They bolted toward the barn. Eurukus shot ahead first. His boots barely touched the ground. His speed wasn't normal. It wasn't even close.
Lucian ran harder, but the distance only grew. Louis struggled behind him.
He's way too fast, Lucian thought.
By the time they reached the barn, Eurukus was already inside. He swept his gaze through the empty space. The torches flickered. The crates were smashed. The rope that once tied the kid's hands was cut clean.
"They're gone?" Louis breathed out, panting.
"No," Eurukus said. "They left seconds ago."
Lucian frowned. "Then they're running."
Eurukus pointed toward the back door. "That way. Three men and one child. Two of them are carrying sacks and one armed with a short blade. They're fast but not trained."
Louis blinked. "You saw all that?"
"I heard their steps before I entered," Eurukus said. His voice stayed steady. "We don't have much time. Listen carefully."
He turned to Lucian first. "You take the left path behind the barn. If they try to loop around, you'll cut them off."
Lucian nodded, though his mind churned. He's treating me like part of his unit.
Eurukus pointed at Louis next. "You go straight. You're loud. Make them panic. Push them toward Lucian."
Louis didn't argue. "Got it."
"And you?" Lucian asked.
Eurukus stepped back, tightening the cloth around his wrist. "I'll chase the fastest one. He's the one carrying the child."
Lucian swallowed. "You're sure?"
Eurukus didn't hesitate. "Move."
He dashed again without waiting. His figure vanished into the day like he had melted into it.
Lucian stared for a heartbeat. What is he?
Then he ran.
Lucian moved through the side path with steady breaths. The afternoon sun pressed down on his back. His boots kicked dust with every step.
He kept thinking about Eurukus.
What ability does he even have?
He pushed harder. The trees thinned, and the trail widened. Voices echoed ahead.
Lucian slowed, then crouched behind a fallen trunk. The bandits were in sight. Two men carried sacks. One dragged the terrified kid. They ran in a messy line.
Louis burst from the other direction. He didn't even try to hide. "Stop right there!" he shouted.
The bandits flinched. One with a scar on his cheek turned, swung his short club, and charged at Louis.
Lucian stayed hidden for a moment. He watched. Louis drew his wooden training sword and braced himself.
The first swing from the bandit came fast. The club cut through the air toward Louis's head. Louis ducked, but the move was sloppy.
The club grazed his hair.
Louis countered. He jabbed the bandit's ribs. The hit barely pushed the man back.
The bandit grinned. "Weak."
He rushed forward again. This time he swung low. Louis tried to parry, but his grip shook. The wooden blade pressed against the club, and Louis's arms trembled.
Lucian's eyes narrowed. The fight wasn't going well.
The bandit shoved forward. Louis stumbled. The club came up for a clean strike under his chin.
Louis twisted at the last second and stepped back, but the club clipped his shoulder. His face tightened in pain.
Lucian stood up. It was enough watching; he needed to act.
Louis saw him. "Lucian! One more is coming!"
The second bandit threw his sack down and sprinted toward Louis with a dagger drawn.
Lucian sprinted in from the side, ready to intercept. His thoughts sharpened.
Eurukus told me to cut off their escape. I'll do that.
The chase was no longer the problem. This was a fight now.
Louis steadied himself beside Lucian. The two bandits spread out, circling them like dogs testing prey.
Lucian tightened his grip on a fallen branch he picked up earlier. Louis raised his wooden sword again.
The scarred bandit snarled. "I'll take the loud one. You handle the quiet brat."
They charged.
Lucian met his attacker first. The man swung the dagger in a quick arc. Lucian stepped back and felt the blade skim his shirt. He jabbed the branch toward the man's hand.
The bandit pulled back just in time, then kicked forward.
The kick hit Lucian's thigh. It hurt, but he held his ground. He swung the branch at the man's face. The bandit ducked and slashed upward.
Lucian twisted, grabbed the man's wrist, and shoved him sideways. The dagger cut air instead of flesh.
They exchanged strikes again and again. Each breath burned.
He's fast, Lucian thought. But he isn't trained.
Meanwhile, Louis faced the scarred bandit. Their weapons clashed again and again. Louis's arm shook from the force. The bandit pressed forward and slammed the club down. Louis blocked, but the wooden sword splintered.
"Damn—!" Louis jumped back. The club scraped his coat.
Lucian heard Louis grunt. His own opponent lunged again. Lucian struck low this time, hitting the man's shin.
The bandit buckled. Lucian smashed the branch into his jaw. The man collapsed.
Lucian turned toward Louis. The scarred bandit raised his club for the finishing strike.
Lucian sprinted. "Move!"
Louis shifted aside just as Lucian slammed the broken branch into the bandit's ribs. Louis followed with a sharp kick to the man's knee.
The bandit fell. Louis grabbed the club and struck him across the head. The man went still.
Their breaths were loud in the afternoon air.
"We… won?" Louis said.
"Yep," Lucian muttered.
But the third bandit was already fleeing with the kid over his shoulder.
Lucian darted forward. "He's getting away!"
Before he could take three steps, something dropped from above.
A figure crashed down from a tree with both legs extended. His boots slammed into the running bandit's back. The man flew forward and hit the ground hard.
Lucian froze. He had not sensed anything there.
When did he get up that tree?
Eurukus stood up from the fall. He brushed dirt from his sleeve with calm hands, as if he simply stepped off a carriage.
He looked back at Lucian and Louis. "I'll handle the last one. Keep up if you can."
He dashed forward, already chasing the stumbling bandit before the words even sank in.
Eurukus caught up to the bandit in seconds. The man stumbled through the grass, clutching the child tight. When he looked back and saw Eurukus gaining, his face twisted in fear.
"Stay back!" the bandit shouted. "I swear I'll slit his throat!"
Eurukus slowed to a walk. His steps were light, almost relaxed. He tilted his head. "You want me to stay back?"
He pointed at the ground. "Here? Or here?" He took another step. "Or maybe… here?"
The bandit's voice cracked. "D-don't mess with me!"
Eurukus suddenly darted forward, then stopped again just out of reach, almost teasing. The bandit swung the knife wildly. Eurukus leaned back a little, letting the blade slice air.
He smiled faintly.
"You're slow," Eurukus said.
"You monster—!"
The bandit charged at him with the knife raised. Eurukus didn't even shift his stance. He flicked his finger against the flat of the blade. The strike was so sharp and clean that the knife spun out of the bandit's hand and landed several steps away.
The man froze.
Eurukus raised his fist. "My turn."
He punched the bandit in the chest. The man flew back like a sack of flour shot from a catapult. He hit the ground and rolled, coughing blood.
Eurukus walked toward him. The bandit crawled back, trembling. "S-stay away! I'll kill the kid, I swear—!"
"He's not even in your hands now," Eurukus said.
The bandit blinked and looked down. The child had slipped free when he was sent flying and was now curled behind a rock, shaking but unharmed.
Eurukus stepped on the bandit's wrist to stop him from moving. "You're done."
"No—wait—!"
Eurukus didn't listen. He grabbed the man by the collar and slammed a fist across his face. Then another. And another. The bandit's head bounced on the dirt with each blow.
"Don't… hurt… me!" the man sobbed.
Eurukus finished with a final punch that knocked the bandit out cold.
He let the man drop and turned to Lucian and Louis, who finally caught up.
"It's handled," Eurukus said, as if he had simply finished sweeping the floor.