MHA Fantasy Quest for the SOL

Part 29: Final Stretch

It didn't start off so bad: The party kept going over the now normal terrain for miles and miles, even when Ei sped it up for them because of letting them have a ride. Mina scouted ahead in place of Sight.

At the end of one day, no more monsters had attacked them, and they began to hope that for this final stretch, they would be left alone. As is common with being almost at your journey's end, they all felt more tired and impatient now that it was close than they had when it was far. They had seen enough frightening things to wish to be done with them.

Denki kept paying songs to boost their spirits.

There weren't any inhabitants this far north, but some more fishing villages dotted the coast, from what Kyoka said. They didn't try to go to any of them. They just wanted to hurry. It got dark, and it was colder than ever. They risked making a fire as well as snuggling up to Ei in his dragon form. 

"You know, I'll kind of miss this," Ochako said, "I mean, once we find the 8th and all. I won't miss the near-death every few days, but I'll miss the camaraderie."

"We should all stay in touch," Denki said, "You guys need to write letters or something." 

"Or we could visit," Ei said. 

"Sure thing, we can steal away from the tribe," Camie said slyly.

 "I don't think I'll be able to spend much time visiting," Shoto said grimly, "I have to find my mother." 

Momo glanced sideways at him, then put her chin on her knees. Suddenly, the prospect of her going off on her own seemed pretty lonely.

They fell asleep and later woke up, as they had so many times, to something startling them. Ei lifted his head and sniffed. "I think I sense humans." 

The next minute they were surrounded by people who seemed to come out of nowhere. They wore black and carried long, jagged weapons, that, even in the pale moonlight, gleamed threateningly. The party stared at them, reaching for their weapons, but they couldn't find them... It was as if they'd vanished.

 Mina rubbed her eyes. "Something's obscuring our vision."

"This is strong illusion magic," Camie tapped her head as if to rattle it free, "I can't see through it...It's not normal..." 

"Who are all you freaks?" Bakugo demanded, sparking up his hands. His magic seemed to be snuffed out the next moment. 

"We don't give names," one spoke in a harsh, rough voice, "You can call us the Shadow Bandits if you like." 

"I thought that was a myth," Denki muttered.

 "What? What are they? " Kyoka asked, "Orcs?"

"No, they're kind of weak dark mages, I guess. They prey on people who live around here who don't have strong magic, or who do, maybe. I thought it was just to keep kids from wanting to go north. 'The shadows will swallow you,' and all that." 

"That's not too far off," one Bandit laughed, "Now, we'll collect your valuables and be on our way." 

"Got 'em boss," one man said, holding up their packs. How had he gotten them? 

"Like candy from a baby," a female said cruelly, "And now we kill 'em all? Or do you want to take a few? They're pretty good looking, some of them." 

The boss rubbed his sword and considered them. "Not bad, but a couple of warriors would cause more trouble than they're worth. Maybe the little one there."

 He pointed at Ochako, who blanched. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"See, you don't actually get a choice," the boss said, "Once we've killed the rest of you, it won't be any trouble at all. Maybe take the mage too. He looks like someone might want him turned in."