Three more days of fighting.
Three more days of hiding in shadows, striking fast, fading before the enemy could respond. Three more days of watching men die—some by Kael's bde, some by Seraphina's, one by Cassian's own hand when there was no other choice.
By the end, eight soldiers were gone.
Captured. Killed. Or simply vanished into the forest, never to be seen again.
The commander was furious.
Cassian watched from the trees as the man screamed at his remaining troops—four soldiers, all that was left of the twelve who had come so confidently. Their faces were pale. Their hands shook. They had entered this forest expecting to hunt a woman, and instead they had been hunted themselves.
"Camp here," the commander ordered. "No more searching. No more patrols. We wait for reinforcements."
One of the soldiers spoke up. "How long, sir?"
The commander's eyes were hard. "Three days. Maybe four. Lord Mach is sending twenty more. When they arrive, we burn this entire forest to the ground."
Cassian slipped away.
---
He returned to the cave and told the others.
Seraphina's face went pale. "Twenty more. Plus the four already here. Twenty-four soldiers."
Kael nodded slowly. "We cannot fight twenty-four."
"No," Cassian agreed. "We can't."
Liana spoke from the back of the cave. "Then we hide. Deeper. Further into the forest. Somewhere they won't find us."
Seraphina shook her head. "They'll find us. Eventually. They'll search systematically, burn what they can't search, and eventually they'll find us."
Silence.
Mira's small voice broke it. "What about the wheat?"
Everyone looked at her.
"The wheat," she repeated. "Cassian, you said the system gave you seeds. Blight-resistant wheat that grows faster than normal. If we leave—if we run—we lose it. We lose everything we've pnted."
Cassian's stomach tightened.
She was right.
The wheat was their future. Their food. Their trade. Their chance at something more than survival.
If they ran, they lost it all.
"If we stay," Liana said quietly, "we might die."
"If we run," Cassian replied, "we might as well be dead. What's survival without a future?"
Liana met his eyes.
Then she did something unexpected.
She walked to him. Took his hands. Looked at him with an expression he had never seen before—soft, warm, full of something that made his heart ache.
"I need to tell you something," she said.
Cassian blinked. "What?"
Liana gnced at the others. Mira. Seraphina. Kael. Era.
"All of you," she said. "You should hear this too."
They gathered around.
Liana took a breath.
"When I first drew Cassian's name from that urn, I thought my life was over. A poor farmer with a leaky roof and a cold hearth? I'd survived worse, but I wasn't happy about it."
She squeezed his hands.
"But then I met him. And he looked me in the eye and told me the truth—about the cottage, about the fields, about everything. No lies. No promises he couldn't keep. Just... honesty."
Cassian listened.
"Since then, I've watched him build something from nothing. Watched him stand up to deserters. Watched him summon warriors and cooks and goodness knows what else. Watched him take in a starving girl, a hunted noble, and call them family."
Her eyes were bright.
"And somewhere along the way, I stopped just surviving. I started... living. Really living. For the first time since my father died."
She reached up and touched his face.
"I love you, Cassian."
The words hung in the air.
Cassian's heart stopped.
"I don't know if the system measures that," Liana continued. "I don't know if fifty or seventy-five or a hundred means anything compared to what I feel. But I needed you to know. Before we face whatever comes next. I needed you to know that whatever happens—if we live or die, if we stay or run—you gave me something I thought I'd never have."
Her voice broke slightly.
"You gave me hope."
Cassian couldn't speak.
He pulled her close and held her.
---
The system panel exploded with light.
[LIANA AFFECTION: 50/100 - DEEP BOND]
Milestone reached.
First wife. First deep bond.
Generating random reward bundle...
Cassian saw the words through a blur of tears.
Roll 1: Uncommon (40% chance at this milestone) - Result: Uncommon
Roll 2: Uncommon (35% chance) - Result: Uncommon
Roll 3: Rare (20% chance) - Result: Rare
Roll 4: Elite (5% chance) - Result: No roll
Three rewards generated.
---
[REWARD 1: Uncommon - Advanced Farming Tool Set]
Contains: 1x iron plow, 2x iron hoes, 1x seed drill, 1x irrigation system blueprint
Stored in inventory.
---
[REWARD 2: Uncommon - Martial Arts Training Manual]
Title: "Foundations of the Mortal Path"
Effect: Allows one person to train toward Mortal Rank 1 without a teacher. Contains basic forms, breathing techniques, and energy channeling methods.
Stored in inventory.
