Road trip

As me and Nova had bought a carriage and started riding out if the city I was kinda confused by the way the guards treated us. They didn't need any certification or anything for us on the way out. but my geuss is that they are more worried about what comes in then what goes out. We even had a guide hired to show us the way to the next city. As we rode Nova started sleeping next to me as the carriage was shaking. The trip we started in the desert, but as we were traveling me and Nova weren't bothered by any real threats or any bad weather either. It was actually surprising cause as we were the guide was driving the carriage he was talking about how it's been the easiest trip he's been on. After several days in the desert we eventually ended up in a forest. The guide was Aldo warning us about how dangerous the forest was. The only reason he took us here was because he was charged us almost all of our compensation. I couldn't really refuse the price, because no other person would take this job. And while it seems like we were just about to have a peaceful trip. A man stepped out in front of us. He was wearing a dark cloak over himself. "Give us the key" The man said. As i was confused by what he meant. The guide went into action. The guide pulled out a sword and was already on top of the man. Just as the guides sword was about to cut the man in half, the man calmly stopped it with his fingers just barely touching the blade. The guide was surprised by the action of the strange man."We're not here for you. Leave now and this won't be your problem." The man talked in a low voice, but I could still hear him."Alright you got a deal." The guide easily accepted what was going on and started to leave. To be honest I don't know how I should feel about that, because even I could tell that the strange man was definitely stronger than our guide. As our guide was about to leave, he was immediately swallowed by the ground. I was still processing the fact we were just betrayed, but I don't know if I can do anything about that. The bigger problem in front of us now is that we had a strange man in front of us. "I will let you go peacefully unlike your guide if you hand me the key." The man kept asking me for a key but I had no idea what he meant. "What key?" I ask him. "Playing dumb won't help you I understand why you don't want to give it up, but I will get that key." The man immediately assumed a strange stance. However instead of him striking, my body moved first. This is the first time my body ever took preemptive measures against someone against my will. My fist was about to pummel his face, but he was already turning away and he was able to actually land a dozen blows on my stomach in a few seconds. I was immediately blown back by the force. Nova started to step outside the carriage. As both me and the man noticed him the let out a screech as if his soul was withering away. The man disappeared without a trace. "What did I miss" Nova asked completely oblivious to what happened.