The cold morning air blanketed the village of Havenwood. The sun had just risen, casting long shadows over the wheat fields. Kaelion stood atop a small hill near the village, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Beside him, Lira stood silently, though her expression betrayed her uncertainty.
"Why did you bring me here?" Lira finally asked, breaking the silence.
Kaelion didn't answer immediately. His gaze swept over the small village below—a scattering of ramshackle houses and villagers busy with their modest lives. The sight reminded him of how weak he had become. Yet beneath that weakness, he saw potential.
"Lira," Kaelion said at last, "do you know what humanity's greatest weakness is?"
Lira frowned. "Their greatest weakness?"
"Fear," Kaelion replied calmly.
"Fear makes them obedient. Fear makes them weak. And I… I will use that fear to rule them."
Lira looked at him warily. "You speak like a tyrant."
Kaelion turned to her, his crimson eyes glinting faintly in the morning light. "I am a tyrant," he said without hesitation. "But don't misunderstand. I don't intend to destroy this world as I once did.
I intend to shape it according to my will. And for that, I need power. Absolute power."
Lira remained silent. There was something about the way Kaelion spoke—cold, confident, and intimidating. Yet she couldn't ignore the fact that he had saved her just days ago.
"Do you think this tiny village can give you that kind of power?" she asked skeptically.
Kaelion smirked faintly. "No. But every small step brings us closer to the goal. This village is merely the beginning."
---
Brutal Training
In the days that followed, Kaelion began training his body. Though he had once been an immortal being with unparalleled strength, he understood that his new human body was frail. Still, this did not deter him.
He pushed himself to the extreme: running with heavy loads, sparring against the stronger men in the village, and learning basic swordsmanship from an old retired soldier.
Lira, who had initially only watched, gradually became involved. Though reluctant, she taught Kaelion survival skills—how to navigate the forest, use a dagger effectively, and even some basic magic she had learned during her time in the elven woods.
"You're a fast learner," Lira remarked one day after Kaelion successfully conjured a small fireball in his hand.
Kaelion simply nodded. "I don't have time to be slow."
But as Lira observed his progress, she began to notice another side of Kaelion. Whenever he spoke of the future, of his plans, there was a dark gleam in his eyes. He seemed like someone willing to destroy anything standing in his way.
---
The Encounter with Bandits
One afternoon, while Kaelion and Lira were hunting in the forest, they stumbled upon a group of bandits. There were five of them, all armed and dangerous-looking.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of the bandits sneered. "A boy and an elf. This is going to be a fun night."
Lira immediately drew her dagger, but Kaelion raised a hand to stop her.
"Let me handle this," he said calmly.
Lira gave him a doubtful look. "Are you insane? There are five of them, and you're alone."
Kaelion didn't respond. He stepped forward, his expression unreadable.
"What's the plan, kid?" one of the bandits taunted, laughing.
Kaelion's lips curled into a cold smile. "I'm thinking… you're all too weak to be a threat."
The insult sparked anger. One of the bandits charged first, swinging his sword clumsily. Kaelion sidestepped effortlessly, then struck the man's stomach with the wooden staff he carried.
The blow wasn't enough to incapacitate him but was sufficient to catch him off guard.
Using the momentum, Kaelion targeted the second bandit, striking his knee with precision.
In moments, two of the five bandits were down.
"He's serious!" one of the bandits shouted, backing away.
But Kaelion didn't give him a chance. With ruthless efficiency, he struck the bandit on the head, knocking him unconscious.
Lira, watching the entire fight, couldn't hide her shock. Kaelion wasn't just quick and clever—he fought with brutal precision, showing no mercy.
The remaining two bandits attempted to flee. Kaelion's voice stopped them cold.
"Lira," he said without looking back. "Your bow."
Lira hesitated for a moment but finally raised her bow and loosed two arrows with perfect accuracy. The bandits collapsed, arrows piercing their legs.
Kaelion approached one of the writhing bandits and knelt before him, his crimson eyes cold and menacing.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked in a low voice.
The bandit shook his head, terror written all over his face.
"My name is Kaelion. Remember that name. Because one day, this world will kneel at my feet."
---
The Beginning of Followers
Rather than kill the remaining bandits, Kaelion gave them a choice: die where they lay, or swear loyalty to him.
Not a single one dared refuse.
They might not have been skilled fighters, but they were the foundation of the army Kaelion intended to build.
"This world is full of people like them," Kaelion said to Lira after the bandits left to carry out his orders. "People who are weak but desperate. I will turn them into my weapons."
Lira could only stare at him, a mixture of awe and fear in her eyes. She knew that behind Kaelion's current physical limitations lay a man with immense ambition and a dark heart.
"This is only the beginning," Kaelion said, his gaze fixed on the distant forest. "My power will return, and when it does, nothing will stand in my way."