Chapter 26 — The Bandits
---
Kael Grenfort:
We set out on the road again. In a few days, we would be in Revius. School. Huh? School again. This would be my second time studying. I was confident that the schools here wouldn't be harder than those in my world, and they wouldn't interfere with my plans.
"Kael, what are you thinking about?" Father asked.
"Oh, nothing, Father. Just daydreaming. Pay me no mind."
"Thinking about that little girl? Huh? Huh?" He wiggled his eyebrows at me, his eyes bulging comically.
"Father," I said, narrowing my eyes.
"Yes?" He put on an innocent, childlike tone.
"Nothing. Ugh." I covered my face with my hand and shook my head.
I had no idea what went through Father's head at times like this. Maybe he really thought this was my first love. Or maybe he just enjoyed teasing me. Probably both.
---
A short while later.
"So, so — you've fallen for her, haven't you? Right? Right? Come on, tell me! Don't be shy — I'm your father. I've seen you in your birthday suit."
"Father, please, enough! Faaaather!" I screamed, clamping my hands over my ears.
Did you think you could shut me up that easily? His voice echoed in my head. Yes, he could read thoughts. It wasn't new, but it was always unsettling.
Slowly, I turned my head to look at him. He was staring at me like a clown — face stretched, eyes wide, lips twisted.
"Silvan, please save me."
"What would you like me to do?" he asked in a serious tone.
"I don't know — do something!"
"I'm afraid I can't."
"Whyyyyy? Nooooo!"
Silvan never said more than necessary. His "I can't" meant that arguing with Father was pointless. They knew each other well. Both were stubborn, both were strong. And I was caught between them — like a ball being batted around by two cats.
"Fine, fine, I'm calm," I said finally. "It wasn't about Velmora. I was just thinking about school."
"School? What, are you scared?" Father's eyes gleamed.
"There's nothing to be scared of. I was just… remembering my old life."
"Your old life?" He raised an eyebrow. He didn't know what that meant — I'd never told him. But he didn't press. He just smiled. "What's past is past. Look forward."
"I am looking forward," I said, smiling back.
---
A few days later.
One day's journey remained until Revius. We stopped at a village near the city. Small, but crowded — people walked the streets, merchants were preparing to close their shops.
An old man approached us. He was thin, leaning on a cane, his clothes patched, but his eyes were sharp. He looked like the village elder.
"Please, gentlemen," he said. "Every year, bandits come and take all our harvest. We can't do anything. Please help us. I'll pay you."
Father glanced at him, then at me, then at Silvan.
"Fine, we'll take care of it," he said calmly.
"Let's go, Silvan. We'll track them down, find where they're coming from."
"Yes, sir. This shouldn't take long. They're just ordinary thugs. I've heard there might be a few mages among them, but at most three-star. Nothing we can't handle."
"Exactly. Once we find their hideout, we'll wipe them out in one blow."
And with that, they leaped away in opposite directions. Father soared into the sky and disappeared. Silvan ran across the ground, searching for tracks.
I was left alone in the carriage.
---
Alone.
The village was quiet. Even the previously crowded streets seemed empty. I sat in the carriage, watching my surroundings.
Fools. Both of them. They should have handled this quietly, carefully. For all we know, the bandits might be the villagers themselves.
My eyes fell on the old man. He was still standing there, head bowed, silent.
"Grandfather, have you lived here long?" I asked.
"Yes, boy. Over seventy years."
"In seventy years, you never fought back against the bandits?"
He was silent. Then he raised his head. Something changed in his eyes — not fear, but calculation.
"We fought. But they come back stronger every year."
"Hmm. How many people live in your village?"
"About two hundred."
"How many of them are in league with the bandits?"
The old man's face turned pale. "I… I don't know."
"You do know. But you're afraid to say it. Am I right?" I said, stepping down from the carriage.
---
Compress and release.
I decided to test my new spell. Lately, I'd been working on compressing mana into sharp shapes — swords, knives, arrows. In theory. In practice…
I extended my hand. Gathered mana, compressed it, spun it. A small, powerful ball of wind appeared at my fingertips. I compressed it further — it shrank, but grew brighter, denser.
Now release.
"Chevvv!"
The wind arrow flew through the air. But it was slow. Too slow. It barely traveled half a meter before falling to the ground.
"Ohhh… my fault."
I'd made a mistake. By increasing density, I'd sacrificed speed. Or maybe the opposite? Finding the right balance would take a lot more practice.
"Hey, boy, get down here," the old man suddenly spoke. His voice was no longer trembling — it was firm and cold.
"Yes, what do you want, old man?"
"I didn't say I wanted anything, boy. This is an order. I've decided something, and you have to obey."
His appearance changed.
His body stretched, widened, muscles bulged. In place of the thin, aged elder stood a two-meter-tall, muscular brute. Broad shoulders, hammer-like fists, a predatory face.
"We are the bandits," he said in a gruff voice. "And you… you're the weakest of your little caravan. We grab you, and your father won't dare touch us. He'll give us whatever we want."
