Tears of Ashes En-Us

Chapter 10: The Guild Alliance

The journey back to the city was filled with lively discussions and looks of gratitude among the caravan merchants. Eldric and Lira, despite the fatigue, felt invigorated by the feeling of having made a difference. Stories of bravery and camaraderie in fighting the bandits were a constant theme as the group advanced along the trail.

When they arrived at the guild, the scene was one of celebration. The guild members and citizens gathered to welcome the caravan, recognizing the efforts of the adventurers. A large sign hung at the entrance, announcing: "HEROES RETURN!".

The guild leader, a stout man named Aric, was waiting at the entrance. His gaze lit up as he saw Eldric and Lira approaching. "You have arrived! We heard about their exploits! The city is indebted to you."

"It was a team effort," Eldric replied, humbly. "The caravan was in danger, and we couldn't sit idly by."

Aric nodded, impressed. "Still, his courage did not go unnoticed. As a reward, here is an amount of gold, as well as supplies for your next journeys."

He handed Eldric a heavy bag, which made his heart race. With a quick glance, Eldric realized that the content could help them better equip themselves. To the side, Lira smiled, his eyes shining with the possibilities.

"Besides," Aric continued, "I'd also like to know more about the bandits who attacked the caravan. What did they discover?"

Eldric and Lira looked at each other, knowing it was time to share what they had found in the notebook. Eldric opened the notebook and began to explain the bandits' plans, detailing the attack routes and the possible locations of their camps.

"If these thugs are so organized and have such a large number, we need to act fast," Aric said, worried. "I'm going to call a meeting with the guild leaders to discuss a reconnaissance mission. We need to find out where these bad guys are hiding."

With that, Aric turned around and began organizing the other guild members, instructing them to summon the adventuring parties and discuss the situation. Meanwhile, Eldric and Lira sat in a corner, watching the movement.

"It looks like action is on its way," Lira commented, a smile of anticipation forming on his face.

"Yes," Eldric replied. "This could be our chance to finally strike a blow at this group and avenge the lives lost."

After a few minutes, Aric returned, more serious than before. "We have formed a mission. We need a group of experienced rogues to investigate and find out the exact location of the bandits' camp. If we can achieve this, we can plan an effective attack."

"I know some rogues who can help," one of the guild members interjected. "They are quick and discreet."

"Perfect," Aric replied. "I will assign you to this mission. We need information before any attack."

The next morning, a group of rogues set out toward the forest, following the clues Eldric and Lyra provided. The days passed while the adventurers waited anxiously for news. Finally, on the third morning, the rogues returned, exhausted but triumphant.

"We did it!" one of the rogues exclaimed as he entered the guild. "We found the camp. They have about a thousand bandits there, with twenty of them being as strong as an Elite adventurer (Level 4)."

The room fell silent, the weight of the information being absorbed. Garic quickly took matters into his own hands. "We will prepare for an attack. We need to form groups, a plan of attack, and make sure all of our members are ready. The number of criminals is large, but we can beat them if we work together."

"Eldric, Lira, I want you to be part of the strike group. Your recent experience will be valuable," Garic said, looking them in the eye. They both nodded, ready for action.

Over the next few hours, the guild turned into a hub of frenzied activity. The adventurers organized themselves into teams, putting together plans and discussing strategies. Eldric and Lira helped lead the discussions, with Eldric using his knowledge of the bandits' tactics to help shape the attack.

Finally, night fell, and the groups were ready to leave. Eldric felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. "Are we ready for this?" he asked Lira as they prepared to leave.

"We are," she replied with a determined smile. "This is our chance to make a difference."

The walk to the bandits' camp was silent, the adventurers moving cautiously. When they arrived, the sight of the camp was intimidating, with dozens of bandits moving around campfires and tents. Aric motioned for everyone to take a stand, and a plan was put into action.

"We will attack on three fronts," Aric ordered. "Eldric, you and Lira in front. The rest of the groups will flank. We need to destabilize them quickly."

The battle has begun. Eldric led the charge, his sword and axe dancing through the bandits, the power of Vérium pulsing through him. Lira moved with agility, firing well-aimed arrows that eliminated bandits before they could react.

The fighting was fierce and chaotic. Eldric fought against what seemed like an endless tide of enemies, but his determination did not diminish. He felt the pain of casualties around him, but that only made him fight more fervently.

As the battle progressed, Eldric came across one of the most powerful bandits, a stout man with a scar on his face. The fight between the two was intense, both exchanging blows with ferocity. Eldric felt his strength waning, but the memory of the children who had suffered at the hands of these bandits motivated him.

With a final blow, he delivered a precise cut, defeating the bandit and feeling a wave of satisfaction. Around him, the chaos began to subside, the bandits realizing they were losing.

Finally, after a brutal confrontation, the adventurers managed to control the situation. The victory was bitter, as many lives were lost on the battlefield. Eldric and Lira, though wounded, were relieved that they had managed to defeat one of the twenty bandits who were as strong as they were.

Aric gathered the survivors, their faces scarred by battle. "Today, we won a battle, but we know that the fight is not over. We need to remember those we lost and keep fighting. Together, we are stronger."

Eldric looked at Lira, both exhausted, but grateful to be alive and to have managed to take an important step against the bandits. The struggle did not end there, but the spirit of camaraderie and determination united them, ready to face any challenge that came next.