After their session of pleasure, Lucas and Tillie, both refreshed themselves and dressed to depart for Lannisport.
"Tillie," Lucas said as she was standing before him. His expression was serious and his eyes remained fixed on her.
"How loyal are you to me?" He questioned, his gaze probing.
"Young Lord," Tillie shuddered, alarmed by the unexpected question. "I am completely loyal to you. There is nothing I would not do if you asked it of me."
"I am all yours, in my body, in my soul," she added, her expression full of devotion.
"Good," Lucas replied with a smile. He willed his power of 'tame' to work on her.
It went without saying that he succeeded. Even without using his power, Tillie was already utterly loyal and devoted to him, this was simply an added assurance. There was no chance for his power to fail on her.
The power of 'tame' did not do anything very strange. The very feelings of loyalty, devotion and acknowledgement Tillie had for Lucas had been strengthened. Her mind would be moulded in a manner that betrayal to Lucas would not be possible for her. Nothing too drastic. Just subtle and simple leaning of her devotion towards absolute loyalty.
"What happened, young master?" she stammered, her chest tightening with worry and anxiety.
"Tillie," he said calmly, "I have gained a special power."
"Special power?" she repeated, confusion clouding her features.
"Something like magic," Lucas added.
Tillie's eyes widened in shock and fear. She was a faithful follower of the Seven and she knew well that magic was counted among the gravest sins in this faith.
"Magic…?" she whispered, disbelief warring with terror. "Young Lord!"
Her fear was not for herself but for him. If the faith of Seven ever discovered such a thing, Lucas would be hunted down and killed without mercy. There was no way he would be allowed to go scoot free. The faith, the sept, the Maesters would never accept such a thing. Magic was one of things that the faith hated the most. And then there was the citadel, which too hated and abhorred magic.
Lucas let out a soft sigh, easily reading her thoughts.
"You do not need to worry," he said. "No one knows about this, and no one ever will."
He paused before adding, "I am telling you for a special purpose."
Tillie exhaled shakily, a breath of relief escaping her.
"What purpose?" she asked.
Lucas did not reply immediately. Instead, he raised his hand and held it in front of her. At first, she felt nothing. But moments later, a warm, invigorating sensation coursed through her body. It was like nothing she could describe. Her body felt lighter, stronger, more alive than it had in years.
"What just happened?" she asked, almost in disbelief.
"Magic," Lucas answered simply. "I have purified your body. It has been cleansed of all its toxins, impurities, anything that was holding it back from reaching its peak."
Tillie clenched her fists, feeling power and vitality coursing through her veins. Any hidden pains or lingering illnesses were simply gone, and she was standing there many times stronger than before.
"Your body is now at the peak of what it could ever achieve," Lucas said. "Free of anything that once tarnished it."
"Thank you, Young Lord," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Though countless questions swirled in her mind, she held them back. For Tillie, Lucas was everything, above the Faith of the Seven, above the septs and Maesters, above all else.
"Hmm!" Lucas nodded. "You are going to remain by my side forever. I do not need you to fight but you will still be one of my greatest weapons in my quiver."
"Young Lord," gratitude was written all over Tillie's face. There was nothing more that she was able to express.
.
.
.
A group of men led by Lucas were riding their horses toward the bustling port city of Lannisport. But this was not the same city it had been five years ago. It had been completely transformed and Lucas was the one who had led this transformation.
When Lucas had chosen metallurgy before the deity, he thought at best he might refine high quality steel and forge superior weapons. But he had been entirely mistaken.
The deep knowledge he received covered everything possible in the field of metallurgy. From refining steel to exceptional grades, to forging advanced alloys, to extracting aluminum and any other metal whose ore he could find. It was all within his grasp.
The only thing holding him back was the technology of this world. For anything to work, he first had to bring the most primitive technology to this world and it was a time consuming process.
Using this knowledge, Lucas had reshaped Lannisport from the ground up. Generous use of metal alongside stone, fire baked bricks, and wood had completely transformed the city's appearance and infrastructure.
Now, Lannisport was standing as one of the largest trading ports in the entire world. And what did it trade?
Nearly everything that could be crafted from metal. Aluminum and tin pipes, shovels, sickles, hoes, axes, spears, swords, nails, rods, sheets of aluminium; every conceivable product flowed out of Lannisport's bustling markets. All of it had been achieved by the brilliance of Lucas.
As these goods spread far and wide, demand for these products only grew. Most of the profits naturally found their way to Lucas's coffers, though a portion as taxes went to the treasury of Casterly Rock. Additionally, the surge of trade brought prosperity to countless other businesses in the port city.
Lucas did not stop there. He personally oversaw and spearheaded the complete reorganization and near total reconstruction of Lannisport. The city was carefully planned and redesigned. Modern plumbing and extensive sewage systems were laid throughout, and the city continued to grow rapidly. The city was larger, cleaner, more developed, more bustling and more prosperous than it had been five years ago.
Lannister guards now constantly patrolled the streets. Any crime, no matter who committed it, whether noble or smallfolk was dealt with harshly. In Lannisport, everyone followed the law. And all this had only been possible because of the ideas of Lucas.
Thanks to Tywin, who deeply understood the necessity of strict law and order for economic stability, Lucas had faced no opposition in enforcing these standards. In fact, Tywin had a very deep and keen understanding of the importance of economic development and he had been eager to develop Lannisport.
And so, the city thrived under their combined vision. If not till now, it would not be long before Lannisport would overshadow Kings' Landing and Oldtown as the biggest port of Westeros.
*
*
*
[Add the book to your collection. Send some power stones and leave your opinion.]
[Access to Advanced chapters on P@treon. One extra chapter released per week on P@treon. Replace @ with a.]
[email protected]/shadowauthor