Kairen's plan was simple from the start: deception. The moment the journey had been decided, he'd begun preparing for it, his distrust extending even to Elric.
Skepticism burned within him like a constant flame, and though Elric had proven loyal on the surface, Kairen couldn't afford to blindly trust anyone. Not in a situation where his life was a fragile thread that could snap at any moment.
Before they set off, Kairen had given Elric an odd request—to gather hay, pillows, and a soldier's uniform. He offered no explanation, waving off the beastman's questions with a curt dismissal.
When Elric left, Kairen set to work alone, carefully stitching together a crude effigy of himself. He wrapped the hay tightly in pillow covers and dressed it in his fancy clothes. The final touch was his hair, the one thing that visibly set him apart from the soldiers.
Taking the rough dagger Elric had provided earlier, Kairen hacked away at his long, silky locks. The blade wasn't designed for precision, and the task was arduous. Strands fell in uneven chunks, leaving his hair jagged and wild. When he finally finished, his once-pristine appearance had been replaced with a rough and unkempt look. He didn't care. Looks meant nothing if he wasn't alive to enjoy them.
Slipping into the soldier's uniform, after shoving his hair onto the doll's head. Kairen waited for the right moment. With Elric walking ahead and the soldiers paying little mind to his safety, he quietly slipped out of the carriage, blending into the ranks. The soldiers barely noticed his presence, more focused on their own gossip than the disguised prince in their midst.
Kairen listened closely, gathering valuable insights as they walked. The soldiers spoke freely, not realizing their words were reaching the very person they spoke about.
The prince was a subject of ridicule, dismissed as a bastard child of unknown origin. The king, in one of his famed adventures, had returned with the boy and declared him his son, though no one knew the identity of Kairen's mother. To make matters worse, the king had named this mysterious son after the founder of the kingdom—an act that sparked disdain and disbelief among the nobles and commoners alike.
As Kairen absorbed the harsh truths of his position, a sudden chill ran down his spine. Time slowed down for a moment, and his instincts were screaming at him to turn, he turned sharply, his eyes snapping to the carriage just as a dagger flew through the air. The weapon shattered the window with a loud crash.
Seconds later, a man emerged—a hulking figure with wild hair and a crazed glint in his eyes. Kairen watched as the scene unfolded. But as the man prepared to leave there it was again, the time slowed down as he watched the man throw the dagger onto a tree before disappearing and reappearing again where the dagger was thrown.
It was clear: the weapon was the source of his ability.
"His dagger… he's using it to teleport," Kairen muttered to himself, his mind racing. Without wasting time, he informed Elric, who immediately sprang into action, chasing the leader into the forest.
Kairen observed the skirmish from his place among the soldiers, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. It was clear as day that, aside from the man who had fled with the strange dagger, the remaining bandits were nothing more than ordinary thugs.
No magic, no skills to speak of.
So if I ever pick a fight with even an ordinary soldier, this would be my aftermath.
Though Kairen wouldn't call the soldiers elite by any stretch of the imagination, they were far better equipped and coordinated than the disorganized rabble they faced. Within moments, the bandits were subdued, their hands bound with rough ropes as they were corralled into a kneeling line.
Amid the aftermath, Rowan, the overconfident son of Duke Valeris, stepped forward. His chest puffed up as if he'd been the one to personally lead the charge. His eyes scanned the group of soldiers before settling on Kairen.
"Find the prince!" Rowan barked, his tone laced with irritation. His gaze lingered on Kairen, who remained still, observing with a nonchalant demeanor.
Rowan marched toward him, his expression twisting with disdain. "You coward. It's one thing to freeze up, but against ordinary bandits?" He slapped the side of Kairen's helmet with a loud clang, drawing the attention of nearby soldiers. "I hate people like you the most. When we get back, I'm filing a formal complaint against you. What's your name?"
Kairen's voice was flat as he replied, "Kairen."
"What? Speak louder, I can't hear you!" Rowan's hand struck the helmet again, another harsh clang echoing.
Kairen's jaw tightened and met Rowan's gaze head-on. His sharp, amethyst eyes locked onto Rowan's.
"Maybe you should get some fucking hearing aid then," Kairen said coldly, his tone razor-sharp.
"The fuck did you just say to me?" Rowan hissed, his hand grabbing Kairen's collar roughly. The tension in the air was palpable as soldiers paused, their eyes darting nervously between the two.
