Phantasia: The Princess Knight

Chapter 32: Bandits On The Road

After leaving a memorial mound, Alicia turned and headed towards the village. She had to pass through the village to get to the main road. Since she had come here she had not been to the village at all. She walked the road through the village but everything seemed to have been very quiet. Even the houses seemed to be more run down than what she had thought. "Loeri is it just me or does it seem like the houses here haven't been lived in for a long time now."

From her memories, this town had many families living in it. But now it was deserted. "It's not just you, these houses have not been lived in, in years. I can smell the dust build up coming from within. There is also a scent of old dried blood. I wonder if the village was raided at some point by bandits."

"It doesn't matter if they were raided or not. These people were all bad people. Karma will befall those who do bad things in a bad way. Just like karma will allow good things to happen to those who are good." Alicia knew karma was something that would always come back around. In her past life, she had saved a baby and even tried to save the father as well. Although she did end up saving both at the cost of her own life she was still able to be reborn. Thanks to that, she was able to work towards her dream of becoming a knight that she has had since her past life.

"That is very true! Just like how that old man will get his karma for all that horrible training he put me through this past half year!" Just thinking about the training from hell she was put through sent shivers up Loeri's spine.

"Haha, it was not that bad right Frey?" Alicia poked Frey who was sitting on her shoulder swinging her feet back and forth.

"Yep! Frey had to do training too! Grandpa had Frey learn how to read and write!" Frey enthusiastically yelled out as she pumped her fist into the air.

"Humph! What would a little midget know!" Loeri spat out, feeling a bit disgruntled.

"Now, now, do not take it out on Frey. At least you showed a lot of progress during the training. Your ability to use your flame breath has expanded a lot and you also learned other magic as well did you not?" Alicia tried to calm Loeri down.

"Well, yes Alright. I guess it was at least worth it. But that old man will definitely have something bad happen to him very soon! Like stubbing a toe or stubbing a toe!" Outside the entrance to Berlin's space, Berlin suddenly sneezed... "Ah! Choo! I bet that damn dragon is cursing me!" Berlin kicked the tree in front of him and a sharp pain ran up his foot. "Ouch!"

"Your Majesty! Are you okay!?" A young man came out of the tree line and hurried over to Berlin.

"Yes, I am fine. You go watch over her. Do not help her unless she is about to die. I can only entrust this to you." Berlin looked at the young man in front of him. He was only thirteen years old but he was now the youngest knight in the history of the kingdom. Although still a fledgling he had helped in many missions as a squire and showed his worth. He also knew Alicia's true identity and was sworn to secrecy.

"Yes, your Majesty! I will make sure nothing happens to her and that she arrives at the capital safely." The young boy bowed his head before turning and leaving.

"That boy is always so serious. But Blake Roseland will be a name in the future that everyone will know." Berlin shook his head and then slowly limped to the door in the tree, opened it and walked inside.

Alicia made her way to the main road which was just another dirt road but more well maintained. Unlike the village road that was full of potholes and bumps the main road of the Alastine Kingdom was kept smooth without any potholes. Alicia looked off into the distance. She knew her travel now was going to be a long one. But as she thought about the adventures she might have along the way she couldn't help but feel a bit excited. Thinking of this Alicia shouted: "Onward!"

"Onward! Hehe!" Frey copied Alicia's actions. Loeri just yawned and found a comfortable spot on Alicia's head and went to sleep.

A few weeks passed and Alicia had only stopped walking when it was night outside. If the moons were out she would walk a little more since the moons lit up the path in front of them fairly well. But on nights that the moons were covered by the clouds, it was very hard to see ahead so Alicia would use the mini space that Berlin had made for her to sleep at night. It was made to look just like an ordinary rock so Alicia would lay it down next to a tree and enter it with an incantation. This allowed for the three to eat and sleep in peace since there was a small one room cottage inside the space.

Alicia liked it though since it reminded her of the cottage in Berlin's space in the forest. It felt warm and cozy to be in. It was not until the dawn of the fourth week that Alicia heard voices of other humans nearby. Unfortunately, what she heard was not exactly what she was hoping for. "Help! Don't touch my sister!"

"Hahahahah! Scream all you want little girl no one will come and save you now. Your guards are on their last leg and your sister and you will become our sex slaves back at our den! The boys will love some new fresh meat. Hopefully, you will last long enough to entertain them all! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

Alicia stealthy made her way through the tree line to see a carriage being attacked by what seemed to be bandits. There were about twenty five bandits and the guards that were trying to protect the two young ladies in the carriage were preoccupied with fending off the other bandits while some bandits dragged the two girls out of the carriage. But seeing this scene Alicia's face went black because one of the girls who seemed to be fifteen was struggling with all her might under one of the bandits!