Lucan, washing his hands, looked at his system that got a notification.
The words' meaning was good for Lucan because it would help him greatly in the future.
[Harvest Complete – Land Vitality +5% (Territory-wide)]
[180 CP Gained converted into 18 LP]
[You can now convert CP into LP (10 CP = 1 LP)]
[But you can't convert LP back into CP]
One thing was good, then the other bad. Lucan got a way to convert CP into LP, but not LP into CP. It can only mean that LP is truly important and it can't be just a currency you can use freely.
Lucan then looked at the people that were walking next to him. Cedric was happy, Nors was talking with him, and Kenny and Evan were walking with Dalia.
Lucan followed them, and soon in a minute, they reached the fire, where everyone sat together and ate food together.
Dalia started preparing food with Kaela, and the faint smell of smoke and roasted vegetables drifted from their cooking.
As everyone had gathered near the fire, everyone smelled the aroma that was coming from the food they were going to eat.
By the time everyone gathered, including Ronan and Elara, Marcus, Elias, and Leo, who had come back after the trip, the children, Nors' family, and Lucan were sitting quietly near the fire.
He saw that the first bowl was passed to him, then the others were slowly getting their bowls. Everyone got their bowl, and in it was the food that was cooked with the vegetables that were harvested today.
Everyone started eating, and a little late, Kaela arrived, wiping her hands after helping Dalia.
She took her seat beside Lucan, her eyes reflecting the orange glow of the flames from the fire. Everyone was talking among themselves. Lucan was with Kaela, and he noticed her quiet demeanor and said, "Kaela, are you tired?"
Kaela shook her head. "No, Master, it's just that working with others and having fun together is a really good feeling, that's why I am feeling happy."
Lucan then took a bowl and handed it to her, and Kaela, grabbing it, started eating as they both looked at others.
Lucan, who was eating the food, stopped slightly and then remembered. He then looked at Kaela and said, "Kaela, I will teach you something today. After eating the food, come with me, okay?"
Kaela, hearing it, was a bit shocked and surprised at first, but she knew that eventually her Master would teach her something, so she was also happy a bit.
She almost choked on the food, but Lucan helped her stabilize. Then she said "Sorry" first, for the food, then she said, "Master, will you really teach me? I don't know what to say, I thought I needed to wait for weeks."
"No, Kaela, you are not wrong that I will teach you. Eat the food first, then we will have our lesson, okay?" Lucan said and then started eating his food. Kaela also started eating, as she wanted to learn, so she thought she should be fast, but not when eating food.
A few minutes later, they both had eaten their food. Then Lucan stood up and says, "Good night everyone, I will go now, have a good night."
Everyone gave back the wishes. "You too, Lord, have a good night."
Then Lucan started walking, as Kaela also walked with him. The others had different thoughts about why the Lord and Kaela were going together, but they knew a little bit about the Lord—that he is a good lord—and also Kaela was his pupil, so he probably would teach her something.
Lucan and Kaela walked a bit far, and then choosing a good place, Lucan said to her, "Kaela, sit here." Kaela did as asked and sat at the clean place.
He then said, "Kaela, close your eyes so you can control the mana inside and feel it," then waiting for a second, "and keep your breath steady."
Kaela did it as asked and slowly went deep into her thoughts. Seeing the raw mana inside her, she was feeling a little tired slowly, but Lucan helped her, placing his hands on Kaela's back and trying to guide the mana.
"Kaela, mana isn't an item that can be caught or strained. Feel that mana is flowing inside you, not waiting in one place. Flow it like air, don't resist at all. Make it move with your breath," Lucan said in a low voice that Kaela could hear through her mind.
Kaela followed his words carefully, her chest rising and falling slowly in an orderly manner. For a second, only her breath could be heard and the sound of leaves.
Kaela then felt that the raw mana inside her was slowly refining itself. It was slowly flowing through her abdomen to her heart, with Kaela herself and Lucan helping her.
Lucan felt that her mana circle was slowly being made better. Kaela did have a circle on her heart, but it was a raw one and not at all made by instructions. It was like she made it in a situation that was not in her hands.
"You are doing good, Kaela. Slowly take the mana and let it flow toward your heart," Lucan said, even now helping her.
Minutes passed, and then in a new moment, she gasped as her body steadied. She opened her eyes, and there was a glow on her that only Lucan or any mage could see. Mana was slowly stabilizing in her.
"Master, I did it! My circle is made, I am feeling stronger than before!" Kaela said and looked at Lucan, standing up.
Lucan also stood up and then he said, "It's a good thing that your First Circle has been made, but don't be too happy. You need to practice and stabilize it completely until you feel that nothing can break your circle. You need to train every day and slowly make it solid."
Kaela listened and then, with a bit of unhappiness on her face, she composed herself, and with a smile, she said, "Yes, Master, I will train every day. Thank you, Master, if you weren't here, I don't think I could make it happen at all."
"Kaela, it was not only me but you also had the resolve that you will make it happen. If your resolve was fake, then it would not be possible," Lucan said, patting her shoulder.
He looked at her. It was a really good feeling teaching someone and having them learn it easily. Lucan only felt this now.
"Now, why don't we go now and sleep, Kaela, so you can think about the practice?" Lucan said and cleaned the dirt from his clothes.
"Yes, Master, let's go," Kaela said, her face smiling all the time. She just felt happy that she had become a First Circle mage.
Lucan and Kaela walked under the moonlight sky. As they walked back together, they both saw the sky.
