NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 24: Foundations and Fractures
The next day,
Arvind began his routine exercise, the familiar whoosh whoosh of his sword rippling through the courtyard as he concentrated on his moves.
A few hours later,
He dropped his sword and leaned against the stone wall, murmuring with a smile on his face, "It's really tiring, but one step at a time, I can reach my goal." Sweat dripped from his forehead, which he wiped away with his elbow.
His mind wandered to what the old man had said yesterday, a statement that had shaken him to the core. As always, Arvind took pride in his Earth-based knowledge and couldn't help but want to confirm its relevance in Atheron.
After a few minutes of rest,
He gathered his wooden box containing salt, water, elemental crystals (ores), and a few basic tools. He went outside to the castle mountain, where he planned to conduct an electrolysis experiment.
He spotted the perfect place—between two large trees with low bushes and the sound of birds chirping in the background. He placed his wooden box on the ground, took out his tools, and spread them on a rope.
A few minutes later,
He filled an iron pot with water, poured in the salt, and suddenly tapped his head, muttering, "Shit, I forgot the power source." Pondering how to generate electricity, he used his clever mind to solve the problem by utilizing the natural crystals that the knights had found near the ley lines—crystals with faint, inherent energy. The working principle was simple: channeling fighting spirit into the crystals to generate electricity (thunder elemental energy).
Arvind collected a few of these crystals and carefully placed them in a small, makeshift container. Using thin metal wires, he connected the crystals, forming a simple circuit.
As he channeled his fighting spirit, the crystals began to generate a steady, low-voltage current, enough to power his experiment. He then took the pot he had previously dissolved salt in and connected wires to the solution. Bubbles formed on the wire, indicating the process of electrolysis.
Arvind smiled with relief, seeing the familiar reaction. "Inactive elemental energy behaves just like Earth's atoms," he muttered to himself, feeling a surge of relief. "This is a breakthrough! I can apply my Earth-based knowledge here after all." With his confidence boosted, Arvind decided to push the boundaries further.
He stood up, taking a few steps back from the apparatus with an elemental crystal in his hand. "Time to see if active elemental energy responds to my fighting spirit with the crystal."
He focused inward, summoning his fighting spirit. As he channeled the energy, a faint glow began to emanate from his body. He directed this energy toward the crystal, which emitted a faint glow. He then commanded it to strike a tree.
"Boom! Cough, cough,"
Arvind stood amidst the aftermath, breathing heavily but grinning widely. "They're not as foreign as I initially thought," he said aloud, feeling a profound sense of accomplishment. "I can master this. I will master this." Active elemental energy cannot be directly influenced by a knight; it needs a medium like the elemental crystal.
---
After breakfast, he visited the razorback pen with Anika. Arvind's face beamed with a smile as they walked down the road. Once they reached the pen, Arvind stood close to the enclosure, staring at the razorbacks with eyes sparkling with excitement. They looked like pigs, but their large size set them apart, even now as juveniles.
As he gazed at them, his calculated mind kicked in, and he muttered silently, "The new magical theory I've learned—they are my hope to fuel scientific experiments on elemental energy." This possibility made his body tremble with excitement.
Arvind was interrupted from his thoughts by the servant in charge. "Good morning, my lord," the servant approached and said respectfully.
Arvind responded, still gazing at the razorbacks, "These creatures hold so much potential. I can feel it. How many juvenile razorbacks do we have?"
The servant replied, "My lord, we have twenty juvenile razorbacks. They love their new home."
Arvind nodded with a smile and asked, "And their food consumption? Are we managing to keep them well-fed without straining our resources?"
"Yes, my lord. Each juvenile consumes about seven kilograms of feed per day. We've allocated a portion of our new crop yields, along with common magic plants specifically for their sustenance, ensuring a balanced diet without impacting our food reserves."
Arvind nodded, appreciating the meticulous planning. "Good. And what about the political implications of rearing them? Can we use them to trade with other baronies, given our isolation?"
As you know, the servant is an experienced old man who managed magical animals during the brutal lord era. His experience was valued by Shankar when he assigned him to manage the pen.
"Indeed, my lord. Raising juvenile razorbacks and training them can greatly enhance our position. Neighboring regions value these creatures highly for their strength and utility. We could use them as gifts or trade items, gaining favor and forging stronger alliances to eventually solve our isolation."
Arvind smiled with confidence, thinking, 'I unintentionally acquired them for different purposes, but now it seems like luck that I did not let Aldric kill them.' He replied, "Excellent then."
As Arvind and the servant talked, Anika stood a few steps away, her gaze fixed on the juvenile razorbacks. She viewed them differently, recalling yesterday's events. Unconsciously, she tried to recreate the perceptions she had noticed yesterday, and as she concentrated, she noticed a subtle change.
The world around her shifted, and she could sense the intricate flow of elemental energy surrounding the razorbacks. The air seemed to hum with vibrant energy, and she could almost see the currents of power intertwining with the essence of the beasts. It was a profound and enlightening moment.
As quickly as it had come, the perception vanished, leaving Anika breathless and exhilarated. She realized that something within her had shifted, opening up new possibilities. Glancing at Arvind lost in thought, her gaze softened. 'The perceptions I noticed are not my mind tricking me,' she thought, clenching her soft, white fist as she saw her future trajectory change from today.
Meanwhile, Arvind looked over the pen, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. He turned to the servant and said, "Thank you for the report. Keep in mind that ensuring their care remains a top priority. Negligence should not be an excuse."
