A bright morning shone over Veredale Village. In the center of the square, the villagers began to gather in front of the newly renovated town hall. Faces filled with curiosity and hope filled the place. Simon stood on a simple stage made of wooden planks, looking at the crowd with a confident smile.
"All citizens of Veredale!" he shouted, and his voice echoed to the edge of the village. "Today we will start a new chapter! Lord Laguna Ashford has created a big plan to rebuild this village. He wants everyone to join in."
Whispers began to be heard among the villagers. Laguna stepped forward. He rolled up a large sheet of paper and spread it on a long board for everyone to see. It was a large sketch of the new layout of Veredale Village.
"My friends," Laguna said, his voice calm but firm, "this village was once prosperous, then it fell, and now... it's time for us to rebuild it. This is the new layout plan for Veredale. We will widen the main road. We will expand the farmland to the south. We will also rebuild the houses to make them stronger and more comfortable."
One of the villagers, an older man with gray hair, raised his hand. "But, Mr. Laguna... our current houses, many of them don't fit this layout..."
A young mother chimed in, her voice trembling, "Are... our houses going to be demolished?"
Laguna looked at them with empathy in his eyes. He stepped closer and said, "Yes, some of the old buildings will have to be relocated. But that doesn't mean you're losing your homes. Quite the opposite. You'll get better homes. More decent ones. And while the construction is going on, I'll build temporary housing around the town hall. You won't be left without a roof."
The atmosphere began to soften. Several villagers exchanged glances, and small nods appeared after a moment.
Simon added, "Mr. Laguna not only brought the plans, but he also got involved himself. We're not alone."
And sure enough. Soon, Ashford's guards, who are usually haughty, were seen with axes. They chopped trees and carried logs. They also helped villagers build temporary structures near the town hall. Laguna, with his shirt rolled up and gloves on, helped build the building's foundation.
"Come on, lift it from this side! Be careful; this beam is heavy!" Laguna shouted as he lifted one of the large logs with two of his guards.
The villagers who saw this started to help. Their spirits were lifted by the young master's involvement.
The sound of a small bell rang from near the town hall when the sun reached its zenith. The guards began to distribute warm food: meat soup, soft bread, water, and fresh fruit. The fragrant aroma filled the air, making many of the villagers gulp.
"Please eat, everyone! You deserve it," said one of the guards with a smile.
On the other side, Laguna wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to Mulan and Eve. "Let's rest for a while, then let's go to the Mithril location. I want to see the place you showed me yesterday, Mulan."
Mulan nodded with a bright smile. "Yes, Master Laguna! I still remember the way very well."
Eve, who had been helping to organize the distribution of food, joined them. "If it is indeed a Mithril nugget, more might be hidden there."
Laguna smiled. "And if there is more, we might be sitting on a mine that will change the future of Veredale. Come, let's go find out."
The river flowed with a gentle sound under the afternoon sun. The water was crystal clear. You could see the riverbed. Small pebbles lined the bottom, and fish swam without restriction. They danced among the ripples. By the river, green bushes swayed in the wind. Nearby, a small cliff stood tall, wrapped in the calming sounds of nature.
Laguna stood in the shadow of the cliff. Her eyes swept around, and she looked down from time to time to examine the ground.
"Are you sure you found the Mithril chunk here?" Laguna asked, her voice flat but full of pressure.
Mulan nodded and pointed to a spot among the rocks. "Yes, sir. I found it right here. The stone is shiny, like metal, and feels cold even in the sunlight."
Laguna looked at the spot and then turned to Eve. Eve leaned against a tree, observing every detail.
"Eve, what do you think?"
The Dark Elf girl squinted, watching her surroundings with a strange look.
"Honestly... I don't really know about Mithril or whatever," he answered, his voice soft and slightly mumbled, "But... my gut feeling tells me that this place... is not comfortable. Like there's something watching."
Laguna frowned. He raised one hand to support his chin, as was his old habit when thinking.
"Mulan can't lie... And a Dark Elf's intuition... is usually very sharp."
He looked at the cliff in front of him once more, as if trying to find another hidden gap.
"Alright," Laguna finally said with a sigh. "Looks like we should go back to the village to help the others."
They walked back through the forest. The fading afternoon light framed their journey.
