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The meeting room was bathed in the soft, golden light of late morning as Kai stood at the head of the long wooden table. Dust motes danced lazily through the streams of sunlight that filtered through the curtains, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise serious atmosphere. His eyes swept across the room, taking in each of the faces gathered around him.

Francis sat closest to Kai, a scroll of notes already in hand, prepared to assist with every detail he would need. Beside him, Killian leaned back in his chair.

Claire stood across from Killian. In front of her and opposite Killian, Klan, representing the Mages, sat quietly, fingers tracing the runes embroidered into his robes.

At the far end, Barret, the mason, was hunched over a few sketches of the city walls and new construction projects. His broad hands pointed places to the person who was next to him; Malden, who was responsible for supplies, sat with a ledger in hand, his brow furrowed as he made notes for the materials they’d need. Balen, the head blacksmith, adjusted the thick leather apron still slung over his shoulders.

Orion, the alchemist, sat next to Ubert, a representative from the outskirts’ farming community. The sinewy man seemed nervous sitting with all the big shots. Beside him were Alden, the chief of Hagmons Keep; Manu, the chief of Averous Village; Kaelan, the chief of Mangrove; and the other village chiefs, each representing their communities, all gathered around the table.

Kai looked over them all, a mix of veterans, craftsmen, and survivors— people who had seen the worst of the wave and were now tasked with building something from its ashes. Taking a deep breath, he spoke his voice firm but edged with the weight of what was to come.

"I know we’ve been through a lot," he began, his gaze sweeping across the room, meeting each set of eyes. "The beast wave tested every one of us— some more than others. But we’ve survived. And now, it’s time to rebuild. Today, I want to go over the development plans I’ve been working on with Francis."

Kai’s gaze sharpened as he moved around the table, locking eyes with each person. His words were steady but held an urgency that cut through the room.

"You all know that Veralt isn’t in good shape. The villages—ravaged by the beast wave—are in shambles. Though the people are resilient and hopeful, they need more than promises; they need action. This meeting is about putting everything we gained from defeating the wave to good use."

He stepped over to a large table positioned in the centre of the room, where a detailed miniature model of Veralt and its surrounding areas lay. It depicted the city with its towering walls, the sprawling villages beyond, and even the thick forest, carefully maintained by Klan using his earth affinity. The forest was represented by small, intricate trees. Streams and rivers meandered through the landscape, while the jagged lines of destroyed homes and roads spoke of the wave’s destructive path.

Kai straightened, his hands resting on the edge of the table. "This is how we move forward— roads, housing, education, and redeveloping the villages. This is where we begin to rebuild Veralt into something stronger than it was before."

As his words settled into the room, there was a quiet, collective nodding of heads.

The village representative’s face lit up with hope as Kai laid out his vision for the roads and villages. The shift in atmosphere was palpable as he continued, focusing on the future rather than the scars of the past.

"First and foremost," Kai said, stepping back from the table model, "we’re going to make sure the roads are solid. Not just patchwork repairs, but proper development. Using Syphon stones, we’ll line the roads with light lamps. They can be enchanted to take in the ambient mana to give off light and we would encase them in transparent safety locks to make sure they don’t pose any threats. And it won’t be limited to just Veralt. Every village in the territory will be connected by clear, well-maintained pathways. People will be able to travel safely, day and night."

He paused, tapping the section of the model where the road led out of Veralt. "Not only that, we’ll extend the network to connect with the main road leading to the capital. This will create a major trade route, allowing more merchant caravans to come through and boosting our economy."

At this, Barret leaned forward, eyes narrowed in thought. "That’s a massive undertaking, Lord Arzan. Paving roads, lighting them, all the way to the capital? How do you plan to manage that? It’s not just the materials, it’s manpower. We’d need labourers and engineers, and that’s before we talk about maintenance."

Kai nodded, already expecting the concern. "I won’t deny it’s a huge project. But it’s also essential. I’ll be putting eighty percent of the funds we earned from selling the creatures we defeated—and the reward from the kingdom—directly into this road development project. Eighty percent, it’s not nothing. It’s going to take time and resources, but we can’t move forward without proper infrastructure. This isn’t just about today, it’s about setting us up for the future."

Barret mulled this over, his fingers drumming on the table, but after a moment, he nodded slowly. "With that kind of investment, we can get it done. But we’ll need to start surveying the land right away."

Kai’s gaze shifted to Alden, who still seemed buoyed by the earlier announcement. "Next," he continued, "is the village development project. I know your villages took the brunt of the beast wave, and we’ve got work to do just to clear out the damage. But once that’s done, we need to focus on growing these villages, not just rebuilding them. They may be small now, but we can turn them into something more."

The representatives’ smiles widened as Kai spoke, and a murmur of approval spread through the room. They looked at each other and seemed to silently speak of something— probably approving the sound of it.

"We’ll start by helping each village expand its agricultural capabilities. Different crops, herbs for trade and medicinal purposes— whatever the land can support, we’ll cultivate it. Ubert," Kai nodded towards the farmer’s representative, "you’ll help with that alongside other farming veterans. Your expertise will be crucial in making sure the soil’s fit and we’re planting the right crops."

