"Thank you all, but without the soldiers and their efforts, none of this would have been possible!" Cadin stood on top of a chair, exclaiming out to a jubilant crowd surrounding him in the food area, from cooks to the soldiers and to the camp's own advisors, they raised their wooden cups or bowls to Cadin in rejoice. The sky above was twilight, lit up by fire of torches to candles.
Soon, the crowd returned back to feasting, singing songs with one another as the cooks began making more food for the hungry populace outside.
"Outstanding I must say Cadin." The leader said while Cadin got back to his seat.
"Indeed it was my lord, I must thank you for letting me join you those many moons ago."
"Oh, it was but the best decision I have made. Plans that would have taken months to maybe years, done in just a few moons. It is great for our camp, we can expand larger and perhaps have more than 3 main ones." He laughed, drinking from his cup.
Cadin drank with them, was a juice made of an assortment of crushed fruits found in the area mixed with water, tasty and quite refreshing.
Still filled with the joy of victory and gaining more power, Cadin drank more cups into the night.
The celebrations continued on, with the people seemingly still not tired after hours of feasting and drinking.
"Cadin," The leader placed his arm on Cadin's back, "That fishing camp, perhaps I may place it under you one day, or maybe when it is finished being built." He laughed loudly.
"Suppose this is the corruption that demon was speaking of."
"Excuse me my lord, I must take some air outside."
"Go on, go on, the celebration will not stop!" The leader kept on drinking, not stopping with a small pile of cups in front of him on the table.
Away from the crowd and their celebration, Cadin headed out of the gate, leaning on the wall next to it, staring out at the darkness in front of him.
While he stood, a cloud of smoke materialized in front of him, slowly it took the form of a tall humanoid. The demon appeared out of nothingness, looking at Cadin with its bright red eyes and long grin.
"It was a great choice to pick you as the candidate Cadin, you have expanded our power, for a small part because of me. But it seems you have exceeded my expectations with acting on your own, if this shall continue on, the entire island will be under your heel. And we may even go to further islands. But for now though, this island may suffice. More tribes await to be conquered by us." The demon explained to Cadin in a jovial tone.
"You are right, I am free of the fear of death and treachery, able to live freely and gain as much power as possible." Cadin replied, happy as well with what had happened.
"I can also see that your politician life and tactician life have benefitted you, mainly in killing those advisors. You are one clever genius." It cackled loudly.
"What happens if I take this entire island though, will I simply expand further to other islands and easily take over them?"
"Talking so easily to them already? Well, before that, I will give you a reward for your gains in my name." The demon moved his right hand forward in front of Cadin.
In a second, a longsword, similar in size to what Cadin already heard, began materializing in a cloud of red smoke. The blade was dark with dark and gold thin lines going down the entire blade, the guard formed a U shape with pointed tips with small serrated tips running across the edges of both sides, the hilt was black with 3 large red diamonds going down to the hilt at the bottom.
As Cadin's hands touched the sword, the one on his hilt began disintegrating, being replaced by the new weapon.
"Sharper, newer, and more detailed compared to the other. Along with that, it may not matter, but your armor may need an upgrade." The demon slowly raised his hand, causing the armor Cadin wore to become consumed in black smoke.
Upon dissipating, a new studded leather set of armor with pauldrons for his shoulders replaced his armor.
"The next reward shall come once this island is ours. For now though, to answer your question..." It cleared its throat, taking a few steps back.
"There are many other demons and their candidates, similar to us on this island. They live on their own islands, corrupting their own worlds for themselves. But it is a constant war of domination thus, many have begun expanding to other islands, killing off candidates and taking over their island. The candidate prevents it from happening, thus they fight and one dies. That sword in your hand, it has the ability to kill other candidates, all their weapons do. The normal people may not cause harm to you, but the candidates will cause great harm to you with their weapons, far stronger." The demon explained, Cadin listened deeply to the demon and its explanation.
"Will my wounds still heal?"
"They can....Though it will take longer."
"Well, I have done what I need to, continue conquering more tribes in this island, expand & advance further, I will continue infecting the people that are under you at this moment, the influence on the other tribes is stronger thanks to your efforts in winning. I shall take my leave now, best of luck to you and do not disappoint me, Cadin." The demon's body rapidly turned to a black cloud, dissipating in seconds, leaving Cadin alone again.
"More candidates like me...Interesting, I suppose I should continue expanding like what it said."
After thinking to himself, he entered back inside, the area was less populated than earlier but just as lively, cups of wood were scattered on every table, spilling small drops of the fruit drinks onto the table.
"Ah Cadin, you may rest if you must, or join and drink with us. The drinks are delicious, I must say."
"Very well my lord." Cadin, with nothing more to do for the night, grabbed a filled cup from the table and began drinking it.
He continued drinking with the leader, talking and celebrating through the entire night.