"Hi, Selene. It's very nice to finally meet you… officially," Damien said with a warm smile.
Selene hesitated, then returned a smile of her own. It was the first genuine one he'd seen from her. Despite everything she'd been through, she felt—oddly—safe around this strange, powerful man. He didn't carry the arrogance of the mages who'd once passed through her village. There was something grounded in his presence, something… human.
"So, Sir Mage... what now?" she asked, tucking a damp strand of hair behind her ear.
Damien leaned back and exhaled. "Well, I was actually in the middle of trying to find civilization. I've been alone, lost in these forests for weeks, and I'm looking for a place I can call home for a while. There's… an important mission I have to complete before I can return to where I came from."
"A place to call home?" Selene echoed, the words tasting foreign in her mouth. "And where is this home of yours? Now that I've stopped running for my life, I've realized… I never even asked where you're from. I didn't think anyone else could possibly survive out here. Nothing lies west of here except wilderness."
Damien gave her a lopsided grin as he pulled more fruit from his inventory. "It hasn't been too bad."
Selene blinked. How could he speak of this hellscape like it was a nature trail? The wilds were infamous—deadly to even trained soldiers. Yet here he was, chatting casually like he'd been on a long camping trip.
"My village… Alto," she said quietly, "is the last known human village west of the Algarian Empire. In fact, we're so far from the Empire's borders that the king doesn't even claim us. That's partly why we've suffered so much these past few years." Her voice trailed off, pain seeping into her words.
Damien frowned, pausing before he spoke. This was the moment where things could go very wrong. He couldn't exactly tell her the truth—not unless he wanted to be thrown into a dungeon by some overzealous noble. Hell, he wouldn't believe his own story if someone else told it.
He took a breath.
"I… don't really remember where I'm from. I was in a battle with a powerful mage out east. Everything after that is hazy. When I woke up, I had no memory of my home or who I truly was. I even forgot many of my spells." He scratched the back of his head. "So, I've been wandering, hoping something might jog my memory. Maybe your village could be the first step."
Selene's eyes lit up at the mention of home, but the light quickly faded. "My village… isn't a sanctuary anymore. It's become hell. The men who chased me were part of a large bandit horde. They've raided every nearby village, taking what they want, doing what they want… and no one has stopped them."
She swallowed hard.
"We begged the Empire for help, but the nobles turned a blind eye. They won't risk their soldiers for an unclaimed village. Anyone who stood up to the bandits is dead, or too afraid to try again. I'm afraid… Alto is already lost." Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice cracked.
Damien didn't hesitate. His mind was already made up.
"Take me there."
Selene blinked. "I… I don't know how. I ran blindly into the wilds. But I know Alto lies east of their camp."
"Good enough," Damien nodded. "We'll start there. But before that, I need to make preparations. Please, rest here. I'll be back tomorrow. I'm going to gather… companions."
Selene's brow raised at the mention of companions, but before she could ask, Damien had already turned away.
Before stepping out he provided some amenities for Selene to make her more comfortable. He worked quickly and added another sand bed. A fresh water basin. The makeshift bathtub was refilled and reheated until steam curled lazily upward. Then he crafted an open-roof stone courtyard with a firepit in the center. Roots emerged from the earth, and with a flick of flame, the pit came to life. He placed four skinned rabbits on a nearby table and set a spit above the fire.
Selene stared in awe.
Without another word, Damien created a small earthen passage in the earthen dome, stepped through it, and sealed it behind him.
Outside the Dome
The stench hit him immediately—death, blood, and something worse. The two-headed, dark-purple buzzard-like beasts were already feasting. Some corpses had been dragged into the trees. Damien grimaced and raised a hand, covering the remaining bodies with layers of earth, entombing them deep below. He didn't do it out of mercy, but to prevent scavengers from gathering.
Now, there was work to be done.
He opened his system.
"System, display all known spells and show me my Status screen."
A familiar glow appeared before him.
[-STATUS-]
Host: Damien Sorlen
Hero Rank: 2
Level: Master Archmage (T:1) R:4
Divine Points: 4,723
DP per day: 1
[Skills]
Earth Magic (T:4/R:3)
Air Magic (T:4/R:2)
Water Magic (T:4/R:2)
Fire Magic (T:3/R:1)
Life Magic (T:1/R:2)
Arcane Magic (T:2/R:1)
[Combat Spells]
Mana Bolt, Mana Shield, Gust, Wind Blast, Wind Step
Soften Earth, Earth Spiked Trap, Stone Bolt
Aqua Drip, Water Shot
Firebolt, Fire Stream, Fireball
Cleaning
[Passive]
Absorption (Max), Minor Regeneration, Mana Recovery (T:3/R:7), Arcane Strengthening (Max)
[Titles]
Archmage — 50% Reduction to all Elemental Damage, +5% to all spell damage
Wonderous Elemental Archmage — +20% to elemental spell strength
Touched by the Arcane Divine — +10% to magic potency, +50% learning speed
[Shop Tabs Available]
Kingdom Building
Divine Shop
Inventory
Sentient/Creature Creation
Map
"System, recommend spells for long travel, defense, and support. I also need competent companions to assist me."
[System Response:]
At Hero Rank 2, advanced structures and unit creation unlocked. The host may now summon Middle-Age–era units. Kingdom Building tab requires 100 followers before activation. Recommended spells for current goals:
Divine Transmutation (1,500 DP) — Transforms materials into new forms or creatures using DNA and system-bound templates.
Divine Skill Imbue (1,500 DP) — Grants companions system-assisted passive or active skills based on their innate traits.
Recommendation: Purchase both spells and summon a basic squad to secure travel.
