Chapter 23: The Wild Goose Chase -part 2- ( A bumpy road. )
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//How the heck did it end up like this!?//

[You... got to be joking me.
What's with this situation.
I thought everything was fine and well as long as I followed Leanne.
Is there some kind of curse on me that draws in this much trouble!?

Jeeze... why do things like this always happen to me!] As Estel complains in her mind...
Right now, the carriage they were in is surrounded by an army of soldiers.
What will they do now?

Chapter 23: The Wild Goose Chase - Part 2

________________________________________________________________________________
//A Tight Situation.//

"Tch!" Leanne clicked her tongue as she leaves the carriage with Lana's sword ready.
Estel simply peeked by the door observing the situation.
They were simply ambushed at all sides, the moment they left half-way to the city.

On Leanne's side she observed the soldiers around them, she could only think.

[We've been sold out.] She thought with a bitter expression.

[These people are just wearing the old soldier outfit of my kingdom that was discarded away.
Ruffians? or bandits? whoever sent them knew how far the soldiers patrols around the academy.
But even so...
there should be patrolling soldiers here as well, protecting the roads.
Did they, trick them? or bribe them somehow...]

"Something is off," Leanne said to Lana with worry.
Lana nods preparing herself for the worst, as Leanne then began to speak.

"Greetings, good men and women I believe there is a reason for this?" She asks politely.

A large number of them smiled and laughed as she said those words.
"Now, now, everyone settles down." A rough rugged voice of a man was then heard.

A large man, wearing a huge armor then came forth.
Just by looking at his armor, makes one feel heavy and daunted at what is hidden underneath his exterior, attacking it will no doubt leave its attacker to feel so tiny at the ease of how he moved his body along with it.

His helmet then echoed his voice.

"You must be Leanne.
Quite a pretty gal, as expected of the daughter of the queen known as the Owl."

Leanne trembled as she watches the man from a distance,
Lana sword shivered as he drew a bit closer towards them as he finally then stop.

"Hm? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha" He then began to laugh from out of nowhere as though noticing something.

His tone then changed to an aggressive voice with both amazement and malice in tone.
"Truly you are remarkable...
Your observant eyes are like jewels that many aspired to have.
Truly knowledge is quite a burden, isn't it?

Yet you seem to be quite afraid right now, that you understood.
That no words can help you here.
If that is the case, then why not lower your weapons and give up now..."

Leanne then resolutely said.
"I'm the one you're after right?
If you leave my companions alone.
Then I'll obediently follow you."

Lana then shouted in retort.
"Do you intend to trust the word of a bandit!?"

 "SHUT UP!" Leanne cried out.
As Lana heard her words, she then gazed at Leanne's face.
It was Pale, shaking and afraid.
Leanne then looks at Lana, mirroring the same expression.
"There is no winning this battle.
Escape is suicide." She bitterly said.

The man in heavy armor then said.
"Impressive and Resolute.
If you were just a common woman, I'd make you my wife.

But, I cannot accept your offer.
You have nothing to bring to the table you are dealt with..."

He then raised a finger.

"Hence, I will take everything that you have.
Including that maid of yours which my master seemed to want the most."

Leanne paled at his words.
While during that moment understood from his words.
[That bastard!] she cried out in his thoughts.

But as she grits her teeth she then asked him.
"Tell me, what do you intend to do with us after this?"
As the large man then pulls out a coin then flips it.
"The highest bidder wins."

"As for the Lady knight over there, I and my men are having quite a treat tonight."
She points at Lana.

Lana felt anger in his words as she resolutely said with her sword still drawn.
"I rather fight to the death, if that was the case..."
Leanne swiftly tugged her arm.
"Lana... Please, don't do this!"

But Leanne simply was silent and focusing herself.
"This is my decision, not yours." As she pointed her sword at the large man.
"I challenge you to a duel!
If I win.
You let us go!"

All of his men then laughed as she said.
Lana's eyes can clearly see what kind of herculean strength the man in front of them possessed.
But things did not go as expected.
"I refuse,
But... we do have time to spare.
Let me beat you down into the child you are...
Playing the role of a knight." As he stood with his large exterior he then walked towards her.

Lana swiftly told Leanne.
"Go!" As she rushes back into the carriage with weeping.
________________________________________________________________________________
//Ridiculous situation, Requires a Ridiculous answers.//

Before Leanne entered the carriage.

Meanwhile, as Estel observes the surroundings.
[There is too many of them!
how on earth are we supposed to get out of here?]

Her armlet then said.
"There are at least 44 people present here, and including the four close to us.
There is still a chance to escape." it said.

She turns to the coachman who was shivering in fear at a large number of people with weapons around him. As she then watches Leanne and Lana as they were only beginning to continue their conversation, while partially listening.

[Leanne and Lana are already buying time.
This whole thing smells like a trap for Leanne.
Is there anything I can do?]

She then turned to the coachman who was surprisingly a young lad.
His face was pale and shivering in fear at what was in front of him.
But her face smiled and simply saw an opportunity as she observed his clothes.

