Chapter 4 Arrival in Rotengen

Rotengen was a city in despair, its once-vibrant streets now shadows of their former glory. The bandits had turned it into their stronghold, ruling with a mix of fear and bloodshed. The leader, Rurik, was a man feared for his cruelty. The people of Rotengen had learned to keep their heads down, to survive by blending into the background. But all that was about to change.

Lenny had arrived in Rotengen weeks ago. Disguised as a traveling merchant, he kept a low profile, his golden hair was hidden beneath a hood, his eyes keen and calculating as he studied the bandits every move.

The turning point came on a cold, misty morning. Word spread quickly through the alleys that Rurik had captured a noblewoman attempting to escape the city. The execution was set for noon in the city square, a public spectacle designed to crush any lingering hope. The people gathered, their faces etched with resignation and fear. In the center of the square, a crude wooden scaffold had been erected, and atop it stood the young woman, her hands bound, her face pale but defiant.

Lenny slipped through the crowd, his eyes never leaving the platform. He could feel the tension building, a sense of desperation in the air. He knew this was his moment."The majestic prince saves the day heheh" he sneered inside.

As the executioner raised his axe, Lenny stepped forward. "Stop!" he shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. The crowd parted like water, and all eyes turned to him. He threw back his hood, revealing his face. His golden hair caught the light, and his blue eyes burned with a cold fire.

"Drop your weapon," he declared, his voice resonating through the square, "I'm prince Martin Obelia the last of the royal line. I come to claim justice for the people of Rotengen!"

Rurik, standing nearby, sneered. "And what justice would a prince know? This is our city now, and we do as we please."

Lenny's lips curled. "Then let's see if your will is stronger than mine."

As Rurik's men advanced, Lenny raised his hand, and the air around him seemed to shimmer. Dark tendrils of mana snaked out from his fingers, twisting and coiling through the air like living shadows. They struck the bandits like vipers, wrapping around their arms and legs, dragging them to the ground. Their screams filled the square, a symphony of terror and pain.

The people gasped and stepped back, but Lenny's voice cut through the chaos like a knife. "This is your justice!" he roared, his voice echoing off the buildings. "You who prey on the weak, who murder in the dark, who think yourselves above the law—I will show you what it means to face true power."

With a flick of his wrist, the tendrils tightened, and the bandits fell to their knees, their weapons clattering to the cobblestones. Rurik watched, his confidence wavering as his men were effortlessly subdued.

"You think your tricks will save you?" Rurik snarled, drawing a dagger from his belt. "I'll gut you like the dog you are."

Lenny's eyes were cold and hard. "You will try."

Rurik lunged, but Lenny was faster. He sidestepped the attack with a fluid grace, his hand glowing with a soft blue light. He thrust it forward, and a shockwave of energy exploded from his palm, sending Rurik crashing into the scaffold. The wood splintered under the impact, and the executioner toppled over, dropping his axe in surprise.

The crowd gasped, some daring to hope. Rurik, dazed but not defeated, staggered to his feet. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, but his eyes were filled with rage. "I'll kill you!" he screamed, charging again.

Lenny moved with the precision of a predator. He raised his hand, and a wall of dark energy sprang up before him. Rurik's dagger glanced off the barrier, his momentum carrying him forward. Lenny sidestepped once more, and with a swift motion, he brought his hand down. The barrier shattered into shards of mana, which rained down like knives, piercing Rurik's flesh. He howled in pain, dropping to his knees.

Lenny stood over him, his expression cold and unyielding. "Your reign of terror is over," he said quietly. He reached down, grabbing Rurik by the collar, and dragged him to the edge of the scaffold.

"People of Rotengen," Lenny called out, his voice carrying over the hushed crowd. "This man has tormented you for too long. It is time for you to take back your city. I give you Rurik. Do with him as you will."

He threw Rurik into the crowd, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, a stone flew from the crowd, striking Rurik in the head. Another followed, and then another. Soon, the people were pelting him with stones, their fear replaced by a fury that had been suppressed for far too long. Rurik's screams were drowned out by the roar of the crowd, their anger and pain finally finding release.

When it was over, Lenny stood in the center of the square, the young noblewoman beside him. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and a newfound hope. "Thank you my lord," she whispered. "You saved us." Her eyes teary.

Lenny nodded. "Rotengen is free," he declared, his voice firm. "But freedom is only the beginning. I will stay and help. I will lead you, not as a prince, but as one of you. Together, we will bring peace and prosperity back to this city."

The crowd erupted in cheers, their voices echoing through the streets. The noblewoman knelt before him. "I have no family, no home," she said. "Let me serve you, my lord. I will give you everything I have."

Lenny smiled, lifting her to her feet. "Rise," he said softly."

As night fell, Lenny stood on the balcony of the former bandit stronghold, now his new seat of power. Below him, the fires of celebration burned bright, casting long shadows on the walls. He knew this was just the beginning. The city needed order, defenses, and most importantly, a reason to hope again.

But in his heart, a darkness still stirred. Lenny knew that his methods were brutal, his magic a weapon of fear as much as protection. Yet, he also understood that in a world so broken, sometimes fear was necessary to reclaim what had been lost.

"I will be the shadow that shields you," he murmured to himself, watching the flames dance.