Damien didn't hesitate. "Purchase both spells."
[-3,000 DP. Remaining: 1,723]
"Now… recruit the following:
1 Ranged Commander
1 Duel-Wield Commander
2 Hunters
1 Archer
2 Fighters
1 Knight
1 Novice Mage"
Over the next forty-five minutes, they appeared, one after another—fully human, varied in race and physique. Some were lean and swift, others tall and powerful. The two commanders stood out immediately.
The Ranged Commander, Dulan, was sharp-eyed and quiet, built like a long-distance runner. The Duel-Wield Commander, Bartus, was stocky, scarred, and radiated calm lethality. The mage—Attis—was thin, scholarly, and curious.
They knelt before Damien in unison.
"Your will, my lord." Bartus asked.
Damien smiled. "We begin a journey in a few days Tonight, we rest. Then... we find a village in need of saving."
p>As Damien inspected his newly summoned forces, he couldn't help but feel the weight of what he had just done. Nine individuals, fully sentient, living and breathing, had now entered the world at his command. The sun crested the horizon, bathing the clearing in golden warmth, and for the first time since arriving on this savage planet, Damien felt like a leader—an actual figure of power, responsibility, and purpose.
Each of the summoned stood silently, eyes forward. They didn't speak unless addressed. The system had said they would be loyal—but this level of reverence unnerved him a little. Not just obedience. Worship. He looked to the Duel-Wield Commander, Bartus, who stood like a wall of muscle and scarred experience, a man whose gaze pierced with the weight of dozens of battles. Beside him, Dulan, the Ranged Commander, was lean and deadly with sharp gray eyes that missed nothing. Even standing still, Dulan seemed coiled, as if ready to fire himself like an arrow across the battlefield.
"You're all real," Damien muttered under his breath. "Living, breathing warriors created by a god's system… and I'm the only one who knows how insane that is."
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alright. We've got a long journey ahead. But first, let's get you armed and armored. Then… we move."
Before he could issue the next command, he opened the **Divine Shop**, a glowing interface appearing before him in a language only he could understand—but that somehow, still made perfect sense. He scrolled past several submenus until he found the gear he was looking for. The system didn't offer ornate armor of legend or enchanted relics—yet. What it did offer were practical, high-durability weapons and armor based on historical blueprints. Everything from Roman legionnaire gear to Viking war axes, and medieval chainmail.
He equipped the commanders first—Bartus with dual swords and plated leather reinforced with bronze, and Dulan with a dark green longcloak, a powerful yew longbow, and a backup curved dagger.
The rest of the troops were outfitted with chainmail vests, hardened leather boots, iron swords, hunting knives, bows, quivers, and supplies. Attis, the Novice Mage, was given a basic spellcasting staff of ironwood, a focus crystal at the top humming faintly with latent power. Damien added a reinforced spellbook pouch and a cloak lined with runic stitching to keep the elements at bay.
He burned through 1,280 DP equipping everyone. With only 340 DP remaining, he made a note to replenish his pool soon.
As the men trained briefly in formation—practicing small-unit tactics, bow firing drills, and hand-to-hand maneuvers—Damien wandered away, feeling the pull of curiosity from the surrounding world. The landscape beyond the clearing sloped into mist-shrouded valleys, where massive stone spires jutted like broken bones from the earth. He climbed a high ridge, taking in the view. Miles away, he spotted what looked like ruined towers overgrown with vines and moss, their silhouettes barely visible against the skyline.
"Ruins…" he whispered. "This place has a history."
He wondered what had stood there before. A fortress? A mage's sanctum? An outpost of some forgotten empire? His mind spun with possibilities. And far beyond, beyond the veil of morning fog, he saw glimmers of rooftops—someplace inhabited. Maybe it was Alto. Maybe something more sinister.
---
Later that evening, the camp came alive with motion. Selene emerged from the dome, now dressed and properly rested, her eyes going wide at the sight of the armored soldiers. For a moment, she froze, panic flashing across her features—but then she noticed how the men stood deferentially near Damien. Not cruel. Not callous. Professional. Focused. Warriors… not butchers.
"You… summoned them?" she asked, her voice small but steady.
Damien gave a nod. "Let's just say the system gives me access to certain tools. And I'm going to use every single one to survive—and to help."
She looked around. "They look like knights of old… but different. Their eyes don't wander. There's… discipline."
"They're mine," Damien said, quietly. "Not in the way a slaver owns a body. They serve me by choice. Or… divine programming. I don't know exactly. But I made a promise to protect you. And now I intend to protect your village, too."
---
That night, by the fire pit under the stars, the group shared a quiet meal. Skinned rabbit roasted over open flames, fruits Damien gathered, and clean water from the basin. Selene laughed softly for the first time in ages as she watched Bartus teach Attis how to split wood with nothing but a boot and a glare. Dulan drew a rough map into the dirt using a stick, coordinating ideas about possible paths eastward.
Selene looked over at Damien. "If you're trying to build a home, you might've just taken your first step."
He gave her a thoughtful smile. "One village at a time."
---
As the night wore on and stars blanketed the sky, Damien sat away from the group, staring into the fire. He opened his status screen again, studying the **Kingdom Building** tab. His mind filled with visions: walls rising from stone, houses built by magic, marketplaces lit by mana-lanterns. A city… no, a sanctuary. A kingdom of his own, built from ashes and divine will.
He didn't just want to survive this world. He wanted to reshape it. Not as a tyrant. Not as a conqueror. But as something greater.
"Selene's village is only the beginning," he whispered. "If no one else will protect the forgotten, then I will. With an army… and a kingdom of my own. I WILL make it home!"