Chapter 32: Bandits
Ding-ding-ding-ding!
A series of bells set off. Panic and befuddlement spread across the features of the meek players. Elena, on her knees, was wide-eyed, her body refusing to move. Within the noise, there was a shriek. A scream of raw pain.
"Somebody set off the trip wire on the east."
Marta asked, "Isn't it possible that it's just an animal?"
"No. There's not enough weight for any creature in that forest to set it off. It has to be a person. Now,. the question is whether it's an innocent or the bandits."
Yamato limped forward. "I'll go with—"
"No, you won't. Aisha, please hold this guy back. I'll meet up with the others."
The gravity of the situation sprung the scarfed woman into action. She grabbed the shorter, younger man by the arm and pulled him back. Yamato winced, wanting to fight but struggling with the spike of pain on his knee.
Heading to the courtyard, the players capable of fighting had already arrived. Tension wrung the air. Noor clutched her wooden staff tightly. John's wrist rested on the sheathed sword on his hip. Sun-young and William had already summoned their weapons. Then there was Aiko, the young girl holding onto her bamboo sword to prepare for battle.
"What was that?" John asked. "An intruder?"
"I strung up a system of bells to our perimeter, so yes." All eyes on him, Kazi composed himself to a semi-serious, semi-cheery state. Smiling but not overly relaxed, he went on to explain their plan of action. "John, Noor, you two stay at our vanguard. Me, Ms. Sun-young, and William have fought together before and you might get in the way. If you do see an opening, take it. Got it?"