Lucas POV
"You know, just because you're retired, it doesn't mean that you should spend all day reading newspapers and books." Mona said as she sat next to me, "You're still only 24."
"Well, it's not like I have anything to do."
"What about...opening a bakery?"
"You wanna open a bakery?"
"Why not? You said that your former world have a lot more variations of delicious bread that this world doesn't, right? Might as well bring them to life and share it with the world."
"Sure. But not today, I feel like relaxing."
"Of course. Tomorrow, though, you'll have no excuse."
"I will."
She then shifted closer, resting her head on my shoulder.
"Speaking of things to do," she said, "what about Lisa? She told me earlier she's 7. She should be in school. Or at least learning something."
"Yeah, she mentioned that. We'll need to see what's available in town. If she's behind, you could tutor her until she's ready."
*****
Mona and I walked side by side down the snow-covered path leading into the woods toward the shed that Lisa called home for the past year, alone only from the past year. Her father was a lumberjack and this shed was where he kept his tools, and when he left with her brother, this became her home.
I had asked if she had anything important that she wanted to pick up, but she said no, and so I told her about upgrading this thing or repurposing the shed, it's a bit weathered. The shed's door creaked loudly as I pushed it open, revealing the interior. It wasn't bad, all things considered, it was decently clean. But the walls had holes large enough to let in cold drafts, and there was no insulation to speak of.
"Well, she could use this teddy bear, so we'll keep that and clean up the rest."
"What do you think you'll make it into?" Mona asked
"Maybe some community shed or something."
"Repurposing a shed into another shed?"
"Yeah...it sounded better in my head."
Mona chuckled softly, and I allowed myself a small grin, but something in the back of my mind nagged at me. A faint ripple, barely noticeable, but unmistakable. I stilled, reaching out with my senses.
There it was again. Movement. Too many quiet footsteps for them to be casual travelers. The patterns were too organized.
"Hold on," I said, cutting Mona's laughter short.
"What is it?" she asked, straightening immediately.
"Something's wrong," I said quietly, walking to the door.
I locked it with a subtle click, then crouched and peeked through a small gap in the wood while signaling Mona to do the same. Through the thin opening, I spotted them, armed men, dozens of them, moving through the woods in disciplined formations. They wore matching gear, though it was muted enough to blend with the snowy surroundings. Their movements were fluid, and efficient, as if they'd done this a hundred times before.
Expanding my senses further, I felt the presence of even more men, positioned in a wide arc around the town. My heart sank as the realization hit. And there were a lot more, the town's surrounded.
I pulled back from the door and glanced around the shed for anything useful. My eyes landed on a trapdoor in the corner, half-concealed by a stack of wood. I hurried over, moving the wood aside as quietly as possible.
"What is it?" Mona whispered, following my gaze.
"Looks like a trapdoor," I said, lifting it open.
Beneath was a decent-sized space, just big enough for the two of us to fit.
"Get in."
She hesitated for a moment but nodded, climbing down into the hidden space. I followed, pulling a dusty old blanket over the opening to conceal it before closing the trapdoor behind us. The door eventually creaked open. Whoever it was didn't linger long. The sound of boots shuffling and wood creaking lasted a few seconds before the door closed again. I waited until the footsteps faded before carefully pushing the trapdoor open and peeking out.
"They don't seem strong, but it's better to be safe than sorry."
"Yeah, hero or not, being cautious isn't a bad thing." she said as she got out as well.
"You're going to have to head back home."
"What about you?"
"You do know who I am, right?"
"Yes, but like I said, being cautious isn't a bad thing, you shouldn't underestimate anything, look what that got the demon lord."
"Our house is a bit farther from the main part of town. It should be safe, but I need you to make sure Harper and Lisa are okay."
"Sure, be safe."
*****
I slipped out of the shed, keeping low and moving silently through the trees. I trailed the armed men at a safe distance toward the town. They were converging on the town square while others split off to ransack the houses. As I crept closer, I saw them gathering the townsfolk in the square, forcing them to huddle together in the cold. Children cried while the men barked orders. Men and women were dragged from their homes as the soldiers rifled through their belongings, tossing anything valuable into bags.
At least no one is hurt.
