There was absolute silence for a few moments, then what had happened seemed to finally register in their minds. The brigands had been soldiers in the drafted army and had fought countless battles with each other. Once the war was over, they ran off keeping the gear that they used in battle and decided to make a living as bandits. It was a difficult life, but better than going back to tend farms or raise sheep. When their captain Alexei had just fallen to the ground dead, they seemed to not understand right away what was happening. Alexei had been their captain for good reason, he was an incredible fighter with a great sense for battle. Yet there he lay, lifeless within just a few moments of meeting this stranger.
Looking at each other for a moment they contemplated if they should just run away now. Even though they still out numbered this man five to one, the memory of Alexei forcing them all to the ground in training held them back.
"Well, won't you avenge your leader?"
Cain spoke condescendingly towards them, this act made the brigands fill with rage. Not only did this beggar looking man kill their leader, but he also spoke as if they were children. One of them quickly lost his temper and ran up with his sword in hand, taking a swing for Cain's neck. Boring, that is what Cain thought. This man came at him with no skill or grace, just a thoughtlessly wide swing. With a twist of his wrist, Cain plunged his sword forward as his assailant swung back and sharply pierced him through the throat.
Cain had a good sense of what these bandits skills were with that, there was not much time to waste before they realized that fighting him was not wise. Moving quickly with skilled swordplay, he chose to end all but one. Fallen on the ground begging for his life, while his comrades were laying dead around him, was a young man that seemed to be new to this group given that his gear was simpler then the rest and that once the battle started he fumbled to even use his sword.
"Please, I-I don't want to die, I-I just needed money."
This pitiful man stood no threat to Cain so he wouldn't kill him, there was also the added fact that he needed information about where he currently was.
"Take me to wherever you and these others used as a base."
Speaking to him as he walked over to where Alexei's body was, he bent down and removed the long coat from his back. Throwing it around his shoulders and giving a cold look at the man.
"Get up we don't have all day."
There was something about his eyes that made this brigand think that if he didn't do exactly as this man said then he would be just another corpse on the ground.
"Of course, sorry sir, if you follow me right this way we should arrive there in just a little under an hour. And this humble servant's name is Johnathan, your lord."
With a shrug as if his name was not important Cain followed. After heading south for a few miles they came to the outskirts of a small town that was dilapidated and seemed to be abandoned for years, with most of the buildings falling apart and covered with moss. In the center there was a larger building than the rest, this was probably where the old town hall was and no doubt where the brigands had made their base off operations. Outside of the town hall there were several large empty cages where they kept prisoners. Probably a sign that these brigands traded in more than just stolen goods.
Even though this place was rundown and abandoned, Cain thought to himself that it would make a decent resting place for the time being. Stopping in front of the building Cain looked over at Johnathan.
"This place will do for now, tell me where we are."
"Sir, we are currently in the abandoned town of Heartwood. Thirteen years ago there was an epidemic that spread through here killing everyone, since then nobody has come through here in fear that it would spread. But don't worry my lord, we checked it out and everything seems to be fine."
Johnathan spoke with clarity and tried to involve as much detail as he could in fear that one wrong word or lie would cost him his head. Cain stood there shaking his head, knowing that he should have been more specific with his question.
"I mean where in the world, I have just arrived here and know nothing of this place. Tell me everything you know."
Confused at Cain's words Johnathan didn't know to say, but soon shook himself out of the stupor and told him everything he knew.
"We are in the Kingdom of Aleria, it is a medium sized kingdom on the outskirts of the Krovos Continent. We are constantly going to war with our three surrounding Kingdoms Tyrul, Evendal, Cornelia. Respectively they are to the North, East, and South. Because we are simply on the outskirts we don't have to many experts to fight so often the common people are drafted to fight and die at war."
These names were defiantly none that Cain had ever heard before, bringing him to the conclusion that this truly was a different world. As the sun set, it started to get colder out, Johnathan walked up to the pit and with a snap of his fingers a gentle spark was emitted. The logs in the pit before him then caught alight and burned brightly. Startled at this Cain quickly asked him what he had just done.
"Oh, this sir? It's just a simple fire spell, I'm not good at many things but this is one of my talents. It's really the only reason the others let me join them."
"I don't care about that. Do you mean to tell me that you just used magic."
Cain was a mix of startled and astounded, magic on earth was just a myth. Something that kids admired and science proved impossible. He never thought in his life that it would be used before him, and not as a cheap trick, but as actual real magic.
"Its simple utility magic, though most have to preform it with gems so I am fairly proud with my skill."
Johnathan started to feel pride in his talent for fire magic, no matter how minimal it was. Though he did not dare to act arrogant about it and only humbled himself by calling it simple. Getting the feeling that showing his talents and what he could do would convince Cain to keep him around. Johnathan had nowhere else to go, so he should try and follow the powerful one before him.
Cain started looking around the area and after finding nothing else that caught his interest, he decided to sit down by the fire and have a long conversation with Johnathan, after all information is power, and currently he had none.
...
At the end of the age of bronze, a star had fallen from the heavens and crashed into the planet of Orin. Shattering upon impact, it spread shards of itself across all corners of the world. These shards brought with them a strange, mysterious energy that is now known as magic. At first, nobody quite new what it was used for or how it effected them, but that all changed when all manner of creatures quickly mutated into what could only be described as monsters. With the birth of these monsters came great destruction, cities were eviscerated and towns were demolished. However, from the ruins of destruction and the brink of humanities extinction came a new power, it was the birth of heroes. Beings of incredible power that had found ways to harness the forces of magic and bend it to their will.
In time, these heroes were able to push back the tides of monsters allowing humanity to rebuild itself. They created great fortress cities with walls defended by magic, and as the cities grew so did the heroes. Soon, humanity retained its power and foothold in the world, peace was once again returned, but as we know peace never lasts, and for every hero there is a villain. It didn't take too long for those who craved even more power to come along, twisting an distorting magic into something ugly and forbidden. These men were hence dubbed, Dark Magicians. They cared not for life or the grace of magic, only the great power that it could grant them and enough was never enough.
Its currently the year of the hydra and there are wars constantly waging throughout the world of Orin. It is on the brink of collapse with nations seeming to only care about themselves, if this keeps up then the demons and monsters will finally be able to finish what they started.
...
Cain was at a loss for words, did he really leave his old world just to come to one that was also soon to be destroyed. With no power and only a basic understanding of the world there was no way he could do anything to help it, what he needed now was a power stronger than martial arts, he needed magic.
After a short talk with Johnathan he understood that without testing his affinity for magic he would not be able to use an element efficiently. Luckily for him there was a test going on soon in the city just north of the town, after a few day trip he would be able to use a testing stone and uncover what element he was most compatible with.
"We will rest up for the night, and in the morning we are going to the city of Drolik."
Speaking with certainty Cain headed inside to rest, he had a long journey ahead of him.