Kairen didn't flinch as he took off his helmet. His glare grew icier, and he enunciated each word with deliberate precision. "I said... maybe you should get a fucking hearing aid."
Rowan's grip loosened as he stumbled back a step, the venom in Kairen's eyes rooting him in place. His confidence evaporated, replaced with a growing unease. Sweat beaded on his brow as he dropped to one knee as he realized who he was talking to.
"I… I apologize for my misconduct, my prince," Rowan stammered, his voice trembling as he bowed his head low.
Kairen's lips curled into a cold smirk as he turned his gaze to another nearby soldier. He pointed sharply, making the man flinch. "Hey, you," Kairen called out, his voice carrying an edge that sent shivers down the soldier's spine. "What's the punishment for assaulting the prince?"
The soldier snapped to attention, his voice shaky as he answered, "D-death, my prince!"
"Oh wait you're the duke's son's right." Kairen pressed, his gaze boring into the man, daring him to hesitate. "Soldier, what if it's the duke's son?"
"It is still death, my prince," the soldier replied, his tone filled with nervous urgency.
Rowan's face drained of color as Kairen crouched down slightly, bringing himself closer to eye level with the kneeling noble. The tension was suffocating, and the soldiers around them shifted uncomfortably.
They couldn't understand why the useless prince's gaze felt so horrifying. But it felt horrifying, the pressure alone made them weak.
They all had one thought running through their head, Did the young prince finally awaken his mana?
Kairen placed a firm hand on Rowan's shoulder, leaning in just enough to make the duke's son sweat bullets. His voice dropped to a near-whisper, but the weight of his words was suffocating.
"You're going to work really hard to make it up to me, Duke's son… Rowan." Kairen's lips curled into a smirk, his tone laced with mockery and menace. He raised his other hand and made a deliberate slicing motion across his neck. "If not…"
Rowan gulped audibly, his entire body trembling as he nodded furiously. "Y-yes, my prince! I will!"
Kairen straightened, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered soldiers, who were now standing stock-still, unsure of how to react. Without another word, Kairen turned on his heel, tossing his ruined helmet to the ground as he walked away, leaving Rowan kneeling in a pool of his own humiliation.
Did I overdo it? Kairen wondered to himself, They do seem to fear authority, but this was a good place to show them who's the boss for now. Maybe they'll finally have some respect and listen to me...
He looked over towards the forest as he sensed something again but this time he couldn't point out exactly what it was, but it was there.
------------------------------------
Within the forest-
"Sword Aura!"
The air split with a deafening crack as a crescent-shaped wave of energy burst forth from the blade. The blue force carved a path through the forest, slashing through trees, rocks, and anything else in its way with devastating precision.
The bandit turned just in time to see the wave of energy barreling toward him. His eyes widened in terror as the sharp, azure force sliced through the trunk of the tree he'd been aiming for. The dagger embedded in its bark clattered to the ground as the tree groaned and fell, cutting off his intended escape route.
"No!" he snarled, pivoting on his heel as he frantically searched for another target. But the relentless pursuit had taken its toll—his movements were slower, sloppier, and the beastman's unyielding presence bore down on him like a predator closing in for the kill.
Elric closed the gap in a blur, his blade raised once more. "You can't run forever," he growled, his voice carrying an unshakable authority. "Now face me!"
The bandit leader snarled, his eyes darting toward the fallen dagger. With a desperate burst of energy, he dove toward it, his hand outstretched. But before his fingers could close around the hilt, a sharp kick from Elric sent the weapon skidding across the ground.
The bandit staggered back, clutching his side as Elric leveled his blade at him. The shimmering blue aura danced along the weapon's edge, its deadly energy a clear warning.
"Your tricks end here," Elric said coldly, his stance unwavering.
The bandit growled, his lips curling into a defiant sneer even as his body trembled with exhaustion. "You think you've won?" he spat, his voice ragged. "I'll—"
Before he could finish, Elric closed the distance in a single, fluid motion, his blade hovering just inches from the bandit's throat. "Surrender, or I'll ensure you never again."
The bandit froze, his bravado crumbling under the weight of Elric's piercing gaze. Around them, the forest was eerily quiet, the aftermath of the sword aura's destruction leaving a path of broken trees and shattered foliage in its wake.