Then looking down where the fire was, it had burned low, leaving a faint light glowing on the ground. Some people were already asleep, others were chatting quietly inside their shelters.
Lucan stood for a while, watching the faint lights. His system screen flickered softly before him; lines of glowing text appeared, talking about today.
[Daily Report – Day 13]
[Population – 17]
[LP – 152]
[CP – 995]
[Threat Level – Low]
[Morale Level – Medium]
Lucan closed the screen and then smiled faintly. The system was giving the report everyday, showing how much he earned and lost, mostly. Lucan then looked at Kaela, who was beside him.
He then said, "Kaela, good night. You have learned the breathing technique, so now use it every time. I will go now and sleep, so I can think what to do tomorrow."
Kaela, who was in a good mood and happy, glanced toward Lucan and then, nodding to him, said, "Yes, Master, I will do that, and good night."
After that, Lucan and Kaela walked toward their shelters.
A few seconds of walking, and Lucan reached his shelter. Kaela also had probably reached her shelter by now. Lucan then walked inside and, sitting on the bed, he then thought about the day. 'It was good. The tools Ronan and Elara made came in handy. I helped Cedric, and everyone also came. Eating food with others and teaching Kaela about the breathing technique, and now in my bed.'
Lucan then lay on his bed, having a small smile on his face, and then, closing his eyes, he slept, waiting for the next day.
***
The morning air carried a thin chill, the kind that made breath visible. Mist drifted over the farm. Everyone was already awake. Boots moved, tools clinked, sound from the smithy came, voices of children and older people talked here and there.
A bit far from the shelters, there was a carriage with four people: the hunter duo, Leo, and the Lord of the state, Lucan.
Marcus was tightening the ropes on Chetak. Elias and Leo stood there, checking if there was anything missing. Today they would go and come back after purchasing everything they needed.
Yesterday they came back by the night, having some materials with them. Today they would take a trip and buy whatever was necessary.
Lucan approached them, his steps steady. He had his cloak folded over one arm. "Marcus, you have taken a small trip yesterday; today you need to buy things in quantity."
Marcus gave a short nod. "We three will purchase the material and items you and Elysian need, sir, don't worry about it."
Lucan stopped near the wagon. "Watch out for thugs and bandits, okay? Don't let them see you have this much gold on you. We need to have a safe trip; wait until we get guards to protect our trips."
"Got it, Sir Lucan," Elias said, tightening his gloves. He was younger than Marcus but handled himself like he was also the one to take matters into his hands.
Lucan glanced between them, then added quietly, "If you think the trip is not safe, rain will be coming, or a storm comes, don't hesitate to come back."
Leo smirked faintly. "Yes, Sir Lucan, we will be careful."
Lucan's face had a small smile on it. "Good, Leo, Marcus, and Elias."
They climbed onto the carriage. The horse Chetak pawed the dirt with his hooves. In a few minutes, they were gone. Lucan lifted his hand slightly and used the system's scan feature.
The area was laid bare before him. He saw the farm, shelters, and fire, with the Cursed Land and all other places. He looked at the small glow that was slowly going outside Elysian.
Lucan focused on them and saw they were chatting, and Marcus was handling the leash of Chetak. Lucan watched them as they slowly went outside Elysian, and the glow dimmed. He then felt that there would be no problem on the way and then closed the scan.
The sound of footsteps came, and Kenny approached Lucan from behind. He had a bucket of water and a half-wet towel over his shoulder. "Lord, they will be fine," he said, watching the road and handing the water to Lucan.
Lucan gave a single nod. "I know they will." He took the water and, cleaning his face with it, Lucan adjusted his cloak. "We have work to do, Kenny."
"Yes, Lord," Kenny said, giving the towel to Lucan, and then Lucan cleaned his face and walked toward the shelters.
By noon, the sun was high enough to chase the cold away. Elysian sounded with metal and people's talk. Sparks flew from the Smithy as Ronan swung the hammer down onto hot iron. Each strike hit clean.
Elara worked beside him, feeding the forge with coal, turning rods with tongs until their edges got better. The smell of metal mixed with smoke and coal came through the smithy.
Lucan walked toward the smithy. Kenny was nowhere to be seen. He stood near the doorway for a while, arms crossed, watching Ronan and Elara as they worked together to make tools. A rack on the wall already had finished tools—new shovels, hoes, and a set of short blades.
When Ronan finally finished the latest piece and placed it sideways, he looked over his shoulder, sweat slowly going down the side of his face. "What do you think about this, Lord?"
Lucan stepped inside. "It's a good product."
Elara smiled faintly without looking up. "Yes, sir, it's a really good product. Ronan didn't a much when making the tools."
"I'll rest, Elara, when I think I need the rest," Ronan said, setting the tongs aside and wiping the sweat from his brow.
Elara gave a quiet snort but didn't press further. She returned to her task, the steady sound of metal filling the Smithy. The forge's heat shimmered in the air.
Lucan lingered nearby, watching them work. For a moment, he thought to speak again, but then saw that they were working, and when working, it's not good for a person to disturb them.
Lucan could talk with them because he is the Lord, and no one would think it's bad, but Lucan didn't need to say anything much, so, with a small nod, he adjusted his clothes and turned away, heading toward the farm where Cedric was working.
He walked with a rhythm and a song slowly making in his head. As he neared the farm, the smell of earth thickened in the air.
Lucan watched the farm area and saw that Cedric was already out there, near the crops. Lucan stopped a few feet away and called out. "Cedric."