Bullish in Another World: Isekai Trading for Survival

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Shadows on the Horizon

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Shadows on the Horizon

The caravan pressed forward across the wide plains, but the discovery of the burned village weighed heavily on everyone. The travelers, while grateful to have survived the mountain passage, seemed uneasy, glancing over their shoulders more frequently than before. Mia could feel the tension in the air, thick and stifling.

Jarin sat in one of the wagons, quiet and withdrawn. Every now and then, he would glance at Mia or Elys, but he said little. Mia had checked on him a few times, offering him food or a kind word, but the boy’s trauma ran deep. She couldn’t blame him.

As they moved deeper into the plains, the endless horizon stretched before them, a flat expanse of tall grass that swayed gently in the breeze. It was almost peaceful—too peaceful. The open land made Mia feel exposed, vulnerable to any attack that might come from the shadows.

"Something feels off," Logan said quietly, riding up beside her.

Mia glanced at him. "You feel it too?"

Logan nodded, his face set in a frown. "We’re too exposed out here. If the Consortium’s tracking us, they’ll see us coming from miles away. That village... it doesn’t sit right with me. They were looking for something, and we don’t know what. What if they’re still searching?"

Mia let out a slow breath, scanning the horizon. "I don’t like it either. But we have no choice. We can’t afford to stop now."

Elys joined them, her expression calm but concerned. "I’ve been thinking about what Jarin said. The book the Consortium was searching for… it might not be random."

Mia raised an eyebrow. "You think it’s connected to us?"

Elys hesitated, her gaze distant. "I don’t know. But the Flow… it’s not just some magical force. It’s ancient. There are relics, artifacts, that hold power beyond what we understand. If the Consortium believes a book from that village is tied to the Flow, it could be dangerous. Or… useful."

Mia mulled over her words. "So, we could be caught in the middle of a search for something we don’t even know about."

Elys nodded. "Exactly. And if the Consortium is after it, they won’t stop until they find it."

Logan muttered a curse under his breath. "Great. So we’re not just running from raiders; we’re possibly carrying some key to whatever the Consortium’s up to."

Mia narrowed her eyes, thinking. If this book or relic was connected to the Flow, it could explain a lot—the strange surge in power she’d felt recently, the way the Consortium seemed more aggressive than ever. Whatever they wanted, it wasn’t good for anyone but themselves.

"We need to be ready for anything," Mia said. "We’ll keep moving, but we can’t let our guard down. If the Consortium is close, we need to be prepared to fight."

Logan gave a curt nod. "I’ll double the scouts around the caravan, keep a better watch on the horizon."

Elys’s gaze lingered on Mia for a moment, and she spoke softly, "Be careful, Mia. The closer we get to answers, the more dangerous this will become."

Mia smiled faintly. "I’m always careful."

---

The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the plains, when Mia saw it. A flicker of movement on the horizon, too distant to make out clearly, but unmistakable.

"Logan!" she called, pointing toward the east. "There!"

Logan rode up quickly, squinting into the distance. "I see it. Riders, moving fast."

Mia’s pulse quickened. "It has to be them. The Consortium."

Logan cursed again. "They’ve found us. We don’t have enough time to run. We’ll have to stand and fight."

Mia turned to Elys, who had already drawn her staff, a soft glow emanating from her fingertips. "Get the traders to form a defensive circle. We’ll make our stand here."

Elys nodded and rushed toward the caravan, shouting orders. The traders, though weary and frightened, moved quickly, pulling their wagons into a tight formation. They had fought off raiders before, but this felt different. This felt more desperate.

Mia drew her sword, feeling the weight of it in her hand, grounding her. The wind picked up, carrying the distant sound of hooves thundering across the plains. The riders were getting closer, and Mia’s heart pounded in her chest.

"Logan, stay close to the front," Mia ordered. "Elys, watch the rear. We don’t know how many there are."

Logan nodded, his axe already in his hands. "Let them come."

The riders appeared over the rise, dark silhouettes against the fading light. There were more than Mia had hoped—at least a dozen, maybe more. And they were well-armed.

"Consortium mercenaries," Logan spat. "They’re not here to negotiate."

Mia braced herself, her mind racing through the possible outcomes. They were outnumbered, but they had the advantage of a defensive position. If they could hold off the initial charge, they might have a chance.

The first wave of riders hit like a storm, their horses galloping toward the caravan with terrifying speed. Mia swung her sword, deflecting a blow from one of the riders and knocking him from his horse. The clash of steel rang out, shouts and cries filling the air as the traders fought back with everything they had.

Elys stood at the rear, casting protective barriers around the wagons and hurling bolts of energy at the attackers. Her magic crackled through the air, striking down mercenaries with precision and power.

Logan, as fierce as ever, waded into the fray with his axe, cutting down enemies left and right. But despite their efforts, the mercenaries kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.

Mia gritted her teeth, fighting with everything she had. She couldn’t let the Consortium win. Not here. Not now.

Amidst the chaos, she caught a glimpse of a rider, dressed differently from the others. He wore a black cloak, his face obscured by a hood, but there was something about him—something that sent a shiver down Mia’s spine.

The rider raised his hand, and suddenly, the air around him shimmered. Mia’s eyes widened in horror as she felt a surge of magic—dark, twisted magic—radiate from the man. He wasn’t just a mercenary. He was something far worse.

"Elys!" Mia shouted, panic rising in her voice. "We’ve got a mage!"

Elys’s head snapped toward the rider, her eyes narrowing. "I see him. I’ll handle it."

Mia nodded, focusing on the fight in front of her, but the mage’s presence was like a shadow over the battlefield. The air grew colder, and Mia could feel the magic pulsing, growing stronger with each passing second.

The mage raised his hand again, and a bolt of dark energy shot toward the caravan. Mia barely had time to react, throwing herself to the ground as the bolt struck one of the wagons, splintering it into pieces.

"We can’t hold them off much longer!" Logan shouted, his voice strained.

Mia’s mind raced. They were outnumbered, outmatched, and now facing a powerful mage. She had to think of something—fast.

But before she could act, the ground beneath her trembled, and she felt it—a shift in the Flow. The same strange power that had pulled her into this world surged within her, stronger than ever before.

Mia’s hand tightened around her sword as she stood, the Flow coursing through her veins. The mage was powerful, but so was she.

With a deep breath, Mia stepped forward, ready to face him.

"Let’s see what you’ve got," she muttered under her breath, her heart pounding as the Flow responded to her call.