NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 34: Clash in the Forest
Southeast of Ravengarde, Erik and his team stirred awake.
Erik surveyed the distant southern mountains, their journey from the west vivid in his mind. The eastern terrain, now within reach, beckoned. Bushes dotted the steep slopes below, while birds' cheerful songs filled the air—a perfect spot for a mage tower, he mused with a chuckle. Their discovery of hidden gems had already sparked envy in Arvind.
One nearby iron mine near Ashford was of medium size. Heading north, they had found a smaller one, and to the south, a rich vein of copper and tin. "If the other nobles knew of this territory's wealth, they'd go mad," Erik thought. "And that white substance that nearly blinded me? It has to be valuable limestone." He collected samples, suspecting their worth.
While surveying for unique minerals, Erik picked up a black stone. "This should be coal, right? Water, can you confirm?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. We're almost done estimating the reserve," Water replied, engrossed in measurements while the others dug into the soil.
"Excellent, everyone. Take your time, no need to rush. We've found so much already. With these minerals, we could rise like a phoenix," Erik encouraged. They were now deep in the mountains. Behind them loomed another peak of similar height, and to the east, high hills and forests cloaked in clouds obscured the view. They planned to explore there next.
Erik felt most excited about starsteel, inactive crystals, and active elemental crystals. Inactive crystals, formed from high concentrations of inactive elements, were ideal for stabilizing active elements in magical research. Active crystals, on the other hand, contained active elements in crystal form.
Raising his right hand, Erik gazed at the ocean-blue crystal with a smile. "With this, level 2 isn't my limit. Wait, mentor, your apprentice will surpass you and become a great mystic," he muttered softly. "Don't worry, I've had a fulfilling life and no regrets about not becoming a priest. My time has come."
---
Meanwhile, Arvind and his group had just crossed the Warcraft River, larger than Kelnar but still unnamed. As they moved, birds flew away, eyes scanning left and right. The darkness was suffocating, with trees stretching endlessly above, and the silence sent shivers down his spine. Yet, the occasional animal cries made it a tranquil spot, perfect for camping.
Venturing deeper, they encountered a wolf pack. After an exhausting fight, they rested by a tree. "This mission is exhausting. I just want to finish it and go back to lead the economic reform. This forest is shit," Arvind muttered.
"Hey Eldrin, I predict the marketplace project will be almost completed before we return," Arvind continued.
"Indeed, my lord. I'm like an ant on a hot pot now. There are so many projects that burden me," Eldrin replied.
"Yes, that's significant for us, Eldrin. I guess it will take only a week to finish and return. I hope so," Arvind said. After resting, they continued.
As Arvind anticipated their completion in the Warcraft forest village, they planned to return smoothly to Ashford. Suddenly, his senses alerted him, and his level 1 strength instinctively moved him to the side. "Woosh!" A breeze hit his face, sending shivers down his spine and sweat across his brow. "Bang!" It crashed into a tree trunk.
The knights unsheathed their swords as their blood surged with shame and anger. They quickly deflected the arrow and dashed at breakneck speed, cutting branches and throwing them toward their attackers' hiding place. Soon, they engaged in battle. The sound of clashing steel and stone filled the air. A knight delivered a powerful kick to the attacker's chest.
"Don't kill them! They're important to us!" Arvind commanded.
"Yes, my lord," the knight replied.
Before Arvind could breathe a sigh of relief, a breeze passed behind him, knocking him back and sending him flying into a tree trunk with a loud "bang."
He stood, fury like a volcano, unsheathing his sword and channeling his fighting spirit. He charged forward, kicking the attacker away. Without hesitation, he lunged with his sword but was countered.
Despite being a level 1 powerhouse, Arvind was initially at a disadvantage. He skillfully kicked the attacker, slamming him into a trunk with a cracking sound and an agonized cry.
At that moment, Anika intervened, "My lord, calm down first."
Then the real village leader arrived, "Where is that bastard? Let me catch you and leave you to hunt alone. Let's see how you handle those beasts."
With a staff resembling a shaman, he approached, then stopped, stunned. After a while, he noticed Faelan hiding with Eldrin. "Uh, what happened here? Don't think you can bully my son as you wish, even if you're a noble," he said.
"Fuck off! And what tree are you from? I don't have time for this. This leader must bear the consequences for attacking us," Arvind said, glaring at the frightened leader on the ground.