Ubert scratched his chin thoughtfully, then gave a firm nod. "We can manage that. Might take some time, but with proper guidance, the land can give back what it took from us."

Kai nodded at that.

"And that’s not all," Kai continued, pointing to the edges of the forest on the model. "We’re going to establish a hunting network for the local hunters. They’ll be able to use the forest to bring in game— meat, furs, resources. Not just for themselves, but as a sustainable trade opportunity with the city. We’ll make sure the hunters have what they need to keep the village fed and help fuel the economy."

There was a quiet hum of agreement from the room, but Kai wasn’t finished.

"And of course," he added, "the village walls will grow too. We won’t leave you vulnerable to another attack like the beast wave. We’ll be fortifying every village, making sure you can sleep in peace behind walls that will hold. It’ll take time— especially with the damage we’ve taken—but once the roads are established, and the immediate repairs are done, the defences will follow."

As Kai finished outlining his vision for the villages, there was a ripple of gratitude that swept through the room. The village representatives, clearly moved, stood up, one of them, Manu spoke—his voice thick with emotion. "Thank you, Lord Arzan. I speak for all the villages when I say… we’ve never had a leader look after us like this. We’ll work hard to make your plans a reality."

Ubert nodded in agreement. "Aye, we’re grateful. This is more than we ever hoped for."

Others echoed similar sentiments, appreciation filling the space as the weight of Kai’s plans settled into their minds. But Kai wasn’t done yet.

He shared a smile with them. "That’s what I’m supposed to do. But moreover, it is what I want to do. So all we can hope is that the plan will set us up for success.

"Now… The most important thing we need to implement is an education policy across the territory. It’s time we invest in our future— not just in bricks and walls, but in knowledge."

He moved back to the table, hands clasped behind his back as he explained. "We’ll start with a basic curriculum. Language, so our people can read and write fluently. Geography, so they understand the land they live in and beyond. Mathematics, so they can manage trade and household accounts. And history, so they know the struggles we’ve overcome and how to avoid them in the future."

Kai’s voice grew more impassioned as he outlined the scope of his vision. "Once they complete this basic education, we’ll offer apprenticeships across various fields— blacksmithing, working with alchemists, becoming skilled hunters, or training with the knights. There will be a place for every person willing to learn and grow, from trades to combat."

At this, Balen gave a hearty nod. "You know you’ll always have room in my workshop, Lord Arzan. The more skilled hands, the better."

Kai acknowledged him before continuing.

"At the same time, we’ll launch a campaign to educate the common people—adults included—in reading and writing. No one should be left behind. Once we’ve achieved that, we’ll work toward establishing a library. A centre of knowledge that will serve not just Veralt but all its surrounding villages."

There was a collective intake of breath as murmurs grew louder around the table. Francis, standing off to the side, gave a sharp nod, already calculating logistics in his mind. Kai saw how Claire leaned in slightly.

"I’ve already spoken with those who will take on apprentices," Kai continued, cutting through the whispers. "This entire educational initiative will be managed by Francis. Claire will assist him in promoting the program and making sure people across the territory know that education is not just for the elite but for everyone."

The room buzzed with mixed reactions— approval, excitement, but also scepticism. Kai could feel the tension shift as discussions rose. The idea of widespread education stirred more emotions than the previous topics since it wasn’t considered important for commoners in this era. And then, as expected, someone raised an objection.

Malden lifted his head, his voice cautious yet firm. "Lord Arzan, I admire your vision, and I believe in much of what you’re saying. But… won’t this go against the church?"

The room stilled at the mention of the church.

Malden continued, "They already have their own schools. If we start educating people outside of their system, the church may see it as a threat to their influence. How do we avoid stirring conflict with them? The church is not a force we can afford to antagonise."

Kai regarded Malden thoughtfully. He knew this would come up— the church, with its own schools, had long held control over education, ensuring that their influence remained unchallenged. This new program could easily be seen as an encroachment. But Kai wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, not when the future of his people was at stake. He exhaled slowly, the tension in the room palpable.

Alden, his brow furrowed, nodded in agreement with Malden. "Lord Arzan, he’s right. The church won’t take kindly to this. It’s not good to cross them, especially when they might see it as going against the goddess. The last thing we need is to create unnecessary tension among the locals. People would be sceptical if the church stands against us."

Kai’s jaw clenched, but he remained composed. He knew that change always brought resistance, and fear and respect of the church were deeply rooted. Before he could respond, another voice cut through the murmurs.

A stern-looking man from the village delegation stood, crossing his arms as he eyed Claire. Kaelan, the man who’d been silent the entire meeting spoke loudly and clearly, silencing every whisper that spread around. "And another thing, Lord Arzan. How can a mere maid like her work on such a large, important program? Education across the entire territory is no small task— this isn’t something for a servant to handle."

The atmosphere shifted, the tension thickening in the air. Conversations halted, and a cold silence fell over the room. Claire, standing near Francis, stiffened, her face flushed with embarrassment, but she said nothing, keeping her head down. Eyes darted between Kai and Kaelan and then, mana exploded outward.

Kai looked down at the man who shrunk back to his chair in a second. "Mere maid? I would like you to try saying that again."