Bandits!

For two days you have traveled towards Castle Luxem. It's the worst trip you've ever been on. Every night you and Akina are wary of the dangers of the night and you rarely get more than a few hours of sleep. You enter another patch of forest and eye it warily. It was common for people to disappear either from beast attacks or bandits.

It shouldn't have been a surprise to either of you, when after you have gotten about half-way through the patch of forest an arrow shot out of the underbrush and collided with Akina's Thigh. She yelps in pain and staggers, drawing her short sword as four men surround her. You look on in horror as she desperately tries to fight back all four men. She is far more skilled with a blade than them, but there are four of them.

Suddenly you feel a large, muscular arm wrap around your middle. You struggle momentarily and try to call for help, but a sharp knife is pressed against your throat and a deep voice comes from the man behind you, "Now now pussy cat. Put your claws away or I'll cut your pretty little friend's throat."

Akina turns and looks at you and curses, "Fuck!" before slowly setting her sword on the ground. It doesn't take long for the rest of the bandits to pin her to the ground.

The man chuckles and removes the knife from your neck and puts it away. You struggle weakly, but this man is far too strong for you. "Well, well, well. Two pretty girls wandering the woods together. I hear rumors that the roads are dangerous, you shouldn't travel alone." the rest of the men chuckle at his wry joke. "Let's see what kind of delicious morsel we have for ourselves today..." He forcibly turns you so that he can inspect you.

You bite your lip as anxiety presses up from inside you. You hope and pray that he doesn't recognize you. Maybe they'll let you go, or something. It's a fact that if they recognize you, then your next stop will be back at the capital. Where you'll be put under your mother's control.