As I watched the chaos unfold, my mind drifted to the rumors I'd heard over the past few months. Stories of raids like this, of armed groups striking at towns and villages across the region. It wasn't widespread yet, but it was growing, and the pattern was always the same.
People had let their guard down.
After the demon lord's defeat, everyone believed we were entering a new era of peace. But not everyone saw it that way. Bandits, mercenaries, and opportunists were taking advantage of the calm. They struck when towns like this one were least prepared, sweeping in to loot and pillage, knowing there wouldn't be anyone to stop them.
I closed my eyes, expanding my senses further. The subtle vibrations of life spread out before me like ripples in a pond. I could feel every presence in the town. I pushed my focus further, toward the edge of town, and found what I was looking for. Mona had made it back home. Harper and Lisa were safe, just as I'd expected. The house was untouched; no one had ventured that far out yet.
Why now? My thoughts drifted back to the promises I made to myself when this all ended. No more fighting, no more bloodshed. I'd sacrificed enough of my life already, hadn't I? I didn't even get a chance to enjoy my retirement properly.
Chain magic: Lockdown.
Invisible chains of energy spiral out from me like a tidal wave. I kept my eyes closed, directing the chains as they spread across the town. I felt the magic latch onto its targets, one by one. The bandits froze mid-step, confusion, and panic spreading through their ranks as the chains wrapped tightly around their bodies, binding their arms and legs.
Weapons clattered to the ground as they were pulled off balance and forced to the ground. In the town square, the townsfolk gasped and murmured in shock as the armed men suddenly fell to their knees, immobilized. The chains tightened, locking each bandit in place. They struggled, grunting and cursing, but it was no use as no amount of brute force could break it.
I approached the town and they all stared at me in shock. Relief washed over their faces, but I wasn't ready to relax just yet. Something felt off. A sharp sound split the air, the snap of metal breaking under force. My eyes darted toward the source.
One of the men stood, towering above the others. His chains had shattered, the faint glow of my magic fading from his form. He rolled his shoulders, flexing his arms as if shaking off invisible dust.
"Well, that was cute," he said, his voice a deep growl that carried easily through the square.
This wasn't normal. No ordinary bandit should have been able to break my spell.
"I see...you have an anti-magic detection ring, you're stronger than you look. You're the leader, I assume?"
"Looks like we've got ourselves a hero," he sneered, "Didn't think this backwater town would have someone like you lurking around."
"I take it you're the one in charge."
"You could say that. Name's Garreth. You've got a neat trick there with those chains. Too bad it won't work on me." Garreth's grin widened as he crossed his arms, "You've got some real skill, I'll give you that, Not many could pull something like this off. I could use someone like you."
"You're trying to hire me?"
"Why not?" he replied with a shrug, "You clearly know what you're doing, and you're not just some washed-up nobody. Think about it: someone like you working with me instead of against me. We could make a killing."
"Yeah...you can't afford me."
"You sure about that? I don't like hearing no."
"Then you'll hate this. No."
"Pity."
Before I could respond, he slammed his fists into the ground, and the earth trembled beneath us.
"Earth magic: Rock gauntlet." he cast.
A jagged pillar of stone erupted from the snow, encasing his right arm in a gauntlet of solid rock.
"Guess I'll have to show you what you're missing out on." he said as he charged at me.
I sidestepped his first swing, the massive stone fist narrowly missing my head and slamming into a wooden fruit cart behind me. Wood splintered everywhere under the impact. He spun quickly, faster than I expected for someone wielding so much weight. His fist came at me again, forcing me to duck and roll to the side.
When he lunged again, I sidestepped, grabbing his wrist and twisting. He roared in anger, the stone gauntlet cracking under the sudden pressure.
"I'll give you one chance, give everything back and leave peacefully or...you can try and fight me."
"Fat chance." he retorted.
"Some people, I swear."
Garreth gritted his teeth, trying to wrench his arm free, but I held tight. He let out a growl of frustration, then jerked violently, using his strength to twist away from me. The stone gauntlet broke as he pulled away.
"You really think you can just walk away from this?" he then laughed, "I fought in the Human and Demon War! Earth magic: Earth Titan."