In the far northern reaches of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow’s somber expanse…

  A convoy of carriages and wagons clustered near a modest hill in the waning daylight. While most men remained in their vehicles or sat astride horses in formation, five figures stood at the hill’s summit, surveying the southern horizon.

  Among them, a corpulent man in fine attire pressed binoculars to his eyes, following the direction indicated by one of the warrior-garbed men beside him. Each wore matching insignias on their clothing, marking them as members of the same faction.

  “There’s nothing here,” Acelin grumbled, lowering the binoculars. He shot an irritated glance at Uranius’s assigned warrior captain, questioning the tall blonde’s purpose in showcasing such common terrain.

  Their journey had begun weeks ago in Lost Treasures, finally reaching the shadowed realm of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow days prior. Following the Royal Road North, they had arrived at this point, preparing to venture southward.

  “That’s precisely the point,” replied the captain, his nearly two-meter frame emphasized by the massive sword at his hip. “We’ll make camp here. Tomorrow’s search continues.” He gestured toward the area Acelin had observed. “That terrain ahead offers natural protection for an encampment through the night.”

  Acelin exhaled heavily, marking his third day hunting for the Eternal Village. One more night he would have to make camp and leave his search for the next day.

  Hewet’s former community’s location remained a mystery. Their only certainty was its existence somewhere in the region’s deeper reaches.

  As they descended to rejoin their convoy for the last stretch to the campsite, Acelin contemplated how long it might take to locate the community potentially harboring Hewet Irondoom’s legacy.

  ‘The Barren Hills of Deepshadow may be vast, but the old Destroyer wouldn’t have settled his people under royal authority. Their village must lie in the region’s autonomous zone—a relatively confined area. We should find them within a week.’

  He’d have preferred immediate results, but he could stomach the pace and remained focused on the possibilities ahead.

  ‘I wonder how the Destroyer’s ‘grandson’ has fared… Our next encounter won’t keep the cordial tone of past years.’ His eyes glinted in the gathering dusk, betraying his hunger for some coveted magical prize.

  Hewet Irondoom had been far from ordinary. Acelin and his allies held an unshakeable faith that the man had left behind something of immense value.

  Now, three years after the formidable Destroyer’s passing, they sensed that their moment had finally arrived to claim what they craved!

  Night descended upon the Eternal Village, bringing the characteristic chill of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow’s desert climate.

  Darkness enveloped the sky, rendering visibility particularly challenging. The region’s black soil amplified the darkness, creating a more impenetrable gloom than lighter terrain would have allowed. Today’s heavy cloud cover obscured the stars that might have offered natural illumination, leaving only a dark gray canopy and making the village torches even more essential than usual.

  Despite the encompassing darkness, the village buzzed with activity. Workers, fresh from their daily labors, either gathered for evening meals or reunited with family and friends after their long day’s efforts.

  The external camp had shrunk considerably, though several dozen still lived there. Most inhabitants now dwell within the walled perimeter.

  Five weeks had elapsed since the Dayflare Family confrontation. Construction inside the second walled area had reached completion, and development of the new residential sector had sped up. With time and extra hands, progress had been swift. The expanded village walls now enclosed an additional 10,000 square meters, bringing the total protected area to 16,000 square meters.

  But the new walled section remained far from finished internally. Buildings stood only at their foundations, with infrastructure—drainage, plumbing, and sewage systems—still under construction. At least two months would pass before habitation could begin.

  As such, this section lay in darkness, monitored only by the village’s vigilant guard dogs.

  The second walled area hosted most of the evening’s activity, where Jonn traversed the main street toward the community dining hall.

  The communal kitchen and dining facility, operational for some time, had become a popular gathering spot. It served free meals three times daily, though not everyone ate there. Jonn himself often dined at fellow villagers’ homes.

  He frequented Tim and Molle’s house most often, occasionally visiting Arber and Lance’s home to discuss village matters with Elia over meals. Recently, he had begun accepting invitations to Alis’s home, where she lived with a family from her former village.

  Though not quite matching her healing abilities, Alis proved herself to be an accomplished cook!

  Shrewd and observant, she had discovered various ways to engage Jonn in discussions about magic and healing practices.

  Beyond meal invitations, she had learned the value of accompanying him on his rounds. Now she walked beside him and Hank toward the dining hall.

  Hank moved silently on Jonn’s left, studying the building’s interior as they entered. The village dining hall maintained a utilitarian simplicity. Windows were few, given wood scarcity, but the space was generous—housing 20 tables and 80 chairs arranged for greatest efficiency. The serving area, with its large metal pots, occupied the corner opposite the entrance.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  The village didn’t have the resources to keep food warm for long. So anyone who wanted to eat their meal hot had to come to the hall on time.

  Though slightly late, the trio found the food still warm. They collected their plates and utensils before locating an empty table.

  There was always some space in the dining hall, even though most of the villagers who came to the area tried to get there simultaneously. The people knew the rules of the area, and as soon as they finished eating, they left to make room for others.

  Given the food’s quick cooling time, the hall was typically cleared within twenty minutes of serving, leaving minimal waste for the cleanup crew.

  The trio settled at their table, enveloped by the warmth radiating from both the cooking vessels and the enclosed space.

  “When should we expect word from your people, Senior Hank?” Alis asked between spoonfuls of vegetable soup, bread poised in her other hand.

  “Not until the family’s envoys reach the area,” the veteran mage explained to the level 1 Apprentice. “Due to our pigeons being trained to go to specific locations, it will be a while before we can exchange messages with Eldoria.”

