Lies, betrayals and revenge… Am I the villain?

The afternoon was slowly fading, painting the sky a soft orange. Magic training had ended for the day, and Raz remained with Alzareth, still in the practice field. The sparks from the last spell still flickered faintly on the struck dummy, but now the atmosphere felt more relaxed.

Raz turned to the Supreme Mage with his usual calm smile, though inwardly he was burning with curiosity.

—"Alzareth… can I ask you one more question?"

—"Always, boy," the mage replied while adjusting his robe and gently examining the staff.

—"It's about the slaves… Can't they rebel against their masters?"

Alzareth let out a short huff and snapped his fingers. One of the maids who was still cleaning the area approached immediately.

—"Show him your slave mark."

The young woman nodded silently and lowered her right sleeve slightly, revealing a complex magical mark engraved into her skin just below the shoulder. It was a circular seal with softly glowing magical runes surrounding her arm — visible only when the master ordered it.

Raz narrowed his eyes with interest.

—"That's… quite convenient."

—"It is," Alzareth affirmed. "These marks are magically bound to the master. The slave cannot raise a hand against their owner or disobey a direct order. If they try, the seal activates and causes pain or paralysis, depending on the obedience level imposed."

Raz crossed his arms.

—"And do they have any rights? Or can the masters do whatever they want?"

The Supreme Mage sighed.

—"In theory, there are 'minimum regulations'… but truthfully, masters can do as they please. I've seen slaves beaten daily, left without food or water, sleeping on the floor or even outside in the rain. Here in the castle, we're practically saints in comparison."

—"Saints?"

—"Yes," he said with an ironic tone. "We give them rooms. They work in shifts. While some sleep, others serve. Then they rotate. It's a functional… efficient system."

Raz observed him silently for a moment, then gave a soft, ironically loaded smile.

—"How thoughtful of you… such good people."

Alzareth let out a dry laugh.

—"Don't be mistaken. We're not good. We're just too busy to care about their lives. Besides," he added with a cold, almost clinical tone, "slaves are not people. They're resources. If they stop being useful, they're replaced. You can do whatever you want with them — work them to death, experiment on their bodies, beat them… even sleep with them, if you like. No one will question it."

Raz looked down, still smiling, but now with a darker edge.

—" I feel sorry for them… but tell me, could I have one?"

Alzareth looked at him with mild surprise.

—"Why would you want one?"

Raz averted his eyes with his usual evasive smile.

—"Do I really need to say it?"

Alzareth burst out laughing and gave him a pat on the shoulder.

—"Hahaha! No need, boy. I get it. I'll pay for it. You'll just need an escort to go into the city. You won't go alone."

—"Thank you very much," Raz replied with a slight nod.

—"When do you want to go?"

—"When can I?"

—"Tomorrow. I don't have time to assign you an escort today… it's already late."

Just then, Lili and Susan appeared behind them, walking tiredly but curiously.

—"An escort?" Susan asked, raising an eyebrow.

—"Why do you need an escort, Raz?" Lili added.

Raz kept his usual smile and said:

—"Oh, well… uh… I was recommended a fantastic restaurant in the city and I need someone to guide me! They say the desserts are amazing!"

Susan gave him a mix of suspicion and resignation.

—"A restaurant?"

—"Yes, yes… you know, I'm craving something sweet," he laughed.

To his surprise, Alzareth backed him up without hesitation.

—"That's right. He wants to try the local cuisine. He mentioned it to me just a moment ago."

Both girls accepted the explanation without further questions, though they weren't entirely convinced.

—"Can we go back to the castle to bathe and rest a bit?" Susan asked directly.

Raz looked them over from head to toe and smiled.

—"You definitely should. You're a mess: covered in bruises, sweaty, disheveled… you look like you survived a war."

—"No wonder!" Lili protested. "We did squats, push-ups, sit-ups, endless running, and then sword practice!"

Susan nodded seriously.

—"They had us running laps until we were out of breath. Then weightlifting, combat stances, grip technique… and finally, we were forced to fight."

—"And that's not all," Lili added, sorely. "They made me dodge wooden sword strikes! I couldn't tell if it was training or an execution!"

Raz laughed heartily, amused by the mental image.

—"What a day! I wasn't expecting it to be that intense."

—"And you…" Susan looked him over. "Why aren't you as exhausted as us?"

Raz shrugged.

—"I was practicing how to sense and channel my magical energy. It was more… mental. Less physical."

—"And do you have strong magic?" Lili asked curiously.

—"Not at all. In fact… I'm the weakest of all," he said with an embarrassed smile.

—"It's true," Alzareth chimed in. "His magic level is currently low. But as a summoned hero, his potential could be hidden. We still don't know how he'll evolve."

—"Maybe one day I'll become the strongest," Raz said jokingly.

—"Maybe," Alzareth replied, arms crossed. "Though that day seems far off."

Raz laughed even more.

—"Alright, then go, bathe, relax. You've earned it. I'll stay a bit longer with the Supreme Mage."

—"See you later," both girls said as they walked back toward the castle.

A Personal Request

Once the girls were out of sight, Raz returned to a more serious tone.

—"Alzareth… can I ask you one last favor? Could you see if Vaelis can accompany me to the slave market tomorrow?"

