Dominic patted the Elder on the shoulder. "Don't be too harsh on yourself. I'm sure that you've got many good years left ahead of you."
Elder Manif smiled indulgently. "Soon, my level will start to degrade. But it hasn't yet. Fortunately for me, with my mixed bloodline, I have made it to level thirty. At the usual rate of a year or two per level, I'll have decades to pass on my wisdom before it's my time."
The elderly woman beside him gave him a sly wink.
"At least now that we're settling in a civilized city. No need to fear ambushes by bandits or wild monsters here. Letting declining Elders be the rearguard is all well and good in the desert, but we shouldn't have to do any running away once we get a tower built.
Tell me, Duke Dominic, did you have a particular spot in mind?" She asked.
Dominic took out his map of the village. "I actually do. There is a nice hill, just outside the town's main residential zone, and it's all stone.
