Chapter 15 Seeds of Doubt

He stood up from the chair, stretching slightly as his mind turned over the situation. The seer was clever, but not clever enough.

This world was full of opportunities to exploit, and the villagers' growing distrust was a tool to be used.

"System," he said, his voice low with purpose. "Can you influence them?"

[I can, but only in small ways. I draw on your power, and with your true body so far away, what I can do is... limited. However, the faith we've gathered should be enough to sway them slightly.]

"Alright," he muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Let's make this interesting, then."

He moved toward the window, gazing out at the village, which still buzzed with the rumors and fear planted by the old man.

The villagers' once-unwavering trust in him was now a fragile thing, hovering on the edge of suspicion. But that, he realized, was the key. Fear was just as potent a weapon as loyalty—it was simply a matter of reshaping it.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the village as he stepped outside. A soft breeze stirred the air, rustling leaves and carrying faint whispers of unease. The villagers moved quietly, their steps measured, their eyes darting toward him as if waiting for a sign. Suspicion and curiosity rippled through them, fueled by the seer's ominous warnings.

He didn't need to act yet. The tension would do the work for him.

He strolled toward the village square, his steps deliberate and unhurried. Eyes followed him, their gazes heavy with expectation. Every movement, every breath, seemed to heighten the collective anticipation.

He reached the edge of the square, pausing in the shadows where the seer had delivered his warning earlier. He stood still, letting the silence speak for him.

A soft chime echoed in his mind.

[A group of villagers is approaching. They are beginning to question the seer's claims. Would you like a suggestion?]

His lips curled into a faint smile. "No need," he murmured. "I'll handle this."

A middle-aged man stepped forward, clutching a bundle of herbs in his hands. Lines of worry etched his face, and his voice wavered as he spoke. "My lord... we heard what the seer said. We're not sure... what to believe anymore."

The man's words hung in the air, heavy with doubt. Around him, other villagers gathered, their eyes wide, their murmurs growing. The seeds of fear had been sown, and now they waited for direction—his direction.

He regarded the man with a steady gaze, his expression calm. "The seer speaks many words," he said, his voice smooth, measured. "But have you ever wondered why? Does he offer you answers, or only feed your doubts?"

The man blinked, his grip on the herbs tightening. "What are you saying?"

A faint smirk played at his lips. "I'm saying that fear is a powerful tool. It blinds, it binds, and it silences. And those who wield it often have the most to hide."

The crowd shifted uneasily, their whispers growing louder. His words struck a chord, each one peeling back layers of uncertainty.

"Think about it," he continued, his tone soft but commanding. "The seer urges you to fear me. He casts suspicion without proof. Ask yourselves this—what does he gain by making you distrust the one who saved you?"

The villagers exchanged glances, their expressions wavering. The once-strong grip of the seer's words began to falter.

A younger man, bold but hesitant, stepped forward. "But... but he said you were a dark mage. That you're dangerous."

He tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "Dangerous? Perhaps. But tell me, has anything I've done harmed you? I didn't ask for your trust. I didn't demand your loyalty. Yet, here I stand, still offering you my aid."

The younger man hesitated, his conviction cracking.

"And the seer," he pressed, his voice rising just enough to reach the back of the crowd. "What has he done for you? Has he saved your lives? Your homes? Or has he only filled your minds with fear and doubt?"

Silence fell over the square. The villagers were no longer looking at him with suspicion. Instead, they glanced at one another, their uncertainty shifting, their thoughts unraveling the seer's hold.

The system chimed again.

[The villagers' skepticism toward the seer is increasing. Emotional intensity is rising.]

He let the moment linger, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. Finally, he spoke, his voice firm yet reassuring. "Fear may protect you for a moment, but trust builds a foundation. The choice is yours—remain shackled by doubt, or rise above it. I'll still be here, offering you the chance to decide for yourselves."

As he turned and walked back toward his home, the murmurs behind him grew louder. 

The system's voice echoed once more.