The mage looked up and frowned.

—"I'm not sure. Vaelis doesn't usually do those kinds of tasks. He'll probably refuse."

—"Please," Raz insisted with a smile. "I'd feel more comfortable if it were him."

Alzareth thought for a moment.

—"I'll do what I can. But you'll have to wait for my answer. I'll speak to him… and to the king. The permission must come from the crown."

—"I really appreciate it. Truly."

—"I'll consider it."

—"Perfect. I'll head back now. Thanks again for all the training, Alzareth. If you need anything, I'll be in my room."

—"See you tomorrow, Raz."

And so, the young man walked back toward the castle at a relaxed pace. But once he was gone, Alzareth adopted a more serious expression, took his staff, and headed directly to the king's chambers.

Once before him, he bowed and spoke gravely.

—"Your Majesty… I've come to report something. The hero Raz… only has level 1 magic. It's possible his level may increase in the future, but for now, that's all… Level 1. And it should be taken into consideration."

The king remained silent.

On the other hand

Ras closed the door behind him

Raz remained still for a few seconds, letting out a long sigh. Then, he removed the light training tunic, let it fall over a chair, and lay down on his bed, arms crossed behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling.

"So… everyone here is a slave."

He frowned slightly, recalling Alzareth's words—his cold, almost contemptuous tone, as if human beings were mere tools to be used and discarded.

"I knew it… from the beginning. From the moment they summoned us without even telling us their names. That artificial hospitality… the king's smile… it all reeks of hypocrisy."

He turned on his side, looking at the corner where he had left his practice sword.

"I thought this world would be better than mine… a world of magic, of opportunities… but in the end, it's just the same—or worse."

He slowly sat up and walked over to the table where the map he had requested from the king was resting. His hand brushed over the rolled-up parchment, but before opening it, his mind wandered again.

"Level 1..."

He clenched his fists.

" It doesn't matter bacause I know I have power. Now everyone thinks I'm the weakest. I'm sure Alzareth ran straight to tell the king. It's a chain reaction… and I can't give them a reason to attack first."

He turned his head, his gaze sharp.

"I need to seek more power. I need more blood, more magic, more abilities. I may appear weak to them, but I know what I really am."

Just as he was about to unroll the map, someone knocked on the door.

—"Hero Raz, dinner is served."

—"I'll be right there," he replied, recovering his cordial tone.

He took a breath and put his tunic back on, fixing himself up in the mirror. As he left the room, he murmured to himself:

—"After dinner, I'll study that map… and begin crafting the real plan."

As he walked through the castle halls, his gaze drifted toward the corner where he had drunk the maid's blood the night before. There were no guards, no comments, no signs anyone had even noticed.

"Interesting… not a single word. I guess Alzareth was right: if they're slaves, no one cares about them. If they die or disappear… no one notices."

Upon arriving at the dining room, he saw the royal family already seated. Susan and Lili were also there, chatting with each other. Alzareth sat at one end, wearing his usual air of silent authority. Vaelis, as always, stood behind the king with his unreadable expression.

—"Ah, Raz, just in time," said the king in a friendly tone. "Please, take a seat."

Raz nodded politely and sat down with his usual characteristic smile.

The servants began serving the dishes, and as always, the atmosphere turned formal, though beneath that elegant mask, a subtle tension lingered.

—"Well then…" the king said, breaking the silence, "How was training today?"

Lili spoke first, waving her hands animatedly as she spoke with both exhaustion and enthusiasm.

—"It was exhausting! They made us run non-stop, do squats, sit-ups, push-ups… and then fight with swords! I didn't even know how to hold one!"

The royal family smiled slightly at her spontaneity.

Susan spoke next, with a more reserved tone.

—"The training was intense, but effective. Ser Gaius knows what he's doing. Though honestly… I didn't expect it to be so demanding from day one."

—"That speaks well of your commitment," the queen said with a gentle smile.

—"My body is still shaking," Lili added, massaging her arms. "But I think I learned a few things… although I still have a long way to go. Susan handled it really well. She's a beast when it comes to training!"

—"Don't exaggerate," Susan muttered, blushing slightly.

—"And you, Raz?" asked the king curiously. "How was it with Alzareth?"

Raz adjusted in his chair and gave a modest smile.

—"Honestly… a bit disappointing. I could barely channel anything. Apparently, I have level 1 magic. Pretty low, isn't it?"

The king studied him closely, but before he could respond, Alzareth stepped in.

—"It's true. His magic level is low… for now. But let's not forget he's a summoned hero. His potential might not have manifested yet. He may simply need time or a magical trigger to awaken his true strength."

—"I see," the king said thoughtfully. "Then we shouldn't rush to judge him."

—"Thank you for your understanding," Raz said humbly.

Lili looked at him with a warm smile.

—"Still… I don't think you're weak. I'm sure you're just saving your strength to surprise us."

—"I hope so," he replied with a slight smirk.

As the banquet neared its end, Raz raised his gaze toward the king.

—"Your Majesty… did Alzareth mention the request I made?"

The king nodded slowly.

—"Yes. But… let's talk about that later. First, let's finish dinner."

Raz nodded courteously, though inside, his mind was already preparing for the second night.