her eyes as if waking from a peaceful sleep, asked with a neutral expression. She seemed oblivious to what Eleanor had done moments before.
Reynard ignored her question. His eyes, at that moment, were focused on the darkness ahead.
The moon, still high in the sky, illuminated something.
Between the bushes at the edge of the road, a small, treacherous metallic reflection did not escape Reynard's eyes.
"New troubles..." He murmured.
***
Behind the bushes at the side of the road, three figures were hidden, using the darkness as a cloak.
"Ravenna, are you sure the carriages will pass through this road?"
A bald man with shoulders that looked like blocks of granite asked. His bare chest, displaying his brute strength, held a web of old scars, showing the carelessness of someone who relied too much on muscle.
On his back, a sword was tied by a thick leather strap. However, when addressing the woman, his voice was that of an impatient subordinate.
"Of course they will pass. Just shut up and keep waiting." The woman named Ravenna replied, the irritation in her tone as palpable as the earth beneath their feet. She didn't bother looking at the muscular man, reprimanding him.
Her moss-green hair, cut in an asymmetric bob that ended at her shoulders, contrasted sharply with her pale skin. A small, dark, almost poisonous mole punctuated the corner of her red lips.
She wore black leather clothes that were tight enough to reveal the slender, yet incredibly athletic, structure of her body; there was no unnecessary bulk that could hinder her movements.
At that moment, her green eyes, framed by long eyelashes, were fixed on the road with predatory attention, calculating the passing and the exact moment their prey would arrive.
'Where are you...'
This road was frequently used to enter the city, so she wasn't afraid that no one would show up.
It was only a matter of time.
"Listen! Sound of wheels!" Another man beside them spoke. His appearance was the opposite of the muscular man. He was thin as a stick and with skin stretched over his bones.
It looked like the wind could knock him down at any moment. His black hair was a mess that resembled a bird's nest, and his pallor suggested he was more accustomed to the night.
Ravenna looked at the two and nodded.
The muscular man was Vorin. Despite not being the smartest, he was the physically strongest. The skinny one was named Grimm. He was the weakest, but Ravenna knew he could be as cunning as she was.
Hearing the rhythmic sound, the three held their breath and spoke no more. On the horizon, a carriage appeared, moving quickly.
"Looks like the prey has arrived!" Vorin smiled, a butcher's expression emerging on his face. The sword came out of the scabbard on his back with a dry swoosh, ready for action.
He seemed too excited to act.
The carriage, which was approaching, suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Watching this, Grimm frowned.
"Doesn't matter." Vorin grumbled impatiently. "They can't get past us if we block the road. Let's attack! It's our opportunity!" His grip on the sword hilt choked the leather, and the veins in his forearm swelled like worms crawling under the skin.
The two looked at Ravenna, awaiting the final order.
Seeing that the carriage had stopped, Ravenna nodded. Her lips curled slightly, and she slowly brushed them with the tip of her tongue, unconsciously.
It was like a predator imagining the taste of the meal before attacking.
"We attack now. Announce the robbery and tell them to get down. Then, take everything of value you find. We'll split it later. If they resist, just kill."
Pausing for a moment, she added: "If there is any mana user inside the carriage, stick to the plan. Every man for himself."
With that cold instruction, Ravenna jumped from the bush first, moving with grace toward the carriage.
***
In the Carriage
Reynard was still staring at the road with narrowed eyes after stopping the carriage.
"Can you fight?" He turned and asked Sylvia directly.
"Fight? I can't move on my own, much less fight." Sylvia wasn't foolish and quickly understood that trouble had arrived, her tone helpless.
Eleanor, who had finished relieving herself, now had a rosy expression. With worried eyes, she went to the window to check the situation outside. At that same instant, she saw three figures suddenly jump out of the bushes.
"This is a robbery! Get out of the carriage and hand over all the gold you possess!" The green-haired female figure shouted, her voice as cold as the night breeze.
"Don't get out."
A firm order echoed as Eleanor was pulled back. She watched, stunned, as Reynard opened the door, stepping down before she could even process what he was doing.
'Bandits near the city? Are the guards sleeping?' Reynard grumbled as he walked to the front of the carriage.
He expected bandits mid-journey, but he never expected bandits near the city. This was the same as slapping the City Lord's face. Their presence nearby would scare away merchants and travelers, who would choose other routes or detour to another city.
These bandits were living on borrowed time and would have to flee immediately if they didn't want to be hunted after doing something like this near the gates.
As he walked, Reynard found Old Henry frozen in the coachman's seat. His eyes were wide, looking as if he would cry at any moment. Seeing Reynard, they lit up for a moment.
"Lord Reynard, bandits have appeared!" He spoke with a strained voice.
"Stay put and wait for my command to leave. Don't hesitate when you hear the order." Reynard waved his hand, leaving a simple instruction, and advanced to the front of the carriage.
After a few steps, he came fully into the sight of the bandits.
All eyes turned to him.
Clearing his throat, he raised his arms above his head and shouted: "Please, have mercy! I'm just a poor merchant, and I'm traveling without an escort. I don't have much money! We can negotiate without anyone getting hurt!"
