A year later:
In a humble home belonging to a family of four, sat a stocky man with thick, work-worn hands, and a woman wearing an apron as she cooked something that smelled delicious.
The woman called over her shoulder to her husband, "Praise Tiamat! The fact that you're being paid a fair wage now, and that our city finally has shops selling essentials like food and ingredients thanks to the influx of merchants—it's just so wonderful!
Honestly, if you'd told me a year ago that the city would be like this, I would've laughed in your face."
The man grinned as he watched his wife cooking — something he hadn't seen in years.
"Indeed, praise Tiamat! It's unreal! Not just that, but the way he's reformed so many areas… he truly is an ancient dragon. The kind of foresight and political acumen he has—it's something to be envied!
Workers' rights? A day off each week? And lowering business taxes so much that merchants are flocking here—especially with how advantageous our location is. It was never tapped into before because of those constant wars! Damn theocracy!"
The woman smiled so brightly that you'd never have believed she had been malnourished—on the verge of death—just a year ago.
Then, suddenly, two small children, a boy and a girl, came running in.
"Hey, careful!" the mother shouted sternly.
The two children giggled mischievously as they sat down at the table, and the mother served breakfast.
"So, first day of that... what did Lord Charlie call it again? School?" the father said in a slightly strained tone.
The boy spoke up with excitement. "Yes, Dad! It's a place where kids can learn things that used to be only for nobles or clergy! I can't wait!"
The mother smiled at her children's excitement and at the thought of the new experience they would be the first generation to have. "He really is farsighted—and godly. Only a divine being could think of something like this. Even some of the grandest capitals in the world don't have what we do, and it's only been a year."
The father nodded fervently before speaking. "Right, let's eat! But first—it's prayer time!"
The rest of the family closed their eyes solemnly, focusing on the prayer that Charlie and his clergy had been reciting in the public square.
"Thank you for your blessings, Great Tiamat, God of Dragons. Please continue to bless us in the future as we partake of your nectar and sustenance. Amen!"
"Amen," the rest of the family echoed.
This very scene played out throughout the city now known as Arcadia.
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In the now aptly named Treasure Room of Tiamat, the dragon himself lay atop his pile of gold and jewels, which had grown noticeably over the past year—a testament to the economic prosperity of the city he ruled. If one looked closely, they would even spot the same Legendary-grade sword taken from that human, jutting out from the glittering heap.
He was not alone this time, however. Beside him stood Charlie, delivering his report, and an elven woman—the same one with black hair, vibrant green eyes, and a slim, graceful figure to match. She was none other than the commander of the elven forces, Selene.
Selene had become a familiar face in Arcadia over the past year, often serving as a messenger between the two leaders. Today, however, she was here for a different reason, waiting patiently for Charlie to finish.
"My Lord, the number of merchants coming to Arcadia has risen sharply compared to last month, and this trend shows no sign of slowing. I propose we begin constructing proper roads to make travel easier, along with expanding the commercial square.
The city is now, for the most part, fully repaired and cleaned. The muddy paths have been replaced with stone, and the carriage routes upgraded with your gravel road design. Public bathhouses have also been established to improve health and hygiene following your reforms, and construction on the new plumbing system is underway although, at this rate, it may take several years to complete.
Even so, we currently have more than enough resources and manpower to begin building roads along the key trade routes and to enlarge the commercial square."
As Charlie finished his report, Tiamat's ruby eyes seemed to be calculating something.
"How many people do we have now?"
Charlie checked a piece of parchment before replying.
"Around one hundred thousand, we have just finished the count a few days ago."
"Alright, go ahead with your plan. Also, how many more can my city hold?"
Charlie quickly jotted something down after receiving approval from his lord, then responded to the next question.
"Perhaps another fifty thousand, if we push it. The city was severely underpopulated when you first took over, but in just over a year, another fifty thousand refugees have arrived after hearing nothing but praises from travelling merchants. At this rate, we can expect the city to reach full capacity within the next year."
Tiamat fell silent, deep in thought. What he needed most now—beyond his growing reputation and the prosperity of his city—was people. For the future he envisioned, he would need as many followers as possible to amass the faith required to ascend into true godhood.
"Expand not only the commercial square but also the residential districts," he finally rumbled, his voice heavy with command. "The houses need not be extravagant—only clean, affordable, and aesthetically pleasing."
His ruby eyes glinted with ambition, as the sound of his words echoed through the chamber.
Charlie noticing this look did not object.
"Very well, my Lord. If all goes according to plan, we should be able to accommodate around seventy thousand more within a year."
Tiamat nodded lightly, as the treasure around him fell and rustled, he then dismissed Charlie and spoke to Selene who had been patiently waiting.
"What can I do for you, Selene?" His voice rumbled with authority.