The smell of iron, blood, and human filth filled the cave. His head throbbed faintly from it, making him stand and step over the still-warm corpses.
Thick blood squelched under his feet, but he paid it no mind, nor did he care for the whimpering man with his knee and wrist shattered.
He gathered the few things he'd brought: a common knife and some copper coins. Then, he walked towards the cave exit, satisfied.
The test worked...
Kairos left the cave before dawn, slipping through the trees in the morning mist. His mind was set on what he'd do next.
***
That night, deep in the forest behind Oakhaven, Kairos stood in a small clearing. The full moon lit the spot.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the magma swirling within his body. This time, he would test not only his physical strength but also his control over fire.
The fire in his core boiled beneath his skin, tempting him to unleash itself. He recalled the smell of blood and the fear of the robbers in the cave two days ago, Borin's anger, and Lia's sorrow.
All those intense human emotions could fuel his draconic fire.
He stretched out his palm and concentrated. In the cool air, a thin mist began to rise from his palm.
It wasn't water vapor, but cold air expanding from the heat. Slowly, a small red dot appeared in the center of his palm, like a tiny ember.
He began to tremble. The heat was searing, even for himself. Sweat beaded on his temples, from his mental effort to hold back the power that constantly wanted to break free.
The ember flickered, almost dying, but then reignited, a little brighter. Then he aimed his palm at a dead tree across the clearing.
His palm pointed at the tree, pushing the fire within it with his will.
Sssst!
A short hiss sounded, and a streak of red light flashed, hitting the dead tree right in its trunk. It wasn't an explosion, but a small, smoldering hole that emitted smoke.
The wood around the finger-sized hole was charred and cracked, penetrating through to the other side of the tree.
Kairos took a deep breath, then extinguished the ember in his palm. The magma fire in his core subsided, though it still pulsed strongly.
He walked closer to the tree, examining the damage. His shot was right in the center of the tree.
It wasn't perfect, as the energy was still too concentrated, making him expend too much effort for a small effect, but it was progress. He could unleash his draconic fire to burn, even destroy.
He looked towards Oakhaven, the candles in the village houses flickering in the distance like fireflies.
Kairos clenched his right hand, the one that had just fired the shot. It felt cold now.
What he had planted in the village, and this increasingly strong body of Aerion's, would become his weapon.
But he needed more angry or desperate humans he could use. And the matter of the convoy passing the Iron River Bridge would be his first test, a battlefield where he would ignite a larger conflict.
With noiseless steps, he vanished back into the forest, heading towards Oakhaven. A faint, cold smile played on his lips.
***
After leaving Oakhaven, Kairos continued his journey towards the small town near the Iron River Bridge known as Rivermouth. This town was located at the junction of the river and the main road, once a bustling trade hub, but now plagued by hardship due to the civil war under Therion's rule.
The wooden buildings looked worn, the dusty streets were quiet, and the residents walked with tense faces, as if waiting for something inevitable.
Kairos entered the town with careful steps, his sharp eyes observing every corner. He knew that in a place like this, desperate and vengeful people would gather, and that was what he sought.
Not friends, but tools to achieve his goals.
***
That night, Kairos sat in a dark corner of a tavern near the town square, holding a cup of untouched wine. The noisy patrons filled the room, but his attention was drawn to a burly man with a rough voice.
"That Therion's a bastard! He butchered my family without mercy!" roared the man, whom Kairos later learned was named Jaxon, a former soldier.
Kairos gestured to a server to send a drink to Jaxon. When the man received the drink and turned to see who sent it, Kairos nodded politely at him.
Jaxon then approached, asking suspiciously. "Why'd you buy me a drink?"
Kairos smiled thinly. "I heard your story from over here. We have the same enemy."
Jaxon frowned. "Same enemy? Who are you?"
"My name is Remus," Kairos answered, still using the alias he'd used in Oakhaven. "I also lost a lot because of Therion. Perhaps we can help each other."
Jaxon laughed cynically and then sat across from Kairos. "Help? What could you possibly do?"
Kairos leaned in, speaking in a low voice with a serious expression. "There is a way to get revenge. But I need people who are brave and full of anger towards Therion, like yourself."
Jaxon's eyes narrowed, but a faint flicker of interest was visible within them. "Go on."
"Not here," Kairos said. "We'll talk later, in a safe place."
***
The next day, Kairos went to the market based on a tip from Lia, the spice and herb seller from Oakhaven. He looked for a shop belonging to someone named Mira, a merchant Lia said was hit hard by the war.
The shop turned out to be small, simple, and filled with goods that looked hard to sell.
Mira, a woman in her forties with intelligent eyes, greeted him with a forced smile. "Welcome. Can I help you with anything?"
Kairos pretended to be interested in some of the displayed items, exchanging a few pleasantries before getting to his point. "I hear you're a skilled merchant, but the war has made everything difficult."
Mira sighed deeply. "Yeah, the war's ruined everything. My shop's almost bust 'cause of it."
"I understand," Kairos said sympathetically. "I am also a merchant, and I know how difficult the situation in Veridian is right now. Perhaps we can work together."
Mira looked at him suspiciously. "Work together how?"
"I have connections outside the city," Kairos replied, putting on a serious expression. "Perhaps I can help you get goods at a better price. In return, I need information about the movements of the Veridian troops."
Mira fell silent, considering Kairos's offer. "Information? What do you need that for?"
Kairos smiled mysteriously, but he deliberately used Aerion's genuinely handsome facial features to attract her. "For something that will benefit both of us. Trust me, this could be the beginning of something big."
Mira hesitated, but her difficult circumstances made her curious. "Alright, we'll see about that."