That night, the skies over Havenwood were filled with stars. Kaelion sat by the campfire at the edge of the forest, surrounded by four bandits who now served under him. Their faces were tense; despite swearing loyalty, fear of Kaelion still lingered in their expressions.
Lira sat at a distance, sharpening her dagger while occasionally glancing at Kaelion. He wasn't just a man with grand ambitions; he was someone impossible to comprehend. Despite his frail body, there was something terrifying about the way he carried himself—like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"Listen," Kaelion finally broke the silence, his voice cutting through the stillness. "I know you're just a handful of aimless men. But from this day forward, you have a purpose. You work for me, and I will ensure you gain more than you ever imagined."
One of the bandits, a burly man named Orik, mustered the courage to ask, "What exactly do you want from us, Master?"
Kaelion fixed Orik with a cold stare. "You will be the foundation of my power. This world is filled with those who oppress and believe themselves invincible. We will destroy them. But first, I need information."
"Information?" Orik asked.
"Yes," Kaelion replied. "About this kingdom, the forces behind the Aglarion Empire, and the ancient artifacts scattered across this world."
The bandits exchanged glances before nodding. They might not have been honorable men, but they knew how to gather information.
"Good," Kaelion said with a faint smile. "Do your tasks well, and I will ensure you rise above this wretched life."
---
Echoes of the Past
After the bandits left to carry out his orders, Kaelion sat in silence, staring into the flames. In the quiet, his thoughts drifted back to his past.
He remembered vividly the last time he stood as Raviel Arcadia. Back then, he stood atop the battlefield, gazing at a world nearly under his complete control. Yet, he had never expected the greatest threat to come not from his enemies but from his own subordinate.
"Kaelion," a soft voice broke his reverie.
Kaelion turned to see Lira standing nearby. The elven woman looked at him with a questioning expression.
"Who are you, really?" she asked.
Kaelion gave a small smile. "You know my name."
"That's not an answer."
He fell silent for a moment before replying, "I am someone who once had everything, and lost it all."
Lira frowned. "That sounds like someone consumed by vengeance."
Kaelion chuckled, his laughter low and cold. "Vengeance is the only reason I'm alive. I have no other purpose but to make those who betrayed me pay."
Lira remained silent. She could sense the deep hatred within him, but there was something else—something darker and more complex.
"Have you never considered anything else? A new life, a new purpose?" she asked softly.
Kaelion's gaze sharpened. "This new life is my chance to reclaim what was lost. Don't think I'd waste it on living peacefully."
Lira didn't respond. She knew Kaelion was someone unyielding, a man whose life revolved around ambition and hatred.
---
The Beginning of a Movement
A few days later, the bandits returned with the information they had gathered.
"Master," Orik said respectfully, "we've heard rumors of an ancient artifact found in the city of Valtherion, near the border of the Aglarion Empire. It's heavily guarded by royal knights, but many believe it holds great power."
Kaelion raised an eyebrow. "What kind of artifact?"
"We're not entirely sure," Orik replied. "But the rumors suggest it's a relic from the Dark Age."
Hearing that, Kaelion's lips curled into a faint smile. The Dark Age. That was the era when he himself ruled the world, thousands of years ago. If the artifact truly came from that time, it was likely connected to the power he once wielded.
"We're going to Valtherion," Kaelion declared.
Lira looked at him with hesitation. "That city is under tight royal surveillance. How do you plan to acquire the artifact?"
Kaelion's smile turned cold. "The simplest way: infiltrate, manipulate, and if necessary… kill."
Lira couldn't suppress a small sigh. She knew Kaelion was a man unfamiliar with mercy, but she also realized he had a plan far more intricate than it seemed.
---
Preparation for Valtherion
That night, Kaelion began drafting his strategy. He ordered the bandits to infiltrate the city first, scouting every corner, every weakness in its security.
Lira, though still wary, agreed to join him. She felt that Kaelion was dangerous, yet there was something about him that compelled her to learn more.
As dawn broke, Kaelion stood at the edge of the forest, his gaze fixed eastward toward Valtherion.
"This world will be mine once again," he murmured, his voice filled with unwavering conviction.