Forging A Demon Empire

Chapter 2

Human’s and their Gods I didn’t believe it but now me dead and living in this, this human body of all things. This all had to be a sick joke and I had been sent to purgatory for all my sins I don’t know what else it could be.

I plunged the pitchfork in the ground and looked at my soiled hands. Rebirth that’s what this was but nothing had changed for me in my time being here. Repetitive actions continued day in and night. I was even looking forward now of getting mom’s cooking tonight by mortal standards it would be the best.

How pathetic was I? From being the  Lord of the world to now a simple farmer trying to please his dad and mom.

 I was  weak and hated working on this farm. I rubbed my face as the sunset. Nothing in this village told me where I was. These villagers were all clueless and fearful of stupid superstitions. Don’t go to the forest at night are the trolls will eat you. The only reason I didn’t explore further was because this mortal body would not hold up well to attacks and a lack of trust in my own ability. My glance dropped from the sky to the people in the surrounding fields. I don’t suppose I would get another rebirth if I died out there. What in the world could be even worse than a human? It might be better to die than this sheer boredom.

A hand brushed my back. I turned to see Seth behind me.

 “Oh, it’s you, big brother,” I said putting a smile on my face.

“Yes,” he smirked, “You were observing me earlier by the river this morning?”

He had noticed my presence. “I was just worried about what you were doing big brother.”

Seth placed his hand on my shoulder. “Reno, I need to be a hero… I am practicing to be a hero.”

“A hero,” I restated. “Is that why the other villagers were training with you too?”

He nodded. “Adventurers are coming here within a year’s time. Father had told me to handle the Trolls and there King. The village is collecting money to compensate for it.”

Adventurers, this is good perhaps they would be able to help me strengthen this human body.

“I will crush the trolls too, Seth,” I replied raising both my arms towards the sky.

Seth chuckled. “Let’s go home for now before mom worries about why we are out so late with the whole village worried about the Trolls.”

Seth and I walked from the field towards our home as it darkened. Villagers rushed to get inside, others offered tribute of goats guiding them to the forest.

It was natural for the weak to fear the things they don’t understand but to appease it would only bring further issue.

The Troll King, what a laughable name.

*

I woke finding Seth missing from the top bunk above me and sliding out of the bed my mother was fast asleep. Father had probably headed out early to start working in the village. There was no real set task and most villagers helped out in a variety of ways where they could with menial task. Father, where did this man get the energy? He came home late while mother stood up for him yet was the first to leave and work so hard for the village. What was the point for something that didn’t matter anyway?

I passed mothers dividers and headed through the door. I knew she was worried about him but never once did she say it out right. Seth had told me that father was one of the few villagers on patrol at night. It was all to stop the troll huh.

I headed towards the river and hid behind a tree. Seth was gripping his wooden sword in hand, swinging it crudely. I stumbled from behind the tree and into his view.

I had to get stronger.

Seth glanced at me for a while. “Reno, do you wish to learn?”

 “Yes.”

Seth took a stance, his front leg extended and both his hands held his sword in the air. He then shifted from high to low and his legs moved in unions as he moved forward.

 “It’s your turn now, Reno,” he handed me the sword.

Holding it in my hand, I realized how worn and often he had used it. We continued training for a while longer until it burdened my hand to swing the sword.

Seth chuckled. “Come back tomorrow when you get some rest besides you still have to deal with the farm.”

“Will there be others too?”

“The people have to protect themselves.”

I nodded and walked away, back to the village as Seth continued to train.

If I practiced dark magic in the village, they might get suspicious, even regular spells not tipped in my darkness might be off.

I stopped midway in the forest before turning left. I counted the paces in my head.

“This should be far enough,” I muttered.

I took a deep breath as I looked  up at the tree.

“Dark arrow,” I called while aiming at the tree. There was a pause before it manifested.

 It loosed, passing the tree. My mana drained as I aimed for another one.  Feeling the strain upon my body a cough caught my attention.

 “Who’s there?” I called, sensing an ominous aura in the air.

A young girl popped herself out of the bush her eyes held desire. “How did you do that, Reno?”

I took a stance and readied the last of my mana. “Who are you?”

The girl came into view: it was the elder’s granddaughter, Caremlia.

 “You don’t remember me, and you’re out here doing magic. Where did you---.”

“It’s not what it looks like. I can explain, I only realized---.”

 Caremlia paused as she looked from me to the tree. “Can you teach me Reno how to do magic like that?”

I clenched my fist behind my back. How many more people would find out this secret? Should I kill her?