Fragile Phantasy

Part 16

"Wait, I feel something," whispered Edgar as he unsheathed his two daggers. "You two, go into the tent. KC, protect Zeline and her mother. I'll take care of it."

Suddenly, a barrage of kunai and shuriken rained down from the tall grass, and Edgar's body was covered in electric armor as he blocked and deflected each sharp object with lightning speed and agility.

"Now it's my turn," he said, plunging into the tall grass.

The sounds of slicing and screaming could be heard coming from the melee, until finally, Edgar emerged, gasping for breath and injured. He retreated back to the front of the tent, as the attackers closed in on them.

Edgar eyes scanning the surrounding fields for the attackers. "It looks like they're already surrounding us," he muttered to KC, who was holed up inside the tent behind him.

Suddenly, a horde of bandits appeared out of the twisting corn mazes. Edgar recognized them at once - it was Cyril's group.

"Give the girl up, or all of you will all die," the bandits growled, their weapons at the ready. They wanted them to surrender Zeline.

"That's not going to happen!" Edgar spat, lunging forward to attack. But to his horror, he found himself rooted to the spot - the ground had turned to quicksand beneath his feet. swallowing him up to his waist.

"Earth quicksand!" one of the bandits cackled, his magic manipulating the soil. Edgar struggled to free himself, but it was no use - he was slowly sinking into the mire.

"Hey, a little help here!" he cried desperately.

"One last chance, before your friend here is gone - give her up!" the bandits snarled.

KC knew he couldn't fight without a weapon, but he had to do something. Zeline's mother safety was at stake. As he started to go outside, Zeline grabbed him by the arm. "Protect my mother," she whispered fiercely. "I promise you i won't run away." Ready to come out to fight, even while her hands cuffed together.

KC is hesitating to trust zeline, but the bandits were closing in.

"Well, we gave you a chance, Now comrades. Fire all of your attacks at them!" the bandit leader barked, tossing a flurry of knives and elemental magic.

But Edgar was not defeated yet. Summoning all his strength, he cast a powerful spell.

"Lightning static stream!" he roared, his body sinking ever deeper into the quicksand. A bolt of lightning shot forth from his outstretched hand, crackling with energy. It spread out in a shimmering wave, blocking all of the bandits' attacks.

"KC, a little help here! Just for only 20 seconds my attack would last!" Edgar shouted, his voice strained with effort KC knew that he had to act fast.

He couldn't afford to hesitate, The only way to survive was to trust Zeline, With trembling hands, KC used the key to unlock the handcuffs on Zeline's wrists.

As Edgar succumbed to exhaustion, his body sinking deeper into the ground, Zeline emerged from the tent. She was a sight to behold, with her flowing hair and glowing eyes. With a flick of her wrist, the weapons scattered around them lifted into the air, controlled by her powerful wind magic.

"Air manipulation!" Zeline declared, and the weapons flew towards the bandits, striking them with deadly accuracy.

After that zeline quickly pulled Edgar from the mud and revive him. Zeline embraced him tightly, relieved that he had survived. Edgar, ever the charmer, flirted with her shamelessly.

"Not bad being saved by a beautiful lady sometimes," he quipped and left a heavy breath "Hey Zeline, would you mind joining our party?"

But Zeline was hesitant. "What about the bounty and your family's safety?" she asked. "If you didn't deliver me, you would be putting them at risk."

Edgar dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. "Don't sweat it. There's nothing the three of us couldn't handle. I'm sure we can bring down the whole hyena. What do you say, KC?" He turned to KC, extending his hand as a sign of agreement, inviting the three to tag hands as a sign of teaming up.

KC's hand hovered uncertainly in the air, but at that time, all the bitter memories from the time when he opened up from others and let someone in, flashed right through him and he didn't want that to happen again, because the truth he just teamed up with edgar to make everything easier, he did not want to feel attached to other's so its easier for him to accept it when they abandoned him.

In the end, KC's hand retreated, and backed away from his companions. He couldn't bring himself to trust them completely, not when the wounds of the past still haunted him.

The air was thick with tension as Cyril emerged from the shadows, clutching Zeline's mother in his arms. His sly smirk was enough to make the blood boil in Edgar's veins. "Hey losers, did I mess up your moment?" he taunted, relishing the fear he saw in their eyes.

"Bring her back!" Edgar roared, his weakened body trembling with rage.

But Zeline's voice cut through the anger, pleading for mercy. "Please, just let her go. You don't have to hurt anyone else."

Cyril's eyes glinted with malice as he raised the knife to the old woman's throat. "Give me the girl, or this sleeping old lady won't wake up again."

Zeline knew she had to act quickly. She turned to KC and Edgar, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, take my mother to the hospital. That's the last thing I ask of you."

Edgar's fists clenched, his heart aching at the thought of leaving Zeline to the bastard. "We can't just give up on you," he protested, his voice strained.

But Zeline shook her head, her eyes full of resolve. "You have to. Please, just go."

With a heavy heart zeline walked near Cyril, then he quikly put her handcuffs, clinking as they snapped onto his wrists. Then he struck him with all the force, knocking her to the ground and rendering him unconscious so it's easy to carry the lady.

As cyril released her mother from his grasp, he quickly retreats "Adios, idiots," he sneered, dragging Zeline away with him.

Edgar's heart pounded with fury as he watched Cyril make his escape. But he refused to let him get away with it. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled his dagger at Cyril, the blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Cyril managed to jump, avoiding the worst of the blow. But the dagger grazed his leg, leaving a deep, bleeding gash.

"I don't have time for you idiots," he spat, before disappearing into the night.