The desert Sun shone. The place had already become scorching hot. Amid that cruel, desolate lands, a single village-town stood. Its boundaries tall, a testament of their resilience.
Yet across, one could hear laughter. The wide streets, full of people. A haven of peace amidst the merciless sands.
In a place, where temperatures reached blazing hot, the elves used innovative magic-technology to shield their homes. Using their knowledge of runes, a legacy of their ancestors, they had covered their entire buildings with intricate rune patterns.
Rune magic was different from others forms of magic. While magic used mana as fuel to sustain and weave magic circles, rune magic could sustain itself.
Mana was the fuel, it was energy. Mana could sustain itself up to a certain extent. This allowed mages to use some magic without overextending themselves. The same principle is used for Rune magic, by the Runes themselves. This was what distinguishes rune magic from the rest.
As the pans in the kitchen could be heard sizzling, a group of people descended the stairs, opposite to the kitchen. Today was their last day in the village. They would head back to Bani the next day.
As they sat around the table, Lily asked
"Where were you, Ray? When we looked for you, there was only a maid cleaning your room."
"I was out training. The back yard couldn't hold all four of us, So I went to a deserted part of the village."
"Oh, this small village has a deserted part? Well, you could have at least told us."
"Guys let's stop the interrogation now, shall we? Ray is a solo adventurer, so he might be uncomfortable showing his training method." Tidlen said.
Most of the adventurers were self-taught. Thus, they all had unique and sometimes eccentric ways of training. And their way of training inevitably affected their progress and prowess. Hence many adventurers trained in secret.
"Nothing like that. As I was shown around the village yesterday, I noticed a few deserted places, where I wouldn't unknowingly harm anyone, and you were all asleep when I left, so I couldn't inform you."
"Fair enough, now I want to discuss about Bani. It seems that the mayor is asking for funds. I am afraid that even our share of taxes might increase."
Kyle addressed the issue which had been her concern for a while.
"Ha…that fat mayor! He is too kind for his own good. Why doesn't he stop taking in the refugees."
Matt replies irritably.
"BUT I still don't understand from where are so many refugees even coming and why?"
Lily asked.
"It's from the north-west. In the kingdom past the major trading town of Silia. That kingdom is in a civil war. It's been dragging on for a year now."
"But why? What is the reason?"
"You know how those Raun kingdom people are. It is a kingdom with more vagabonds than regular citizens. It seems that they are now fighting against the king for an autonomous state. The situation has become dire."
"Yes, yes. I heard that people are getting dragged to the army on both sides. An old dwarf friend of mine who had been running a bar there has run back to his hometown."
Matt added.
"Really? I think I saw a person in Silia attire heading to the chief's house. Why would they come here?"
The maid who was serving food asked as she heard the conversation.
"Oh? A person in Silas attire?"
Silas was a major trade centre. Though it was smaller than the other kingdoms it had grown to become a stop for every merchant. All roads went to Silas. It also had a port.
Due to this, the unique culture and clothes of Silas were famous. The 'Silas attire' was especially a special pattern bestowed by the king, meaning someone influential had come.
----
In a rectangular room with a carpeted floor, having a table and couches, a yellow cylindrical crystal on the table was shining a screen in air.
Aelar and Artina sat in front of it.
A fat man was seen in the screen.
"Yours is a flourishing village, which you have raised in a desert. We will give you people for labour and I will also help you secure a deal with the Rosart merchants. In return all I ask in exchange is 90 gold coins."
The fat man spoke in a humble yet dignified voice. Looking at the two chiefs' and guessing the mood, he had decided to cut straight to the point.
"And why do you believe that we are need of labour? We have plenty of working people."
It was Artina.
Inwards she was quite surprised. Their intent to deal with Rosart merchants was still something they had been planning.
Moreover, this man had also talked about giving them more people for labour.
"Also how do we believe you on the Rosart merchants? I don't believe that Bani has had any connections with them. And we currently have deals with others. Why would we wish a deal with Rosart?"
Aelar continued.
Both holding on to their advantage, pressured the mayor.
Yet the mayor was no less of a master.
"Haha. You underestimate me. The civil war in Raun has created a new and huge demand for combat artifacts. You as a village specialised in artifact production have yet to produce them in such a large scale. So, I believe that you would need many more labourers to do the simpler tasks.
This is also the reason for my offer on the Rosart merchants. The owner is a great friend of mine. As most of the people are staying away from Raun, you can only depend on bigger merchants such as the Rosart."
The mayor answered in a confident tone, and he was right.
A small smile crept on Aelar's lips as he recognised the mayor's intelligence. But they were not done.
"We can just take in a few refugees of our own as labour, there is no need to trouble you. Also, we already have a good relationship with the Raun administration for the safety of our merchants."
Artina said, her words taking a softer tone.
"Accommodating refugees and selecting skilled ones for labour would be of more trouble. Also negotiating with the Raun administration would surely be a heavy task. You may also be forbidden from trading with the Vagabonds."
"Haha. You are a shrewd man. But still, taking in refugees would cost no more than 50 gold coins, while you ask for 90 coins. Wouldn't we be at a great loss?"
Aelar said, satisfied with the answer.
"You two are surely hard to negotiate with. Okay then I'll reduce the terms to 75 gold coins. Any less would be impossible for us."
"Hmm…Okay then you have a deal. We shall send the official papers with mayor Celos, would that be acceptable?"
"Haha. Of course. I wish we have a long and fruitful relationship."
The mayor had probably wanted 75 gold coins from the start, but Artina and Aelar did not feel any regret.
If they could form a connection with such a talented mayor, they felt 75 gold coins were worth it.