“You can’t be serious,” William blurted, processing Jonn’s revelation about the western frontier of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow.

  Hank’s weathered face hardened as he observed the peculiar bear, armadillo, and eagle from the Triceratops horde.

  Merely three days had passed since they had dispatched the carrier pigeon with their letter. Though freed from their underground confinement and integrated into village life, these few days had exposed them to not just the Eternal Village’s agricultural challenges, but also to two looming external threats.

  The first concerned Lost Treasures, which Jonn and his Council anticipated would eventually turn hostile. The second, and current topic of discussion, was the magical beasts from Arcanis.

  Jonn stood between the mages, watching the fading light over the animal enclosure. Nearby, Mimosa and Roulf grazed—the massive bull finishing his evening meal while the village’s eldest cow plodded along, her swollen udders swaying beneath her heavily pregnant belly.

  “At least, we could face a Mystic dinosaur as an enemy soon,” Jonn reiterated. “I negotiated with a Triceratops horde to prevent the village’s destruction, but that agreement came with problems…”

  “This is dire. Beasts are nothing like mages, Jonn,” Hank interjected, exhaustion deepening the shadows under his eyes. “Their destructive power is overwhelming. Dinosaurs especially—they’ll reduce these walls to splinters!”

  “We’re out of options. Whether we struck a deal with the Triceratops, these Arcanis beasts could appear at our doorstep, anyway. At least we have intelligence about the beasts’ continental ambitions. Unlike your group, we have information that might buy us preparation time.” Jonn spoke seriously, not wanting to wait to use these ‘allies’ he had just made.

  “If you want my method to dominate the Barren Hills of Deepshadow, prepare for chaos. The coming war will be brutal and indiscriminate. Neither beasts nor humans will cede control of this region without bloodshed.”

  The two men absorbed this warning with the gravity it deserved. As seasoned warriors versed in political machinations—particularly Hank, who had seen the Third Magic War in his youth—they understood the weight of Jonn’s words.

  The Barren Hills of Deepshadow could become Valorian’s crown jewel if Jonn’s agricultural innovations were implemented across its expanse. Such potential would inevitably attract competitors, each willing to fight for even a fraction of the terrain.

  “As allies, we’ll face these challenges eventually,” Jonn concluded. “I’m briefing you now so you can prepare accordingly.”

  “This should have been included in our letter,” William’s face twisted with displeasure, bristling at the deliberate omission.

  Jonn’s response came with a sardonic laugh. “I prefer calculated risks to giving your leader carte blanche to harm us. Are you confident Duke Dayflare wouldn’t sacrifice you for a better bargaining position?”

  Their telling silence spoke volumes as they contemplated the various ways their Duke might manipulate this situation, potentially endangering both their lives and the Eternal Village’s inhabitants.

  “What’s your strategy, Jonn?” Hank finally asked, his gaze fixed on the western horizon where the sunset painted the sky in burning orange.

  “You’ll fight. Help strengthen the village. Your family will provide combat-ready men when needed.”

  “Just like that?” William’s skepticism was palpable.

  “You mentioned the Duke would likely send reinforcements to maintain control of the village and support for our projects, correct?”

  Hank nodded. “Indeed. He’ll probably withhold his elite forces until the area’s value is confirmed. But we should expect around 200 guards and workers within three months.”

  “That’s enough for now,” Jonn continued, having discussed this previously. “While the threats I’ve described are real, they’re not immediate. We’ll likely have time to receive a second wave of reinforcements from your family. Combined with our village’s beasts and mages, we’ll field a reasonably formidable battalion.”

  “The priority now is your contribution starting tomorrow.” Jonn turned to Hank, finally revealing his expectations for both men. “You’ll teach magic in the village—the basics, I’d say. No need to divulge your {Spell} secrets or Dayflare Family techniques. Focus on magic ranks, artifact classification, how magic affects low-level mages’ daily lives, affinity principles, and such. Our discussions have been enlightening, but I need this knowledge shared with any willing villagers."

  “You expect us to teach?” William balked, having never taught anyone.

  Jonn’s encouraging smile came with an enticing offer. “I’ll provide a weekly mana tear in exchange for educating my village about magic.”

  William’s resistance visibly wavered, while Hank’s expression suggested that the arrangement had finally clicked into place.

  “Indeed,” Hank mused, “if we want these people fighting alongside us in the coming battles, magical education is essential.”

  “I’m willing to teach.” William turned to Hank. “You handle magical theory, and I’ll manage combat instruction. I work better with warriors.”

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “That could work, if Jonn is okay with it.” Hank’s tone carried an unspoken question.

  “Go ahead with it.” Jonn nodded, seeing the logic in having the seasoned commander handle theoretical instruction, while William, clearly more suited to practical training, worked with the fighters.

  Their discussion was interrupted by an unusual glow from the south. Casting their gaze in that direction, they spotted three carriages approaching the village’s outskirts.

  A single trumpet blast from a watchtower signaled friendly arrivals, dissolving their momentary tension. They had briefly feared trouble brewing, just as they had been discussing the village’s vulnerabilities.

  As they walked toward the newcomers, their conversation returned to the beast situation, with voices kept low.

  “About Arcanis and Lost Treasures,” Hank probed, “what exactly are the terms of your arrangement with the Triceratops horde?”

  “We’re allies. The village should support their growth, and they’ll stand with us when conflicts arise. Meanwhile, they supply us with beasts, guarantee our safety, and watch Lost Treasures for us. They’ve only recently established themselves in that chaotic region, but I expect information about Lost Treasures soon.”

