Reincarnation of Nikola Tesla in another world-Chapter 18: bandit arc 2

The carriage rumbled to a stop, its aged wooden frame groaning as if protesting the sudden halt. Outside, beneath the dimming sky, a weathered signpost stood at the crossroads, its faded carvings pointing to two diverging paths. One led in a long, winding arc around the forest, normally the safer route, but with the bridge submerged beneath relentless floodwaters, it was now little more than a road to nowhere. The other was a narrow trail that cut directly through the heart of the woods, overgrown and unmaintained, whispered about in hushed tones by those who feared the creatures lurking within.

The driver, a broad-shouldered man whose face had been worn down by too many sleepless nights and too many treacherous roads, cleared his throat and spoke with a voice as rough as unpolished stone.

"Listen up! We're takin' the forest path. Shorter, but full of animals. No other way, since the bridge's underwater."

A ripple of unease spread through the passengers. The women seated closest to the front exchanged uneasy glances, their fingers tightening around their shawls as if warding off an unseen chill. One of them, a lady in her early thirties, crossed her arms in disapproval.

"animals? And we're just going to march right into their territory?"

"You got another plan?" the driver shot back, unbothered. "Unless ya fancy campin' out here 'til the flood dries up, this is the only way."

A heavy silence settled over the carriage. No one was foolish enough to suggest waiting in the open.

A grizzled man with a thick beard, one of the older passengers, sighed, rubbing his temples. "Animals don't attack for no reason," he muttered, mostly to himself but loud enough for the others to hear. "Long as we don't provoke 'em, we should be fine."

It wasn't the most reassuring statement, but it was the best they were going to get. Eventually, the murmurs died down, and the carriage lurched forward, its wheels crunching over loose gravel as it crossed into the shadowed embrace of the trees.

Beside me, Aldric practically vibrated with excitement. His nose was practically glued to the window, his eyes darting between the thick trunks and winding underbrush. "Kim, you think we'll see wolves? Or maybe a bear? Oh! What if we run into a giant snake?"

I sighed. "Let's hope we don't."

At the far end of the carriage, Brom was already slumped against the wooden wall, arms crossed, head tilted forward, completely still. For a brief moment, I considered the possibility that he might've died in his sleep, until I heard the slow, deliberate rumble of his snoring.

Aldric, bored of staring into the trees, turned his attention to one of the children seated across from us. He leaned in conspiratorially. "Don't worry," he whispered, his voice carrying just enough dramatic weight to hook their attention. "Kim can use fire magic. animals hate fire. If anything tries to attack, we'll be fine."

The kid's eyes widened. "Really?"

Another child, a little girl clinging to her mother's sleeve, turned her hopeful gaze on me. "Big brother can use fire? Can you show us?"

Their mother hesitated but, seeing no harm in it, gave me a polite nod.

I exhaled, rolling my shoulders. Might as well humor them. Extending a hand, I focused, and in the space of a single breath, an ember sparked to life at my fingertip. The small flame, glowing amber-red, flickered and spun lazily in the air, casting a warm light across the children's faces.

A collective gasp rose from the tiny audience. Wide-eyed, they leaned in, mesmerized.

"Whoa..." one of them whispered in awe.

I resisted the urge to flick the flame at Aldric just to watch him flinch.

After a few more seconds, I let the fireball flicker out, flexing my fingers as though it had been little more than a simple parlor trick. "I haven't practiced much. Just something to pass the time."

The kids immediately broke into enthusiastic applause.

Across from us, a rotund man chuckled, arms crossed over his chest. "Ah, magic..." he mused, a faint note of nostalgia in his voice. "I once had an affinity for earth magic, back in my youth. Dreamed of joining the academy. But, well... life had other plans. Duty called, and dreams faded."

Aldric, still high off the energy of the moment, straightened with a grin. "Well, I bet you've never seen this before! Big brother Aldric can talk to plants!"

The children turned to him, curiosity piqued. "Really? Show us!"

He beamed, clearly pleased with himself. "Got any seeds?"

The older man fished through his pocket, producing a small handful of raw peanuts. "This do?"

"Perfect!" Aldric took the peanuts, cupping them in his hands. He closed his eyes in concentration, channeling his mana. A faint glimmer of moisture gathered around the shells, soaking into them as the energy took root. Within moments, tiny green sprouts pushed their way free, curling upward like newborn vines reaching for the sun.

He held them up with a triumphant flourish. "Ta-da!"

Silence.

One of the kids blinked, unimpressed. "...That's it?"

Aldric's smile froze. "What do you mean 'that's it'?"

Another child crossed their arms. "It's just a plant."

And then, as if to deliver the final blow, a younger boy turned to his friend and whispered, loudly enough for everyone to hear, "Big brother Kim's fire was cooler."

Aldric looked personally offended. "Excuse me? Do you have any idea how hard it is to make a plant grow instantly? This is a delicate, natural process! A miracle of life! A, "

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The kids had already lost interest. They turned back to their parents, whispering among themselves, thoroughly unimpressed.

I leaned back, smirking. "You walked right into that one."

Aldric shot me a glare. "You set me up."

"Did I?" I asked, feigning innocence.

His eyes narrowed. "I'm watching you."

I chuckled, shaking my head, but before I could throw another quip his way, the driver's voice cut through the moment.

"Enough chatter. Keep your eyes open, we're deep in the forest now."

------

history 101

The caves are wonderful places, inside, creatures like—wolves, bears, and beasts that rarely step into the light. They do not guard treasures or serve some ancient purpose. They are simply living where they belong.

Most of the caves are shallow but a rare few hold something far more valuable. Deep inside, mana crystals are found. The dangers far outweigh the reward since these deep inside how creatures nourished with the excess mana inside.. Adventurers and mercenaries risk everything to enter these caves, fighting through the wild, avoiding or confronting the creatures inside. Some rely on strength, others on cleverness. Those who make it out alive leave with something worth a fortune—raw mana crystals, unrefined and priceless. Even the creatures in these caves are not spared. The cores of rare beasts, sell far more costly than the creature itself alive.

A few thousand years ago, an elf named Aerandir wandered deep into an untouched cave, led only by curiosity and the dim glow seeping through the cracks in the stone. What he found was unlike anything he had ever seen—a crystal embedded in the rock, pulsing with a quiet, mesmerizing light. He had no idea what it was, only that it was beautiful. So, like any explorer marking his triumph, he pried it from its resting place and took it as a trophy.

For years, the crystal sat in his collection, nothing more than a keepsake from a forgotten journey. But as word of his discovery spread, others followed. Adventurers, scholars, and fortune seekers began scouring the caves, drawn by the whispers of glowing stones hidden beneath the earth. It wasn't long before someone stumbled upon their true purpose—mana crystals weren't just pretty gems

Today, in the Grand Halls of the Elven Kingdom, Aerandir's portrait hangs among the great figures of history. Not as a scholar, nor as an inventor, but as the fool who unknowingly changed the world.