---
[REWARD 3: Rare - Pocket Dimension Farm Unlock]
Type: Special - Dimensional Space
Initial Grant: 1-acre farm within Cassian's consciousness. Time flows 2x faster than outside world.
Access: Mental only—Cassian must tend it while appearing meditative or asleep.
Features: Soil, water source, basic tools provided. Can be upgraded through future rewards.
Status: ACTIVE
---
Cassian stared.
The farm. The pocket dimension farm.
It was real.
He could feel it now—a space in his mind, waiting. A field of rich dark soil, warm sunlight, a small stream. Empty, but ready. Ready to be pnted.
"Cassian?" Liana's voice. "What happened? You went somewhere else for a moment."
He looked at her.
"The system," he said. "Your affection—fifty. It triggered rewards."
He told them.
The tools. The manual. The farm.
Seraphina's eyes widened. "A dimensional space? Those are—those are legendary. I've heard stories, but I never thought—" She shook her head. "The old empires had them. Pces where time moved differently. They grew food in days that would take months outside. They trained soldiers for years in what felt like weeks."
Kael nodded slowly. "If this is real—if we can use it—"
"We can grow food faster," Liana said. "Train fighters faster. Prepare faster."
Cassian nodded.
"Twenty-four soldiers are coming. But maybe, by the time they arrive, we won't be the same people they expect to find."
---
They spent the rest of the day exploring the farm.
Cassian y down in the cave, closed his eyes, and focused on the space in his mind. The next moment, he was there—standing in a field of perfect soil, under a sun that never moved, beside a stream of clear cold water.
It was real.
He could feel the dirt beneath his feet. Smell the air. Hear the gentle trickle of water.
He walked to the edge of the field and found a small shed. Inside: basic tools. A hoe. A rake. A watering can. Seeds—not many, but enough to start.
He returned to his body, opened his eyes, and told the others.
Liana was the first to try.
She y beside him, closed her eyes, and—
Nothing.
"It didn't work," she said, frustrated.
Seraphina tried. Nothing.
Mira tried. Nothing.
Kael tried. Nothing.
Era tried. Nothing.
Cassian accessed the system.
[Pocket Dimension Farm]
Access: Currently limited to Cassian only.
Upgrade path: At higher affection milestones or childbirth rewards, access can be expanded to wives.
Next upgrade: 75 Affection with any wife, or birth of first child.
So for now, it was his alone.
But that was enough.
---
That night, Cassian pnted the farm.
He y in the cave, closed his eyes, and entered the dimensional space. The soil was soft, easy to work. He used the basic tools from the shed to turn rows, pnt seeds from the small supply, water them from the stream.
Time moved differently here.
He worked for what felt like hours. When he opened his eyes in the real world, only minutes had passed.
"Two to one," he told the others. "For every hour I spend there, half an hour passes here."
Seraphina calcuted quickly. "If you spend eight hours there each night, that's sixteen hours of work in the real world. You could grow a month's worth of food in two weeks."
Cassian nodded.
"And the manual," he said. "The training manual. If I can learn from it there—if time moves faster—"
"You could reach Mortal Rank 1 in days instead of weeks," Kael finished.
Cassian looked at his household.
At Liana, who loved him.
At Mira, who was becoming someone strong.
At Seraphina, who had chosen to stay.
At Kael and Era, loyal beyond question.
"We have three days," he said. "Maybe four, if we're lucky. Twenty-four soldiers are coming. But by the time they arrive, I'll be stronger. We'll have more food. More resources."
He met their eyes.
"We're going to survive this. All of us. And then we're going to build something so strong that no lord, no army, no one will ever threaten us again."
---
The next three days passed in a blur of preparation.
Cassian spent every possible moment in the pocket dimension. He pnted, tended, harvested. The wheat grew at double speed—in three real days, he had a week's worth of growth. Soon, there would be food to supplement their supplies. Soon, there would be enough to trade.
He also trained.
The manual was simple but effective. Basic stances. Breathing techniques. Meditation methods designed to open the first energy channel.
Kael guided him when he could. Seraphina offered advice from her own training. But most of the work happened in the farm, where time flowed faster and Cassian could practice for hours while the real world barely moved.
By the third day, he felt it.
A warmth in his chest. A flow of energy that hadn't been there before. A sense of... more.
[Martial Arts Progress: Mortal Rank 1 - Achieved]
First energy channel opened.
Strength increased. Speed increased. Endurance increased.
Next milestone: Mortal Rank 2 (requires continued training)
He opened his eyes in the real world.
