Among the thirty-one, only twelve were Awakened—and even among them, the highest level was just three. That included the water mage and the healer, though neither of them were really suited for frontline combat. Still, they would play important roles.
The rest of the Awakened were either level ones or twos. They had little experience and needed training.
A small and fragile force.
Elias felt a headache forming just thinking about it.
The do shielding the territory wouldn’t last forever. Once it ca down, the territory would be exposed to dangers outside it.
He couldn’t protect everyone alone.
Neither could Vael.
He needed more strength. More security.
That, too, would have to be part of his next plan.
However, luckily, amongst the remaining group who hadn’t Awakened, there were around seven or eight individuals who had received a decent amount of training. They weren’t elite, and they couldn’t compare to an Awakened, but they were capable. That, at least, was sothing.
Even better, the rest of the group—except for two people—were willing to start training. That was a good sign. They might be ordinary now, but in this world, anyone could potentially Awaken.
Awakening was mysterious in this world. There was no fixed rule or guaranteed thod. But it was known that once a person trained their body to a certain threshold—even if unknown to anyone what criteria that is—they might awaken. It varied per individual, but it was possible. Elias held onto that hope.
As for the two who refused—the cook and another man who looked to be in his late forties—Elias didn’t push them. Training had to co from within. It couldn’t be forced. The heart had to be willing, or the body wouldn’t be able to endure the path to strength.
Once all the plans were finalized and responsibilities were given, the eting ended. Everyone left to handle their duties, the air now filled with a quiet sense of purpose. Elias, however, returned to his room for only a short mont before heading back out.
It was ti to train—with Vael.
---
BAM!
A solid blow hit Elias in the gut, forcing him to stumble backward. He took three heavy steps before regaining his balance, his breath caught in his chest.
Across from him, Vael shifted his stance, tilting his head slightly. "Too close," the undead assassin muttered.
Elias winced, rubbing his stomach and letting out a sigh through clenched teeth. "I was trying to stay in my range."
Vael’s cold eyes didn’t waver. "A wise strategy. But while it’s good to fight within your own range, don’t forget—your enemy has a range too. If you enter their zone of control without enough mobility, you lose the advantage you were aiming for."
Elias paused and thought about it.
That made sense. In battle, it wasn’t enough to fight from where you felt most comfortable. You also had to think about the enemy—their power, their reach, and how they moved. Without that, you were just walking into danger.
His fight with Kael had blinded his judgnt.
Kael was a swordsman with well-asured spacing. Elias had used his fists and higher Agility to close the gap quickly. Kael couldn’t retreat fast enough, and Elias had controlled the fight at close range.
But Vael wasn’t Kael.
Vael used shorter weapons, moved like a shadow, and matched Elias in speed. Even worse, Elias’ footwork still needed work. He couldn’t shift or dodge as sharply as Vael, so using the sa tactic only left him open—like now.
Elias nodded to himself and took the lesson to heart.
He adjusted his stance and rushed in again.
This ti, the fight was more even. Elias had improved since facing Kael—his instincts sharper, his reactions faster. Vael still had the edge, but it wasn’t one-sided anymore.
A small crowd had gathered nearby. A few of the new residents were watching silently.
"He’s strong," soone whispered.
Another nodded. "His undead may be stronger, but Lord Elias himself... he’s catching up fast."
One man spoke in a quieter tone, his eyes sharp as he observed the fight. "What’s scary isn’t just his strength—it’s how fast he learns. The way he improves after every mistake... it’s terrifying."
The others went quiet. They could see it too.
What they didn’t know was that Elias had been holding back in the past few days—pretending to be weaker around Kael and Veran, trying to bait them into action.
That mask was gone now.
And the true speed of Elias’ growth was finally being revealed. They were completely stunned by it.
Their sparring continued until the sun began to set. Eventually, both Elias and Vael decided to call it a day, and Elias returned to his room to freshen up.
Later that evening, they joined the others for dinner—gathered beneath the moonlight, with a campfire burning gently at the center of the field. Plates clinked, quiet conversations filled the air, and laughter occasionally rang out across the space. The atmosphere was calm and peaceful.
After a while, Elias headed back to his room, followed soon after by the rest of the people.
---
Three more days went by.
It had now been four full days since Kael and Veran’s death, and in that short ti, many things had already changed.
Three additional buildings had been raised, helping expand the layout of the growing territory. A proper workshop had also been built for the blacksmith, the carpenters, and others.
Elias had personally made sure they had the tools they needed to start sharpening their skills.
He hadn’t forgotten the won either.
The tailors had been given materials and the right equipnt and materials to begin making clothes. Most of the freed slaves had escaped with little more than the clothes on their backs. New garnts were long overdue.
And while all that was happening, the training continued.
Those who wanted to join the training trained every day. They worked in small groups, practiced together, sparred, shared tips, and helped each other improve. None of them grew as fast as Elias did, but they were making steady progress.
Elias never missed a single session.
---
On the fourth day, Elias sat on a wooden bench in front of the storey building, enjoying a rare mont of quiet. His eyes scanned the land before him—now filled with several small buildings. It was beginning to look like a real settlent.
It’s starting to feel like sothing real, he thought.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps pulled him out of his thoughts.
He looked up.
A young man, probably in his early twenties, was walking toward him. He wore light leather gear, had weapons strapped to his back, and stayed alert even though they were still protected by the do.
Elias wasn’t surprised. He recognized the young man right away.
Garrett.
Once the scout for the caravan, known for his stealth, after the group chose to stay, Elias had appointed him as the official scout of the territory.
A few days ago, Elias had given him a specific mission.
Now, seeing him return earlier than expected, Elias gave him a warm smile.
Garrett stopped at the porch and gave a slight bow. "Lord Elias."
Elias waved him closer. "Back early today?"
Garrett nodded, his face serious.
"I found her."
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