A week ter,

  the morning sun crept over Ashford, casting a pale light across the town. Where bustling streets once echoed with the cheerful chatter of townsfolk, there was now a heavy silence punctuated by the creaking of damaged homes and the occasional cry of a grieving family. The streets, once well-kept, were now strewn with debris—broken structures and stagnant water.

  Amidst the destruction, there was a stirring of life. Townsfolk of all ages and csses emerged from their homes, united by a shared purpose. They moved with a sense of resolve, their faces marked by fatigue mixed with fear, yet also an unyielding determination to live a normal life.

  A group of townfolk, clothes stained with dust and sweat, worked in unison to clear the main road and clean the ditches. Using tools and sheer willpower, they lifted heavy pnks, forming a human chain to remove the debris while Bramir pnned the next steps. Among them was a young girl, no more than eleven, hauling small pieces of rubble to a growing pile. Her eyes, wide with determination, mirrored the collective spirit of Ashford.

  At the side of the street, an elderly couple bored to repair their roof, which had colpsed during the crisis. They climbed dders and secured new beams. Neighbors gathered around, offering assistance. The sound of hammers and saws filled the air as others also repaired their houses, creating a symphony of resilience and hope.

  Meanwhile, Arvind and Anika arrived. He was greeted with bows and salutes by the townsfolk. He returned their greetings with a smile, feeling proud to have them as his people. However, he also remembered his past negligence and the ck of a backup pn, which made him frown. The unpredictable nature and how much he didn't know of Atheron made him insecure and grit his teeth.

  As his eyes scanned the crowd, he particurly noted the subtle signs of their distress. Faces once filled with hope now wore masks of fear and panic. He thought that perhaps the aftermath of the disturbance was still lingering. As he observed, he noticed some with red-rimmed eyes, weeping quietly, their sobs mingling with the sounds of debris being shifted. A few cursed at the sky, menting the unfair treatment.

  Driven by his earthly influence, Arvind felt a pang of pain in his heart. His breath shortened, and gasps rippled through him. It struck deep, and his approach became solemn. He thought, "I did everything I could to stay low-key and safeguard my people from the tiger and wolf, yet a single mistake spped me in the face and proved me completely wrong." After long moments of confusion and despair, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and murmured, "So, to be secure and prosperous, I have to become the predator. Right, Atheron?"

  The internal turmoil weighed heavily on Arvind's heart. Unable to remain silent, he turned to Anika, who was absorbed in the symphony of the resilient townsfolk, and said, "Isn't nature powerful?"

  Anika smiled and replied, "My lord, the townsfolk are more resilient and powerful than nature itself. Nature changes and calms, yet their resilience remains. Even after experiencing such a crisis, they continue to face life and move forward. That's what I admire about them." As she finished, she looked at Arvind, seeking his opinion.

  Arvind couldn't help but shake his head. "She and I are not on the same channel. Perhaps her perspective is different from mine, despite her commoner background," he mused. "Hahaha, you are right about that, Anika," he said aloud with a smile, turning to gaze at the lingering rays of the rising sun.

  A few minutes ter, seeing their tireless efforts, Arvind felt a surge of pride and gratitude. Wanting to encourage and affirm their dedication, he raised his voice so all could hear. "Listen, everyone!" he called out, drawing their attention.

  "Today, to honor your hard work and resilience, there will be a free meal for all—with meat!."

  A cheer rose from the crowd, and the vilgers' faces lit up with smiles. The promise of a hearty meal served as a beacon of hope and camaraderie amidst the recovery efforts. Arvind watched them with a warm heart, feeling a renewed sense of determination to lead his people to a prosperous and secure future.

  Arvind's thoughts were interrupted by Bramir's greeting. He noticed dark circles under Bramir's eyes, his movements slower and deliberate, as if a heavy weight was on his shoulders—a stark contrast to the resilient Bramir during their venture.

  Bramir, with a smile on his tired face, said, "Good morning, my lord. I've been busy leading them," he pointed at the townsfolk, "forgive my impoliteness in only greeting you now."

  Bramir hadn't had a good rest or sleep since they came back. Arvind waved his hand and said with a smile, "No need to be formal, Bramir. I saw your efforts and am more grateful and proud to have a person like you."

  Arvind seemed to remember and asked curiously, "Can you tell me the consequences of the crisis in Ashford?"

