DRAGONBORN SORCERER-Chapter 44: Obstacles On The New Path

The afternoon sun hung high. It radiated golden brilliance upon the vast landscape.

Yet, despite its intensity, the heat felt oddly soothing, as though nature itself had surrendered to a lazy midday slumber.

A gentle breeze swept across the open plains. It carried the crisp scent of wild shrubs and rustled the leaves of scattered trees.

A vast green landscape stretched almost endlessly on both sides of the road. There scattered high and low bushes. Few of them even hinted the presence of low level monsters lingering beneath them.

On the road— well maintained and smooth, ran a lone caravan steadily as its wooden wheels creaked rhythmically along the road.

The driver, almost in his fifties, with weathered hands, flicked the reins occasionally. He ensured that the horses pulling the caravan, remained on their top speed.

In the distance, a dark mass of towering trees loomed ahead. The Forest of Elms— a shortcut. It was infamous among traders and wanderers as well as among the adventurers, and was a necessary path toward El Niora, but one riddled with danger.

However the driver seemed to have no hesitation heading straight towards it. Ignoring all the dangers looming in the forest, the caravan entered, keeping its pace.

The sunlight dimmed as the thick canopy above swallowed the golden radiance. It cast long and wavering shadows upon the winding trail. The air grew damp as it carried the rich scent of moss and decaying leaves.

The gentle swaying of tree branches whispered through the woods as their emerald leaves flickered under the scattered rays that somehow managed to pierce through.

If they had kept the pace they were going at, it’d only take them half an hour before they’d reach the check-point of El Niora. But, about twenty minutes, the atmosphere changed.

*******

Beyond the veil of dense foliage, hidden within the trees, they were waiting.

A group of shadowed figures crouched upon thick branches, concealed by the natural embrace of the forest.

They waited, fixing their predatory gaze up on the approaching caravan. This was their domain— their hunting ground. No one crossed this shortcut unscathed.

The leader, draped In a torn brown cloak, signalled with a flick of his wrist. Silent nods followed, and in unison, the bandits moved.

The moment the caravan reached their marked position, they struck.

Laughter echoed from above as figures leaped from the trees, landing with predatory grace. In a matter of seconds, they surrounded the caravan in a suffocating formation.

Their numbers was overwhelming. Each one brandished a dagger or sword, and the blades glinted wickedly in the dim light.

The horses’ instincts sensed the danger and they neighed wildly. They reared back. Their hooves skidded against the road as they struggled to halt. The sudden resistance sent a sharp jolt through the reins, but the driver barely noticed— his focus was elsewhere.

His calm demeanour crumbled, but not out of fear for his life. No, his terror was directed at something far more dangerous.

As soon as the caravan halted, he jumped out and fell into his knees. With a requesting tone, he said, putting his hands together in a praying manner before the bandit leader.

"I beg you... please, do not disturb him. He’s sleeping."

The bandits exchanged puzzled glances. They were confused why the driver asked something so odd.

"This is... unexpected." The leader said, staring at him with ferocious glance, "Aren’t you supposed to beg for your own life?"

"No sir!" He replied without hesitation, "My feeble life is nothing if he were to get interrupted during his resting period."

"Huh?" The cloaked bandit frowned, adjusting the grip on his blade. "The hell are you talking about? We don’t care. Just hand over everything you got, and we’ll be on our way."

"But I have nothing of value," The driver stammered. "I’m merely a transporter. I’m just escorting him to El Niora."

The bandits sneered. Their eyes exchanged unspoken messages.

"A mere transporter? That’s even better—less trouble."

Following signal from the leader, two of them leapt onto the caravan. Their boots landed with a resounding thud as the caravan shook.

And then... it happened. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

A sudden shift in the air. A subtle, almost imperceptible disturbance—like the first ripple before a tidal wave.

The curtains of the caravan parted, and a figure emerged from inside.

He stepped out slowly. His movements were unhurried as though unbothered by the hostile gazes surrounding him.

He was dressed in simple adventurer’s attire, and the black robe he wore over it rippled with each step. The fabric caught the wind with an ethereal grace. His hair— spiky white with striking blue edges, gleamed under the filtered sunlight.

