I returned to the village with Luce in tow. I told the bandits not to attack the village anymore.

I felt like I forgot something… the bandit leader? Oops. Too late now though.

Seriously though. Luce is heavy and I'm not one for muscle work. Carrying him back was hard.

When we got to the village, the guards seemed to have cleared out he bandits. I asked them to summon a carriage. I was exhausted.

The ride back home was tiring but I was feeling really good today. I had advanced my plans some and got to release some of that pent up bloodlust.

I keep remembering back to that time with the bandits. When I blew his head off and when they all looked at me in subject horror. Good times.

Luce: "Woah... my head."

Luce woke up. Usually he'd be outside the carriage, but today, I was feeling generous.

Luce: "This place is pretty nice. You get to ride in here everyday?"

Xiv: "How's your head."

Luce: "Fine I guess. What happened in the end?"

Xiv: "I took care of the bandits. Nothing special."

Luce: "Of course. You are the prodigy child."

I stare out the window. Prodigy child huh?

Luce: "We're almost back. Oh, did I forget to tell you that I told your mother?"

I glare at him. Fear, anger and worry in my eyes. "YOU DID WHAT?!"

Suddenly from the sky a storm started to brew. Oh god no.

A massive thunderbolt struck the ground beside the carriage, completely obliterating the poor plants and animals that were there.

From the castle I could hear a voice booming like thunder.

Mother: "XIV AENIOS. YOU WILL COME TO THE TRAINING GROUNDS IMMIDIETALY AFTER YOU RETURN."

Her voice echoed throughout the entire area. I bet people from the village could hear her.

I stare at Luce. "Why."

Why have you condemned me to death?

Luce laughed. "Revenge for dragging me through you crazy escapades."

I toss him out of the carriage where he happily continues to mock and tease me from the windows.

The guards outside start laughing as well.

Miserable peasants. I'll have you skinned for this.

I exit the carriage and walk straight to the training room. The doors are already open and I can see the decimated magic dolls. The sand was scorched and almost as hard as rock.

There standing in the middle of the carnage was my mother. The heir of the strongest magic clan in the kingdom.

Mother: "Hello Xiv."

I enter the room without saying anything.

Mother: "I heard you went on a little trip down to the village. Mind telling me why?"

How much did Luce tell her?!?

Xiv: "I went to investigate some rumors..."

Mother: "What type of rumors?"

Here it comes.

Xiv: "Rumors of bandits... appearing... in this area..."

Mother: "I see. So you took it upon yourself to... what? Spy on them?"

Xiv: "That was the plan."

Mother: "I heard from the guards that you got involved with a fight, and that half the village burned down as a result."

Xiv: "That wasn't my fau-"

She raised her hands at a dummy and shot another lighting bolt, making it implode.

Mother: "Your fault? YOUR FAULT? IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK THIS IS ABOUT?"

What? I'm not in trouble for the village burning down?

Xiv: "If not that then what?"

Anger started to build up in her face and she blew up another dummy before storming out of the room. (Get it?)

Then father walked in.

Xiv: "Hello father."

Father: "Xiv. You have to know that she worries about you."

Xiv: "Ok?"

Father: "She's not very good with her words. She grew up in a place where magic portrayed your feelings. Xiv, you're our only child. She worries for you."

Was that all this was about?

Xiv: "So, this was only about that? I don't understand. I'm going back to the library."

Father stopped me at the doorway though.

Father: "Not just yet. You've still got the village to worry about. I heard what had happened. You helped that young man. The bandits then sent a party to scare the village because of it. If you had just left him alone, he would have just been beaten up. No, instead you helped him. Therefore, I'm placing the costs of repair on you."

WAIT

Xiv: "WHAT? YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

Father: "I can and I did."

Xiv: "WHA...grrr. Fine."

This might actually work out in my favor.

Father: "Your going to be working on repairing that poor village all day today. If I don't see any progress, I'll start to have to funnel funds from your personal stash."

I storm out of the room like mother. Sometimes father can be awfully cruel.

I walk back to Luce who was talking and laughing with someone else.

I turn the corner only to find Helia and Luce giggling together. When they see me they start bursting out in laughter.

I growl which only makes them laugh more.

Xiv: "Luce, we're going!"