  Bramir replied solemnly, "My lord, the crisis has taken a heavy toll on our town. We lost 60 people, and 40% of our crops were either damaged or mutated beyond use. You can see the situation of the houses from here. Look at the fnk on the street—15 houses have colpsed, and approximately 100 more need repairs. You can hear the sound of hammers and saws filling the air as the vilgers work tirelessly to rebuild what was lost. It's a dire situation, but the people are resilient and determined to recover."

  Arvind replied, "If you need help, ask Lennart and tell him that I ordered him to help you."

  Bramir nodded in relief, knowing that Lennart was the only carpenter in Ravengarde.

  After Arvind finished his conversation with Bramir, he stood with his arms crossed behind his back, his posture rigid, and his gaze distant as he observed the busy townsfolk. He was interrupted by a servant waiting anxiously. "You can speak now," he said, confused.

  The servant bowed respectfully and said, "My lord, Faen is waiting in the castle with important news."

  Arvind pondered, thinking it might be the census results, and asked, "Did he tell you what it is?"

  The servant answered no. Arvind's gaze sharpened. "Thank you," he replied, nodding. "Inform him that I will be there shortly."

  ---

  Once they arrived at the castle, Arvind instructed Anika to inform Shankar to organize the feast he had promised before. Arvind entered the corridor, finding Faen poring over a stack of documents. He called him in and entered the study.

  "Faen, take a seat," Arvind greeted. "What news do you have?"

  Faen looked up, his eyes sharp with focus. "My lord, the census has revealed important details about Ravengarde. The popution of Ashford is 2,000, with 80% being serfs. The mountain vilge has 200 people, the Warcraft forest vilge has 300, and the river vilge has 400."

  Arvind nodded, listening intently.

  "Ashford focuses on agriculture," Faen continued. "There is only one shop in town, and less than 3% of the popution is skilled in various professions. The main crops cultivated are wheat and barley. I estimate that the annual tax revenue from Ashford could be about 1,000 gold coins."

  Arvind frowned, thinking that this was less than the average baronial tax revenue. He interrupted, "What about the three vilges?"

  Faen responded, "They are isoted vilges we previously didn't know about. Each has its unique challenges and potential. The mountain vilge cks proper irrigation despite its fertile nd. The Warcraft forest vilge has a strong tradition of herbalism but is isoted and vulnerable to magical beasts. The river vilge, though prone to floods, has a thriving fishing community."

  Arvind leaned back, processing the information. "We must support these vilges while integrating them into Ravengarde. Each vilge has the potential to help supplement our food supply, especially given the recent crisis and the resulting food shortages. However, we'll need to address their specific needs to harness their full potential."

  Faen nodded. "My lord, I believe the vilges have significant potential to supplement our food supply, especially the river vilge. The abundance of fish there, combined with their rger popution compared to the other two vilges, offers a great resource. With careful pnning and resource allocation, we can ensure a prosperous future for Ravengarde."

  A few minutes ter,

  after Faen had left, Arvind strengthened his resolve to reform the government structure. After instructing Anika about the meeting for the next day, he spread the parchment and began writing his pn. He thought, "Using an earth-governed structure will define the roles and responsibilities of each position better than the previous feudal chaos." Time passed, night came, and after exhausting himself, he finally completed his pn.

  ---

  The next day, after a quick breakfast, he and Anika entered the meeting room. He had informed everyone to come the day before.

  "Good morning, everyone," Arvind said as he took the main seat at the meeting table. Today, Lennart the carpenter, Rurik the bcksmith, Erik the mage advisor, and Shankar were present, in addition to the usual members: Aldric, Faen, Bramir, and Eldrin. As they greeted Arvind, Anika distributed the parchment containing the reform pn to each of them.

  Arvind waited patiently as they scrutinized the pn. Faen's eyes narrowed, Aldric's face showed a deep frown, and the rest shared simir expressions. Anticipating their questions, Arvind began to speak.

  "These reforms are critical, especially in light of the current crisis in the two baronies. We must act decisively to turn this situation to our advantage. We will establish several key departments: the Department of Infrastructure and Development, the Department of Commerce and Trade, the Department of Education and Research, the Department of Defense and Security, the Department of Finance, the Department of Agriculture and Resources, and the Department of Magic Technology Industry, which I will oversee."

  His eyes locked onto Eldrin and Faen as he continued, "Eldrin, you will lead the Department of Infrastructure and Development. Your job is to build the town hall in Ashford, construct roads to the two baronies to facilitate our caravans and merchants, repair the old roads, and build a marketpce, academy, and magical research facility."