He laughed. Behind him, a dozen more men appeared — all strong, armed with axes, swords, clubs.
I was right. The village itself — the bandits.
"Hey, hey, big guy," I said, raising my hands. "Calm down. I was planning to come down anyway. Just don't damage the carriage."
Slowly, I walked toward them. Head bowed, hands lowered, as if surrendering.
"Hey, kid, what are you doing?" he said.
I moved my hand as if drawing a sword. Something appeared in the air — long, curved, glowing black and blue.
"Silent Gale."
One swing to the neck.
His head separated from his body and fell to the ground. Blood sprayed like a fountain.
"Well, well," I said, resting the blade on my shoulder. "I think I win this round. Was this your leader?"
The men who had been muttering just moments ago fell silent. They looked at each other, then at me.
"Anyone else?" I asked.
They stepped back. Someone dropped his axe.
"Haha! Cowards!" I laughed.
---
Frog-face.
Another large man stepped out from behind them. He was even bigger — over two meters tall, wide face, large mouth, small eyes. A real frog-face.
"Haha! Frog-face! Frog-face!" I laughed. "What's up? I'm going to smash you into the ground, you little—"
"What did you say?" I asked calmly. "You talk like that to your equals, you idiot?"
I grabbed one of his arms and pulled. It came off with a wet rip.
"Hahahaha! That's what happens when you run your mouth."
"You bastard! What kind of monster are you?! At your age, even the children of the imperial family aren't this strong! Who are you?!" He writhed on the ground, screaming at me.
"Well, what difference does it make? Who I am, who you are, who that person over there is — I don't care. If you want something, be worthy of it. Remember that rule, frog-face. At least in the next life, don't forget it."
His eyes were full of terror.
"Please, don't kill me!" he begged.
"Fine. I'll decide. Kill you or not? Hmm…"
I thought for a moment. I wanted to try something new. He stared at me — terrified, pleading, kneeling.
"Look at my face," I said.
He obeyed.
A pistol shape formed in my hand. Transparent, light, made of wind. I closed one eye and aimed at his forehead.
"What are you doing, sir? Please, just don't kill me…"
"This is my work. You just watch and don't talk too much," I said coldly.
Chevv.
A small sound. A tiny, needle-like hole appeared on his forehead. A small red dot. No blood even flowed — the hole was too small.
He stared at me in confusion.
"Hmm… who am I?" he muttered.
So, I damaged the part of his brain that holds his personality. But that's not all.
The spell worked. I had altered him. Now he only had speed — not density. Density would show itself in ten seconds.
"Three… two…" he began counting.
"What are you counting, you idiot?"
"One… zero…"
Puff.
His head exploded. Blood, brain matter, and bone fragments scattered in all directions. I wiped my face.
"Now that's the best. And the last."
The remaining bandits fled in terror. Some threw themselves to the ground, others ran wildly, some simply cried.
"Hmm. A very useful spell. It's like setting a timer on someone's death. Haha."
I looked at the blood on my clothes. Not much, just a few drops. I'd need to change.
---
Silvan arrives.
He descended from the sky at high speed, landing beside me. His step was light, without impact. He looked around — the corpses, the blood, the fleeing men.
"Young master! What happened here? Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes, yes, I'm fine, Silvan. Actually, these people were the bandits themselves. While you and Father were away, they tried to take me hostage to extort money from Father. Strange, isn't it?"
"Sir… are you feeling like yourself? I've never seen you like this before."
"Ha ha. I'm fine, Silvan. When Father returns, you can explain what happened. I'm very tired. My mana is depleted. And I think…"
I climbed into the carriage, changed my clothes. Threw the bloody ones aside. Put on a clean, dry shirt.
And fell asleep.
---
Father returns.
A few hours later, I woke up. Father was sitting across from me in the carriage, holding a cup of hot tea.
"Ah, you're awake, son?"
"Yes. How long was I out?"
"Half a day. Silvan told me everything."
"Everything?"
"Everything. How you defeated over a dozen men in five minutes. How you tore off an arm and blew up a head. Everything."
"He… seemed a little upset?"
"No. He was proud."
"Who?"
"Silvan. He's like you — doesn't say much, but you can feel what's going on inside."
I was silent.
"But, Kael," Father's voice grew serious. "Don't forget one thing. Your power is a gift, but also a responsibility. Use it only when necessary. Understand?"
"I understand, Father."
"Good. Now drink your tea. We'll reach Revius tomorrow. School."
"School…" I repeated.
"Are you scared?"
"A little. But more curious."
Father laughed. "You're just like me."
I laughed too. Then I looked out the window. The sun was setting. The road stretched ahead. Revius was somewhere out there — I didn't know where.
But one thing I knew: I was ready.
---
Note:
Kael unconsciously used body reinforcement magic during that moment. Normally, someone with such a small body would never be capable of tearing off the arm of a grown man through physical strength alone.