Afterward, he and Anika went back to the castle.
In the evening, a golden hue bathed the castle courtyard. Arvind and Anika had just finished a long day of work, and the air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant chatter of servants winding down for the day.
Arvind turned to Anika and said, "Anika, you know, I've been thinking..." He trailed off, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Oh no, what now?" Anika raised an eyebrow, already bracing herself for whatever playful nonsense Arvind was about to say.
Arvind suddenly broke into a sprint, racing across the courtyard. "Catch me if you can!" he called out, his laughter echoing through the stone walls.
Anika couldn't help but laugh, her worries melting away as she chased after him. "You're going to regret this, My lord!" she shouted, her voice filled with mock determination.
They darted around corners, weaving between pillars and statues, their laughter intertwining with the gentle evening breeze. Finally, Arvind stopped, panting and leaning against a fountain, a wide smile plastered on his face.
"Got you!" Anika tapped his shoulder, both of them breathless from laughter.
"Okay, okay, you win," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But admit it, you had fun."
"I did," she admitted, her eyes sparkling. "Sometimes it's nice to just be ourselves, without all the pressures and expectations."
Arvind valued these genuine interactions deeply. Being with Anika, he felt comfortable and at ease, free from the burdens of leadership. He could simply enjoy the beautiful moments.
As they caught their breath, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Arvind looked at Anika, his heart filled with joy and gratitude. These were the moments he cherished most—when he could be his true self, laughing and sharing in the simple joys of life.
Arvind turned to Anika, smiled and said, "Anika, thanks for always being here. It means more to me than you know."
"Always," Anika replied, giving him a warm smile. "I'm here for you."
That night, with optimism, Arvind closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
---
Arvind's optimism was short-lived. As the days passed, the situation worsened. He observed strange shifts in Ravengarde's weather patterns. Studying the parchment calendar, he murmured, "It's Zephyith (June). It should be warm with a cool breeze. Why is it sometimes raining heavily and other times cold?" His unease grew, but his trust in Erik helped stabilize his emotions.
As days went by, the wheat fields, once lush and green, became patchy with areas of unnatural growth and decay. Trees withered, and even the hardiest crops began to falter. One of the farmers noticed this change and couldn't help but feel flustered, kneeling on the ground and pleading for forgiveness while looking at the changing sky.
More townsfolk began to notice these phenomena, whispering of divine punishment among themselves. Their unease grew into palpable tension, disrupting the barony's infrastructure projects.
During the construction of the wall, these whispers became apparent and stagnated progress.
Aldric could not help but scold them, quelling their fears with a stern command, "My lord has a solution. Continue the wall construction. Be careful; if I see anyone trying to disrupt the work, I will cut him down with my sword." The reassurance worked for a time, but even Aldric's confidence began to waver as he noticed unusual behavior among the local wildlife.
---
At the wheat field, Erik, the old dual-class priest-mage, chanted with visible strain, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. Bramir stood nearby, his impatience barely contained as his leg shook.
Arvind and Anika soon arrived. Overwhelmed by frustration, Arvind blasted Bramir with a number of questions without waiting to take a breath. "Where is your promised solution?" he demanded, his voice sharp and unforgiving. "Look around—everything's worse! The crops, the trees, even the people are suffering!" He cast a glance at Erik and continued, "You better not give me an excuse now. I cannot listen to your words."
Turning his gaze sharply away from Bramir, Arvind looked at the field, a sense of guilt and regret filling him. He murmured silently, "Why did I believe in them before?"
Arvind's inner thoughts began to fluster him, his heart beating rapidly as he looked at the changing surroundings. He couldn't suppress his growing unease and hated this feeling. He imagined the implications, saw the townsfolk flustered, and realized that if this problem wasn't solved, it would be his greatest challenge since becoming a baron. He tried to suppress his emotions, not wanting to appear immature in front of them.
'What should I do?' he wondered. 'Search for knowledge from my previous life?' He quickly dismissed the thought, realizing this problem was magical.
He was interrupted by Anika, who, looking at the ground with her new ability, quickly glimpsed the ley line and drew a conclusion. "My lord," she said, worry in her eyes, "I observed that the ley line disturbance does not originate here but perhaps outside the wheat field. This may not be as simple as we initially thought." Eager to contribute, she continued, "My lord, we should search for the core disturbance before it gets worse."
Before Arvind could respond, Erik took a deep breath and said, "The ley line is finally stabilized. Young man, don't worry, everything will return to normal."
Upon hearing Erik's words, Arvind's worried face softened, and a smile began to appear. He dismissed Anika's insight in favor of Erik's stabilization efforts, placing his trust in Erik's assurance.
That night, with new hope, Arvind slept happily.
---
For a brief time, Ravengarde basked in a semblance of recovery. The weather stabilized, bringing a sense of calm to the anxious townsfolk. Crops and trees, once withered, began to show signs of rejuvenation, their leaves turning a vibrant green and new growth emerging from the soil. The community dared to hope that the worst had passed, and whispers of optimism spread through the streets and homes.
However, this respite was short-lived. Within a week, the problem returned with a vengeance, far more ferocious than before. Dark clouds gathered ominously, casting long shadows over Ravengarde.
The once vibrant crops now wilted under the oppressive sky, succumbing to an unseen force. The air grew heavy with tension, and the unease that had temporarily lifted began to creep back into the hearts of the people. It became clear that the struggle was far from over, and the very foundation of Ravengarde's newfound hope was shaken to its core.
To Be Continued...