As the knights approached with sweat and blood on their swords, tension rose. The old man scrutinized the situation. Anika's voice cut through,
"We have no choice but to kill him. Do you know who this is? This is the lord baron of Ravengarde. Thank goodness my lord is alive. If he had died, you would have been hunted down by his father, a great knight. One finger could crush you like a bug."
For a moment, an odd atmosphere surrounded them. Faelan and Eldrin approached behind Anika. Seeing the grief and anger in the old man's eyes and Arvind's rage, Faelan coughed and said,
"Hey old Erosh, why act like an angry child? It's just a misunderstanding. Lower your staff, and let's smooth things out." As the old man complied, Faelan turned to Arvind and continued, "My lord is benevolent and merciful. He will forgive the old leader's son, right?"
Understanding Faelan's meaning but still angered by the sneak attack, Arvind gripped his sword tightly. He knew his mission and said, "Mn, I should chop his arm off... but I am merciful, so I forgive you." He turned away in disgust.
The old man's son, overjoyed, relaxed and said, "I'm really sorry. I thought you were those hunters from our village. That's why this misunderstanding happened. I'm truly sorry."
"Mn," Arvind grunted.
His head hurt, imagining the difficulty of the task ahead. Turning to Anika, he smiled bitterly. "God, don't let our plan go smoothly. Anika, please help choose a new leader. This one tried to kill his lord. Who does he think he is? I just forgave him," Arvind said.
"Mn," Anika nodded.
---
The next day, as Anika and the knights drew near, panic rippled through the village. Villagers scattered, children darted into houses, and mothers pulled them closer while men peeked from doorways. Anika scratched her head, wondering if she was that intimidating.
Roaming around, she noticed an old man with a dog sitting on a bench and approached him to learn about the village's situation. The old man looked up with weary eyes and sighed, burdened by untold stories.
He sighed heavily and began, "It was long ago. Back then, I was a hunter, yet that man emerged as our leader. Our lives have been like this since then. He had his hands in everything. We had to share our spoils with him, even though we risked our lives for them. We lost companions for those spoils. It didn't satisfy him, so he demanded a share of our harvests as well."
He cuddled his dog and continued, "And that's what you want to know about our leader, right?"
Anika knitted her eyebrows and stared at the dog thoughtfully. "Why don't you become the village head instead? That would solve the problem, right?" she suggested, though she felt uncertainty gnaw at her confidence.
The old man smiled bitterly and said, "It's tempting, but my influence doesn't stretch as far as his, a shaman's."
Hearing this, Anika's thoughts raced. She realized that fear ruled the village. "I can see that no one in the village has the guts to go against the village head," she pondered. "This man seems to be an extraordinary hunter; he may better assist my lord if he replaces the current leader."
Anika smiled and said, "Do you see my lord? If you promise to be loyal to him, he will make you the village head. This will bring great opportunities to your family as well. Perhaps they will worship you as their god after you die. What do you think?"
The old man waved his hand slowly and said with a bitter smile, "If I were younger and my energy still strong, I would take your offer, but now..." He hesitated, then continued, "Do you know who led you to conflict with the village head? It was a young man, as powerful as me, admired by many in the village. This led to that shaman's son becoming jealous. Why is life so unfair... That young man was my son."
Anika nodded, understanding the depth of his grief and his reluctance.
Meanwhile, Arvind, Faelan, and Eldrin surveyed the area. As they headed outside the village, Arvind noticed a house made of soil but unnaturally sturdy. "Why is the concentration of earth elements so high here?" he wondered, his curiosity piqued.
As they arrived at the field, dozens of women tended to children while weeding. Arvind observed the village's arrangement where men hunted while women managed the children and fields. This system, though practical, seemed to carry its own set of challenges and risks.
"My lord, we should go there," Faelan pointed to the right.
"Mn," Arvind replied, his mood somber. His mind was still preoccupied with the previous day's events, but he knew he had to find a solution. He kicked a stone in front of him and wandered aimlessly, lost in thought.
Ten minutes later, Faelan returned with a handful of leaves, his eyes reflecting excitement. "My lord, this is an alternative to tea with elemental properties. It should be a magical plant..." his voice trembled with excitement.
"Mn."
Faelan stopped, confused. "Only that?"
"Can you tell me if my decision to assign Anika to choose a new leader was correct, or should the current one remain?" Arvind asked, his voice carrying the weight of his doubts.