  “Has Duke Dayflare already received your letter?” she asked, referencing the earlier conversation between Jonn and Hank.

  The two level 3 mages had talked on the way there about how a new group was due to move into the Eternal Village in a short time and how they should welcome them in a few months.

  Hank nodded confidently. “Sure. Pigeons may be simple creatures, but they cover weeks’ worth of carriage travel in mere days. The Duke is certainly aware of my message by now.”

  Jonn soaked his bread in the soup’s broth, feeling the mana nourish his body and soul. He looked calm on the outside, but in his mind, he was quite apprehensive. Not having received a single progress point in the quest to save the village over the last few months had been bothering him.

  Not only was the quest to save the village at a standstill, but also the one to learn about magic!

  After the first few days with Hank and William, Jonn had gotten a progress point on the mission, but since then, he seemed unable to make any progress.

  He was talking to the two mages every day and hearing things they were teaching the rest of the village’s mages. But this knowledge didn’t seem to be enough for him. Something was missing, and he didn’t know how to identify what.

  Hank and William had even given him good advice on how to learn more. Names of books, where he could find answers, etc. But that was it. The two men knew enough to point things out to him, but they weren’t born teachers, nor did they have the load of knowledge necessary to take his expertise to the next level. Without leaving the village or receiving outsiders in the area, it would be difficult for him to improve any faster.

  All I can do is take my interests to one of the village’s allied merchants so that I can get theoretical books. From what I understand so far, learning magical professions is the best way to learn about how the world works.

  His gaze shifted to Alis, contemplating her development as a magical healer.

  Though versed in basic potion-making and diagnostic abilities, Jonn wasn’t a true healer, just as his basic forging abilities didn’t make him a blacksmith.

  I have to work harder to master the theory and practice of these professions without relying on the Celestial Magnifying Glass. Maybe then I’ll get the answers I need to unlock my progress in the [Magic World] quest.

  While he ignored Alis and Hank’s conversation about the Dayflare Family reinforcements approaching the village, they reached the last spoonfuls of their evening meal.

  He turned his mind to the conversation of his two dinner companions, saying a few things to the village’s main magic teacher, but also to the level 1 healer.

  Leaving the dining hall side by side, Hank said his goodbyes and set off for the salt hut outside the walled area of the village, where he and William had been sharing the same place. Jonn followed beside Alis, seeing the beautiful smile on the girl’s face, something that both charmed and perplexed him.

  “You seem happy,” he observed softly as they strolled past the main flowerbed’s trees, the usually busy path now quiet and secluded.

  Storm clouds gathered overhead, and strengthening winds whipped Alis’s hair and dress about her frame, creating an almost ethereal effect in the growing darkness.

  “I am happy,” she confirmed, pausing to meet his gaze directly, her eyes reflecting sincerity. “Even with war looming, my people have food, health, and hope for tomorrow.”

  “That could all vanish quickly if we cannot counter the threats facing us,” he mused, watching carefully for her reaction.

  “True enough,” she acknowledged, “but by now, famine might have claimed half my people otherwise. Perhaps we would have fled, searching for better prospects. But what if we’d stumbled into somewhere like Lost Treasures? We did not know people were being randomly enslaved there back then.”

  Slavery, while a grim reality in Valorian, typically functioned as a last resort for debt repayment. The concept of enslaving people purely for labor was alien to most, making the situation in Lost Treasures and similar areas an alarming anomaly. Never had such brazen disregard for human dignity been so widespread, with perpetrators seemingly unconcerned about the consequences.

  Although not a Council member, Alis held significant sway among her former villagers and, by extension, the Eternal Village’s leadership. She was well-informed about the looming threats and the dire situations in places like Arcanis and Lost Treasures.

  Yet, unlike Jonn’s focus on potential dangers, Alis found more value in appreciating their current blessings.

  She elaborated, her voice tinged with confidence, “Jonn, this world is ending. I harbor no illusions about a straightforward path ahead. Truthfully, I’m unsure if we’ll live to see old age like some of our companions.” Her gaze drifted to three elderly villagers admiring the inner gardens, prompting Jonn to follow her line of sight. “But wallowing in despair serves no purpose, especially when we have so much to be grateful for and so many moments to cherish.”

  “Before joining the Eternal Village, I was mired in despair, seeing no way forward. Everything seemed bleak. But here? Yes, we face challenges, but I know we’ll have food tomorrow. I can heal the sick, and I know you’ll protect us with your meteors. Even if we fall, I can accept that. Death is inevitable for us all. I’ll be content if I can live until then without watching my companions wither away, helpless to help them.”

  Jonn felt something strange inside as he looked into Alis’ clear, smiling eyes. Her words hit him like a punch in the stomach, making him momentarily unable to say anything. All he could do was watch this woman and feel a growing admiration for her.

  Gradually, a pleased smile spread across his face. He gently touched her shoulder, finally finding his voice. “You’re right, Alis. I need to listen to you more often. You have much to teach me as well.”

  Her cheeks flushed, but she held his gaze steadily. “I’m here whenever you need me…”

  “We’ll see about that tomorrow,” he said, guiding her towards her home. “For now, you need rest. Don’t neglect your own well-being—you’re far too valuable to us all.”

  She nodded silently, a shiver running through her at his touch. Yet she didn’t pull away, savoring these rare moments of closeness with Jonn.

  At her doorstep, Alis surprised him with a soft “Goodnight” and a quick kiss on his cheek before darting inside without another word.

  Jonn stood there, a smile playing on his lips as he brought his hand to his cheek, feeling a flutter in his stomach. As he turned to leave, his smile widened, curiosity and warmth filling him.

  Interesting.