POV: Arelia Elba

The carriage shook as we were on our way towards Fort Kalrim. I looked out of the window and gazed at the most impressive thing I had ever seen. The collection of towers that was Fort Kalrim, sitting firmly on its hill, surrounded by walls of old stone, and nestled in the middle of a skull, a skull so massive that I couldn't believe that the creature it was supposed to belong to was once capable of flight.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Mister Alami said, a smile on his face.

I just nodded. No matter how long I lived in this world I would probably never be able to fully comprehend everything, all I knew was that here, in this world, I was even more powerful than before, and I liked that, I loved the feeling of absolute power I held. Sure there were people stronger than me, but it was only a matter of time until I would be able to kill even them. This was a world made for me, first I would work my way up to becoming a saint, and then I would step before the seven greater deities and ascend to become one of them and then I would ascend even beyond them, I would be the one to surpass everything this world has to offer! That's the goal I had set for myself the moment Mister Alami explained the ranks of the church. But before I could do all that I would have to become the strongest in that fort.

"Mister Alami, who do you think is the strongest person in Fort Kalrim?" I asked.

"Hmm... well, my first answer would, of course, be Grand Sorceress Elsa Rigarium... that is if she is given the chance, sadly her most powerful spirit is currently... otherwise occupied. Since that is the case I would say that the strongest there is Commander Lestul Rigarium, her brother... although I have heard some rumours that he has been surpassed by someone..." Mister Alami said.

"Surpassed by someone? Who could have surpassed the commander of a fort such as that?" I asked.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Herkal and Sarah watch the two of us with great interest.

"Well, they say there is a certain wood elf named... Almer? No... wait, give me a second," Mister Alami said as he grabbed a satchel and pulled out a piece of paper from within. He unfolded it and pushed back his glasses. Behind the lenses, I saw his eyes jumping from line to line.

"Ah, here it is. The rumours say he has been surpassed by a wood elf called Altair Oberon Lyrius;" Mister Alami stated, putting the piece of paper away. "They say that he saved Commander Lestul from certain death during the battle a few weeks ago... if you're lucky we'll arrive at the same time the army returns, then you three can take a look at him yourself.

"Altair you say?" I said, not able to suppress my smile.

It has to be him, right?

I looked over to Sarah and Herkal, both of them were smiling as well. Sarah even formed: It's him, with her mouth.

Now I really can't wait to get there...

The carriage continued on until we arrived at the fort about an hour later.

"Looks like we were a little faster than them," Mister Alami said, pointing out the window on his side.

I leaned forward and saw an army, compromised of nearly two thousand people at the least. There were two giants in the back with many bandages wrapped around them and most of the soldiers looked like they just barely escaped death. We entered the fort first, the carriage drove to the side and we got out and then watched as the soldiers came in through the old-looking wooden gate. The first two carriages stopped. A woman dressed in an overly long robe stepped out.

"That is Grand Sorceress Elsa Rigarium," Mister Alami said as he bowed and urged us to do the same.

She barely even acknowledged us and waited for some more people to get out of the carriage. A tall man covered in bandages stepped out, limping a little, but with a smile on his face.

"That is Commander Lestul Rigarium," Mister Alami said.

"Ah, newlings, welcome, welcome. I'm sorry that I can't properly introduce myself right now, as you can see we just returned from a rather... difficult battle. Bernert, would you show them around later?" Commander Lestul Rigarium said.

It wasn't a question but rather a nicely worded command.

"Of course," Mister Alami said.

His name is Bernert? Really?

I nearly chuckled.

Then I was suddenly overcome with what could be called dread as a third person stepped out of that very first carriage. It was a man taller than any I had ever seen with crimson coloured eyes, white hair, light brown skin and two black antlers protruding from his forehead.

"And that is Mister Altair Oberon Lyrius..." Mister Alami said.

My eyes widened as I looked at him.

"You think I can talk to him?" I asked.

"I don't think that would be very wise at this moment," Mister Alami said.

That's when I suddenly saw the man approach, a slight grin on his face.

"So we got newlings," he said with a cold and bored voice. "Mind if I talk to them, Bernart or whatever your name was?"

I saw Mister Alami's eyes widen behind his glasses.

"I don't thi-" Mister Alami began, but he was interrupted by Commander Lestul.

"Let him. Oh and Altair, would you mind showing them around as well, it would speed things up," Commander Lestul said.

The grin on Altair's face grew wider.

"Sure... why not," he responded, his voice overpowering all the chattering that came from the rest of the army that was slowly flooding into the fort.

"Perfect, you're a real lifesaver. In that case, Bernert, I would like you to come with me for now, I have a few things to report," Commander Lestul said.

"Of course," Mister Alami responded.

The three of us and Altair just stood there, staring at each other until the rest of the army disappeared into the castle. A few people approached him for a short time and said something to him.

"We'll meet you later then," some blue-skinned girl said to him.

When she walked away I could see that she was supporting a man with a missing arm. Once everyone was gone Altair began speaking.

"Welcome newlings, my name is Altair Oberon Lyrius-" he leaned down. "although you may know me better as Ethan."

I began laughing.

"So you knew we were here," I said as I activated my magic mark.

Sarah and Herkal did the same. But Altair just looked at his, one eyebrow raised and looking as if he was about to burst out into laughter.

"Wait... you really think that you're strong enough already?" he asked.

"One could say we're the chosen ones," I responded as I began heightening gravity around Altair so that he would be crushed to the ground.

But no matter what I did, he didn't even break a sweat.

"Listen here you three little shits, I'm going to show you around now, and then you can do what you fucking want, alright? And in a few yea-... decades you can come back and try to kill me, alright?" he said, a wicked grin on his face.

"Shut it," I said as I increased my magic output.

The ground beneath him already began cracking but he still wasn't budging.

"You two he-" I began but I was interrupted by basically getting pushed to the ground with the strength of a fucking god.

When I looked up at Altair, nearly unable to breathe, I saw mana whirl around him, black and white in colour. That's when I realized that there was no way I would be able to kill him, not in a few years, maybe not even in a decade. And a voice, deep inside my head told me that this wasn't all he was capable of.

"Now, let's start the tour, shall we?" he said.

At that moment I was suddenly able to breathe again.