Swiftly she then called out to him in a whispering tone.
"Hide over here..." she told him as the young lad nods then obediently followed.
He rushed inside the door with her inside it, as she then performed.
『Sleep』as the young lad gazed at her shining silver eyes, he then flopped lifelessly on top of her.

She proceeded to steal his clothes,
As she removed the pants and knobs on his dress
Aisha was assisting in removing her dress by unzipping the zipper on her back as it slid away from her body while shaking it off till it drops to the floor of the carriage.

The carriage was large enough for her body to move smoothly,
Due to her small size so it didn't bother her too much.

In a few seconds, she was now wearing the coachman suit acting as the young lad.
To her surprise, it was slightly looser than she expected.
Thankfully it had a belt attached to it.
Allowing it to be usable enough that none could notice her presence.
While being on a coach-man suit she climbed up the carriage and reached for the reins.
[Now what...
I have no idea how to ride a horse.
I could only remember this young lad whipping the horse to move it.]
Her armlet then told her.
"Then allow me..." Aisha said,
Then slithered like a snake as it split in two, possessing the two horse in front of her.

[Seriously, your too convenient.
Thank you.] She said in her thoughts.

As it whispered to her,
"I am a spirit which is a part of you.
Instead, thank your mother for being born."
It then subtly added as her own familiar noticing the whip in her hand.
"Also drop the whip, you don't need any of that.
Now that we know what our opponents are after."
As she heard his words, she dropped the whip while planning on what she should do next.

But... it was at this moment Lana cried out.
"Go!" As Leanne rushes back into the carriage with tears on her eyes.

As she entered, she hugs the first person inside it.
While mourning for Lana.
"Oh, Estel. *Hic*
I'm so sorry. *Hic*
Because of me... *Hic*"

But she felt something sweaty, soft and a strange ball with cloth covering it.
Her hands touched what, almost seems like she was hugging had only little traces of clothes.
As she raised her head, realizing that what she was hugging was the underpants of a young lad.

"Eh?" As she swiftly moved away to notice who it was...
It young lad who was driving the coach.
But he was soundly asleep.

Her tearful eyes then swiftly turned white as she too...
Could no longer understand what was happening as her emotional response was simply...
"KYAAAAAAaaah!"

________________________________________________________________________________
//It's Showtime!? And WHO THE HECK IS DRIVING!//

[What should I be doing, next.]
"Protect the horses if you can, I can possess lesser beings like these.
But that doesn't mean I do not feel pain..." it said to her in worry.

As Lana and the Large man was performing a duel.
His men had begun to closes in the carriage,
A sound is then heard in the carriage.
"KYAAAAAAaaah!?"

Everyone turned to the carriage.

"Now!" His familiar cried out.
As Estel then raised her hand into the air,
As she opened the pocketwatch revealing the jewel inside it.
Releasing many sphere's of blinding light, flashing those who stared at it.

The possessed horses taking advantage of the initiative then moved to ignore the number of people in front of it while paying no heed to the blinding lights that would naturally scare them.
Possessed by Draconic will power, they had turned into fierce war-horses by Aisha's command.

Her eyes and hair shined like silver, but none could see it properly underneath her coachman hat.
Most of the men had their weapons sheathed while only a few had lances ready to stop the carriage horses, only to be blinded by the floating lights then trampled.

Their forces became disarrayed in mere moments
Unaware of what was happening as things are swiftly turned chaotic in an instant.
As the carriage began to move, ignoring their presence as they soon realized the danger they were up against...

"AGH!?" Random people shielding their eyes, from the light.
"UGH!?" Random people being trampled by the horse.
"GYAAAH!" People being Pushed/Knocked away by the carriage.

As Estel then swiftly closes the jewel, while the sphere continued to blind them.
Then gazing at the surrounding as the sphere's continued to follow her direction.
Immune to the light, produced by her own magic, she can still clearly see despite its brilliance.

Her current aim was Lana.
She was searching for her visage the moment everything began,
then finally she noticed where she was.
As the carriage was now moving towards the large armored man who was currently distracted by the lights. She then weaved magical strings on the carriage door, then weaved the strings around her.

During these moment:

The horse's then both raised its front legs in perfect unison as it performed a unified heavy stomp as it struck his armor pushing  him into the dirt, the force alone caused him to release the weapon in hand as the horse moved onwards causing the carriage to turn him into a bump in the road.

Lana on the side was then pulled the moment she shouted.

『Bind!』

Lana was still blinded unaware of what was happening, she could only recall...
Something pulling her towards the carriage as though some magical force dragged her towards the carriage door.

Lana at this moment were now stuck on the door like a decor.
"Estel... this is your work isn't it?" Lana turns to the coachman wearing Estel.
"Let me hit you the moment we get home, Ok?"

But Estel was quiet, and could only show a bored expression.
As the carriage rushes out following the road, toward the city.
Leaving the bright lights were left behind as it slowly dissapeared in the air.

The armored man then cried out.
"What are you fools DOING!
Don't let them get away!"

They then proceeded to ride horses of their own.
And rushes for the chase.

________________________________________________________________________________

//Bind Spell.//

"Remember Estel...
No matter what happens.
Only use this when your life is in danger."
Were her mother's words while playing with her.
As she showed her puppets dancing as they moved by her magical strings.