Luce: "Sure boss! Just don't forget to tell your mother, haha."

I glare at him, giving my most intimidating look but with Helia here it doesn't work.

Helia: "You're still giving the evil eye to people? You're such a child."

I start to walk away, Helia and Luce laughing all the way.

This is going to be a long day.

---

We arrived at the village. Helia had stayed behind at home to talk to Rale about something. Not that I care.

Luce stayed with me though.

Luce: "So Xiv, where do we go first?"

I look around the village. It really was in shambles.

Xiv: "We start with the mayor. We need his permission and his men to start rebuilding this place."

Luce: "Got it boss."

Wait. Boss? Was he awake? No, that's impossible.

Xiv: "Don't call me that, it scares me."

Luce: "I know... boss."

I hate him.

We walked down the main road, observing the wreckage.

It was horrible. The buildings were in ruins and the ones that werent completely collapsed. The few stores and shops around were gone, and some of the farmland had been affected too. Right before the icing no less. In the middle of the town, I could see a crowd gathering and a short somewhat plump man on a podium.

Luce: "Found him."

We head toward the gathering.

Mayor: "Our town has suffered a great crisis. The bandits have been driven away but they still plague us with their actions. We must not falter here. Our humble village has suffered worse. I need every able bodied man and woman to come to the front. Even the children wil help in the reconstrction of our town."

The men and women started shuffling around arranging themselves. I took this opportunity to talk to the mayor.

I walked to the side of the podium and beckoned him over.

Mayor: "Hello Xiv. I'm sorry to welcome you to our town when its in such disrepair."

Xiv: "It's fine. I'm actually here to help rebuild it."

Mayor: "Are you now? That would be marvelous! So, how much are you willing to spend?"

Xiv: "I mean't more... physical. I've got a plan for the village. Ever since I was little, I hated how dirty this place looked."

Mayor: "Eh?"

Xiv: "But the town burning down only works in my favour this time. I will completely reconstruct the town and make it better than before!"

Mayor: "That'd be amazing, but how are you going to do it?"

Xiv: "I need a list of the resources you have. I'll also need to take command of the working men and women."

The mayor looked at me, doubt clear in his eyes.

Xiv: "If it doesn't work, I'll fund the reconstruction."

He hands me a list of damages and resources.

Mayor: "Come up here, the towns all yours!"

I walked up on the podium. I could hear whispers from the crowd below me.

Xiv: "Just telling you, I'll pay anyone who's working for me."

That brought the attention of the entire town directly towards me.

Xiv: "Firstly, I need all magic users to stand directly in front of the podium."

The crowd stood still.

Xiv: "Next, I need all of the remaining wood brought here, to the center and quickly!"

The crowd just stared for a bit before some men and women started to run off.

Xiv: "I need the children to salvage whatever they can find from the wreckage."

The children and teens were sent off to help.

Child: "What does salvage mean?"

Xiv: "Those with poor physical consitution should help with the food. Prepare cheap and quickly made food for the workers and yourselves."

The crowd was gone now, the only people remaining had a magical aura around them.

Xiv: "I assume you are mages correct?"

Some of them nodded. The rest didn't care.

Xiv: "This will be a long day"

---

Xiv transformed the mob of dsitraught villagers into an organized force that he used to maximize efficieny.

At first he used them to collect resources and stack them in the middle of the town. The strongest were to cut down trees and mine stone, a building material very new to them. The rest were to deliver them to the center.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Xiv then checked the number of housing units damaged. The report the mayor had given him was accurate and provided lots of information. Information Xiv needed.

The destroyed houses were to be rebuilt. Until then, those that lost their homes would have to sleep in the bar or the mayor's house which he didn't take too kindly to.

The reconstruction of the houses was quick. The amount of men and women working made sure of it. The wood frames where put up, then stone foundations were laid out. The walled the rest off and the house was done. The longest part of he construction was the material collection.

Now with the houses rebuilt and everyone had a home. Xiv tore down the old houses and rebuilt them the next day. The old mud/wood houses gone, replaced with much more elegant housing.

The houses were lined up neatly and orderly as to save space for his other projects.

