The journey had begun. Duke, Jack, and Frederick sat inside the horse-drawn cart, accompanied by the driver who guided the horses. A soldier named **Vance** followed closely behind on horseback, keeping watch. Since they were also transporting supplies to their destination, the cart was packed with various materials needed for the place they were heading to.
Jack shifted in his seat, glancing at Frederick. "Hey, Mr. Frederick, what kind of place are we going to?"
"Bastionspire Fortress," Frederick replied.
"A fortress?" Duke asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Bastionspire is the oldest part of Stromspire," Frederick explained. "It's the pride of Stromspire—completely impenetrable. No one has ever managed to capture that part of the city."
"We'll be training in the fortress?" Jack asked, leaning forward with interest.
"Yes," Frederick said. "It's the best place to train Kendra energy. The fortress walls can withstand any force, making it the perfect training ground."
Jack's eyes lit up. "Finally! We'll be learning about Kendra energy!"
Frederick smirked. "Not so fast. First, your training will focus on how to use weapons properly."
Jack slumped back. "What? We already know how to use them!" he groaned.
Duke, who had been quietly listening, glanced at Frederick. "Can you tell me more about Bastionspire? What kind of place is it?"
"Bastionspire Fortress was once the capital of Stromspire and the place where the king used to live," Frederick explained. "Later on, the king moved the capital due to the growing population in Bastionspire, which made it an easy target for enemies. To avoid putting so many people in danger, he decided to relocate the capital."
Duke crossed his arms, thinking. "Since the fortress was empty, they turned it into Stromspire's main training camp."
Jack grinned. "So, it's basically a giant fortress for training? That sounds awesome!"
Duke nodded. "Makes sense. A fortress built to withstand any attack would be the perfect place to train soldiers."
Frederick smiled. "You're exactly right."
As they continued their journey, the cart rocked gently along the snowy path. The wind whistled through the towering trees, their branches heavy with snow. The further they traveled, the denser the forest became.
"We're heading into the thick part of the Elderwoods," the horse driver warned. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of unease in it.
Frederick straightened. "Stay on guard. We could be attacked at any moment."
Jack blinked. "What?"
Duke frowned. "What do you mean?"
The driver tightened his grip on the reins. "Supply carts have been attacked and robbed here before. There are rumors of a gang of thugs hiding in the woods, waiting for easy prey."
Frederick chuckled. "That's why I'm here."
Jack glanced at him, uneasy. "Hey, why are you laughing?"
Frederick smirked. "Relax. We've trained for this."
Duke's hand instinctively went to his sword. "Jack, grab your weapon. We've worked hard for moments like this."
Jack exhaled sharply but nodded. "You're right, Duke." He reached for his sword, gripping it tightly.
Frederick grinned. "That's the spirit, boys."
The journey continued in tense silence. Duke and Jack kept their eyes on the trees, their breath visible in the cold air. The forest felt too quiet—almost unnatural.
After some time, Duke glanced around. "What a view. Trees covered in snow everywhere," Jack whispered in awe, trying to ease the tension.
"Yeah," Duke muttered, distracted.
Jack frowned. "Hey, Duke, why so serious? Ever since you lost to Stain, you've been acting differently."
Duke clenched his jaw. "You're right. That defeat changed me." He stared at the road ahead, his expression distant. "I keep thinking... what if Stromspire were actually evil? They could have destroyed our village. And I—" he exhaled slowly, his grip tightening, "I wouldn't have been able to do anything to stop it… or protect my grandpa."
Jack looked at him, then smiled faintly. "You're right, Duke. But we can't just stop being happy because of it."
Duke let out a small breath, nodding. "You're right, Jack."
Suddenly, the horse cart came to a rough stop, jerking everyone forward.
"What the—?" Duke muttered, immediately on alert.
Frederick snapped his head toward the driver. "What happened?"
The driver squinted ahead, his face tense. "The path is blocked. It's them, for sure."
Jack's heart pounded. "What do we do now?"
Duke was already on his feet, unsheathing his sword in one swift motion. His eyes scanned the area.
"Stay calm," Frederick ordered. "I'll clear the blockade. Duke, Jack—guard the horses from the left and right. Vance, watch our backs."
"Yes, sir!" Vance responded, drawing his weapon.
The cold air felt heavier now, thick with anticipation. Snow crunched in the distance—too faint for the untrained ear, but Duke heard it.
"I heard something, Sir Frederick," Duke said, his grip tightening on his sword.
"Don't panic. It's probably just an animal," Frederick replied calmly. "Let me clear the blockade first."
With his sword in hand, Frederick slowly walked toward the obstruction, his boots crunching against the frozen ground. The air was unnaturally still, the eerie silence pressing down on them.
Duke and Jack stood on high alert, scanning their surroundings, their breaths visible in the cold air. Vance remained behind them, watching their backs.
Frederick reached the blockade and began moving the debris aside. The silence grew heavier, almost suffocating.
"I haven't seen anyone yet," Jack whispered uneasily.
"Hey, Jack, don't let your guard down," Duke warned, his voice low. "I heard something—"
Before he could finish, an ear-shattering explosion erupted from the blockade. The force sent shockwaves through the air, snow blasting in all directions.
"Sir Frederick!" Duke and Jack screamed in unison.
"Watch out, kids! They're attacking!" Vance shouted.
A dark figure lunged from the trees above, sword glinting in the dim light. Duke barely managed to raise his blade in time, the impact sending a jolt through his arms. From beneath the snow, two more figures emerged, their weapons poised to strike at Jack.
"Shit! Two of them are coming!" Jack gritted his teeth.
Vance rushed forward, intercepting one of the thugs before he could reach Jack. Steel clashed as sparks flew. The second thug swung at Jack, who barely managed to block the strike, his boots sliding against the icy ground.
Duke's heart pounded as he locked eyes with the thug in front of him. Rage boiled inside him. "You bastards… you killed Sir Frederick!"
The thug sneered, his lips curling into a cruel grin. "Hehehe… you'll be next."
With a roar, Duke pushed back with all his strength, forcing the thug to stumble.
The thug laughed mockingly. "Hahaha! What's wrong? Are you mad that your dear captain was blown to pieces?"
Nearby, Jack struggled against his opponent, their swords clashing in rapid succession.
(Shit… Sir Frederick was blown away… What are we going to do?) Jack thought, panic creeping in.
Chapter 4 Ends here