Faelan was stunned for a moment and then replied, "My lord, you were right to choose a new leader. He will be loyal and will not conflict with your rule. Yesterday's encounter with the village head showed how arrogant he is and how he has no respect for you."
"Let me tell you, my lord, I have observed that although some nobles are dissatisfied with their disobedient subordinates, they still keep them in position. Human nature is complicated, and even a loyal subordinate can become corrupt. But with checks and balances, they keep each other in line. I suggest you make them both leaders like in River Village."
Arvind raised his hand to his chin for a moment and said, "You may be right, Faelan... but let's choose a vice leader then. Thank you, Faelan."
Faelan nodded with a smile, relieved that his advice was well-received.
---
In the afternoon, as the sun cast shadows over the mountain slope with a gentle breeze, the mountain village began to transform. The villagers worked hard in the field, and Gorran inspected them as they planted seeds of blacksphire berries. The farmers toiled, sweating yet smiling.
Younger villagers occasionally glanced in the direction of River Village, yearning for a wider world. Some whispered among themselves about the capital of Ravengarde, while others looked forward to Faelan's return to sell them goods, clothes, and more.
The surrounding mountains' ecosystem began to show signs of recovery, with rabbits, birds, and plants sprouting.
---
Anika observed the old man's son and how he communicated with his peers and the village. She concluded he had leadership qualities, and with his father behind him, she was confident he would emerge as a great leader.
On the last day of their stay, Arvind had a clear picture of the village. They mainly depended on hunting, with most men hunting and the women taking care of the children and fields. Although it had high casualties, the benefits were substantial.
He saw Anika approaching with a 20-year-old man. Anika introduced him as Kaelen Swiftfang, the man she chose to be the leader. Arvind nodded and scrutinized him from head to toe. After that, he called everyone to announce the decision to the villagers.
As Arvind waited for the villagers to gather, the old man Erosh's eyes burned with a mix of shame and pride as he looked at the ecstatic hunter and his son Kaelen. Arvind stood up and said,
"Hello, I have an important announcement. Kaelen Swiftfang will become the vice leader of this village. He will act as a leader alongside the current leader. And good news for the hunters—we will connect your village with Ashford and bring development opportunities. Also, cultivate this plant (tea-like plant); it is valuable and can be sold to my caravan for shiny coins."
As the villagers heard his speech, a commotion spread. Many whispered in relief, glad to be free from Erosh's rule, and at least they had a new leader. Seasoned hunters' eyes were red with envy at Kaelen's luck. Only a few believed in the development and trade opportunities that Arvind promised.
After that, Arvind and his group bid farewell to Erosh and Kaelen, with Arvind patting Kaelen's shoulder encouragingly. He then rode his horse, waving and heading back to Ashford, all of them smiling with relief.
---
The village now faced a new dawn, with hope rekindled in their hearts and a future that seemed brighter under the new leadership. The mountain winds whispered of change, carrying the promise of prosperity and a fresh start for the villagers.
On the road back to the central plain, Arvind inhaled deeply to clear his thoughts and said, "Finally, we've finished our mission."
"Oh! Yes, Eldrin, we have promised many development opportunities to three villages, and that can only be effective if we build roads. So your task is heavy from now on."
Eldrin grimaced and said, "My lord, you have given me challenges, but as a good horse, I will take them, haha."
"Funny, Eldrin, haha. And Faelan, your task is even more crucial as all these promises depend on our trade success."
"No worries, my lord...."
As Arvind and his group chatted and laughed, their voices echoed through the mountains.
Meanwhile, an alpha wolf on another mountain watched them through the gaps in the trees. His presence was so commanding that even his pack hesitated to approach. He turned towards the central direction, eyes glinting, and stamped the ground, creating an air current to retreat with his pack.
---
In Ashford, the morning sun cast shadows as it rose. The town bustled as the townsfolk began their day. With Bramir and the townsfolk's efforts, all the collapsed houses had been repaired, and new wood was visible from afar. On the outskirts, the marketplace was almost complete except for the west side.
Meanwhile, Lennart began his day by inspecting his apprentices' work. As he walked towards his station, he noticed newly made furniture piled up, waiting for Faelan to return and trade. He shook his head and murmured, "It's almost time for them to come. I have to do my part. Mn, Rurik has been like an ant on a hot pot waiting for iron ore, haha."
To be continued....