Kael was watching him.
"You did it," the warrior said. There was something like pride in his voice.
Cassian nodded slowly. "I did."
"Good. Because they're coming."
---
The reinforcements arrived at dawn.
Twenty soldiers, led by a man Cassian didn't recognize—harder than Voss, harder than the first commander. They joined the four survivors and spread through the forest like a net.
Searching.
Kael reported from his watch position. "They're being systematic. Grid search. They'll find the cave by nightfall."
Seraphina's face was pale. "Then we fight."
Cassian shook his head. "No. Twenty-four trained soldiers? We'd lose."
"Then what?"
Cassian thought.
The pocket dimension.
The farm.
"What if we're not here?" he said slowly. "What if they search and find nothing? No cave. No people. No trace."
Seraphina blinked. "You mean—hide in the farm?"
"The system said only I can access it. But what if—" He accessed the panel. Scrolled through descriptions. Found what he was looking for.
[Pocket Dimension Farm: Living Beings]
Note: Currently, only Cassian can enter physically. Living beings cannot be transported.
However, unconscious beings can be held in stasis within the dimensional space for up to 24 hours.
Stasis does not heal, but prevents further deterioration.
Cassian read the words aloud.
Stasis.
Not hiding. Not safety. But... dey.
"If you knock them unconscious," he said slowly, "I could store them in the farm. Twenty-four hours. Long enough for the soldiers to search and leave."
Seraphina stared at him. "You want to knock out twenty-four soldiers?"
"No. I want to knock out us."
Silence.
Liana spoke first. "You mean—"
"You. Mira. Seraphina. Era. If you're unconscious, I can put you in stasis. Hide you in the farm. Then I lead the soldiers away—draw them out of the forest—and come back when they're gone."
Kael shook his head. "Too dangerous. You'd be alone. Against twenty-four."
"I'd be alone. But I'm Mortal Rank 1 now. Faster. Stronger. And I know this forest better than they do." He met Kael's eyes. "I'm not pnning to fight. I'm pnning to run."
Kael was quiet.
Then he nodded slowly. "It could work."
Seraphina grabbed Cassian's arm. "What about you? If you're caught—"
"I won't be."
"You don't know that."
"No. But I know that if they find all of us—if they find you—you're dead. Mach will kill you. Slowly. Publicly. As an example."
Seraphina's grip tightened.
Then she released him.
"Come back," she whispered. "Promise me you'll come back."
Cassian looked at her.
At Liana, watching with those dark, steady eyes.
At Mira, young but fierce.
At Era, calm and capable.
At Kael, ready to follow any order.
"I promise."
---
One by one, they agreed.
Liana went first. She kissed Cassian—long, deep, full of everything she had said the night before.
"Fifty-one," she whispered against his lips.
He blinked. "What?"
"Affection. It went up again. While you were training." She smiled. "I'll be waiting."
She closed her eyes.
Kael struck gently—just enough to knock her unconscious. Cassian caught her, focused on the farm, and she vanished from his arms.
[Liana: Stored in Pocket Dimension - Stasis Active - 24 Hours Remaining]
Mira next.
She was scared but steady. "I'll be okay in there?"
"You'll be asleep. You won't feel anything."
"Okay." She hugged him quickly. "Come back fast."
Then she was gone.
Era went without hesitation. "I'll prepare meals for when we wake," she said, and smiled.
Then Seraphina.
She stood before him, Iron Rank 2, proud and strong and terrified.
"This is insane," she said.
"I know."
"If you die—"
"I won't."
She grabbed him and kissed him. Hard. Desperate.
When she pulled back, her eyes were wet.
"Forty-five," she said. "Affection. In case you were wondering."
Cassian almost ughed.
Then Kael struck, and she was gone.
Kael looked at him. "I'll stay. Guard you from the shadows. If they get too close—"
"No. They'll sense you. Track you." Cassian shook his head. "You go too. I need you alive for when I come back."
Kael was quiet.
Then he nodded. "As you command, Master."
He closed his eyes.
Cassian stored him.
---
Alone.
For the first time in weeks, Cassian was completely alone.
The cave was empty. The forest was silent. Twenty-four soldiers were searching, getting closer, and he had no one but himself.
He accessed the system.
[Liana Affection: 51/100 - Deep Bond]
[Mira Affection: 38/100 - Friend]
[Seraphina Affection: 45/100 - Deepening Bond]
[Kael - In Stasis]
[Era - In Stasis]
[Pocket Dimension Farm - 5 Beings in Stasis - 23 Hours Remaining]
Twenty-three hours.
