Shadows of a second life

Four days had passed since the grim news arrived.

Willowbrook was on high alert. The entire village buzzed with frantic activity from dawn until long after dark. Farmers who had never held anything sharper than a scythe now carried makeshift spears and clubs fashioned from farming tools. Most had no combat experience whatsoever — they couldn’t utilize mana reinforcement or any sword style. In fact, many didn’t even have proper weapons.

The village’s only defense was a wooden wall — more of a boundary marker than actual protection. It was tall enough to slow someone down, but a determined force could tear through it in minutes. Without the lord’s reinforcements, they were painfully vulnerable.

Elias and Elara had begged their father countless times.

“Please, Father,” Elara had pleaded on the second day, eyes fierce. “Let us fight. I’m intermediate in Technique Style now. I can help!”

Elias had added quietly, “I’m a Rare-grade mage. I can do real damage from range.”

But Elaric’s answer was always the same.

“No.”

He was not ready to put his children in danger. Not yet. Not ever, if he could help it.

Maria, the strongest person in the village by a wide margin — advanced in Standard and Grand Styles, with unofficial Rare talent in Technique — was also sidelined. She was pregnant again, her belly just beginning to show. Even though she argued fiercely that she could still fight, Elaric refused to budge.

“I won’t have you on the front lines in your condition,” he told her firmly one evening, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by unyielding resolve. “I’ve made up my mind.”

Maria had tried every angle — logic, emotion, even seduction — but once Elaric’s mind was set, it was like trying to move a mountain. He was a stubborn tank through and through.

Meanwhile, all the children and women had been gathered in the central square, the safest point in the village. Makeshift shelters and supply caches had been prepared. Wells were sealed and hidden. Simple traps — pitfall spikes, tripwires, and rolling logs — had been set along the main approaches.

Elyra sat beside Elias in the shelter, looking exhausted. The sudden stress of the past few days had worn on her. She leaned against his shoulder quietly, her silver hair slightly disheveled.

“Any moment now,” she whispered.

Elaric stood at the village gate in his gleaming full plate armor, short spear in hand and large shield planted firmly. He knew no ordinary swordsman could stand against him. His raw durability and strength were on par with true Rare-tier combatants. But it still troubled him deeply.

If they have even one Rare-grade swordsman… or a coordinated group of advanced tiers… this could go very badly.

He had no illusions. He was strong, but he was only one man. The other villagers were brave, but untrained. This was grim.

Back in the central shelter, Elias sat with his back against the wall, mind racing.

Why won’t Father let Maria fight? he thought, frustration building. Based on what I know about her, she could solo a bunch of ordinary bandits who haven’t mastered reinforcement. She moves faster than the human eye can track when she’s serious. She’s overwhelmingly strong. So why keep her back?It just sounds illogical, you have what you need to survive yet you don't use it.

What was his problem, Elias thought, anyways I guess I'm not one to talk.

I have no idea what being a true man is like, having a family of my own or a couple of beautiful wives.

Then there were the enemies too.

The more he thought about the bandits, the more chills ran down his spine.

How large and organized are they really? They’ve destroyed multiple villages in such a short time. Could they actually be ordinary bandits? Or is there something more? Rare-grade swordsmen are more common than Rare-grade mages because swordsmanship advances faster… If they have even one or two…

Elias clenched his fists.

The tension in the air was thick enough to cut.

Any moment now, the bandits would come.

And when they did, the village would have to survive, one way or another.

He made up his mind.

Whatever happens here today,if that man Elaric gets In real danger, then he'll have to step in.

He immediately took two deep inhale with his nose before letting it out from his mouth, very slowly.

Lira immediately called him:Eli please come over here.

He immediately went to meet her...She noticed the slight tension in his posture and she immediately ruffles his hair telling him: Don't worry son, your dad's very strong okay, Elias nodded.

Elias internal monologue:I swear if anything doesn't go according to plan, I'll step in and those bandits won't know what hit them