Rei headed toward Gazai Town through the stretching emerald fields, the blades of grass dancing around Midgard's wheels as they rolled on without pause. According to his calculations, he would reach the town in roughly three hours. It was a tranquil ride—the sky a soft blue canvas overhead, dotted with slow-moving clouds, and the wind gently brushing against Midgard's wooden frame. As he drove, Rei's eyes scanned the environment curiously, cataloging flora and fauna. Every plant, every flower, every scuttling beast held potential—ingredients for potions, clues for tracking, or even just a better understanding of the region. But even with his curiosity, he didn't stop. Not yet.
Behind him, Luc followed quietly, astride the massive Ulicar beast—its paws as silent as shadow, its movements swift. The hound-beast matched Midgard's pace with difficulty, but Luc urged it on. His eyes remained locked on Rei's cart, his expression unreadable.
As the hours passed, the terrain shifted. The open field gave way to a dense stretch of forest, marking the final leg before Gazai Town. Trees towered above, their leaves forming a canopy that scattered light like a kaleidoscope. Birds sang overhead, and small creatures scurried at the sound of Midgard's passing. Then, through the clearing, Rei saw it—the outline of Gazai Town. Buildings formed in clusters, the town wall faintly visible beyond a winding path.
Rei narrowed his eyes. As he had expected, no bandits had appeared along the road. But he knew they were out there. Word had it that bandits were already within the town, likely awaiting the prince's arrival. He needed to be careful.
Just before entering, Rei brought Midgard to a stop. Getting noticed now—especially in a vehicle as conspicuous as Midgard—would only cause trouble. He stepped outside, stretched his limbs, and began dragging the cart slowly toward the town's gates to avoid drawing attention.
The gates of Gazai were already bustling with activity. A crowd had formed near the edge of the road, murmuring in anticipation. Curious, Rei approached a nearby man and asked, "Hey, what's happening here?"
The man, a gruff fellow with a wide-brimmed hat, turned. "The prince. He's coming today. That path there—he'll be arriving from there, so we're all lining up for a glimpse."
Rei's brow furrowed. "The prince? Really? Alright then…"
Without another word, Rei turned and vanished into the crowd before anyone could ask more questions. If the prince was on the way, then the bandits would be nearby too, possibly blending in with the onlookers. He needed to steer clear.
As he wandered deeper into the city, Rei took in the architecture—stone houses, wooden shops, cobbled paths. His eyes scanned for potential places to park Midgard, but something else caught his attention. An unlocked warehouse, its door ajar and shadows dancing within.
Curious, Rei crept closer and peeked inside. The interior was dimly lit but cluttered with supplies—crates of food, tools, even weapons. But something felt off. Items were scattered, and not in a careless storage sort of way. They looked taken, stolen.
Rei's instincts screamed. This wasn't just a warehouse. It was a hideout.
Just as he was about to slip away, a rough voice called out behind him. "Well, well, well. Look who wandered into our little den. A kid."
Rei turned. A man with a scar down his cheek stepped into view, followed by another taller figure.
Trying to remain calm, Rei said, "How about this—you let me go, and I won't say a word about what I saw here."
The second man laughed coldly. "Do you really expect us to believe that, kid?"
Rei's eyes darted back to the warehouse. "Can I at least ask why you're hiding in here instead of being on the prince's path?"
The first bandit snorted. "Smart little brat, aren't you? Yeah, we figured everyone would expect us on the roads. But inside the town? That's where the real prize lies."
Rei's fingers curled slowly around the handle of his Chaos Scepter. "I've got an idea," he said.
"Oh yeah?" the bandit asked.
"I'll kill you all."
Before they could react, Rei slammed his scepter into the wall and cast Break Rock. The spell blasted the wall beside him, sending debris flying as he dived into the warehouse.
Inside, hidden in the shadows near the windows, a group of bandits had been preparing to ambush him. The explosion startled them, giving Rei just enough time to unleash a Wind Blast. Some were knocked back, others managed to dodge.
He dashed behind crates and shelves, using the stacked supplies for cover. A voice yelled, "Bring that brat here!"
Rei created a Wind Bomb beneath his feet, launching himself to the upper shelves. From above, he rained down more wind blasts. The warehouse lit up with retaliatory magic—Fireballs, Water Slices, and Wind Slashes flew toward him.
Rei danced from one shelf to another, his heart pounding. "Why won't you give up already?" he muttered.
Two bandits fell to a Fireball he had recently mastered, their cries echoing in the cavernous space. The dust was already thick, but Rei amplified it, stirring the air with his wind magic.
"Cough… he's trying to blind us!" a bandit shouted.
Then, a flicker of flame.
"Dust Explosion."
The room shook. Crates were blasted apart. The wave of fire and pressure sent bodies flying, collapsing portions of the roof and scattering debris.
When the smoke cleared, groans echoed from the few remaining bandits—veterans who had survived by shielding themselves.
"Come down and fight like a man, if you have the guts!" one roared.
Rei peeked over a shelf looking for it's weak spots and smirked. "I'm ten. I'm a boy, not a man. Don't expect too much."
"Y—YOU!"
Rei chuckled. "Yeah, me. Don't worry. I've already won."
With that, he blasted the shelf beside them. The heavy frame and supplies collapsed onto the remaining bandits, pinning them down beneath their own loot.
Breathing hard, Rei wiped the sweat from his forehead and climbed down slowly. The warehouse was a mess, but the job was done.