The God-King's Council of Totally Not War was off to a very awkward start.
Kaelen sat at the head of a long, beautifully decorated table, sipping tea. Across from him, the Emperor of Shadows sat stiffly, unsure if this was a trap, a joke, or a really weird battle strategy.
Lyria and Thorne were lounging nearby, casually munching on enchanted pastries.
Kaelen smiled warmly. "So, Mr. Emperor of Shadows—"
"LORD Emperor of Shadows," the villain corrected.
Kaelen nodded. "Right. Lord Emperor of Shadows. What exactly do you want?"
The Emperor folded his arms. "I wish to conquer this realm and rule over all existence."
Kaelen tilted his head. "Okay, but why?"
The villain hesitated. "…Because that's what villains do?"
Kaelen poured him a cup of tea. "That's not really a reason, though."
The Emperor of Shadows blinked at the steaming cup in front of him. "Is this… chamomile?"
Kaelen smiled. "It helps with stress."
The villain slowly picked up the cup. "Huh. No one's ever offered me tea before."
Lyria smirked. "You must be new to Kaelen's world."
Thorne sighed. "Every enemy we meet ends up eating snacks with us."
The Power of Niceness
Kaelen leaned forward. "Look, you were created from my magic. So, technically, you're kind of my responsibility. And as the God-King of Magic, my job is to make sure everyone gets a fair chance."
The Emperor frowned. "A… fair chance? You mean, you're not just going to banish me into the void?"
Kaelen laughed. "Why would I do that? You just got here."
The villain shifted uncomfortably. "…I was preparing for a great, dramatic war, you know."
Kaelen smiled. "And instead, you get tea and friendship."
The Emperor of Shadows glanced around the beautifully set picnic table, the peaceful sky above, and the enchanted snacks that smelled really good.
"…This is very confusing," he admitted.
Lyria snorted. "Welcome to every day with Kaelen."
A New Purpose for a Villain
Kaelen sipped his tea. "So, instead of destroying things, why not use your power to help people?"
The Emperor of Shadows squinted at him. "That doesn't sound very villainous."
Kaelen shrugged. "Sure, but wouldn't it be more interesting to be the Emperor of Protection instead?"
The villain hesitated. "I… I don't know."
Kaelen smiled kindly. "Look, you don't have to be a villain. You were born from my magic, which means you're capable of so much more."
The Emperor of Shadows was silent for a long time. Then, finally, he muttered, "No one's ever given me a choice before."
Kaelen placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Well, you have one now."
The Emperor of Shadows looked down at his reflection in the teacup. Then, with a deep sigh, he nodded.
"…Alright," he said slowly. "I'll try this helping thing. But if it's boring, I reserve the right to go back to conquering stuff."
Kaelen grinned. "Fair deal."
Lyria clapped. "Well, that was easy."
Thorne muttered, "I still can't believe this worked."
Kaelen laughed. "Kindness goes a long way."
And just like that, the greatest villain Kaelen had ever created… became an ally.
TO BE CONTINUED…