Next was the commercial center. Xiv had a big plan for this. He built many buildings, with many rooms. This gave adequate area for bigger businesses to come in and invest in the town while still allowing the original stores to move shop. Some wandering salesmen decided to use the new buildings as their new locations for shops.

The blacksmith was working, the farmers were working, the craftsmen were working the beggars were working. Everyone was being paid and progress was growing. The village was becoming bigger and better. You could call it a town now.

He demolished all the old buildings, replacing them with new ones. He established wells for easier water access and he updated the old law enforment system. It had simply been the constable and two assistants. If he wanted his town to grow, he would need more security. He installed a training regime for those without jobs to become guards. Luce and the other guards were to lead them. It wasn't long before he had an actual force.

While they didn't have anything to defend for now, Xiv sent them into the forest to hunt and kill monsters so they wouldn't be useless.

Next Xiv worked on the decoration. A resident nature mage helped him with this prospect. Trees were grown throughout the village and vines crawled on their surface.

Everything was going good. He had restarted the community and replaced the crisis with a boon.

Two months had passed though, right before he was finally done his last project.

---

I stood on the podium where and observed hmy work. That ruined town from before is gone.

Xiv: "The residential area and the commercial area are complete. The farmers have more land so they are happy and we've established a proper trade route with the neighbouring town. Only one thing left to do now."

I walked down the podium and to the new guards’ barracks.

I entered. The interior was a little droll, but it was organized and proper. I could hear grunts and yelling from inside the training hall.

It seems the guards were undergoing training again. I watched as Luce was sparring against another trainee, obviously playing around with him.

The trainee however, was extremely serious and trying to learn the best he could. I entered the room. The trainee looked familiar actually, there was this glow about him. I can't quite put my finger on it.

Xiv: "Luce, if you're not training, get over here."

The fight stopped and everyone turned towards me. Luce hesitantly left the training grounds and walked by my side. Another one of the trainees took Luce's place.

We exited the training hall.

Luce: "What'cha need boss?"

Xiv: "How many times have I asked you to stop calling me that?"

Luce: "Twice, then you gave up."

Xiv: "I need you to watch over the town while I go visit someone."

Luce: "Changing the topic, are we? Also, What? You, of all people, are visiting someone? That's hilarious."

Xiv: "I'm dead serious Luce."

Luce looked at me.

Luce: "Fine, but there's not much to 'look after' anyway. This place runs itself now. You don't need to coddle it."

I exit the barracks.

Luce: "Introduce me to your new friend next time!"

I slam the door behind me.

I start walking to the forest border. Beside the mountain, the tree remains with that same mark etched in on it.

I brush away the foliage and enter that very same tunnel.

I emerge from undeground, two men stand by the cave entrance. Spears in their hands, collars of light on their necks.

I walk into the cave.

The shambles that I first met this place in is no more. Now, proper towers took the old one's place and a wood wall stood between them.

Bandit: "Open the gate!"

Two wooden doors open and I enter through them. Inside, bandits scramble to salute me. Something I taught them after many, many lessons.

The little bandit town is no more. I had them work day and night, mining out actual rooms inside the stone, collecting wood from the forest and creating massive complexes of housing.

I walk to the end of the cavern and enter. The piles of treasure have dwindled to a few gold coins scattered across the room. They were replaced with bloodstains and scorch marks. In the middle of the room, Slave 1 sat, in the circle, waiting for me.

Xiv: "Hello Slave #1. How many left?"

He opens his mouth. He was thin to the bone. I can't remember the last time I fed him.

Slave 1: "Just one more. A newcomer, he's young and rebellious."

Xiv: "Wonderful, send him here. Also, you many eat. You look thin. That also means you can leave the circle."

His eyes were almost dead but a little bit of light sparked when I said that.

Slave 1: "Yes master."

Xiv: "Oh, and prepare your men to attack. I've your first mission is coming, isn't that exciting?"

Slave 1: "Yes master."

He hobbled off out of the room. Bruises covering his skin. His fellow bandits must have taken their anger out on him. The great bandit leader, reduced to this pitiful state. It makes me feel.... good.

I wait for only a few moments before through the door comes a young man being restrained by some of the older bandits.

Young Man: "LET ME GO. GET OFF OF ME YOU FUCKS. YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF, I'M NOT LETTING HIM DO THAT TO ME."