[I know mother, but right now my life is in terrible danger!] she cried in her thoughts.

As the bandits in horse-back soon catch up.
Estel was weaving strings, as the carriage moved forward.
She soon reached a certain tree's that were perfect for a trap.
The problem was... it only affected one person the moment they pass it.

『Bind!』As horse rider fell off his horse the moment they touched the strings.

"I'm getting a bit tired. *huff*" Estel said.
Leanne then opens the windows as she then peeked to the side of the carriage.
To see what was happening from behind she then shouted.

"I don't know what you're doing but keep fighting!
If we are caught here now!
Every one of us turns into slaves!"

She then retorts.

"That is not helping!" as one of the horsemen Leaps toward the carriage, Estel eyes then glowed in silver『Sleep』the rest who gazed at her, also felt drowsy as they slowed down fell off their horses.

As the man then slowly felt sluggish as he fell off the fast-moving carriage.

Estel then rubbed her eyes as it ached a bit, feeling the effects of using her eyes with magic.
She then could only think.
[I hope this doesn't kill them.]

Lana then sarcastically said with a happy yet smiling expression.
"Don't stop now Estel!
You're the only one who can fight!"

Then slowly turned into panic and fear.
"I, on the other hand, is watching my life fly before my eyes,
Terrified your magic will wear off somehow.
While bound to a freaking door in a fast moving carriage!
Somebody save me!" turning into a scream for her life.

Leanne then grabbed a hold of her hand through the window, just in case, it did happen.

As she heard these words.
She could only bite her lips as she saw the coming horse-riders.
Unable to help her in her dire need.
She could only then think...

[Who am I kidding,
I'm no saint...
They were trying to enslave us.
But this is really giving me a bitter taste in my mouth.]

While thinking this, she also felt guilty at what she is doing.
But there was no other choice left in the matter at hand.
As she looks to the other side, there was more of them coming with anger in their eyes.

[Should I use it?] she asks herself, then decided.

As a man then leaped to the carriage again,
She then weaved her strings, but this time, it was different.
Instead of a simple bind, she then flickered and waved her hand as the man then soon moved like a puppet on her hands as he lost control of his body.

"Wha-What's going on!" the bandit cried out.

Another leaped to the carriage,
"Got you now, laddie...
No escaping now!" with a smile on his face, he then saw his companion standing in front of him.
"What are you doing!"
"I don't know!"
"Stop!, STOPAAAGHH."

His body moved without question and simply to push him off,
the sound made a *Thud* as he fell to the ground.

Lana saw it could only say...
"Oof...." as she saw him roll in the dirt.
The bandit being controlled then saw her glowing silver eyes as he then cried out.
"You Witch! What sorcery have you done to me!
We will burn you to a stake!"

Estel then exhaled in a tired expression as she soon,
flickered her hand as the man leaped off the carriage, feet first.
"Nooooo!!" As he cried out, falling to his terrible fate.

She then thought.
[As expected of my own mother, She was right about being called a witch.
Though it's probably why she became a slave and were sent to the demon-kingdom somehow...
Telling me to keep it a complete secret and always shout out *Bind* like some kind of spell.
When it's just trapping my opponent using these threads that somehow follows my command,

but still, this spell makes me feel like, she is still here with me...]

Lana and Leanne, however, were silent.
Their thoughts were.
[What the heck!
How many secrets does this girl, HAVE!] ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

As the carriage horses continued to ride onwards to the road...
Estel fiercely defended it, with all her might...
Until they finally reached a point.
Where the bandits soon gave up the chase, the moment they noticed the guards who were ahead of them.

___________________________________________________________________________

//Respite.//

They soon reached the castle gates...
As it slowed down its movement to a walk, then stops...
The horses had cuts and scratches from the few spearmen that tried to stop it.
But Aisha's draconic possession allowed it to persevere the wounds it took.
Now it simply wants to rest.

Aisha then left the horses and meshed into one, reappearing as it slithered like a snake returning to her arm as a bracelet, with only a few words to say.

"Well done..." It said as Estel heard his words.
She finally smiled only to collapses to the side of the couch seat in exhaustion.
Breathing heavily to catch her breath.
Conjuring magical threads and many spells drained her completely as all she wanted now.

Was to rest.

The guards who were on stand by noticed the carriage insignia swiftly rushed to greet them, as they marched toward them, believing they were in trouble.

During this moment.

Lana who finally fell off the door the moment Estel collapsed,
As Leanne who was still holding her hand catches her.
But noticing she was out-cold, she then turned to complain to Estel.
However as she saw her tired condition, she could only groan.

As her coachman hat fell off, with the color of beautiful silver hair wearing the coachman clothes.
She could only exhale to calm herself as she touched her head.

"Thank you." were her words while feeling helpless to what had recently occurred.
She could only give her a bow and shed tears to her hard work and swift action.

As for the coachman himself, he was still sleeping from her spell...
Leanne, mischievous as she is...
Had dressed him in Estel's maid-dress.

_________________________________________________________________________

Hmm, trying to find errors only to find more.
=3= oh well, good enough...

Note: Rechecking, too many typo @_@

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