The Runic Alchemist

The carriage was rolling through Lockwood's streets where everyone looked busy, people were walking real fast as if in a hurry to go about their day and finish their work. Damian observed through carriage window, how old style the buildings were, even the people had plain clothes; they looked beautiful though. He was indeed in alternate earth's 15th or 16th century time period civilization.

Soon the town was left behind and open green fields arrived, it was breath-taking to say the least. And then started the forest. Damian finally closed the window and sat comfortably on his seat. Instead of wasting his time thinking about how to get away; he decided that he would wait for an opportunity.

Anyway, it was almost impossible to run away when Thomas was near, after gaining his first job and becoming light-walker or Lord for his case, he stopped feeling any residual pressure around the normal knights only in front of Thomas did he feel any substantial pressure.

Damian busied himself in his books, this past week he did nothing but train himself continuously. His rune drawing using spear still needed practice but he was satisfied with his progress for now. After some hours spending in books and being thrown around like bird in a cage, they finally stopped.

The carriage-ride was not comfortable at all and he dreaded suffering like this for days; he was glad that he was going to run away and not stay to experience the whole journey.

The camp was built and tents were ready. Dinner was simple soup that was easy to make. Since light was a luxury everything was dark except the campfire in middle of the camp. Some knights were sitting around it while others rested or did their duty as lookouts.

Lucian had eaten in her tent, Damian preferred to see what he was eating before eating it and since he couldn't afford the runic lighting tools he ate near the campfire among the knights and returned to his tent after strolling around the camp.

And so their journey continued like this for about 5-6 days. Damian was feeling irritated because of the uncleanliness. Taking a bath daily was something ingrained in his life ever since he was a kid. Others seemed to be fine with it. And the horrible shaking made his small butt hurt so much that even with his improved physique he felt the discomfort.

He had half a mind to walk but the heat outside was also something he wanted to avoid.

Suddenly the carriage halted and he was thrown along with his books on the opposite seat. Cursing under his breath he tried to get back in his position when he heard some loud shouts, and after that many iron swords clanking and the sounds of things being blown away.

"What is going on? Are we under attack?"

Damian peeked out of his window and saw knights clashing swords and spears against rough looking bearded men who were wearing tattered old clothes.

"What kind of fool bandits attacks their lord's daughter, unless they are not the bandits at all.."

Damian observed some more and his hunch was right. The knights were having problem contending against them; even though the bandits outnumbered them three to one the techniques both sides used were on equal level; making them equally skilled.

"They are here for Lucian I guess, do they even know I'm here? Does anyone even care? Maybe I Should just run away since I have the chance.."

Damian got out of the carriage and climbed on top of it, away from enemy reach where he could observe the whole situation. He immediately noticed three hooded figure some distance away observing the whole fiasco taking place. Then he noticed Thomas leaving Lucian's carriage, after looking around once, Thomas started walking towards the hooded figures.

Thomas's eyes met with his and he could see a hint of surprise which turned into a smile on Thomas's face before he returned his gaze back to the hooded figures.

The fight was picking up pace as Thomas alone confronted the three individuals. One by one all three of them removed their hoods and took a battle stance. The middle one had a sword in his hands while the left one took out a bow and started nocking an arrow. The right one started releasing a red aura from his body, while his muscles started expanding.

"Three Enlightened, who has so much money to waste on you fools?"

Thomas said while taking out an axe from his spatial device.

"It doesn't matter who sent us Goldilock dog, you will die here today."

The guy in the middle spoke while the other two just snickered. And then the fight started.

It was terrifying to say the least, whenever the pugilist's fist and Thomas's axe met it sent shock-waves through the whole battlefield. The archer's arrows literally exploded on contact, while the Spellsword was cutting the air itself with his every precise move. However Thomas was somehow managing to keep all of them busy with his immaculate technique and overwhelming strength.

Damian took a second to observe the battlefield once again and realized that the bandits were slowly but surely wearing out the knights in cranky armor. It did not look good for the cohort. Suddenly a sword reflecting the sunlight and moving around the battlefield like a lightning blur caught his eyes. It was Lucian.

"When did she join in?"

She was indeed impressive but she lacked strength to do any substantial damage. She only managed to cut the enemies here and there with her superior technique, distracting them so the knights could finish the job.

Damian looked at the chaotic situation with a cold face. He did not want to reveal his strength before this people, even the somewhat little freedom he had now, would be snatched from him and he might even get locked up forever if anyone knew about his real capabilities. Not like he cared enough to help them anyway.

They were holding out good enough on their own, so he just sat there and acted his part of weak boy hiding in fear.

However after some 20 minutes the knights were showing signs of exhaustion and were constantly on defense. The situation worsened when with a loud swooshing sound a spear came flying directly towards Thomas, shocking everyone present, Thomas with his quick reflexes managed to save his vitals yet the spear hit him on his upper left shoulder.

Giving the other three much needed opening to unleash their attacks. Thomas somehow managed to avoid the two attacks yet the blade of spellsword with his incredibly precise and nimble attack left an ugly gash at his thigh.

This made the whole situation lean in the favor of the unknown attackers. If the fast approaching spearman who sneakily threw his spear at Thomas joins in with the other three, ganging up on Thomas, he won't survive long.

On the other hand if the spearman joined the fight against knights, with a heavy hitter in their midst the attackers will kill every single one of the knights including Lucian achieving their goal way before Thomas manages to deal with the three Enlightened..

Thomas removed the spear from his side and threw it away towards the archer, his face showing signs of helplessness and struggle.

"Just as I thought, the addition of spearman has given him anxiety, he can't manage it. What should I do?"

If the bandits won, they obviously won't leave any witness alive. Even if he run away now, those overpowered monsters with their superior stats will find him sooner or later before he could leave this forest. Showing his power was obviously a wrong move here, but the staying alive took priority.

Damian summoned his red spear and it just appeared beside him out of thin air, he did not know how it worked. No spatial storage spell runes were visible, it was as if it was connected to his soul and answered whenever he summoned it.

The spearman was running faster than tiger towards everyone fighting while grinning like a crazy person.

Suddenly with an ear piercing sound three incredibly sharp and lightning fast rocks flew towards him, with a shocked expression he hastily dodged the incoming attack which forced him to break his charge yet one more rock which came a bit later than the rest sneakily left a bloody cut on his face.

The whole battlefield stopped for a second and looked at the source of the sound and saw a small boy on top of the carriage holding a red spear in his hand, doing a weird movement with it looking like the stupidest thing alive.

But this foolish actions had just given them a chance; a chance to turn the tide of the battle.