His hoarse voice subtly trembled as he spoke quickly, fearing they might attack him at any moment.
'Lady Luck, don't abandon me...'
***
Ravenna looked at the man who stepped out of the carriage, and her eyes immediately turned greedy upon noticing his extravagant clothes.
His attire screamed his identity as a rich and easy target.
'We hit the jackpot!'
A merchant!
They had earned a lot tonight!
And hearing the other party shout that he had no escort, she smiled widely, the excitement visible. The wait had truly been worth it!
"Alright. As long as you hand over everything of value, we will guarantee your safety!" She shouted at Reynard. Her malicious smile sent shivers down anyone's spine.
It was impossible to trust her words.
Reynard had his hands raised and seemed too afraid to react, making him an easy prey to intimidate.
Vorin was visibly disappointed, looking at the scene with contempt. He had hoped for a battle to sharpen his sword. The quick surrender left his battle fire with no outlet. He could only stand there, awkwardly holding his weapon.
Unlike the other two, Grimm frowned.
"Be careful." He whispered to Ravenna. For some reason, he felt things weren't as simple as they seemed.
A merchant should travel with some escort. It was impossible for them to carry valuables between cities and not have one or two guards accompanying them. Unless they were local merchants without much money, but even they would still have a guard with them.
"Grimm, you're overthinking things again. We got an easy haul this time. Start celebrating!" Vorin slapped Grimm's shoulder, making the skinny man stagger from the brute force.
"Damn it, Vorin..." Grimm cursed, letting out a groan of pain and holding his shoulder. That slap almost dislocated his shoulder.
"Stop stalling, both of you. Come on, don't delay. We need to be quick before anyone else passes this way!" Ravenna reprimanded the two and quickly advanced toward Reynard.
Looking at the woman approaching, Reynard maintained his scared expression, clutching his head. His legs were already trembling like sticks, which made Vorin laugh.
"Haha! Look at him shaking all over! Are we scary? We can kill you if we want..." He approached menacingly, lowering his head to glare at Reynard with his yellowed smile.
That foul breath leaked from his mouth, making Reynard frown.
"I have some gold stored with me in the carriage. But..." He spoke cautiously, struggling to ignore the smell. His words paused, fearing to continue.
Ravenna pushed Vorin aside with her hand. Understanding the message, he backed off and let her take command.
Ravenna removed a dagger from her waist and pointed it at Reynard's neck. "But? Hand over the gold, and no one dies..." She whispered with an amused and curious look. Her other free hand was already searching Reynard's pockets.
'Hey, watch where you grab!' He grumbled internally, but outwardly his expression grew even paler.
"I don't know if I should say this..."
"Speak!" Vorin shouted with a fierce look, slapping his own leg.
"Don't be a coward. If you have something good, hand it over." Ravenna added, her hands buried in Reynard's pocket, searching for something and finding nothing.
She pulled her hands out with a disappointed expression.
"As I was saying, I am a merchant. You can take my gold, but I beg you to leave my merchandise... I implore you! I need to take care of my sick wife, and if you take this, I'll be ruined!" Reynard pleaded, looking pitiful.
Ravenna frowned.
"We are bandits. We will take everything." She cast a look at Grimm, signaling him to approach the carriage: "Search inside and take everything you find."
"Wait!" Reynard suddenly yelled.
"What is it now?" Ravenna looked at him, irritated, the cold dagger against his neck, making him gulp.
"Actually, I was heading to the city to deliver some goods. One of them was a special potion ordered by the City Lord. In exchange, he would grant any request. If you steal this, it will incur his fury!"
Hearing this, Ravenna's eyes gleamed.
"Special...? What is it?" She slid the dagger against Reynard's neck, a small red line emerging. Blood trickled out. "Tell me now, and I will spare your life."
'Bitch!' Reynard cursed internally, feeling the pain.
"Please... The City Lord... he ordered a potion... a mana potion. They say it could awaken his magic abilities." He seemed overcome with fear and poured out all the information, only to quickly cover his mouth with his hand upon realizing he had said something forbidden. "No... That's not it. The Lord—"
"It doesn't matter! Give me the potion!" Ravenna shouted, speaking hastily. She couldn't hide the urgency in her voice anymore. Her greed blinded her judgment.
A mana potion?
Screw the gold!
She had found something even better!
"Wait! I want some too!" Vorin shouted, disagreeing to be excluded, and quickly approached, surrounding Reynard.
"Since when do you decide anything? Shut up and don't argue with me while I'm doing business!" Ravenna turned her head and glared furiously at Vorin.
Why was he getting in her way now?!
Grimm, who had stopped approaching the carriage, looked greedily into the dark interior of the carriage.
He had never heard of anything like this before.
If the City Lord was buying... He cast a discreet look at Ravenna, but his cautious side pulled him back.
He almost got carried away!
Looking at Ravenna and Vorin arguing, he yelled at the two: "We can split the potion among the three of us! Don't start arguing now! Let's grab it first and leave!"
"Impossible. If you split it among three people, it won't take effect..."
Suddenly, a hesitant voice echoed.
"Only one person can drink it..." Reynard added with a timid whisper, seeming afraid that they hadn't heard correctly.