CHAPTER 83: A GIFT TO VI

Halfway through the feast, Kaelor rose from where he sat among his men and stepped into the open space before the towering bonfire. The flames snapped and roared behind him, casting his tall frame in shifting gold and shadow.

Every flicker seemed to catch the sharp planes of his face, and in that moment, he looked carved from both fire and steel. Conversations faded. Heads turned. Soon, the square fell into an expectant silence, hundreds of eyes fixed on him.

"Many of you saw when I and the soldiers returned," Kaelor began, his voice carrying easily over the crackle of the fire and the faint clink of bowls. "What we came back from... was a fight against hundreds of Devil Beasts. The same beasts that have made this region a forbidden zone for generations. The same beasts that have driven nobles of every title from these lands."

His gaze swept over the crowd, lingering on the soldiers, some bandaged up and the civilians whose eyes were filled with curiosity. His next words rang with pride and challenge.

"We faced that threat..." His eyes gleamed with a fierce light. "...and triumphed."

The crowd erupted like a dam breaking, cheers, whistles, stomps on the stone, and the deep-throated howls of the Dreadclaws. Fists pounded on the ground, bowls were raised high, and somewhere a drum began to beat in wild rhythm.

Kaelor let the wave of celebration wash over them, but in the back of his mind, Vi’s warning lingered. She had been right, seeing the army return bloodied and battered could have cracked the fragile faith of a fledgling territory. A single setback here was dangerous. It could make strong men hesitate to enlist, and it could make some people think of leaving Redwood. But not tonight. Tonight, they would leave this square believing they were invincible.

"This is not just a celebration of our victory," he continued when the noise ebbed. "We also found an iron mine!"

If the first cheer had been a roar, this was an earthquake. People leapt to their feet, slapping each other on the back. Some clinked their water-skins together as if they were goblets of fine wine. Soldiers grinned like wolves, their eyes burning with pride. The Dreadclaws threw back their heads and howled so loudly the sound rattled the wooden shutters of the buildings nearby.

The uncertainty that had hovered in the people’s hearts earlier melted away completely, gone like frost before the morning sun.

Even those who had never seen battle began to feel a thrill of pride and belonging. If these men, who weren’t even the famed knights, could slay the monstrous bats of Ivory Hills, then Redwood’s army was worth joining.

Everyone knew the truth whispered in the streets: strength here didn’t just come from training. Those who joined the Guardsmen or the Bloodstone Archers would be remade, sharpened by their lord’s mysterious gift into something far greater than they once were.

Kaelor waited until the last echo of celebration faded, until the only sounds were the crackle of the bonfire and the faint hum of anticipation. Then he spoke again, his voice steady and commanding.

"From tomorrow, we begin recruiting capable soldiers. Both men and women will be accepted. Recruitment ends at noon."

The crowd stirred with excitement at the announcement. Some exchanged determined looks, already imagining themselves in the black and red of Redwood’s ranks.

[The loyalty of Redwood Town has reached 100%. Loyalty of Vi the Lost, Mildred the Maid, Osric the Architect, and Damien the Steward has all reached an unprecedented 100%. They shall believe and stand by you unless you publicly lose credibility and destroy those you are meant to protect. Their loyalty is likely to never fall.]

[Other credits include: finding an abandoned iron mine, protecting your Bighorn Herd and Town by clearing a portion of Ivory Hills cavern, both of which have aided in the wellbeing and happiness of the people.]

[You have gained 30,000 FP!]

[Total: 31,100 FP]

The next morning, Kaelor stood in the broad outer section of Redwood, where the early sun cast it’s brilliance on the grains. The scent of dew still lingered in the air, mixed with the faint smell of horse sweat and the distant sweetness of ripening wheat.

Before him, Vi was fastening the last of the saddle straps on her black mare, the leather creaking softly beneath her hands.

She wore a fitted black gown, its fabric clinging snugly at the waist, subtly accentuating her slender yet graceful curves. But before his eyes could take in more, she drew a long, dark cloak over herself, fastening the knots neatly at her chest. The hood was pulled low enough to shadow part of her face, leaving only the pale curve of her jaw and the glint of her eyes visible.

"Have you packed everything?" Kaelor asked, his voice steady but carrying that undercurrent of care that always surfaced when trusted people were sent into dangerous missions. She turned toward him then, and for a brief moment, her angelic face was framed by sunlight, something he found himself looking forward to almost as much as the progress of Redwood itself.

"I have," Vi replied, a single brow lifting as her gaze flicked to the long, leather-wrapped object in Kaelor’s grasp.

"Really?" Kaelor said with meaning, his tone more of a suggestion than a question. He pulled away the wrap in one smooth motion, revealing Ignis in its scabbard. "It’s no offence to be extra careful."

The corner of Vi’s lips curled upward. She stepped forward, her fingers brushing against the scabbard before taking the weapon fully into her grasp. Her eyes lowered to admire it, and her smile grew with genuine appreciation.

"Such fine craftsmanship," she murmured, running a finger lightly over the engraved fittings on the scabbard. "That Vulcanus is no ordinary fellow."

With that, she mounted her horse in a single, fluid motion, her cloak flowing like a shadow around her. She gathered the reins and glanced down at Kaelor.

Their eyes met, his holding a steady, encouraging smile, hers returning with a small but certain nod, before she turned her mare and rode out through the open gates, the rhythmic beat of hooves fading into the horizon.

Far off, near the golden waves of the wheat fields, Elsa was adjusting the basket on her hip when she noticed the scene from a distance, the tall lord watching as the dark-cloaked woman vanished outside the gate. Her brows lifted, and she muttered to the woman beside her, "I thought a woman that beautiful would be claimed by his lordship already."

Mildred, who was inspecting the stalks before taking Kaelor’s share for the storehouse, shot her a look and scowled. "Women of that calibre can’t just be claimed."

Elsa’s brow arched higher. "She’s a woman, isn’t she? My husband claimed me. He was really strong back in the day, better than the other men. Not as charming as Lord Kaelor, but he was almost as good as Hound, before the direwolves got to him—"

She was halfway through the sentence when her words trailed off. Her eyes went wide as Kaelor turned toward them, and she leaned slightly toward Mildred. "Can he hear us?" she whispered, her voice suddenly cautious.

"No," Mildred said flatly, straightening her back. "He’s waiting for me."