Xiv: "Let him go and close the door behind us."

The bandits nodded and closed the door.

The young man rushed to the door and tried to open it, banging on it and screaming for help.

As I walked closer and released there was no escape, he drew his dagger.

Young Man: "Stay back you fucking freak. I heard the screams. Those horrible screams."

Xiv: "I doubt that petty kitchen knife will do much. Why do you think my blood isn't on the floor?"

He looked panicked and tried to run, but I grabbed his leg and he fell face first onto his own dagger.

That's gotta hurt.

Xiv: "Well, there's no fixing that. I'll get someone to clean up the mess later."

I turned his body around to see his injuries. The dagger's blade dug straight into him, only the hilt was visible. He must have been in agonizing pain. At least none of his blood got on me.

I exited the room. Slave 1 and the rest of the bandits stood there waiting for me, armed with weapons and looking very bloodthirsty.

Xiv: "Hello my servants. I've got a task for you, something you may like."

They patiently listened to me.

Xiv: "Apart from the Aenios and Rose noble families, there is a third much larger noble family in our little area. The Kar's. I don't like them very much. I want you to go out, pick a small village in their lands and pillage it to your heart's content! Of course, you keep any gold you get!"

The bandits liked that idea.

Xiv: "You can leave whenever. Let Slave 1 lead this operation. You are to listen to his commands and execute them without error. Oh, and if your captured, you are to kill yourself."

The bandits seemed troubled.

Bandit: "You want us to follow the slave? But boss..."

Xiv: "He's the most strategically capable out of all of you. If there was someone better, I would have picked them and since I'm not apart of this operation, you are I need to pick someone from you."

They seemed distressed by my words but didn't complain. Slave 1 however was grinning.

Xiv: "I'll leave for now. When I return I expect to see your pockets full and the Kar's crying. Is that understood?"

They bandits saluted. Is it even right to call them bandits anymore?

I smiled, proud of my work with these men. I truly managed to reform them.

Xiv: "Oh, and one more thing. Where is that consort? I haven't binded her yet."

The bandits started to laugh and pointed to a corner in the cave.

I walked over to the corner. Half hidden behind she cowered, her eyes blank her mouth agape and her clothes in ruin. She had marks all over her skin and she was obviously suffering from some type of disease. Without the bandit leader to protect her, I guess all the bandits took a ride.

Disgusting. I haven't completely reformed these ingrates after all.

I walked back over.

Bandit: "Did... did you want to use her?"

Xiv: "Who said that?"

Bandit: "I did boss."

The collar of light was glowing. Seems like he tried to disobey my order.

Xiv: "Do I look like I would mate with a filthy whore like that?"

The bandit shook his head quickly.

Xiv: "I don't want to even touch her. That also means I won’t be able to bind her. Make sure she never leaves this place. If she escapes and reveals our operations it won't end well for you."

The bandits chuckled.

Bandit: "She won't be leaving anytime soon.”

Xiv: “Good. I’ll be leaving then.”

I start to exit and the bandits continue their daily procedures.

My spell doesn’t strip away their ability to think, it only forces them to serve me for eternity.

It also means I have to be careful with my words. If I give them an order that isn’t specific enough, they can use that to their advantage.

I haven’t had any problems with that yet, but it may appear in the future.

I exit the cave and take the long route back to the town. The sun is setting. I best be getting back.

I walk to the barracks and try and find Luce.

To my surprise, it seemed that no one was inside. Confused I searched the entire building.

Where could they have gone?

???: “Ah, Xiv!”

I heard a familiar voice from behind me. I turn around and I see Helia. Her eyes had circles under them and she looked very worried.

Helia: “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, you’ve gotta come with me!”

Xiv: “Why? Has something happened?”

She nodded her head frantically.

Helia: “The town was attacked by a vicious monster! It’s dragged off some of the villagers into the forest. Luce and the other guards went off to rescue them. I heard the news from my servants and rushed over here to warn you!”

I look at her with a blank stare. This is a pain.

Xiv: “Let’s go then.”

I start walking out of the building.

Helia: “They’re to the south of the town!”

Helia started running and in order to catch up with her, I reluctantly start running too. As we pass the town, I see major damages the monster had caused to the housing around the area.

