Phantasia: The Princess Knight

Chapter 36: Bandits' Hideout Part Two

Alicia made her way to the back of the bandits' hideout. There was a large hall with a door on each side. Alicia figured this was the meeting hall for the bandits. She heard more cries for help from within the two rooms. Alicia was about to go forward when she suddenly felt someone near her. With her sword, she swung it to her right only to have sparks fly as her sword collided with another.

"Alicia! It's Blake!" Blake said quietly as he slowly lowered his sword.

Alicia was stunned because the handsome youth who had saved her a few years back was now standing in front of her. Alicia did not know what to say as she stood there blankly staring at Blake for a few seconds before the noises in the background brought her back to reality. "When we are done here we need to talk!"

"I know. I will explain everything after. For now, let's take care of these bastards." Blake said before charging into the room on the right side of the hall.

Alicia charged into the room on the left side of the hall. She kicked the door off its hinges as he entered. "Who the fuck dares to disturb me!?" A big man with large muscles stopped his actions and looked over at the door. He was speechless as he looked at the golden blonde headed girl walking into the room with a sword drawn. "Who the hell are you!?"

Alicia did not want to mix words with such an evil person the girl on the bed had tears rolling down her cheeks, her eyes seemed dead to the world. It seemed she had accepted her fate after much torture. Alicia hated this sight the most it made her sick to her stomach. Her eyes turned cold as she charged forward at the man on the bed.

The man was not as simple as he seemed as he quickly reached over and grabbed the sword next to him narrowly blocking Alicia's strike. Seeing that her attack was blocked, Alicia did not draw back but instead sped up her attacks causing the man to panic. The sound of metal against metal could be heard as sparks flew when the swords met.

After only a few brief exchanges. The man was covered in sword wounds causing him to be covered in his own blood as it dripped from each wound on his body. The man was so furious that he roared out: "You little bastard I will kill you!"

The man's palm lit up as a fireball formed in his hand. It was not that big, only about as big as the man's fist but the man still shot it towards Alicia at tremendous speed. Alicia looked at the fireball and completely ignored it since no fire magic can hurt her. She just swept it aside with her sword as she dashed forward and stabbed out with her sword. The sudden attack and not understanding how the little girl easily dealt with his fireball caused the man to be stunned and slow his reactions. This made it so he was not able to dodge Alicia's attack. Alicia's sword had stabbed directly into the man's neck.

Alicia pulled her sword out and then did a backflip over the bewildered man's head before she thrust her sword out once more stabbing the man in the heart. The man's body slumped to the ground as he looked at the sword piercing through him in shock. He had not thought that his easy days as a leader of a bandit group would end so easily to a young girl who still smelt of her mother's milk.

When Alicia confirmed the man was dead she only glanced at the girl on the bed, She had no idea what she should say to her nor did she think that anything she said would get through to her right now. She smiled bitterly and walked back out to the main hall where Blake was waiting.

"All taken care of?" Blake asked.

"Yes. The girl in there seems to be noncoherent. Her eyes are glazed over." Alicia replied.

"It's okay, I already have two wagons on the way here, a doctor and a nun will be with them. The church will take the girls in and try to help them regain some kind of life. How are you? I know this is a harsh thing to see at such a young age." Blake felt bad that a girl so young had to see such sights. These types of things were normally handled by the knights and squires who are one step away from becoming a knight.

"I am fine thanks. Sir Blake, I have to ask if Master Berlin sent you to follow me. I have detected you since I left the village entrance." Alicia wanted to confirm that it was indeed Blake who had been following her.

"Haha Seems you knew all along and here I thought I was doing a good job of hiding." Blake's cheeks flushed red as he scratched the back of his head. "To answer your question yes it was. He told me not to show myself unless you are almost dying but this kind of thing is an exception since it deals with many people. These girls need help right away. That is why I am showing myself now."

"It's fine. I am actually glad you did show yourself otherwise I would have had tried to call you out. I plan to continue my journey down the main road to the capital. If I run into more bandit hideouts on my way can I rely on you to do as you did today if it involves innocents that need help?" Alicia figured she might run into more situations like today. She was very grateful that Blake had been following her or these girls would not get the help that they would need.

"That is fine. But I can only help on this point. Otherwise, I will not show myself unless your life is in danger." Blake explained.

"I understand. Thank you, Sir Blake!" Alicia said as she smiled brightly at Blake. Just knowing he would help if a situation like this happened again was reassuring. At least that way those who need help will get it.