Dawn had barely broken when Kael gathered his men. Their first real test was approaching. The objective was simple: a band of raiders had been terrorizing the nearby villages. Their extermination would mark the beginning of Kael’s rising army’s reputation.

  "Today, we make a name for ourselves," Kael declared, his gaze sweeping across the assembled warriors. "Those who doubt may leave. But those who stay will become the architects of our future."

  No one moved. The time had come to prove their worth.

  Kael led his men through steep trails, skirting the dense forest that bordered their territory. The silence was heavy, broken only by the rustling of leaves beneath their cautious steps. When they finally reached the raiders’ hideout, they took the time to observe. A dozen men were scattered around a fire, feasting noisily, oblivious to the danger lurking in the shadows.

  "We wait until nightfall," Kael murmured to his lieutenants. "They will be more vulnerable then."

  The plan was executed with precision. When the sky darkened, Kael gave the signal. His men descended upon the enemy camp like shadows, cutting down the sentries before they could even scream. A short but fierce battle erupted. Most of the raiders were slain in the melee. Three of Kael’s men fell, but the rest emerged victorious.

  As the last surviving raider, a scarred leader, crawled through the mud, Kael approached him, sword raised.

  "Mercy…" the man stammered.

  Kael drove his blade into his throat without hesitation.

  "We grant no mercy."

  His young army had just tasted its first blood.

  The silence that followed was almost as heavy as the battle itself. Kael’s men stared at the corpses at their feet—some with satisfaction, others with a hint of apprehension. The metallic scent of blood lingered in the night air, mixing with the dying embers of the raiders’ fire. Kael met the gaze of each of his warriors. He knew this moment would be a turning point.

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  "Take a good look at what we’ve done," he declared firmly. "This is the price of power. The world we live in does not forgive weakness. If we do not strike first, we will be the ones who fall."

  A tense silence followed, but then murmurs of approval rose among the soldiers. Some were already cleaning their blades, while others searched the bodies for anything useful. Kael observed his lieutenants. They were no longer the hesitant men of a few weeks ago. They had stared death in the face and emerged stronger.

  Lysara approached him, her gaze intense. "This was necessary," she said simply.

  Kael nodded. "Yes. But this is only the beginning."

  The raider camp was looted swiftly and methodically. Gold, supplies, weapons—everything was taken. One of Kael’s men discovered a crude map marking other raider hideouts in the region. An opportunity had just revealed itself.

  "We will hunt them down, one by one," Kael announced. "The harder we strike, the faster the others will learn to fear us."

  Under the cold glow of the moon, his fledgling army had laid the first stones of an empire built on war and determination. And this was only the beginning.

  The next day, Kael gathered his troops for an improvised ceremony. He wanted to cement this victory in their memories and prepare them for what lay ahead. "Today, you have become true warriors. But remember, this is only the beginning. Greater battles await us, and they will not be as easy."

  He stepped forward to the three fallen soldiers and honored them by sprinkling a handful of dirt over their remains. "We will not forget our brothers-in-arms. Every victory comes at a price, and we must ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain."

  A roar of approval erupted from his men. Now, they were bound not only by their cause but by the blood they had spilled together. Kael knew that these rituals were crucial. He was not just building an army—he was forging an unbreakable brotherhood.

  A few days later, a messenger arrived in haste. "My lord, an enemy force has been spotted to the east. They are advancing toward us."

  Kael exchanged a look with Lysara. They had barely had time to catch their breath, and already, a new threat loomed.

  "Assemble the men," Kael ordered. "We will show them what they have awakened."