Chapter 13 - Midnight Alarm

"Ethan!" Amira screamed frantically as she rushed to grab his arm that seemed to disappear up to the elbow

"It's fine, see?" he said and withdrew his arm from inside the System Storage, the Eternal Rose still in his hand

"W-what's going on?"

"This is what I wanted to show you. It's a bit hard to explain but-"

"You have a blessing right?" Amira interrupted "That's why you asked me about 'magic'?"

Ethan nodded his head slowly. This time her misunderstanding was essentially correct. If he thought about it, the Imperial System really was like a blessing.

"sigh, I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised considering you have a Titled Name." Amira said in a daze

A knock and subsequent entrance of Ms. B interrupted their conversation.

"It's not much but please enjoy." she said while setting down two bowls of the same stew she had served them before.

They both gave their thanks and Ms. B quickly left.

The meal was eaten in silence as neither knew how to go back to such a serious subject. Perhaps it was better to leave it alone for now. While Ethan was glad to have such a big secret off his chest, he wasn't sure how it was going to affect their relationship.

It eventually grew late and the sun began to set

Amira and Ethan prepared for bed and layed down, both quickly falling asleep due to a mix of stress and excitement from the days events

Late in the night

*clang* *clang*...*clang* *clang*

The sudden ringing of a bell woke Ethan from a deep slumber and he moved to light the lantern

"Amira! Wake up, something is happening outside!" he said while shaking her awake

"Mmm...? what's going-"

Before she could even finish her question the sounds of shouting could be heard outside

"Lorik is under attack! Women must stay inside! All able bodied men are ordered to prepare for defense!"

"Attack? could it be bandits?" Amira asked "Wait, what are you doing?"

She noticed that Ethan seemed to be removing something from that space he had shown her. It looked like...armour? and a sword?

"You heard them, All able bodied men need to help In the defense of Lorik. I can't just hide indoors while others fight." Ethan said determined to help while getting outfitted.

"But what if-"

"I'll be fine, so don't worry. some pesky bandit isn't enough to bring me down." he said confidently.

Although he sounded certain, inside he was trembling. He had been able to fight off some local hoodlums but that was a fistfight. This was going to be completely different. possibly deadly. So he could only put on a brave front to reassure Amira.

Once he was equipped he made for the door to leave but was stopped with a hug from behind

"Don't die, okay? I'll never forgive you if you do..."

Ethan turned back and saw the tears in her eyes

"I'll be back soon. Stay inside with Ms. B." He said with a warm smile. Before leaving, he gave Amira a kiss on the forehead.

In the center of the village a group of about forty was gathered when Ethan showed up.

When he arrived he immediately recognized the person issuing orders to the crowd

"Magistrate Virgil, you were still here?"

"Sir Ethan? I'm glad you're here. We could use someone of your abilities...Oh perfect, you came prepared." Virgil replied when he noticed Ethan's presence

"What's the situation?" Ethan asked wanting to getting straight to the point

Not one to beat around the bush Virgil quickly explained

It seemed that roughly 10 minutes ago a bandit group had sent a message that if the village of Lorik didn't let them in the south gate and turn over their valuables within the hour, nobody inside would live to see sunrise.

"Yeah, that's not happening." Ethan said seriously. "I assume you have a plan?"

"Indeed I do." Virgil said with a grin

"According to the nightwatch, there should be no more than eighty bandits. Even though they have more numbers, my men and I came on horseback. That gives us a huge advantage."

He explained that his plan involved splitting the villagers into two groups of twenty. Virgil will command one group equipped with bows while Ethan took control of the other to act as Infantry.

"You're putting me in charge of the infantry?" Ethan asked

"Of course. Besides my men and me, your the only one with actual armor. If not you, then who?" Virgil stated

"Okay then. what about your men and the horses? what are they going to do?"

"Once the Bandits get inside the walls it'll be your job to hold them in place while our horsemen attack from the side sweeping them away."

Ethan's expression grew more grim as he heard the plan. while not too bad at first glance, it could definitely be improved. However, it wasn't his place to poke holes. He wasn't the one in charge after all.

"What is it? you have a different plan?" Virgil asked when he saw Ethan's face

"No I-"

"Just say it if you do. We don't have time to leave anything unsaid."

Ethan sighed internally but decided to share his thoughts

"I suggest that we let them in." he stated seriously

"What?! Are you saying we should give up?!"

"No, that's not what I meant."

Ethan explained that they should use the remaining time to build a barricade on their side of the gate. Near the center would be an opening to funnel the bandits toward Ethan and his men while Virgil and his men fired arrows from multiple directions. Once the bandits were committed, the horsemen will leave out the east gate and flank around the outside and attack them from behind.

Virgil was surprised by Ethan's ability to formulate strategy. Perhaps he was still underestimating this young man. Not anymore.

"Okay we'll go with your plan."

An hour passed by quickly as everybody worked together to complete the barrier in time

At the appointed time

"The time has come! Open up or face the consequences!" shouted the bandit leader

When nothing immediately happened he turned to look at his men

"guess they wanna do this the-"

"Boss look! the gate is opening!" shouted a bandit with an eyepatch

"Hoh? seems they aren't as dumb as I thought...Men! let's go get paid!" shouted the leader

Ethan could hear the bandits as they hollered when they approached

He stood at the front of his group, blocking the opening of the barrier that was only wide enough for a few men to pass through at a time.

"We're going to die..." said an old man from behind

"We should just run!" Said a young man

"Stand your ground!" yelled Ethan "All we need to do is hold them for a few minutes! Once the net is cast, there will be no escape!"

"Easy for you to say!" yelled the young man "You're wearing armour!"

"Exactly! I'm wearing armour and am also standing at the front! They have to get past me first and this isn't even my home! If you're a man, show some backbone!" Ethan rebuked causing those who were wavering to stiffen.

Had any of them ever been shamed in such a way? No, they hadn't. they had all but been accused of cowardice by this unknown kid. Now their only choice was to either fight or die.

The Bandits flooded through the open gate. What they saw wasn't what they expected. A wooden barricade on both sides and A young man in chainmail blocking their path.

'Oh? they actually want to fight back?' thought the leader

The Bandits leader was almost impressed. Almost.

"Attack!" he yelled and his men pushed forward

The first one to cross blades with Ethan was the bandit with the eye patch

"Ha! You're brave kid, I'll give you that, but that fancy armor is gonna be mine soon!" he said mockingly

"You wanna bet?" Ethan retorted

"Virgil! Do it now!"

Suddenly a wave of of arrows decended from two directions cutting into the bandits.

The eyepatch bandit lost focus when he heard screams erupt behind him. He did what he shouldn't have and looked behind him. By the time his gaze returned, Ethan had slipped his gladius past the bandits guard and plunged the blade into the man's chest. The bandit didn't even have time to feel the pain before he breathed his last.

"It's a trap!" screamed the bandit leader "quickly push through or we're dead meat!" he ordered

arrow after arrow flew in claiming one life after another

"You son of a bitch! I'll have your head for this!" the bandit leader yelled at Ethan. He assumed, and rightly so, that the young man before him was behind this plan.

Ethan and his men were holding a group of bandits back when the leader ran toward him

'It should be about time...' he thought to himself