News spread quickly through the town of a looming threat. The emperor's forces were advancing, and with them came a figure both feared and whispered about in hushed tones: Kaelen, the Blood General. His name carried weight; Kaelen meant "mighty warrior" in an ancient tongue, a fitting title for someone capable of manipulating blood itself, twisting it like clay to harm or protect. Stories claimed he could stop a river of blood midstream or command an army with a single drop of it. Now, that man was marching toward Salvus's town.
Salvus learned of Kaelen's approach while helping clean the café after closing. The villagers spoke in fearful murmurs, glancing anxiously at the horizon. Salvus's heart thumped loudly. He had power now, yes, but this was Kaelen—an opponent of unimaginable skill. He had never faced someone like him, not in his world, and certainly not here.
"I have to try," Salvus muttered to himself, a sense of determination settling over his exhaustion. His hands tingled as he flexed them under the dim candlelight. Electricity pulsed faintly, responsive to his thoughts even before he fully understood it.
When Kaelen arrived, he did not come alone. His soldiers moved in precise formation, their movements coordinated with uncanny skill. The Blood General's eyes were cold, almost black, reflecting nothing but strategy and lethal intent. Yet when he fell upon Salvus, he noticed something unexpected: the electricity radiating from Salvus, the way he held his stance—it reminded him of his own family. Kaelen's mind flickered. Only my bloodline has this kind of power, he thought. This is… unusual.
Salvus stepped forward, palms sparking slightly as he prepared to defend the villagers. "I won't let you hurt them," he said, voice steadier than he felt.
Kaelen studied him silently, his piercing gaze assessing every movement. "You are strange," he finally said. "While everyone else runs, you stand your ground. Perhaps… there is potential in you I have not seen before." His tone carried both caution and curiosity. Though he did not know who Salvus truly was, the powers he displayed were unmistakable—powers that, to Kaelen, were only ever seen in his own family.
The battle began. Electricity and blood collided in a surreal dance. Salvus struggled to control his newfound powers, but Kaelen moved with precision, testing him without lethality. Every strike, every spark, was a lesson; every dodge, a revelation. Despite being outmatched, Salvus refused to yield. The townspeople watched in awe and terror, whispering prayers as they observed a struggle that seemed almost mythic.
Finally, Kaelen paused, stepping back to survey Salvus. His expression softened slightly, more in wonder than kindness. "I will not kill you," he declared. "There is a fire in you… a courage that I did not expect." He lowered his gaze and motioned for his soldiers to hold. "You may live. Your power… it is not common. Perhaps our paths will cross again."
Salvus, panting and still tingling with electricity, stared at Kaelen. He did not fully understand the meaning behind the general's words, but he sensed an unspoken recognition in Kaelen's eyes, though it was not yet clear why. Somewhere, beneath the surface of their encounter, the threads of fate had already begun to weave together.
As Kaelen and his army departed, the villagers cautiously approached, murmuring thanks and awe. Salvus's heart still raced, yet beneath it all, a strange sense of hope began to grow. He had faced a force far greater than himself and survived—not by strength alone, but by standing his ground, by refusing to succumb to fear.
That night, as he sat alone in the café after hours, Salvus flexed his hands again. Sparks danced lightly along his fingers, reminding him that his journey had only begun. Power had been awakened within him, yes, but so had responsibility. And in the distance, beyond the quiet town, Kaelen's words echoed in his mind: "There is a fire in you…"
Salvus realized then that this was not merely a fight for survival—it was the beginning of something far greater, a test of courage, wit, and the strength of his heart.