Sibonen suddenly had a terrible realization.
"Isrin," he whispered urgently.
Isrin, walking in formation, quickly approached him.
"Sibonen? What's wrong?"
He spoke softly, making sure no one else could hear.
"I’m not certain, but... I think Lady Izi suspects something is wrong."
Isrin's eyes narrowed.
"Is it because of the bandit attack?"
Sibonen blinked in surprise.
Isrin noticed his reaction and continued quietly.
"I saw something... when they fired those arrows."
He leaned closer, curious.
"What do you mean?"
Isrin expined, her voice low.
"They fired all at once.
Five shooters, two volleys.
Their timing was too perfect—more like trained soldiers than bandits."
When Sibonen asked how she knew, Isrin made a small gesture, pointing from her own eyes to his.
"I saw where the arrows came from.
They were fired simultaneously from the treetops."
Sibonen didn’t doubt her, but it still amazed him that she could see such details.
Still, that wasn’t the most important part.
"Isrin, listen carefully," Sibonen said urgently.
"I think Lady Izi warned us because she expects an attack—during her moment of weakness."
Isrin looked at him, armed.
"And... not just from outsiders."
He leaned closer, whispering into her ear.
"I think Lady Izi suspects there’s a traitor among us."
Isrin gasped softly, her face tensing with fear.
Soon, they arrived at the next campsite.
Sibonen and Isrin silently tightened the straps of their weapons and checked their packs, ready for the worst.
"Alright.
Baku and I will scout the perimeter," Jensen announced.
"Atari and Calleo, cover the camp until we return."
Everyone nodded wearily, fatigue from the harsh march clear in their faces.
"Let’s hope nothing happens," Sibonen thought grimly.
He wandered near where Lady Izi usually rested, trying to listen for anything unusual.
As expected, there was nothing.
Not that I'd hear anything anyway... he thought bitterly.
Just as he turned back toward the camp, a scream shattered the silence.
"Incoming!"
Sibonen instinctively drew his sword.
Arrows flew toward him from the shadows.
He crouched, raising his bde to deflect them—
just as he had learned in military academy.
The arrow cnged harmlessly off his sword.
"These attackers... they're no ordinary bandits."
He sprinted toward the camp.
Several expedition members were already down, arrows sticking from their bodies.
Atari was maintaining a magical barrier, shielding the survivors.
"Newbie! Over here!" Atari shouted.
Sibonen rushed to her side, surveying the battlefield.
They attacked while the scouts were gone. Perfect timing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Izi.
She was still standing—but multiple arrows had pierced her body.
Isrin was at her side, supporting her.
"Lady Izi, are you alright?" Sibonen called.
Izi nodded grimly.
"Everyone, fall back to the wagons! Regroup!"
Dragging the wounded, the remaining expedition members retreated toward the wagons.
Izi snapped the shafts of the arrows embedded in her.
"These are silver-tipped magic arrows.
Whoever pnned this knows exactly what I am."
Blood soaked through Izi’s dress, dark and ominous under the moonlight.
"Too many wounded. Too dangerous." Sibonen thought, heart pounding.
Suddenly, Isrin raised her crossbow and fired into the woods.
A metallic cng echoed through the trees.
"They're wearing armor," Isrin said sharply.
"These aren't ordinary bandits!"
Atari and Calleo paled, realizing the true nature of their enemies.
Calleo hurled a magical orb, illuminating the dark forest.
Briefly, Sibonen caught glimpses of bck-cd figures before they melted back into the shadows.
Then, the sounds of heavy footsteps came from behind the wagons.
Atari turned her head slightly, keeping her barrier active.
"Atari! Calleo! Report!" a voice shouted—it was Jensen, returning with Baku and the other scouts.
Atari breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ambush! Watch the rear!"
Calleo and several Code D members, weapons drawn, moved to guard the wagons.
Baku slung his massive axe from his back.
Then—
without warning—
he swung it at Calleo.
The bde cleaved into Calleo’s side with sickening force.
"No!" Sibonen cried out in shock.
Before Atari could react, Jensen plunged a dagger into her back.
"Nothing personal," Jensen whispered as Atari crumpled, gasping in pain.
From his hiding spot, Sibonen watched, stunned.
Betrayal.
Pure, unthinkable betrayal.
But there was no time for shock.
He reached into his pack.
"Isrin, Sibonen, everyone—run!" Izi barked.
"Those two... are traitors!"
As if to confirm it, a Code D soldier lifted a torch, illuminating the scene.
Seeing Izi wounded, he charged forward, bde raised.
Izi struggled to her feet, barely dodging the first strike—
then countered with a brutal punch to the attacker’s head.
The man crumpled instantly, neck snapping grotesquely.
Even wounded, Izi’s strength was monstrous.
Sibonen wasted no time.
He hurled a fsh orb toward Jensen and Baku.
A brilliant explosion of light blinded the traitors.
Sibonen shut his eyes and turned his head to avoid being dazzled.
"Move!" Izi shouted.
The survivors bolted.
Sibonen saw Isrin and one surviving Code D member fleeing.
As Jensen reeled, Sibonen sprinted forward,
delivering a vicious kick to Jensen’s side and knocking him down.
Without slowing, he rushed to Atari’s colpsed body.
Slinging her over his shoulder, he ran.
He ran until his lungs burned and his legs screamed in protest.
He ran because stopping meant death.
Finally, Sibonen ducked behind a rocky outcropping on a hillside.
He carefully set Atari down, gasping for breath.
"Atari... can you hear me?" he whispered.
Gently lifting her tunic, he inspected the wound—
a deep puncture from Jensen's dagger.
He tore a strip from his sleeve and wrapped it around her torso.
"Newbie..." Atari murmured weakly.
Sibonen almost smiled at the sound of her voice.
He pulled a healing potion from his bag and poured it over the wound.
The bleeding slowed, but he knew it wasn’t enough.
If we don’t get her proper treatment soon... she won’t make it.