With a heavy sigh, he inhaled the crisp forest air. His drowsy expression betrayed mild irritation.

His gaze swept across the scene, noticing the unfamiliar faces which remained unfazed as though carrying a hint that he was no match for their overwhelming numbers.

They drew their weapons, gazing at him while licking the blades. Their smile turned sinister. But their scary look didn’t bothered the person standing unfazed— rather they got ignored as he sifted his golden gaze at the driver.

"Oi." His voice was sharp, cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Why are we still in the forest? And who are these people?"

A palpable shift occurred. The bandits, who moments ago radiated arrogance, suddenly felt an inexplicable unease crawl down their spines.

The driver swallowed hard as though an intense chill ran through his spine. He was incapable of looking into his eyes.

"L-Lord Skyler..." he muttered, sweat covering his face, "It seems we’ve run into a group of bandits. Please forgive me."

He dropped to his knees once more. The bandits were still confused as they watched in amusement.

Skyler’s expression darkened. His fingers twitched at his side.

"Why are you apologizing?" He stepped forward, and his eyes narrowed at the leader. "It’s them who should be sorry for interfering with my long journey and for disturbing my rest."

A dangerous glint flashed In his gaze. The bandit leader tensed, instinct screaming at him to be wary.

"Are you the one in charge?" Skyler’s voice was deep and carried a tensed weight as though it cut through his very soul.

"So what if I am?" However the leader didn’t flinched. He had witnessed countless adventurers with the same look. And each one of them kneeled before him at the end. It filled him with an unending overconfidence.

Then he suddenly disappeared from the spot he was standing. Just before Skyler’s eyes, he reappeared, holding his dagger for the strike.

The sharp point of the dagger moved swiftly as it closed in near Skyler’s golden eye.

When it was about to touch him, something strange happened.

A sudden ’crack!’ rang through the air as a thunder strike struck the dagger, sending the bandit stumbling back in shock. Sparks of lightning danced along the metal.

Skyler’s gaze flickered to the side. A new presence had arrived.

********

Six figures emerged from the dense forest, clad in distinct uniforms. Their aura radiated confidence, their postures exuding discipline.

A blonde girl, no older than seventeen, stepped forward. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto Skyler.

"You alright, traveller?" Her voice carried an air of superiority. "You were about to get yourself killed. You should be grateful that we, the honoured students of Niondra Mystic Academy, saved you."

’Niondra Mystic Academy?’ Skyler thought as he raised his eyebrows. ’Isn’t it the same which Rose told me about. Then they must be from El Niora.’

Skyler chuckled with an easy smirk as he replied.

"I appreciate your assistance, though I hardly needed it."

"Do you even hear yourself?" The girl scoffed "If we hadn’t intervened, you were seconds away from—"

A feral roar interrupted her. It roared through the forest, carrying a hint of humiliation.

"It’s you people again." He shouted, "I’ve had enough of you brats interfering with our work over and over. It’s time for you to payback" He raised his arm. "Now!"

From the surrounding trees, six bandits revealed ’mana-infused crystals’. A sinister glow erupted from them, forming a barrier that pulsed with dark energy.

[Notice: Mana interference detected. However, it is ineffective against you]

Skyler looked at the system interface, alerting him with a notification. However, as it appears he didn’t need to worry about it.

But the students weren’t so lucky. The moment the barrier activated, their strength plummeted. Their bodies weakened as their mana reserves began to drain.

"Now, let’s see how arrogant you are!" the bandits laugh in unison.

’Just like Rosevill.’ Skyler thought, recalling the past. ’This is getting tedious. Hope I don’t regret saving their butts out of it.’

Letting a low and gentle smile out, he took a step. As soon as he took the first step, the entire forest exploded with an oppressive aura.

[ Passive Skill ’Dragon’s Wrath’ Activated]

It was more intense than before— almost suffocating. The bandits who were laughing a moment ago now felt the fury.

Their bodies became frozen, even no one dared to breath as though a Soul Reaper was pointing his axe on their neck. A small movement, and they could say their lives goodbye.

The six students weakened by the sudden barrier, could felt it too. However, to them it wasn’t that intense as they harboured no hostility against him.