CHAPTER 59: CH 59: A HAND OF SALVATION - PART 3

Lucian leaned back in his chair, his expression calm as he looked at the elder chief.

"It’s time to prepare. Your people will need to relocate. If they want food, safety, and work, they’ll have to come closer to my settlement."

He said.

The elder’s brows furrowed.

"How long do we have?"

"About a week. But I want to take a few people with me first. Preparations must be made before everyone arrives. If we don’t set up shelter in advance, you’ll freeze before the next sunrise."

Lucian replied.

The council exchanged worried glances. Moving everyone was risky, but so was staying here. Their food would not last long, and the snowstorms were only getting harsher.

Finally, the chief sighed. He looked at the other elders.

"Who will go first?"

Silence.

Nobody wanted to step forward. Trusting outsiders was dangerous. But not trusting them could mean death for their children.

Then, one man rose. His voice was steady but heavy.

"I’ll go."

Enjou said.

He was in his early thirties, tall with sharp features and weary eyes. Everyone knew him as a man who valued caution, not recklessness.

The fact that he was volunteering spoke louder than his words—it showed his desperation.

Lucian gave him a short nod, then motioned for him to join his group.

"Good. Gather a few more who are willing. We’ll leave immediately."

______

Enjou had never felt this conflicted in his entire life.

All his doubts about Lucian’s group being frauds had been ready to boil over during the long march here.

Every step, he’d expected to be ambushed, killed, or enslaved. That was the reality of the world they lived in.

No one gave anything for free, and kindness was always a mask hiding cruelty.

Even if Lucian and his group said that the food and necessities were in exchange for labor, it did not feel right to him.

’Am I going to be sacrificed to the devil?’

Yet when they crossed into the valley, his heart wavered.

The snow that had long cursed their land simply... stopped. The ground was alive with grass and soil that breathed warmth.

The air was fresh, tinged with the fragrance of crops growing neatly in patches. Enjou almost couldn’t believe it. Was this truly the same world?

Lucian walked ahead like he belonged here, like this paradise had bloomed only because of him.

His tiny body gave off no pressure, yet every step carried weight. The others followed his lead without hesitation, eyes sharp and movements efficient, while he remained strangely calm.

Enjou’s people glanced at him for guidance, but for once, Enjou had no words.

"Berry, help them settle in. Assign housing and prepare meals. After that, set them to work expanding the living quarters. We’ll need more shelters before the rest arrive.

Lucian’s clear voice rang out.

The man named Berry immediately saluted.

"Understood, Lord Lucian."

Lord?

Enjou’s lips pressed into a thin line. So it was true. This child wasn’t a pawn—he was the master here.

The new arrivals were quickly guided toward an area where workers had already started raising wooden frames for new homes.

Tall, strange trees were being manipulated, bending unnaturally as if they obeyed orders. Nearby, people worked around a glowing structure that radiated warmth.

Enjou felt his jaw tighten as he realized this was no ordinary settlement.

This was... something beyond human effort.

"Come. You must be tired from the road. Eat first, and then we’ll show you where to rest."

Berry said with a smile that felt genuine.

They were brought to a long table already laden with steaming dishes.

The aroma alone made Enjou’s stomach twist painfully. His people, gaunt and frail from weeks of scraping by on scraps, stared at the food as if it were treasure.

"Eat. There’s no need to hold back."

Berry urged gently.

Enjou hesitated. He half-expected poison, a trick to weaken them.

But when one of his companions timidly took a bite and tears spilled from her eyes, Enjou found his resolve wavering.

He picked up a spoon.

The first bite nearly made him choke. The taste was rich, savory, unlike anything he had eaten in years.

His instincts screamed at him to slow down, but his body ignored the warning. Bite after bite, he devoured the food, only dimly hearing Berry’s chuckle.

"Careful. Eat as much as you want, but don’t rush. You’ll choke if you aren’t careful."

Enjou looked up, breath heavy, but the kindness in Berry’s tone didn’t feel like mockery. For the first time in years, he felt warmth spreading in his chest that wasn’t from fire or liquor.

His people were smiling. Smiling while they ate. That alone was enough to bring a sting to his eyes.

When the meal ended, Berry personally guided them to temporary quarters. They were small, simple, but far sturdier and warmer than the huts back in Jamica.

Enjou sat on the wooden bed, running his hands over the smooth surface, unable to hide his disbelief.

"Is this... really ours?"

One of his companions whispered.

Berry nodded.

"For now, yes. Once you begin work, you’ll earn your share of space and supplies. Lord Lucian believes in fairness. Contribute, and you’ll be rewarded. That’s the law here."

Enjou finally understood. This was why Lucian had dared to ask them to sign a magical contract.

It wasn’t just about trust—it was about building a system that couldn’t be betrayed.

Still, doubt lingered. Was this real? Could this valley truly sustain them? Could a child really lead so many capable people?

Late at night, when his companions had fallen asleep with full stomachs, Enjou stepped outside.

The valley glowed faintly under the moonlight. Strange runes pulsed across the ground, faint but ever-present. It wasn’t natural. This was magic.

And standing at the edge of the settlement, gazing into the distance, was Lucian.

Enjou hesitated, then approached. The boy didn’t move, but when Enjou was close enough, Lucian spoke.

"You’re not convinced yet."

The words made Enjou stiffen. He hadn’t said anything, yet Lucian had seen straight through him.

Lucian turned his head slightly, his childlike face bathed in moonlight. His eyes, however, held the depth of someone far older.

"That’s fine. You’ll see soon enough. What you ate tonight was only a glimpse of what’s possible here."

Enjou swallowed.

"Why... why do all this? Why help us? You don’t even know us."

Lucian’s lips curved slightly.

"Because I need people. And you need salvation. It’s that simple. Our goals align. Don’t worry. I’m a selfish person. What I am doing is for my own benefit first, so you don’t need to think of this as charity either."

His words carried no warmth, no attempt at persuasion. Just cold, blunt truth.

For some reason, that honesty eased Enjou’s heart more than false kindness ever could.

"Rest for now. Tomorrow, you’ll see what it means to be part of something greater than survival."

Lucian said, turning back to the valley.

Enjou stood there for a long while, staring at the boy’s back. The doubts hadn’t fully vanished, but a seed had been planted.

Perhaps... perhaps this was no trick.

When he finally returned to his quarters, his people were curled up peacefully, bellies full, faces soft. Enjou sat down and allowed himself a rare moment of hope.

For the first time in years, he wondered if their settlement truly had a future.