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Alex had been watching Captain Rhogar for months. Not openly, and never long enough for the man to notice. Rhogar was one of those rare sell
Alex had been watching Captain Rhogar for months.
Not openly, and never long enough for the man to notice. Rhogar was one of those rare sellswords who inspired more than fear in his men — he inspired loyalty. The kind that made men follow him into battles they should have run from, the kind that made them fight twice as hard for him as they would for any other captain.
Alex had seen it during a skirmish in the Lower Market. A half-dozen of Rhogar's men had been ambushed by nearly twice their number. The sellswords should have been routed. Instead, Rhogar had called out a few short words, shifted his stance, and the entire formation had surged like a single body. They'd cut down the attackers in minutes.
That was not skill with a sword alone.
That was command.
And Alex wanted it.
The Problem
There were easier ways to acquire traits — a casual handshake, a staged bump in the crowd — but "Commander's Presence" would be different. Leaders like Rhogar did not trust strangers enough for casual touch. Alex would need a plan that got him close enough, naturally, and without arousing suspicion.
He also needed to know if the man was for sale. In Pentos, everyone had a price, but some men had prices higher than most would dare pay.
Alex decided the best approach was to earn the man's respect first. Then, when the moment came, close the gap and copy the ability.
The Setup
The opportunity came during a city militia exercise in the outer courtyard of the Moon Gate Barracks. Rhogar had been hired as an independent observer for the drills — a way for the Magisters to assess their troops without relying on the biased reports of their own officers.
Alex, under one of his lesser-used disguises — a lean-faced sellsword named "Merrik" — signed on as a "volunteer fighter" for the day's practice. He made sure he was assigned to Rhogar's evaluation group.
First Impressions
When they met, Rhogar looked him over once, eyes sharp and measuring.
"You've fought before," Rhogar said flatly.
"A few scraps," Alex replied. "Enough to keep myself alive."
Rhogar grunted. "We'll see."
The exercises were straightforward: shield walls, spear thrusts, coordinated pushes. Alex deliberately performed just below his actual ability at first — enough to be competent but not exceptional. He didn't want to seem like a threat. Yet.
When the "enemy" unit — played by other volunteers — broke through their line, Alex stepped up, plugging a gap and pushing back with brutal efficiency. He didn't kill, but every strike was precise, controlled, and timed with the rhythm of the men around him.
Rhogar noticed.
The Intervention
By midday, one of the militia units was floundering badly, their formation collapsing under pressure. Rhogar barked orders, trying to pull them together, but the captain of the unit — a pompous man more concerned with his dignity than his soldiers — ignored him.
Alex acted without waiting.
"On me!" he shouted, using Pack Instinct to read the nearest men's focus and motion. He pivoted them into a tighter wedge, driving straight into the opposition's weakest flank. The shift stabilized the line, turning a rout into a counterattack.
Rhogar's eyes tracked every movement.
The Copy
When the exercise ended, Rhogar approached. He didn't offer thanks — commanders rarely did to those beneath them — but he extended a hand in that unspoken gesture of "you did well."
Alex took it.
Passive Analysis – Human Detected
Name: Rhogar Veynn
Copyable Trait: Commander's Presence (Level 0)
→ Passive aura that increases morale and cohesion in nearby allies.
→ Allies are less likely to flee, more likely to obey orders instantly.
→ At higher levels, can inspire short bursts of extraordinary effort in groups.
→ Range: 20 feet at Level 0.
→ Effect stacks with existing loyalty or discipline.
Daily Human Copy Limit Remaining: 1 / 1
Copy Initiated – Commander's Presence (Level 0)
Trait Stored Successfully.
A warmth spread through Alex's mind — not physical heat, but a sense of gravity, of weight. When he looked at the men nearby, he could feel their attention drawn toward him slightly, their stances unconsciously straightening. The trait was subtle, but undeniable.
The Test
That evening, Alex tried it in one of the warehouses under his control. He called together a dozen of his most trusted thugs — men loyal enough to follow orders, but still rowdy, prone to testing authority.
He stood before them, said nothing at first, and simply let Commander's Presence settle over them. The usual muttered side comments died faster than usual. Postures shifted, attention locked on him.
When he gave the order to double patrols that week, not a single man hesitated or questioned why.
It worked.
Building the Core
Over the next few weeks, Alex began quietly selecting men who responded best to the aura. Not all did — some were too stubborn, too self-serving — but those who did became the foundation of a loyal fighting core.
He drilled them not just in combat, but in movement, discipline, and information gathering. Using Beast Mind-Link, he integrated his animal spies into their patrol patterns, creating a fluid network of eyes and ears.
The result was a small but effective force that could move on his word alone — and more importantly, move as one.
An Unexpected Test
The first real test of this came sooner than expected.
One of the dockside gangs, thinking Alex's rising influence was still more rumor than reality, tried to muscle in on his spice shipments. They underestimated both his network and his willingness to respond.
Alex assembled his core at the warehouse under the guise of "inspection." When the gang arrived — twenty men, armed and smug — Alex stepped forward alone.
"You can leave now," he said evenly. "Or you can leave in pieces."
They laughed.
So Alex triggered Commander's Presence fully, letting the aura roll over his men.
The change was instant. His fighters moved forward in perfect unison, shields locking, weapons ready. The sudden cohesion startled the intruders — and then they broke under the first charge.
Alex didn't need to kill them all. Half fled within moments, the rest were left bruised, bleeding, and stripped of weapons. The message was sent.
Rhogar's Second Meeting
A few days later, Rhogar sought him out — not "Merrik," but Alex, in his usual face.
"I hear you've been keeping busy," the captain said.
"I hear the same about you," Alex replied.
Rhogar studied him for a moment. "You run your men well. Better than most lords I've met."
Alex smiled faintly. "They're loyal."
"That's a rare thing in Pentos," Rhogar said, then added, "If you ever need a contract filled — discreetly — you'll find me."
That was more than an offer. It was an open door into the world of high-tier mercenaries — men who could fight wars, topple rivals, or guard a throne.
System Status – Key Leadership Boost
By the end of the month, the Archive of Shadows recorded a notable synergy:
System Summary – Current Key Traits Update:
Commander's Presence (Level 0) – Passive morale and obedience boost in a 20 ft radius.
Dragon's Resilience (Level 0) – Fire, disease, and injury resistance; willpower boost.
Venomous Gaze (Level 0) – Paralysis by eye contact.
Mask of the Many (Level 0) – Temporary facial disguise.
Beast Mind-Link (Level 2) – Mental control over linked animals.
Pack Instinct (Level 1) – Heightened senses and group coordination.
Synergy Bonus:
Pack Instinct + Commander's Presence = Enhanced group maneuver efficiency,
+10% reaction speed in coordinated actions.
Alex now had the means to control not just information, but also armed force.
And in Pentos, that was the foundation of real power.
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