  "Faen, you will lead the Department of Commerce and Trade. Your task is to search for unique products within Ravengarde for trade and prepare to organize a caravan to benefit from the two baronies' crisis, bringing prosperity to Ravengarde."

  Eldrin's eyes lit up, and his hands trembled with excitement as he heard Arvind's appointment. He thought, "This shows that Arvind trusts and believes in my ability." He had worked hard to complete the toilet project without mistakes just for this day.

  Faen, contempting and understanding Arvind's meaning, said in support, "My lord, your decision is very smart. This will help lift our isoted nature and increase Ravengarde's tax revenues." He turned to everyone and continued, "The crisis in the two baronies is our opportunity to sell our goods, as there will be fewer competitors, and the two barons cannot block our caravan since they need us."

  Arvind nodded at Faen and said, "What Faen said is right. This is a great opportunity presented to us. If we cannot use it, then we are better off letting beasts run our barony."

  Arvind then turned to Bramir, Shankar, and Erik. "Bramir will be the mayor of Ashford in the new system and temporarily manage the Department of Agriculture and Resources. Shankar, you will manage the Finance Department and implement loan and favor policies for townsfolk aspiring to become merchants, boosting local economic activity."

  "Erik, you will manage the Education and Research Department. For now, temporarily lead the mineral survey, focusing on inactive crystals, iron, and other ores before taking charge of the academy. This will ensure we maximize our resource potential."

  The trio nodded in agreement.

  He then turned to Lennart and Rurik. "Lennart, assist Eldrin when needed and increase the production of furniture for trade. Rurik, with the iron ore that Erik will find, you will craft weapons for the military and tools for trade to strengthen our defenses and economic output."

  Lennart nodded in agreement, while Rurik replied, "If there is iron ore, there will be no problem, my lord."

  Arvind smiled and nodded happily at Lennart and Rurik's agreement. He knew that with their help, there would be no shortage of weapons and tools for their use or to sell. With that, he finally turned to Aldric.

  "Aldric, you will manage the Defense and Security Department. I need you to recruit 200 new personnel and conduct talent tests in Ravengarde to spot knight or mage talent." He blinked at Anika, who then distributed the pn. Arvind continued, "The pn includes instilling discipline and loyalty to me, forming specialized units like archers, regur knight training, and education for the soldiers. From now on, they will all be referred to as 'soldiers.'"

  Aldric said, "Why should we have a separate department? I am already in charge of knights. I don't think it's necessary to waste our resources on this so-called department. What is a department, my lord?"

  Arvind thought for a while and said, "The new system defines the roles and responsibilities of positions. A department is where you and your subordinates manage specific roles. For example, you manage only defense and security matters."

  He cpped his hands and said, "Every department can recruit apprentices from Ashford. I think everyone agrees with what we discussed. Lastly, Bramir, ensure Ashford is properly managed and that the new policies are implemented smoothly without hindrance."

  With that, the meeting concluded.

  ---

  The town square filled with crowds murmuring among themselves.

  A younger serf said, "What do you think? Is my lord serious about recruiting soldiers? I can't believe he is presenting this opportunity to us serfs."

  Another serf replied with hope, "Who knows? But I pn to give it a try. Perhaps I could become a soldier and give my family a decent life."

  The younger serf replied, "Me too. I pn to go to Eldrin's department. I could build roads for the town so we don't have to walk on muddy paths anymore."

  As the two were talking, Aldric announced, "Those who want to become soldiers, line up on the right. We will start recruitment now. Don't cut the line; if I find out, you will be disqualified." The other departments also announced their recruitment.

  The townsfolk nodded obediently as they lined up.

  Time passed, and by the afternoon, Aldric was frustrated as the recruits didn't meet his expectations. There were only 10 talented individuals, 7 with knight potential and 3 with mage potential. The soldier recruitment also fell short, with just 150 personnel found.

  Seeing Aldric's frustration, Arvind said, "Aldric, it's normal that they do not meet your expectations. They could barely fill their stomachs before. Only since I became a baron have they been able to eat their fill. So don't worry about quality now."

  Aldric nodded in agreement.

  Thirty minutes ter, Arvind assessed the recruitment situation of the other departments. It was dismal for them; most could only recruit two individuals, and many were illiterate. Arvind clenched his fist, determined to change this situation and vigorously implement education for his people.

  Before nightfall, every department reached its recruitment goal. Arvind shook his head and muttered, "Many of them are inadequate for the role." He then stood with his arms crossed behind his back, silently gazing at the bustling square, deep in thought.

  To be continued...

  Magicknight