I felt anger build up inside me. That monster destroyed part of the town, part of MY town. The place I built with my own two hands, pooling most of my money and time into.

It was going to suffer.

I started to run quicker.

Xiv: “Where are they?”

Helia: “They entered the forest, from there, I don’t know.”

We ran all the way to the forest border. I noticed traces of a battle, broken spears and blades, dented armor and a few dead bodies, some of them simple villagers. Strangely, there was no hints of the monster, only a fallen scale that could have belonged to anything.

Helia stopped and covered her mouth with her hands. I didn’t think she was good with gore.

Xiv: “Stay here if you can’t go on. It won’t take long to deal with that thing.”

I continued into the forest, leaving Helia behind.

I haven’t entered the forest before, no one really dared to explore this place. The monsters that lived here are vicious and too much of a pain to deal with.

I followed the signs of battle, they lead deeper and deeper into the forest. The number of bodies kept increasing as well as the appearance of scorch marks. Soon, I could see smoke from above the tree tops.

Then, from a distance, I could hear

Luce: “To the side, hit its side! Keep the other ones distracted!”

Luce was commanding. Other ones? Wasn’t it only one monster?

I rushed into the clearing and found Luce and the town guards battling a huge red lizard that was spewing fire, several men in armor riding smaller lizards and the villagers behind them.

Our side had the numbers, but they were clearly winning.

I rushed up and channeling my magic, called the chains of light. They wrapped around the legs of the strange lizards, tripping them and holding them in one place. The chains pulled causing the lizards to fall over. They were now incapacitated.

The guards rushed up beside the smaller lizards and restrained the men riding them, the others carefully avoided the maw of the bigger one and retrieved the villagers, bringing them to safety.

Luce turned around and a wave of relief washed over his face.

Luce: “Hey boss. Took your time didn’t you.”

Xiv: “What’s going on here?”

Luce: “So that big thing dragged some villagers away. We followed them and these guys showed up riding its babies or something. So we fought them for a bit before you came.”

I looked at the surrounding area. We had probably lost half our guard and some of the town members had fallen too, while none of their side had died. I know the guards are under-trained but this amount of men should be enough to take care of them.

Luce saw me examining the wreckage.

Luce: “We tried our hardest, but that guy was almost definitely a mage.”

Xiv: “What guy?”

From above I could hear an explosion and a man dropped won from the sky, making a crater where he landed, between me and the giant lizard. Flames curled around him. I could sense the use of magic in the air.

Great. A pompous magician.

He looked around and saw his allies restrained and his lizards chained. A frown formed on his face before he turned his attention to me.

???: “You’re new. What’s a kid doing here?”

I was about to speak before Luce cut in.

Luce: “He’s our boss dumbass. Can’t you see your men lost when he came?”

The man just looked at Luce and started to laugh.

Pablo: “So you’re the famous light mage? The world really is strange. I’m Pablo, leader of these guys back here. Look, I don’t want much trouble. I just need some of your townsfolk so I can keep my mistress happy.”

I step forward.

Xiv: “That’s not an option I can accept. If some villagers are kidnapped and taken away, the popularity of the town I built will falter. Leading it the economic situation it was in before.”

Pablo: “That sucks kid. I can’t back down here either.” He started to scratch his chin. “I know you probably don’t want a fight. I can break these chains in an instant and our men can start fighting again. That doesn’t sound too good to me. I don’t want any loses, I’m sure you don’t need any more either. Let’s come to a deal.”

It feels like he’s luring me into a trap. I’ll have to carefully examine his words.

Pablo: “Choose a champion from your side. I’ll choose one from mine. It’ll be a fight to the death. If you win, you can keep your people, if I win, I get to take them. It’s the most peaceful way of dealing with this. Sound good?”

As much as I would hate to admit, his offer does sound good.

Xiv: “Deal.”

The soldiers and villagers looked at me when I agreed to his part, even Luce.

Xiv: “One condition though. I want your side to pick their champion first.”

Pablo started to scratch his chin again. It’s getting annoying now.

Pablo: “I accept your terms. I also nominate myself as the champion!”

Pablo then raised his hands and a circle of fire emerged around him. A small opening lay in front of our side.

