Chapter 4: Seeds of Darkness
The days following Damian's encounter with the village boys brought a strange calm, but it was only the prelude to chaos. He continued his swordsmanship training with his father, Rafael, mastering the basics with alarming speed. His father marveled at his progress, but Damian remained indifferent.
"Your form is improving, Damian," Rafael said one morning, as the sun climbed over the horizon. They stood in the family courtyard, wooden practice swords in hand. "You're a natural. Imagine what you'll achieve when you get to the academy!"
Damian smirked inwardly, his thoughts miles away. The academy? It will be nothing more than a stepping stone to my ultimate goal.
As they sparred, Damian deliberately held back, feigning effort and allowing Rafael to correct his "mistakes." Every strike, parry, and block was a charade, but it kept his father pleased and unsuspecting.
After training, Damian wandered into the forest, a place where he could be alone. The towering trees provided a sanctuary, a space where he could let his mask slip. Beneath the ancient canopy, he began experimenting with the remnants of his dark power.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the void within. A faint pulse of energy stirred in his core, like a whisper from the past. Damian extended his hand, and shadows flickered around his fingers, forming tendrils that danced in the air before dissipating.
"Not enough," he muttered, frustration seeping into his voice. "I need more."
A rustling in the bushes snapped him out of his concentration. Damian turned sharply, his hand instinctively reaching for a makeshift dagger he kept hidden beneath his tunic.
"Who's there?" he demanded.
From the shadows emerged a figure—a young boy around Damian's age, with messy blond hair and a curious expression. He was dressed in simple village clothes and carried a small satchel slung over his shoulder.
"I didn't mean to startle you," the boy said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I was just passing through and saw you… uh… doing whatever that was."
Damian narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
"My name's Theo," the boy replied. "I'm a traveler, kind of. My parents were merchants, but…" He hesitated, his gaze dropping. "Well, let's just say I'm on my own now."
Damian studied Theo carefully, sensing no immediate threat. "And why are you here?"
Theo shrugged. "Looking for work, a place to stay. I saw you training earlier—looked like you know how to fight. Thought maybe you could teach me."
Damian's lips curled into a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. Interesting. A pawn.
"I might be able to help," Damian said slowly. "But it won't be easy. I don't train weaklings."
Theo grinned. "I'm tougher than I look. Try me."
For the next few weeks, Theo shadowed Damian, following him during his daily routines and joining him in the forest. Damian began teaching him basic combat techniques, though his instructions were laced with hidden cruelty. He pushed Theo to his limits, testing his endurance and loyalty.
"You call that a punch?" Damian sneered during one session. "Put your weight into it, or don't bother at all."
Theo gritted his teeth, his fists trembling as he struck the target Damian had set up. Despite the harsh treatment, he remained determined, earning a sliver of Damian's respect.
As they trained, Damian continued to cultivate his dark power in secret. The tendrils of shadow grew stronger, more defined, and he began experimenting with their applications. He discovered that he could manipulate them to bind objects, extinguish light, and even inflict pain.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Damian and Theo sat by a small fire in the forest.
"Why are you helping me?" Theo asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
Damian stared into the flames, his expression unreadable. "Because I see potential in you," he lied smoothly. "And I believe in repaying loyalty with power."
Theo nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
Fool, Damian thought. You'll serve your purpose soon enough.
Back at home, Damian's sister Kay grew increasingly suspicious of his activities. She noticed his frequent absences and the way he avoided her confrontations. Her jealousy and hatred festered, fueling her desire to expose him.
One night, as Damian slipped out of the house, Kay followed him, staying hidden in the shadows. She watched as he met with Theo in the forest, their training session lit by a faint, unnatural glow emanating from Damian's hands.
"Dark magic," Kay whispered, her eyes widening in shock.
She hurried back to the house, her mind racing. If Damian was practicing forbidden magic, it could ruin the family's reputation—or worse. Kay resolved to confront him, but not before gathering evidence.
Unaware of Kay's discovery, Damian continued his work, oblivious to the storm brewing around him.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered to himself one night, staring at his reflection in a pool of water. The shadows around him writhed like living things, their whispers promising power and vengeance.
"The world will remember the name Damian Kartan."