[The villagers are beginning to see you as a figure of wisdom. The seer's influence is waning.]

 ...

Days had passed since he'd settled into the village, life feeling almost normal—until the knock on his door broke the quiet.

He opened it. A young woman stood there, holding a basket of fruit. She was the daughter of the man he'd saved—the same one who wanted to offere his wife to him in gratitude.

"Girl, what are you here for again?" His voice was low, curious.

She barely reached his shoulders, standing before him with wide eyes, filled with a mixture of awe and something deeper.

"My lord," she said, her voice soft, almost reverent. "I've brought these for you."

He glanced at the basket, but his attention was on her. Every time she came, she brought something. Gifts, tokens—she never seemed to stop. Each visit was the same, her eyes locked on him with a quiet intensity that unsettled him, though he didn't show it.

An idea came to him, slow but certain. He gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. There was something about her devotion—so eager, so unquestioning—that sparked an interest.

"Come inside," he said, his tone smooth, inviting.

She hesitated for a brief moment, but his gaze made her move without question. She stepped over the threshold, eyes still on him like she feared looking away might anger him.

Once she was inside, the door clicked shut softly behind her.

"Place the basket on the table," he said, his eyes still on her as she followed his words without hesitation.

Her hands were trembling slightly as she set the basket down, though her eyes never left him, as if she was waiting for him to decide what came next. There was something in the way she stood—nervous, yes, but also expectant, as if simply being in his presence was enough for her.

"Stay a moment," he added, his voice low, though not unkind.

The girl nodded quickly, her expression eager.

He didn't speak for a while, simply watching her. She was looking at him the way one might look at something greater—something unreachable. She didn't question, didn't doubt. And that, he thought, could be useful.

He finally broke the silence.

"You come every day. Why?"

She blinked, caught off guard by the question, but quickly composed herself. "I... I want to honor you, my lord."

Honor. The word echoed in his mind. She was offering herself up on a silver platter, and she didn't even realize it.

He took a step closer, watching her face carefully. She didn't flinch. Her gaze didn't waver.

"You know nothing of honor," he said quietly. "But I think I can teach you."

Her breath hitched, her pulse quickening.

"Come closer," he commanded.

She obeyed immediately, her movements slow but deliberate.

The air between them felt charged now, heavy with something unspoken. She stood too close, yet too far, like a follower waiting for a sign. The silence stretched on, thick with tension.

He reached out, brushing his fingers lightly over the basket of fruit, his touch brushing against hers. She didn't pull away.

"You'll do something for me," he murmured.

Her heart raced, eyes wide, already nodding.

"Anything, my lord," she whispered.

The days that followed were quiet, but not without purpose. He had a role to play, and he played it well.

In the mornings, he would walk through the village, his tall figure casting a long shadow over the simple folk who stopped to bow their heads in respect. His words were carefully chosen, his demeanor calculated. He offered advice to farmers struggling with their crops, shared stories with the children who giggled at his exaggerated expressions, and even spent hours helping rebuild a damaged fence for a widow.

To the villagers, he was a beacon of hope—a man who seemed too pure, too noble, to be touched by the grime of the world.

To her, he was something more.

The girl watched him every chance she got, her wide eyes filled with an unshakable reverence. She followed him like a shadow, carrying baskets of food, water, or anything else she thought he might need. He never turned her away. Instead, he smiled—a small, kind smile that made her chest tighten with a mix of pride and awe.

One evening, as he returned home, he found her waiting outside his door again, her hands clasped tightly around another offering. This time, it was a bundle of fresh herbs.

"My lord," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "I thought these might be of use to you. They're for... healing."

He looked down at her, his expression softening in a way that seemed natural. "Thank you," he said, taking the herbs from her hands. "You're thoughtful, as always."

Her cheeks flushed at the praise, and she lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze. "I only want to serve you, my lord. You've done so much for us... for me."

He tilted his head, studying her for a moment. "Do you truly believe that?"