Xiv: “What? You nominated yourself?”

Pablo: “I never said I couldn’t. Sorry kid, but we made the rules together and we both agreed on them.”

I cursed under my breath. I need to think about this carefully. He’s a mage. Magic holds dominion over any physical fighter unless they had some type of specific advantage, like the bandit leader and his bloodstone.

This Pablo character looks experienced in fighting as well.

There’s only one person who could take him on here.

Xiv: “Then I nominate myself as well. Prepare yourself.”

I enter the ring of fire.

Luce: “Wait! Boss! You can’t do that! Let me go instead!”

Pablo started to grin and as I entered the ring of fire closed behind me.

Pablo: “You’re pretty brave for a kid. You do know that this is a fight to the death, right? Don’t worry, I’ll let you have the first move.”

He stood there waiting for me. He’s really testing me isn’t he.

Normally, I would summon Justice and the fight would be over, but only one human soul knows about her existence and I gave him a specific order to never reveal any information about me and I don’t want to summon her here and in front of all these people watching. I would lose my trump card.

I’ll have to fight him without her. The problem with that is that I don’t have any offensive spells…

Pablo: “Uh… I did say you co0uld have the first move, and I am a man of my word, but don’t think you can just wait forever. Eventually, that magic holding my lizards back will break and my men will attack.”

Xiv: “Don’t worry, this will be over soon.”

I raise my hands and call upon a massive amount of mana. My hands start to glow a bright light, everyone in the area averted their eyes.

Pablo: “What the-“

From the light, thousands of chains emerged covering the entire area. They crossed every which way, restraining everyone around me.

Pablo started to choke, the chains were crushing his body.

When I thought I had won, a felt a huge surge of mana leave the area around me.

Xiv: “Oh no.”

I ducked down, right before a massive explosion incinerated me. I don’t think the back of my shirt is there anymore. The chains around Pablo had disappeared, leaving him free and gasping for air.

I got back up, a searing pain running across my back. Have I ever been hit before?

I felt my anger build up again.

Pablo, too, looked angry.

Pablo: “That was a nasty trick kid. You’re going to pay.”

Fire started to appear in his hands. This wasn’t good. The sun had already set and my powers were suffering because of it.

Pablo tossed a fireball at me, I was barely able to dodge it.

He started walking closer.

This wasn’t good, if this keeps up I’ll have to summon her.

Another fireball, this time right in front of me. Fire spread around me once again. I was trapped in a small space.

Pablo walked up to me, a massive fireball building in his hands.

Luce: “You… you cheated! It’s night! That’s not fair for Xiv!”

Pablo completely ignored Luce and continued walking up to me, until I could feel the fire from his hands on my skin.

Pablo: “I was going to keep you alive but you really pissed me off. Any last words kid?”

Damnit! I raise my hand in order to summon Justice before a rather familiar thunderbolt struck the lizard behind Pablo, turning it into ash.

Pablo turned around. “What? Who?”

From the skies I saw a moving ball of electricity slam down in the circle, right in front of Pablo.

Lighting curled around her form and bolts sparked around her eyes. The smaller lizards and the other animals in the area started to run away, my chains kept them in place though. Even the guards backed off.

Mother: “YOU.”

Mother started to emit massive surges of magical power, even I could feel it.

Pablo took one look at mother and blasted off into the sky, using jets of flame to propel him forward.

Mother could easily catch up with him but stayed behind.

From the forest, some guards from back home emerged and started escorting the villagers and prisoners alike.

Father, riding a horse emerged behind them.

The flame circle extinguished and mother started to stare right at me.

Mother: “That’s the last straw. I’ve had enough of you and your silly adventures. You are going to be locked in your room until you start attending the royal academy where there you are to go to your classes and then be locked in your room once more!”

Oh, great now I’ve-

I feel down face first on the dirt floor. Has dirt always been this comfy?

Mother rushed up beside me, as did Luce.

Luce: “Hey Xiv??”

It seems that I used too much magical energy, paired with that massive explosion… I think I’m going to take a nap.

I closed my eyes.

Luce: “Xiv!? Hey?! Wake up!”

My world started to go black before I went unconscious, due to exhaustion.

END OF CHAPTER 2