He had to lead the soldiers away. Keep them searching. Keep them from finding the cave.
And then, when they gave up, he had to come back.
He took a breath.
Then he stepped out of the cave and into the forest.
---
The next hours were a blur of running.
Cassian moved through the trees like a ghost—faster than he'd ever moved, thanks to Mortal Rank 1. He left trails. False signs. Paths that led away from the cave, toward the mountains, toward the river, toward anywhere but here.
The soldiers followed.
He heard them behind him—shouting, crashing through undergrowth, getting closer, then falling back as he changed direction.
One hour.
Two.
Three.
His legs burned. His lungs screamed. But he kept moving.
---
Night fell.
The soldiers stopped searching—too dangerous in the dark. They made camp near the river, pnning to resume at dawn.
Cassian colpsed in a hollow log and caught his breath.
Eighteen hours left.
He had led them miles from the cave. Far enough that they wouldn't find it tomorrow. Far enough that, with luck, they'd assume she'd fled the region entirely.
He just had to survive until dawn. Lead them a little further. Then double back.
Simple.
---
At dawn, the soldiers found him.
Not intentionally. He had been careless—too tired, too slow. A scout spotted his tracks and followed.
Cassian ran.
They chased.
Five soldiers, then ten, then more. Branching out, surrounding, cutting off escape routes.
He dodged. Weaved. Used every trick Kael had taught him.
But they were trained. Professional. Relentless.
They cornered him against a cliff face.
Cassian turned to face them.
Ten soldiers. Weapons drawn. Eyes hard.
The commander stepped forward.
"Where is she?" he demanded.
Cassian said nothing.
The commander's sword rose.
And then—
Thunder.
Not real thunder. Something else. A sound that shook the ground, that made the soldiers stumble, that sent birds screaming from the trees.
They turned.
Kael stood at the edge of the clearing.
Not alone.
Behind him, Seraphina. Iron Rank 2. Sword drawn. Eyes bzing.
Behind her, Liana. No weapon, but fierce.
Behind her, Mira. Terrified but standing.
Behind her, Era. Calm. Ready.
Cassian stared.
"You're supposed to be in stasis," he said.
Kael almost smiled. "The system let us out. When your life was in danger." He drew his sword. "Emergency protocol."
Seraphina moved to Cassian's side. "Forty-eight," she whispered. "Affection went up while I was asleep. Worrying about you."
Cassian ughed.
It was insane. Impossible. They were going to die.
But they were together.
And somehow, that was enough.
---
END OF CHAPTER 10
---
NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW
The soldiers hesitate.
Ten against five—but the five are not what they expected. A Mortal Rank 4 warrior. An Iron Rank 2 noble. A farmer who just reached Mortal Rank 1. Two women with no training but infinite courage.
The commander calcutes. Decides. Orders the attack.
What follows is chaos.
Kael fights like a demon. Seraphina moves like water. Cassian survives by instinct and luck. Liana and Mira and Era find ways to help—distractions, improvised weapons, sheer stubborn refusal to die.
When it's over, seven soldiers are down. Three flee.
The commander is among the fallen.
Cassian stands in the clearing, bleeding from a dozen wounds, and looks at his family.
They're alive.
All of them.
And somewhere in the distance, horses approach.
More soldiers.
But Cassian is done running.
"Kael," he says. "Seraphina. We're not hiding anymore."
He looks toward the sound of hoofbeats.
"Let them come."
---
[Liana Affection: 53/100 - Deep Bond]
[Mira Affection: 42/100 - Friend]
[Seraphina Affection: 50/100 - Deepening Bond]
[System Notification: Seraphina milestone reached - Generating rewards...]
[Pocket Dimension Farm Upgrade Avaible: 2x time flow achieved - Next upgrade requires 75 affection or childbirth]
---
Author's thought:-
This chapter marks an important turning point. Cassian is no longer just surviving — he’s beginning to build something worth protecting.
Liana’s confession, the Pocket Dimension Farm, and the coming battle are only the first sparks of the empire that will rise ter.
The next chapters will bring bigger fights, stronger enemies, and deeper retionships.
If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider:
? Following the story
? Adding it to your favorites
? Leaving a comment (I read them all!)
? Dropping a rating
Even a small comment motivates me a lot.
Your support fuels me to keep writing and updating consistently.
Also, I’m curious — what reward do you think Seraphina’s milestone will give? ??
Let me know your theories!