She lifted her eyes, the intensity in them catching even him off guard. "Of course. You've brought light to this village. You've saved us. There's nothing you could do that wouldn't be right."

Her unwavering faith was almost amusing. He reached out, placing a hand gently on her shoulder. She froze, her breath hitching as if the touch itself was a blessing.

"You place too much trust in me," he said softly. "But I'll do my best to be worthy of it."

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She simply nodded, her expression one of utter devotion.

Inside, he smirked. Outside, he remained the picture of humility.

"Come in," he said after a moment, stepping aside to let her enter. "Let's talk."

"So, Nora," he began, his voice calm but laced with curiosity as he settled into the chair across from her. "What do you know about the Seer?"

Nora blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress before answering. "Uh... the Seer... he's been here for a very long time. Almost 60, maybe even 80 years."

"Hmm," he murmured thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair.

"And what does he do, exactly, as the village Seer?"

She tilted her head, as if searching for the right words. "He... he helps us. Predicts the weather, warns us when bad times are coming. He's guided us through famines and storms. He even told the elders when the river would flood last year. And… people say he can see souls."

"See souls?" His brow lifted slightly, his tone more intrigued than skeptical. "What does that mean?"

Nora's cheeks flushed faintly. "I don't know everything, but... they say he can sense what's in a person's heart. Their true nature. Whether they're good or bad."

"Interesting." He tapped a finger against the arm of his chair, his expression unreadable. "And how accurate are his predictions? Has he ever been wrong?"

She hesitated, as though she didn't want to admit any flaws in the Seer's reputation. "Well… sometimes. Like when he said we'd have a long winter, but it ended early. But he's right most of the time!"

"Most of the time," he repeated softly, his gaze falling to the floor. "And when he's wrong, what happens then? Do people question him?"

Nora shook her head quickly. "No, never! The elders say it's the will of the gods when he's wrong. That the Seer only tells what he's shown."

He let out a quiet sigh, as if in contemplation, then leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. "It's admirable how much trust this village places in him," he said, his voice warm, almost wistful. "But let me ask you this: has the Seer ever done anything tangible for the village? Anything that doesn't involve just... words?"

Her brows knit together, her confusion evident. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said slowly, "does he act? When famine strikes, does he help grow food? When sickness spreads, does he heal? When danger comes, does he protect?"

She hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "Well... no. But that's not his role. He's a guide, not a—"

"A guide," he interrupted gently, "who watches as others suffer. Who speaks of danger but doesn't lift a finger to stop it. Tell me, Nora, is that what you call help?"

Her lips parted, but no sound came out. She seemed caught between the faith she'd been raised with and the cracks his words were creating.

"Think about it," he continued, his tone firm but not unkind. "If the Seer truly cared about this village, why wouldn't he use his gifts to do more? Predicting problems is easy. Solving them—that's what truly matters."

"But… he's wise," she whispered, her voice faltering.

"And wisdom without action," he said, leaning back with a faint smile, "is little more than empty words."

Her hands gripped her knees, her face pale with doubt. He allowed the silence to stretch, knowing it would do more to unsettle her than anything he could say. Finally, he rose, crossing the room to stand by the window.

"Nora," he said without turning, his voice now calm and contemplative. "I want you to ask yourself this: what has the Seer truly done for this village? Not what he's said, not what others believe, but what he's done."

The weight of his words hung in the air as Nora stared at the floor, her mind clearly racing.

"And when you find the answer," he said, his tone softening, "come back and tell me."

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with confusion. "I… I will," she whispered.

"Good," he said, finally turning to her with a small, reassuring smile. "Now go home. You've been thoughtful enough for one evening."

As the door clicked shut behind Nora, he remained standing by the window, his gaze fixed on the darkened horizon. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.

"Fools," he muttered, shaking his head. "This is just the beginning. The seeds of doubt have been planted..."

His eyes gleamed with a sharp, calculating light as he turned away from the window, his voice a low murmur to himself.

"Let's see how long the Seer's wisdom can hold against Me."