  “Sounds rather one-sided in their favor,” William observed quietly.

  “When we got the deal, any single one of them could have devastated our village,” Jonn acknowledged frankly. His position had left him little choice but to ally with whoever would have him.

  Challenging the Triceratops would have been suicide!

  “But you’ve drawn us into a larger predicament,” William pressed, clearly uncomfortable with this unexpected dinosaur entanglement.

  Jonn shook his head, though acknowledging William’s concern. “Not exactly. Yes, we’ve placed opposition to a Tyrannosaurus Rex from Arcanis, which carries risks. But Arcanis would have eventually clashed with the Barren Hills of Deepshadow and beyond, regardless. The Triceratops alliance merely sped up our understanding of the threat.”

  “Unfortunately, that rings true," Hank exhaled heavily. “I’d prefer avoiding conflict with these beasts, but they seem determined to reclaim Valorian at any cost.”

  “That’s how it is,” Jonn muttered as they reached the southern encampment where villagers gathered.

  They arrived to find Wy’s group returning from their latest recruitment venture. Though the village had suspended recruiting from other communities, Wy’s team continued scouting towns for skilled laborers to bolster their workforce.

  “Village Elder!” the lead horseman called out, his grin stretching wide in the dying light.

  Wy didn’t identify the two strange men next to Jonn, leaving questions about the two for later. He got straight to the point. “We got fifteen new villagers, Elder. We’ve got carpenters, blacksmiths, healers—even a teacher!”

  The village hungered for skilled craftspeople who could help build their community—artisans capable of creating artifacts, furniture, and superior structures, along with those who could realize Hewet’s archived designs. While some villagers possessed a grasp of revolutionary technologies from Hewet’s teachings, they lacked the skilled hands to transform these concepts into reality.

  They also sought administrators—people who could establish order, plan regulations, and manage civic affairs. Though Jonn and Elia handled some of these duties, they needed experienced administrators to expedite these processes.

  The gathered villagers’ welcoming smiles reflected their understanding of how crucial these fresh additions were to their growing community.

  “Welcome back, everyone. And to our newcomers, welcome to the Eternal Village,” Jonn addressed the travel-weary arrivals disembarking from the carriages. “Find yourselves food and rest tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll assign your duties.”

  The fifteen newcomers, clutching bags and shouldering packs, surveyed their new home in the torch-lit darkness. The night had settled, limiting visibility, but they could make out essential details: alert guards patrolling the perimeter, dogs, and wolves maintaining a vigilant watch, and clusters of well-fed villagers gathered around fires where meat sizzled tantalizingly.

  ‘This looks promising… Common folk eating meat regularly—that’s good!’

  Similar thoughts echoed through the newcomers’ minds. They barely registered the walls and watchtowers that spoke of organization and security. Their attention was fixed solely on one detail: food!

  Regular meals were all the incentive they needed to pledge their labor and loyalty to the Eternal Village!

  Days later, in the southern reaches of the Nation of Thalassia…

  A coastal metropolis—one of the few surviving cities of what was once Valorian’s mightiest nation—stood amidst the social calamity of the territory, which had begun even before the Third Magic War started.

  This once-magnificent city, previously a beacon of wealth and opportunity, now clung to mere shadows of its former glory. Opulent buildings and broad boulevards served only to highlight its fall from grace, each corner whispering tales of faded splendor.

  Yet this former top-ten continental city still housed hundreds of thousands—though its demographics had shifted dramatically. Where wealthy merchants, mages, and elite professionals once dwelled, now common laborers and the impoverished made their home.

  Luxurious carriages that once dominated these streets had given way to utilitarian vehicles operated by ordinary citizens. The grand central avenues, previously lined with high-end boutiques, now hosted what had become the most crucial commerce in this apocalyptic age: food markets. Premier establishments no longer showcased jewelry, fashion, or combat gear—instead, their shelves held sustenance, the continent’s most precious commodity.

  Even mages valued food on par with magical cultivation resources. After all, what good was magical power if one’s subjects couldn’t eat?

  Into this transformed landscape, a caravan of carriages and wagons pulled up before one of the district’s premier food establishments. The store’s workers hustled to greet their supplier, accompanied by their manager.

  “You’re running late this time, Jemmy,” called out a tall, lean man in an immaculate black and gray business suit. “Trouble on the road?”

  Merchant Jemmy’s face split into a knowing smile. “Quite the opposite. Something good has happened! I made a new partnership, which made our trip last a little longer… Anyway, it’s a good thing. Come and have a look. I have some products here for you to check.”

  The manager’s interest piqued as he approached the convoy’s middle wagon at Jemmy’s gesture.

  As he stopped behind the wooden vehicle, filled with different types of produce, the manager saw Jemmy remove a cloth from the top of a box, revealing several vegetables and eggs stored in that same box.

  “What’s so special here?” the manager asked, seeing quality food but nothing immediately extraordinary.

  Jemmy grinned, remembering his own initial skepticism. “My friend, I’ve struck an edible gold mine. These foods contain trace amounts of mana! Double or triple the nutritional value of standard produce, suitable for both mages and commoners alike!”

  The manager’s eyes widened, encountering such valuable sustenance for the first time in years. “Where did you find this?” Greed sharpened his features. “Who would trade such precious commodities in these desperate times?”

  “That’s my little secret,” Jemmy chuckled, thinking of his mysterious contacts.

  In truth, he knew little of the food’s origins. His only connection was the periodic meetings with Petyr, southeast of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow!