Richard walked through the lush garden. The stone path led to a bubbling fountain, featuring a statue of a majestic eagle with its wings spread wide, water cascading from its beak into a crystal-clear pool below. The air was cool, carrying the fragrance of various flowers. The tree was still there, with a bench beneath its shade. It was a simple garden of the castle.
When he stepped out of the castle gates, he was welcomed by an avenue paved with cobblestones, with flower beds lining both sides, leading to the village square. Richard occasionally met one or two Fays along the way. They bowed and greeted him with smiles. Richard smiled in return and continued on his path. It was only a short walk, and he soon reached the village square. It seemed shorter than the last time he remembered, or perhaps he had been so entertained by the beautiful flowers and small gardens that he hadn't noticed how long he had walked. Or maybe he had been too busy greeting the Fays along the way.
In the center of the village square stood a simple stone fountain. In Richard's estimate, the square was about 50 meters wide. On the side of the square was a large notice board, peppered with handwritten notices and proclamations, some pinned neatly and others flapping in the wind. Encircling the square were two-story, timber-framed buildings with thatched roofs and wooden walls. Fays were going in and out of the buildings, mostly from the bakery shop. Richard also saw signs for the meat shop, alchemy shop, tailor shop, and blacksmith. The village square felt a bit crowded with all the buildings. He also noticed a tavern and tool shops, as well as vegetable and fruit stands.
Richard felt a bit overwhelmed by how busy everyone was. He missed seeing the transformation of Moirai from an empty village to a bustling one. It was a good sign that Moirai was developing quickly.
Richard entered the tavern. It was dimly lit, with the flickering glow of candles and the soft light from a crackling hearth casting dancing shadows on the rough-hewn wooden walls. The air inside was thick with the scents of roasted meat, earthy ale, and the faint aroma of burning firewood. There were about ten Fays in the tavern and they seemed to be celebrating. He only took a quick look at the tavern curious about it and immediately went out.
Richard then went to the tailor shop and saw clothes of different varieties are displayed on the wooden rack. He also saw light armors in the corner. A female Fay approached him and was a bit shocked recognizing him. She gave her respects to him and entertained Richard for a bit before a familiar female Fay approached them.
"Greetings, Master," Eira greeted him. "You wanted to me to fit a clothes for you?" she added with a wide smile.
"I'd like to," Richard enthusiastically answered. "But, not now. I'm just looking around."
"Feel free, Master," Eira said inviting Richard.
Richard had a small conversation with Eira. They talked mostly about clothes and the boom of its demand. Eira also told him about the relentless attack of the beasts almost every hour which made Richard a bit alarmed. He said his goodbye a moment after.
Richard proceeded to the Blacksmith. It was a lot bigger than before. It was actually the biggest building in the area. Richard was welcomed by the warmth of the forge and the constant symphony of clanging metal, the rhythmic tap of the hammer, the hiss of hot metal cooling in water, and the crackle of the forge fire. He saw Garrick with his big build hammering a piece of metal. The Quintuplets were also busy doing their work. Their arms covered in soot and grime. There were also 4 other Fays assisting in forging some of the basic items. Along one wall, wooden racks held finished items, including building and construction tools, farming tools, and various kinds of weapons.
He watched them work from afar. Particularly, Richard intently watched Garrick. His muscles flexing with each strike of the hammer. Sparks flew in every direction as the hot metal was struck, shaped, and formed under his steady hand. His leather apron, worn and stained, protected him from the intense heat and flying embers. It feels like looking at a master doing his craft. He didn't bother to disturb them and walked to the other shops in the area.
Richard enjoyed interacting with everyone. He had a small talk with most of the Fays. In the past sixteen days, as what Eira told him, the beast attacks were non stop. Though, with the walls, they were able to easily repel them. It also gave the village a lot of loots and rare materials the reason why Moirai was able to develop this fast. The farmlands has now its first crops planted and ready to be harvested two or maybe three months from now. It was also enclosed in walls to protect the farmers and the crops inside. They also found a lot of resources and the surrounding area and began to gather and use them. Like silver, gold, rare gemstones, marble, limestone, granite among other resources. The problem was the labor force for mining and protecting all these valuable resources.
Richard then went back to the castle. He saw Zalis and Gartha waiting for him at the castle entrance. They both bowed to him and expressed how happy they were to see him. Richard returned the gesture and asked Zalis to summon all the Fays listed on the parchment he had given him, to meet in the Throne Room.
Everyone was gathered again. Joining the group was Garrick, who sat beside Lyra, the tailor. However, Kael, Elys, Lira, and Nex were not present. Toren was the last to arrive, looking worn out with deep, dark circles under his eyes. Toren bowed respectfully to Richard and Vara before making his way to his seat. The chair, marked by the emblem of a Shield and Sword carved into its high back, was a silent testament to his role and responsibilities.
Richard stared at all the Fays present and took a deep breath. "Moirai has developed faster than I expected. It is all thanks to everyone's hard work. Thank you, everyone," Richard began, looking at all the Fays seated before him with a grateful smile. "We have walls, but we are being besieged nonstop by the beasts. Toren, do we have a map of our area now?" Richard asked.
"Yes, Master," Toren replied, his tone measured but resolute. "We have fully mapped a 25-kilometer perimeter around Moirai. The 75-kilometer range is partially mapped, while the 100-kilometer area is still in its initial stages. As we venture farther, we've encountered increasingly fearsome and powerful beasts," Toren reported, pausing briefly as if weighing his next words carefully.
Richard leaned forward slightly, his expression one of interest. "Please provide me with a copy of the map after the meeting," he instructed, his gaze fixed on Toren. "What are your next steps?"
Toren straightened. "Master, I propose building five border outposts along the 25-kilometer perimeter. This area is cleared of beast dens and territories, ensuring a secure foundation for these outposts. Recent reports from our scouts suggest the majority of beasts originate from beyond the 60-kilometer mark. Establishing these outposts will provide an early warning system and secure our immediate surroundings. However..." Toren hesitated for a fraction of a moment, "we lack manpower, Master."
Richard nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "Go ahead with your plan, Toren. Build the outposts. The issue of manpower will resolve in time; for now, we'll expand cautiously. Our priority is the safety of Moirai and the farmland."
"Thank you, Master. I will do my best," Toren solemnly promised, his tone firm and resolute.
"Other than that, I want to see how our soldiers are doing," Richard added, his voice tinged with excitement at the prospect of meeting his troops.
Toren looked at him with concern. "It is too dangerous to visit the frontline, Master. There are beasts capable of jumping over the walls, and some are flying around."
Richard dismissed the Commander's worries and insisted on inspecting the troops. "Gartha will be with me."
Everyone grew worried upon hearing their Master's insistence.
"I'll go with him," a cold voice interjected, silencing everyone, especially Toren and Zalis. The Fay Queen's words left no room for objection, and neither Toren nor Zalis protested any further.
Richard turned to Vara, his expression silently conveying his gratitude. The Fay Queen smiled at him and stayed silent.
Richard leaned forward, his gaze sweeping over the room. "I've seen everyone's contributions to the Nest's development and protection," he began, his voice steady. "Does anyone have suggestions on how we can reward those who have contributed the most?"
Amisar spoke up almost immediately. "I propose increasing their salaries," she began, her voice confident and steady. "In addition, we should allow essence cores to be exchanged for tokens. Soldiers would still receive their daily essence cores for training, but they could also purchase additional cores if they accumulate enough tokens. This approach benefits everyone in Moirai and incentivizes greater contributions. Beyond essence cores, we could sell some of our surplus common Skill Gems as well." She paused, her demeanor suggesting she had been waiting for an opportunity to present this idea.
Richard nodded, thoughtful. "Increasing salaries is a logical step," he agreed. "But I want something more immediate. How about this: we distribute rewards such as essence cores, weapons, armor, lifetime benefits, and Skill Gems, tailored to each individual's skills and occupation."
The room buzzed with murmurs of agreement. Amisar raised another point. "That's a good plan, Master, but how do we determine which Fays have contributed the most?"
Richard smiled faintly, as if he had anticipated the question. "Simple," he said, leaning back slightly. "We base it on the experience they gain each day. Every task, every mission, and every effort should contribute to a measurable experience total. We'll maintain detailed records of their monthly experience gains, adjusted for their grades, occupations and roles. Soldiers, farmers, tailors, alchemists an blacksmiths—each will have metrics that align with their field of work."
A ripple of understanding passed through the group, heads nodding in approval. Amisar's eyes sparkled. "Understood, Master. Shall we begin this system immediately?"
"Tomorrow," Richard replied decisively. "You'll oversee the initial setup, Amisar. Ensure that we have a clear system for recording contributions and experience. Make it transparent but secure. I trust you to make this work."
"As you command, Master," Amisar said, inclining her head with respect.
Richard's tone softened as he addressed the room once more. "These rewards aren't just about incentives; they're about showing every Fay that their efforts are noticed and valued. I hope this will also promote equality among all the Fays. This applies to everyone, including this council," Richard said, his gaze sweeping across the room to emphasize his point.
The news excited everyone, and there were no objections to the proposal. The meeting continued for another three hours, focusing on refining the implementation process of the contribution system. Discussions revolved around ensuring the system was fair, efficient, and adaptable to Moirai's growing needs.
The conversation then shifted to the construction of border outposts and the future development of Moirai. The allocation of resources was a central topic, with each department presenting their requirements and priorities. They also explored strategies to open additional manpower recruitment efforts and how to sustain future expansions effectively. Richard emphasized the importance of steady growth and asked for a comprehensive recruitment plan that would align with Moirai's long-term goals.
Another key point was Moirai's physical expansion. Richard tasked Eryndor with providing updated village planning designs for the next phase of development. This time, he specifically requested the inclusion of detailed water infrastructure and sewage system plans, as he had begun to recognize the immediate need to improve the village's sanitation. To his surprise, Eryndor had already started working on these elements, showcasing his foresight and initiative. Richard expressed his approval, impressed by the thoughtfulness and progress in Eryndor's plans.
Richard inquired about the status of housing for the Fays, to which Eryndor confidently assured him that there was enough accommodation for an additional six hundred Fays. However, Richard was not content with just hearing the report. He insisted on personally inspecting the residential area and reviewing the designs of the houses, both inside and out. At first, the council members were puzzled by his insistence, but soon they understood their Master's concern. His desire to ensure the comfort and well-being of his people was clear, and it brought warm smiles to their faces.
As the meeting drew to a close, everyone was encouraged to raise their concerns. Each issue was addressed collaboratively, with the group offering solutions and adjustments as needed.
When the meeting finally ended, everyone bid their farewells, their spirits lifted. It wasn't just the productive discussions or the solutions they had devised that brought them satisfaction—it was the return of their Master. Smiles lingered on their faces as they departed, their faith in Richard stronger than ever.