[b][/b][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/fUcbUBc.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/HIhaBLD.jpg[/img] 
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WGZLuAlRLE&ab_channel=Syobo]Hope's Battle Theme[/url]
[url=https://soundcloud.com/aeoliancat/hopevoiceenglish]Hope's English Voice[/url]
[url=https://soundcloud.com/aeoliancat/hopejapanesevoice]Hope's Japanese Voice[/url]
[color=E9C1DD]🌹 "Take care, as the night is full of monsters." 🌹[/color]
[hr][color=E9C1DD]🌹 Time: Nightfall🌹 Location: Inside a dark forest 🌹 Interaction: Cecilia[@Rune_Alchemist] Fanilly[@VitaVitaAR] 🌹[/color]
[hr]
[/center]

[color=ed1c24]--- Pre Bandit Encampment Battle ---[/color]

As Hope followed behind Dame Cecilia, his angels, Yahoel and Kalaziel stayed to the canopies. The angelic beings, despite their size, moved swiftly and silent in the night. You could hardly hear a rustle of leaves as they beat their wings. Yahoel even lessened it's natural glow so as to appear no brighter than the distant starlight. 

In truth, Hope had been paying attention to the position of his angels once Dame Cecilia instructed him to stay away from the treeline and allow his angels to take over that role. It was true however. His role as a mage in the guild meant he was not the fastest or the swiftest of the bunch, so it was best he stayed low and crept among the forest floor to keep from being seen. He nearly bumped into Cecilia when they came upon the dimly lit bandit encampment, silently gesturing an apology with his hands. 

From behind Cecilia, Hope looked into the camp, though the darkness made it difficult to make it anything very clearly. For starters, the throne was empty, which meant the Bandit King must of been somewhere else. A hiccup in the plan it seemed, but not all was lost if they could find him before he found them. And then there was a beast in a cage, the silhouette hairy and tough. The creature made a groan, unfamiliar in tone and breath. But Hope's attention was drawn back to Cecilia as she made a stealthy move forward.

[color=598527]"I'll circle around quietly."[/color] She quietly nodded to Hope, offering him a friendly smirk and a wink. [color=598527]"See if I can't see anything else. If anything happens just...shout,or something. Make a scene. I'll save that pretty face of yours."[/color]

Hope returned the smile, affirmingly, [color=E9C1DD]"Understood. I'll have Kalaziel scout the camp from the skies and I'll send Yahoel back to the Rose Knights to report what we've uncovered so far. I just hope they get here in time. Something seems amiss..."[/color] he said, voice trailing off as he bit his lip leerily. Hope watched Cecilia until she disappeared around the bend of the camp, and then he let out a soft humming sound, calling his angels to him. He gave out the orders and without delay, Kalaziel, flew high above the camp, its hawk-like eyes trained to find something down below. Its transparent body allowed it to blend into the night sky. 

Yahoel on the other hand returned back to the Knight Captain to report what they had witnessed so far. Yahoel, as Hope commanded, would remain with the Knight Captain until they caught up to he and Cecilia at the encampment. With his angels now off fulfilling their respective duties, Hope began moving to the other side of the camp, peering around cautiously as he waited for reinforcements or some kind of signal.