The man, smiling as if it were obvious: "Because you're not the first. Others came before you, years ago, in the same way."
Raven's body stiffened for a moment before a deep anger started rising inside him like wildfire.
Raven, clenching his fists tightly as he thought to himself:"Those damn countries... How many lives have they ruined?!"
The Man: "Nations deal with those they consider criminals either by execution or exile. What did you do to be exiled?"
Raven, staring at the man with tired yet furious eyes: "I wasn't exiled… they threw me into the sea to die!"
The man raised an eyebrow, as if deep in thought, then said in a contemplative tone:
The Man: "Strange… why would they try to kill you this way? Why not execute you publicly? How old are you?"
Raven: "Twenty-three."
The man's expression suddenly changed, as if he had just uncovered the truth.
The Man: "Now I understand. Executing someone your age would tarnish their country's reputation since all executions are recorded and publicized. The only logical explanation is that they threw you into the sea and claimed you took your own life to escape punishment."
Raven clenched his fists tightly, his muscles tensing as flames of hatred ignited within him.
Raven, his voice low but filled with fury: "I don't know what they told the world… but I do know one thing… I will return, and I will destroy them all!"
The Man, looking at him seriously: "Do you intend to stand against an entire nation?"
Raven, his eyes burning with determination: "No… but I will kill every single one of those responsible for this… and for my friend's death!"
The man sighed, shaking his head slowly. He stood up and walked towards the window overlooking the village, as if lost in thought.
The Man: "Listen carefully. Everyone here was either exiled or nearly killed by their own nation, but they survived. That sea you came from… in the last ten years, more than two hundred people have died in it. And yet, you arrived here alive? That's no small feat… You must be skilled in diving and swimming."
Raven, looking down slightly, recalling his battle against the raging waves: "All I did was try not to drown… I had no choice but to resist. The strong sea currents gave me a push towards this place, but I was close to death more times than I can count."
The Man: "Regardless, the fact that you survived is a miracle… but what do you plan to do now?"
Raven, firmly: "I will return immediately!"
The man chuckled lowly, shaking his head in amusement, before turning back to Raven with a piercing gaze.
The Man: "And where will you go? Do you even know how to get back? Are you certain you're strong enough to face them?"
Raven, with a smirk: "I am strong… and after everything I endured in their torture, and after healing here, I have become even stronger!"
The Man, placing a firm hand on Raven's shoulder: "Don't be hasty… Everyone here was once as strong as you, and at first, they all wanted revenge. But over time, that desire faded from their minds. If you're truly determined to take revenge, you should start from here. Rushing into battle unprepared will only get you killed."
Raven remained silent, his mind processing the words.
The Man: "Why don't you stay with us for a while? You can prepare yourself, grow stronger, and then return to face those who threw you into the sea. But first, I want to see your strength… not in combat, but in something else."
Raven, intrigued yet eager: "And what is that?"
The Man: "We'll go to the training grounds. I want you to unleash all of your energy there, all of your magical aura… and I will determine just how powerful you truly are."
A grin spread across Raven's face, his blood surging with excitement.
Raven: "Alright… Let's begin!"
The village leader, along with five warriors, headed to the arena where Raven's magical strength was about to be tested. Raven walked to the center of the arena, closed his eyes, and his aura began to glow unnaturally, as though it was reacting with every particle in the air.
Suddenly, Raven let out a powerful shout to unleash his full magical energy, and the ground beneath him shook violently, as if in pain from the overwhelming force. The air was filled with whispers and confusion, and the leader watched in shock.
Leader, stunned: "How... how can someone of this age possess such terrifying power?!"
One of the warriors, watching in fear: "His power is rising rapidly... it won't stop! Is this even possible?"
After a few moments, Raven's energy finally stabilized, and the arena settled into an eerie calm. One of the warriors, his voice filled with awe, remarked:
Warrior: "This terrifying energy has finally stabilized... It's overwhelming."
Raven then turned to the leader, his gaze intense and focused:
Raven: "Should I go now and destroy them?"
Leader, still in disbelief: "I can't believe this... You're incredibly powerful. If this is your true level, you don't need any training here. You're truly exceptional."
Raven: "Alright, I'll go."
The leader raised his hand, signaling Raven to wait:
Leader: "Hold on. First, you'll have a home here in the village. Secondly, I'll provide you with our three strongest warriors to assist you in your mission. They are currently outside the village, but they'll be ready when you need them. Third, when you return to your country, the first thing you should do is live your life as it was before. Let's see if anyone will notice you after all of this. Then, you can start your attack with the three warriors. My advice: don't rush into it."
Raven took a deep breath, absorbing the leader's words.