Phew. Done. Back to my old schedule from today. Chapter publishes just before reset. Enjoy!

Midday. The sun shone brightly and the day was comparatively clear. But the sunlight could barely sneak through the dense cluster of leaves and trees of the Wyvian forest.

*Splash. Splash*

*Neigh*

Both Adrian and Irene were riding through marshy grounds of the woods. The constant heavy rainfall took its toll on the otherwise hard grounds of the forest. They had started their journey early in the morning, with the intentions of getting out of the forest by midnight.

Because when it gets dark, the forest gets even more dangerous.

The Wyvian forest was known as the most dangerous woodlands after the Northern wilderness. Dangerous beasts- normal and magical alike- lurked inside the trees, the caves or in the open. Some hunted at day, and some hunted at night. But they were the least of the hazards one could face inside the dense forest.

What made the Wyvian forest dangerous and of course- infamous were…

Bandits.

*Neeeeigh!*

*Splash. Splash. Splash.*

The horses suddenly halted, putting their forelimbs in the air and neighing as hard as they could. They acted crazily as both of the horses, began to trot here and there in the same limited spot, getting harder and harder out of control.

Adrian jumped out of the horse and landed steadily on the ground. Irene followed.

Both of them had their head covers taken off, since they were in a quite forest anyway.

“Look who we have here, boys.” A strong and amused male voice echoed throughout the forest. A middle aged man with trimmed facial hairs came out of nowhere and stood before them. He was looking at the duo as if he were some prey.

“Well well well.” Another man came out, but he looked younger. “Look at their faces. They must be top tier nobles of the Confederation. We are lucky today.”

“Hehehe.” A dainty looking woman joined them. “Indeed we are. Both of them could be sold for Magic Crystals- high grade ones at that.”

“Yes.” The middle aged man nodded. “And we might get a lot of em if we found the right customers. Just look at their faces.”

“But it would be a waste not to have a taste of them beforehand.” The younger man licked his lips.

“But I will take the girl first.” The woman chimed in.

The middle aged man looked at the two. “You two kids should have stayed back in your big houses, suckling your mothers’ breasts. Blame your bad luck.”

During the entire time, both Adrian and Irene were standing still, watching the bandits bicker among themselves. Indifference was written on her face while amusement was written on his.

“Are you done?” Adrian asked.

The three frowned. Something was not right.

They had ‘preyed’ on dozens of adventuring noble children before. At every one of the cases- they would tremble in fear, beg for letting them go, or even voluntarily offer them as hostages to take ransom from their parents. Some even offered to sacrifice their lower class ‘friends’ in return.

But the two before them, who looked even more pampered than the ones they had targeted before were standing completely still- with utter nonchalance in their faces, without a trace of fear.

Either the two were ignorant fools- not knowing the ways of the world, or they had the strength to back up their confidence, or…

They came from families that were too powerful.

The frown disappeared from their faces. What replaced themed were grins. They got their answer. The value of their targets just hiked.

Adrian who was looking into the eyes of the middle aged man, the leader, also brought a smile upon his face.

He turned to Irene. “I was assigned as your tutor, and you were assigned as my guardian. It’s customary that I should have the gist of your power, shouldn’t I?”

“But you also have to show me that intellect of yours in return, the one that scares even grandpa.” She took a step forward.

“Nice.” He commended. “You are a quick learner I see.” Adrian praised as his eyes followed the icy blue haired lady walk forward.

The woman among the bandits smirked. “You are surrendering yourself I see. Good choice.” She licked her lips.” Now let’s see what you are hiding beneath that dre-“

Her speech was cut short as the woman ambling forwards snapped her fingers. Dozen meter long spikes came out of nowhere and surrounded the woman.

Before she could even know what was happening all the spikes shot towards different parts of her body- all vitals.

*Sphhhlt. Sphhhlt. Sphhhlt.*

She was impaled bu those icy javelins as they pierced through her heart, lungs, stomach, uterus, mouth and the head.

But no blood came out. They were frozen the moment they touched the freezing projectiles. Soon, an icy layer formed on her body as well. She died with her eyes wide open, still standing on the spot where she stood before. Just her limbs were a bit twisted from the pain she suffered. And of course, a dozen of icy spears ornamented the sculpture.

The other two bandits froze as well- not from her ice magic, but from fear. The young lady who did not look any older than twenty two years of age, just killed their comrade who was a level 5 circler. And all it needed was a snap of her fingers.

They even did not sense any magic circles form anywhere. Worse, their ‘prey’ did not even bat an eye as she impaled and froze a person in moments- alive.

They had undoubtedly hit upon an iron wall, no- a frozen one. They messed up with someone they should not have. But they did not regret- they did not have the time to.

They had only only one goal in their mind now, to run. But before they could, they heard something.

*Snap*

And that was the last thing they ever heard.

Three iced sculptures now stood side by side- one was portraying shock and the other two- terror.

She returned back to him. Her face did not flinch even though they were her very first kills.

“Not bad.” Adrian nodded. “Here is your second lesson- when you are sure of your victory, never strike the vitals?”

“Why?” She asked with a straight face.

He smiled.

“Because- it’s not fun that way.”