I'm a villain within the hero's party
Chapter 26: Oath

Chapter 26: Oath

Every placement was deliberate. He timed everything—how fast the flames would spread, how the wind would push them, how long it would take before the fire reached the cave. Most importantly, he calculated how fast his horse could outrun the blaze. There was no room for error.

Meanwhile, Clara was holding the front line, facing the stronger goblins head-on. Her sword sang through the night, keeping the enemy distracted, keeping them away from the cave.

Gabby urged his horse into a full gallop. He leaned low, calculating the wind’s direction and speed. The fire would spread fast—faster than most would expect. But he had planned for this. Every gust, every slope, every dry patch of grass had been calculated.

The strong goblins—those capable of real combat—were all at the Dry Creek Bed, locked in brutal battle with Clara. She held the line with steel and fury, drawing their attention, their strength, their numbers.

That left the cave unguarded.

Gabby dismounted near the entrance, slipping into the shadows like smoke. The air inside was thick with the stench of sulfur and damp stone. As he moved deeper, the heat from the wildfire followed him, licking at the cave’s mouth like a hungry beast.

Then he saw them.

The pregnant goblins lay in clusters, their swollen bellies rising and falling with slow, labored breaths. Around them, the young—more than infants, but still small—watched him with wide, glassy eyes. Their faces were soft. Innocent.

One reached out with a trembling hand—not in defense, but in confusion. Another whimpered, eyes pleading, as if asking for forgiveness they didn’t understand.

Gabby smirked, "Acting all innocent? "But I know what you become once you grow up."

He torched the cave.

The sulfur-rich air ignited with a roar, flames racing along the walls like living things. Screams echoed through the darkness—high, shrill, and inhuman.

Gabby turned away, the heat licking at his back as he ran out of the cave.

He didn’t look back. Not that he cares.

Gabby mounted his horse, thoughts racing, "Goblins are weak against fire. They can’t even stand sunlight. This blaze will wipe them out completely."

Then he paused.

"What was that?" he murmured.

He looked up and saw it.

A massive burst of fire magic lit the sky in the distance, roaring like a dragon’s breath. The flames twisted and surged, painting the clouds in shades of red and gold.

Then he felt it. A wave of mana washed over him—thick, heavy, and wild. It hit him like a sudden gust of wind, making his skin prickle.

A grin spread across his face, "Dry Creek Bed. Clara, she’s becoming a Magic Swordswoman. Well, not yet. But if she masters swordsmanship, she could become a mage of terrifying power."

There had never been a well-known magic swordswoman in recorded history. Most mages relied on staff and rarely trained their bodies. But Clara was different. She had honed her strength to wield a sword—and now, she was learning to command magic.

"Robert’s Magic Academy is about to get very interesting," Gabby thought.

He kicked his heels, and the horse galloped toward Clara’s location, hooves pounding against the scorched earth. As they drew closer, the smoke thickened, curling into the sky like a warning.

Gabby pulled out a damp piece of cloth and pressed it to his mouth, trying to filter the smoke from his lungs. He dismounted quickly, patted the horse’s neck, and whispered,

"Well done, horse. You’ve done more than enough. You won’t survive this smoke—go now, run free."

The horse neighed loudly, as if it understood, then turned and galloped into the haze.

Gabby ran toward Clara, who lay unconscious on the ground. He knelt beside her, gently placed the wet cloth over her mouth, and waited.

A moment later, her eyes fluttered open.

She whispered, "Gabby... is that you? Are we in heaven?"

Gabby retorted, "No. We’re in a burning hell."

Tears welled in Clara’s eyes as she uttered, "We’re going to fail the exam... It’s almost dawn, and the Tree Camp is still far. That’s where the teleportation gate is..."

Gabby hissed, "I know. But listen—trust me. I’ll take you there. You’ll pass. But only on one condition."

He leaned closely and whispered something into Clara’s ear.

Her eyes widened.

She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. In her exhausted state, with the smoke thick around them and her body barely holding on, she didn’t even know if passing the exam was still possible. But she didn’t hesitate, she nodded.

She had no choice. The fire was suffocating, her thoughts clouded, and her strength nearly gone. Logic had no place, only instinct and trust.

Gabby didn’t waste a second. He moved quickly, taking full advantage of the moment.

No one knew what the condition was. It remained a secret, something only Gabby and Clara shared in the heart of the burning forest.

Without hesitation, Gabby drew a small blade from his belt and made a swift cut across his wrist. Then, he did the same to Clara’s. Blood dripped freely from both wounds.

He caught the drops in a glass vial he had brought with him, mixing their blood together. Then, he poured half of the mixture into a second bottle.

He handed one to Clara and drank the other himself.

He said calmly, "Blood tastes awful, but our agreement is sealed. A blood pact. If either of us breaks the condition... one of us will die."

It all happened in mere seconds.

Gabby looked her in the eyes, "We will pass the exam. As promised. This will sting... but bear with it."

Without warning, he tore a strip of linen from Clara’s back and carefully pressed a sheet of paper against her skin. A magic circle, drawn in dark ink, shimmered faintly on the parchment.

"Release your mana," he commanded.

Releasing mana was usually as natural as breathing—but this time, Clara screamed. Her body arched in pain as her mana was forcefully drawn out. The magic circle pulsed, glowing brighter with each second, feeding on her energy.

She could only groan, her strength fading, as the spell continued to drain her.

Without hesitation, Gabby pulled out a second paper and slapped it into the air. Two layers of glowing magic circles formed above them, spinning and locking into place.

He caught Clara in his arms as her knees gave out.

"It worked," he grinned.