The month of Verdantus carried with it a fragrance unlike any other. The rains had softened, the air felt rich, and the soil seemed alive beneath the feet of the returning villagers. With the thaw of spring now fully behind us, life surged everywhere.
The villagers who had toiled on construction, roadworks were returning to their farms, eager to tend the crops that promised them security. The new houses, freshly built along the widened streets of Orshek, were already occupied by the older citizens of the town. Many of them moved in with tears in their eyes—never had they dreamed of having stone walls and wooden roofs as sturdy as these. Children played in the alleys, chasing each other through puddles, while women spread cloth to dry, laughing at their good fortune.
It was only the third day of Verdantus, and yet, the world around us seemed renewed.
The farmers of Orshek were in the fields, preparing for the mid-month of spring harvest. They spoke in hushed awe, pointing at the crops that had grown higher than any they had ever seen. Shock lingered in their voices as they discovered the miracle before their eyes: not only had the seeds sprouted without a single sign of disease, but from each stalk two or even three heads of grain had bloomed instead of one.
I had Oswin report to me directly that morning. His voice carried both disbelief and excitement.
"My lord," he said, "this harvest… it will be three to four times what we expected. No famine could touch us now, not this year, perhaps not even the next."
For Orshek, a town that once scraped by on the edge of hunger, it was nothing short of a revolution.
That afternoon, a light rain fell. I found myself standing atop the roof of my mansion, watching droplets trail down the tiled edges. Beside me was Natalia, her black hair clinging to her pale skin, her green eyes shimmering with mischief.
What began as teasing turned into something more primal. The rain masked our sounds as she leaned against the wall, taunting me with her sharp tongue even as I gripped her hair and pressed her body against the stone. She mocked my demands even in passion, and I silenced her the only way I knew. The rhythm of our bodies matched the rainfall, relentless, consuming.
And then—amidst the haze of lust—I caught sight of a small convoy approaching the town gates through the misty roads. My eyes narrowed.
"Alaric Veynor… and Selina Torval," I muttered under my breath. "They've come earlier than expected."
Natalia gave a low chuckle, her breath ragged.
"You worry even in moments like this?" she teased, her voice dripping with both satisfaction and arrogance.
I pulled back slightly, looking her in the eyes. "Did you do what I asked with the seeds?"
Her lips curled in pride. "I completed the task two days ago. Every batch you wanted infused with magic has been prepared."
Satisfied, I finished what we started, leaving her to rest while I donned my cloak and prepared to meet our guests.
The main hall of the mansion was warm and lit when Alaric Veynor and Selina Torval entered. Both were merchants of influence.
Alaric greeted me with his usual booming voice."Lord Allen, Orshek thrives under you. I had to see it myself."
Selina, elegant and sharp, gave a slight bow, her long auburn hair tied neatly."We heard whispers of a miracle harvest. I never doubted them… I saw the fields outside your walls."
I gestured for them to sit. "Whispers travel faster than the wind. Yes, the harvest is extraordinary. And yes—your timing is impeccable. You're here for the seeds."
Alaric leaned forward, his smile widening."You know us too well. The market across the duchies is starved for such wonders. We'd pay handsomely for even a fraction."
Selina added, "But we also know supply cannot be endless. So, tell us, Lord Allen… how much are you willing to part with?" I motioned for Oswin to bring forth several sacks. Their eyes gleamed as the sacks were laid out.
"I'll give you enough to ensure profit for both sides," I said plainly. "But remember—this is not charity. Orshek grows strong because it chooses its allies carefully."
Alaric laughed, raising a cup. "And I, for one, am glad to be counted among them. To new harvests, and new fortunes."
Selina smirked knowingly. "Fortunes built on secrets, no doubt. But we will not pry, only profit."
The deal was struck. Gold clinked heavily across the table, swelling the coffers of Orshek once more. With this, I now held nearly eighty percent of the money I had first brought with me into this world. A fortune reborn.
We dined together, the lunch filled with formal toasts and informal banter. Alaric shared rumors of trade wars brewing across the duchies, while Selina probed at Orshek's defenses with carefully veiled questions. I gave them half-truths where it suited me and silence where it did not.
After the meal, I excused myself and summoned Elia to meet me at the training grounds.
North of the town, hidden deep inside a forest clearing, the militia had been gathering in secret. The sound of clashing swords and whistling arrows filled the air as we arrived.
What I saw filled me with both pride and ambition.
The town had 50 archers, each armed with the compound bow. Their arrows struck targets with precision, the increased draw strength and mechanics allowing them to loose twice as many shots without fatigue.
Alongside them stood 150 infantrymen, clad in leather armor and wielding short swords, wooden shields, and a mix of repeater and normal crossbows. Their ranks were disciplined, their movements uniform.
At the forefront were my 15 knights, resplendent in full iron armor, each armed with long swords, war axes, or maces, their heavy shields gleaming. They were my hammer—the unstoppable force should Orshek ever be tested.
Rowan Falkner, overseeing the archers, saluted as he approached."My lord, the compound bows have changed everything. The men strike farther, harder, and with greater accuracy. Hunting yields have doubled, and morale has soared."
Elia, still young but brimming with talent, came forward."The infantry have taken well to discipline, my lord. I've marched them in formations, drilled them on rotating shield walls, and taught them the staggered volley of the repeater crossbows. They can now advance in tight blocks, fire in waves, and cover each other as they reload. It is crude, perhaps, but effective."
I walked among the soldiers, inspecting their gear, their stances, the determination in their eyes."Elia," I said, "you've shown promise. You think like a commander, not just a drillmaster."
The boy flushed with pride but bowed his head."I only follow your example, my lord."
I turned to Rowan, noting the confidence in his men."With these bows, Orshek's walls have eyes and claws that few armies could match."
And yet, as I watched the militia move in unison, the thought burned in me: this was only the beginning. Discipline, training, and unity would turn Orshek from a simple town into a fortress feared across Verdantus.