The village hummed with a newfound energy as the changes wrought by Leo's efforts began to take root. Fields near the aquifer had softened, patches of greenery continued to spread, and the villagers worked with a determination that hadn't been seen in years. For the first time in recent memory, Elandria felt alive.
But not all the changes were for the better.
Leo sat at a table in the central hall of Graythorn Keep, listening intently as Garret and a scout, a wiry man named Ren, relayed troubling news.
"They've reorganized," Ren said, his voice low and grim. "The bandits, I mean. They're no longer scattered. Someone's pulled them together—a leader they're calling the Bandit King."
"The Bandit King?" Leo repeated, leaning forward. "What do we know about him?"
Ren shook his head. "Not much. He's kept to the shadows, but from what we've gathered, he's different from the usual rabble. Smarter. More dangerous. And it's not just about raiding anymore—he's after something specific."
Leo exchanged a glance with Eldric, who stood silently by the wall. "Do you think it's connected to the changes in the land? The purified relics?"
"Almost certainly," Eldric replied. "If this Bandit King is as cunning as they say, he's likely sensed the divine energy emanating from the relics. That kind of power would be irresistible to someone looking to solidify their control."
Garret crossed his arms. "We've fortified the village as much as we can, but if he's as determined as I think, we're in for trouble."
Leo's jaw tightened. "Then we'll be ready."
The attack came two days later, just as Ren had warned. A small group of bandits approached the village under the cover of night, slipping through the surrounding terrain with practiced stealth.
Leo had anticipated the move, stationing scouts and watchmen along the village perimeter. When the bandits reached the outer defenses, they were met with sharp whistles and cries of alarm.
Garret was the first to reach the barricades, sword in hand. "Form up!" he barked to the militia, who quickly took their positions. "Keep them outside the walls!"
Leo arrived moments later, the Rainmaker Staff in one hand and a bundle of Mana-Forged Spikes from The Rebuilder's Arsenal in the other. He tossed the spikes to Torran, who immediately began planting them in strategic locations.
"Once they cross this line, those spikes will lock them down," Leo said.
The first wave of bandits charged the barricades, shouting and wielding crude weapons. Arrows rained down from the militia's archers, thinning their ranks, but a few broke through. Torran activated the Mana-Forged Spikes, and as the bandits stepped into the trap, magical tendrils shot upward, immobilizing them.
Garret and the militia made quick work of the restrained enemies.
Leo climbed the barricade, his eyes scanning the battlefield. One bandit had managed to slip through the defenses and was making a beeline for the aquifer. Without hesitation, Leo raised the Rainmaker Staff and summoned a sudden downpour. The rain slicked the ground, causing the bandit to stumble and fall before Garret caught up and subdued him.
The remaining bandits, realizing their attempt had failed, retreated into the night.
The captured bandit sat slumped against a wooden chair in the dim central hall of Graythorn Keep. His wrists and ankles were bound with thick rope, and the dim light from the lanterns cast sharp shadows across his scarred face. He looked up at Leo with defiant, bloodshot eyes, though the slight twitch in his jaw betrayed his unease.
Leo stood before him, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. To his right, Garret loomed, his sword resting casually against his shoulder. To his left, Eldric's calm presence filled the room with an air of quiet authority.
"What were you after?" Leo asked, his voice steady but carrying a weight that demanded an answer.
The bandit spat on the floor, the gesture filled with disdain. "You think you've won something?" he sneered. "This village is nothing but a speck of dust. We'll grind it down to nothing soon enough."
Garret stepped forward, his blade scraping along the stone floor as he leaned in close to the bandit. "That's not what he asked. Try again."
The bandit flinched slightly but held his ground. "We were testing your defenses," he muttered. "Seeing how much fight you lot have in you. Turns out, not much."
Leo frowned, sensing there was more to the story. "Testing our defenses? That's a waste of time for a random raid. What's your real objective?"
The bandit's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Garret's blade shifted, the tip resting lightly against the bandit's throat. "Answer him, or I'll carve a reason for you to talk."
A flicker of fear crossed the bandit's face, and he swallowed hard. "Alright, alright," he said quickly. "You've got something the Bandit King wants."
"And what is that?" Leo pressed.
The bandit's eyes flicked toward the floor, as if weighing whether to say more. Finally, he leaned forward as much as his restraints allowed. "It's not your land he's after. It's what's beneath it."
Leo's brow furrowed. "Beneath it?"
"You don't even know, do you?" The bandit chuckled darkly. "Typical nobles, playing with forces you don't understand. The Bandit King knows the truth about Elandria—its history, its secrets. And he'll do whatever it takes to claim it."
"What truth?" Leo demanded, his voice sharpening.
But the bandit clamped his mouth shut, his defiance returning. "That's all you're getting from me," he said, a smug smirk spreading across his face.
Garret leaned closer, his blade pressing against the man's skin. "You sure about that?"
Leo raised a hand, stopping Garret. "Enough. He's said all he's going to."
The bandit sneered. "You should've left this land to die. Whatever hope you think you've found here, it'll only bring ruin."
Leo's gaze hardened. "We'll see about that."
The attack had left some damage to the outer defenses, and by morning, the villagers had gathered to begin repairs. As they cleared debris near the aquifer, a loud shout drew Leo's attention.
"Lord Leo! You need to see this!"
Leo and Eldric hurried to the site, where a group of villagers had gathered around a jagged hole in the ground. The collapsed earth revealed an entrance to what looked like an underground passage. The edges of the hole were lined with smooth stone blocks, their craftsmanship far older and more refined than anything the village could have produced.
"It must've been hidden beneath the rubble all this time," one of the villagers said, his voice tinged with awe.
Leo peered into the opening. The air that rose from it was cool and damp, carrying a faint metallic tang. The darkness within seemed to stretch endlessly, as though the passage descended deep into the earth.
Eldric crouched at the edge of the hole, his sharp eyes studying the exposed stonework.
"This is ancient," he said, his tone thoughtful. "The carvings along the edges—they match the style we saw in the temple ruins near the aquifer."
"What do you think it is?" Leo asked.
Eldric rose, brushing dust from his hands. "A part of the same civilization, perhaps. It's possible this passage was once a network of tunnels connecting key sites in Elandria's past. But why it was hidden here remains a mystery."
Garret arrived, his expression wary as he glanced into the hole. "Looks like trouble to me. If that Bandit King is interested in what's beneath the land, this might be what he's after."
Leo nodded, his mind racing. The bandit's cryptic warning echoed in his thoughts: The Bandit King knows the truth about Elandria.
The Gacha System's familiar interface flickered into view, its glowing text superimposed over the darkness of the passage.
[New Area Discovered: Ruins Beneath Elandria.
Warning: Uncharted territory. Proceed with caution.]
"What do you think we'll find down there?"
Leo asked Eldric, though he already knew the answer would be uncertain.
The older man's expression turned grave. "If the Bandit King's interest is tied to the divine energy emanating from the relics, then whatever lies beneath this village may hold great power—or great danger."
Leo straightened, his resolve hardening. "We'll explore it," he said, his tone firm. "But not yet. The village comes first. If the Bandit King makes another move, I want us ready to meet it."
Garret grunted in agreement. "I'll keep the militia on high alert. We'll secure the area and make sure no one sneaks in before we do."
As the villagers began working to seal off the exposed entrance temporarily, Leo lingered near the edge of the hole. The faint chill of the passage below seemed to reach up toward him, as if beckoning him into its depths.