When they arrived at Veredale Village, the villagers and guards were busy building. They stacked wood, arranged planks, and you could hear the sound of hammers.
Laguna rushed to unroll his new sketch. He sat under a big tree in the village. He gave instructions in a clear voice, pointing out important parts of the drawing.
"Make the foundation of the eastern side a little stronger. Use rocks from the river; they are more durable. Don't forget to provide space for a public kitchen on the west side. We need a place to eat together."
The villagers started to work harder. They saw that this plan was not about eviction. It was about building new hope.
By nightfall, a temporary building that could accommodate dozens of people was standing. Its light shone on the courtyard of the town hall. As the sky darkened, lanterns were lit. Music played on simple instruments, and the scent of food drifted from the makeshift kitchen.
Laughter and singing filled the air. Children ran around while some villagers danced. Others sat in a circle, enjoying the food. Laguna sat by the campfire, watching the small party with warm eyes.
"It feels like a dream..." he murmured in a gentle tone, "It's been a long time since I have felt this kind of warmth."
Simon sat beside him, handing him a cup of a warm drink. "This village... is starting to recover, Mr. Laguna. Thanks to you."
Laguna shook his head with a deliberate motion. "Thanks to everyone, I rekindled the hope that was already in their hearts."
But...
The ground shook without warning.
"BOOM... BOOM... BOOM..."
The sound grew louder. Like dozens... hundreds of footsteps striking the ground at the same time. Glasses rattled on the table; lanterns swayed.
Eve stood up with a tense face. "That's not a human voice."
The first scream was heard from the east side of the village.
"MONSTEEERR!!"
From the darkness of the night, red eyes flashed one by one. Large shadows with sharp teeth and rough bodies emerged from behind the trees. They charged with terrifying speed and strength.
"TAKE YOUR WEAPONS!!" shouted one of Ashford's guards.
Laguna immediately stood up and drew his weapon. The villagers began to panic; children ran into their parents' arms.
"Protect the villagers! Don't let them get close to the center of the village!" shouted Laguna.
Eve leaped onto the roof of a nearby building. With arrows in hand, she focused her sharp eyes on every monster that came close. Simon led the adult men to form a barricade with the available equipment.
Amidst the glow of the dying campfire, the ground in Veredale trembled with great force.
"Everyone! Get ready!" Laguna shouted as he drew his sword.
Hundreds of pairs of red eyes flashed from the darkness of the forest. Monsters of all kinds came out—shadow wolves, horned earth lizards, and giant ogres. They rushed toward the center of the village.
"Protect the villagers! Don't let them get hurt!" Laguna shouted to his guards.
Ashford's guards, well-trained and disciplined, immediately formed a protective line. Some pulled the children and elderly into the town hall. Others drew their weapons, ready to block the wave of attacks.
Eve stood atop a pile of wood, her bow emitting a faint glow in the moonlight. "I'll take the east side! Don't let them surround you!"
"Thank you, Eve!" Laguna shouted, then leapt forward. In an instant, her sword slashed one monster in half.
Monster after monster fell. The technique she had learned from Leon was now real—sharp, swift, and precise attacks. Each time he killed a monster, the gauntlet on his hand pulsed. It absorbed the essence light from the dead bodies.
On the other side, Eve showed her agility. Her arrows flew with precision, one shot—one victim. The horned lizard tried to sneak up on the villagers. But before it could get closer, an arrow pierced its head.
"Don't let the ogre enter the center of the village! Focus your attacks!" Laguna ordered.
Two guards jumped forward, slashing the ogre's legs, making it fall. Laguna seized the moment. With a loud shout, he swung his sword toward the giant monster's neck—black blood spurted onto the ground.
One by one, the monsters were finished off. None of the villagers were injured. The enemy was outnumbered. Still, their strategy and teamwork fended off the attack that night.
When it was all over, the bodies of the monsters were scattered. Smoke and the smell of blood filled the air.
Laguna's gauntlet began to emit a strong glow. The essence of all the dead monsters was absorbed—making his right hand throb with pain.
"Ugh..." Laguna hissed. He held his wrist.
The glove vibrated. Something was moving... inside it.
Laguna stared at it with narrowed eyes. A faint red light emerged from the gaps in the carvings on the glove.
"What is this...?"
From inside the glove, a soft voice emerged, resembling a whisper.