The aftermath of the battle lasted for days.
Bodies were buried.
Weapons were collected.
Walls were repaired.
Wounded soldiers filled the infirmary.
Arin personally visited every injured man.
He brought food.
He spoke with them.
He listened.
Many were shocked.
No noble had ever done this before.
"He's different…"
"He treats us like people."
Loyalty began to grow.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Soldier Loyalty Increased]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Authority Growth +8%]
Kelsin worked day and night.
He reorganized supplies.
Tracked expenses.
Reassigned duties.
"Food will last three months," he reported.
"If we ration."
"Good," Arin replied.
"Start farmland expansion."
"Already planned."
Rynor trained new recruits.
Basic sword forms.
Footwork.
Discipline
.
Jaren focused on endurance.
Running.
Carrying stones.
Shield drills.
Lyra taught mana control.
Even non-mages learned basic sensing.
It improved awareness.
The small force was changing.
Slowly.
Steadily.
One evening, a merchant caravan arrived.
It was the first in months.
The leader bowed.
"Your Highness, we heard Blackridge is safe again."
Arin smiled.
"Trade is welcome."
The system reacted.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Economic Activity Detected]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Settlement Prosperity +10%]
Coins began flowing.
Markets reopened.
Workshops restarted.
A blacksmith named Doran approached Arin.
"My lord… I can make weapons."
"But I need materials."
Arin observed him.
[ STR: 28 | MAG: 0 | SPD: 22 | END: 35 | INT: 40 | CHA: 20
Talent: Weapon Forging (High) ]
"Perfect," Arin thought.
"You'll get what you need," Arin said.
"Build me a forge."
Doran's eyes shone.
"I won't disappoint you."
That night, the system activated again.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Production Chain Established]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Weapon Quality +10%]
[PLAYER PROFILE – ARIN ELDORIA
STR: 7
MAG: 5
SPD: 7
END: 6
INT: 9
CHA: 9
Growth Potential: SSS
System Authority: Level 2
Territory Authority: Level 1
]
Weeks passed.
Walls grew thicker.
Roads were repaired.
Watchtowers rose.
Blackridge was changing.
But danger remained.
Scouts returned one night.
"Your Highness," one said.
"We found tracks."
"Large ones."
"Monsters," Rynor guessed.
Lyra nodded.
"Mana traces too."
Arin clenched his fist.
"Where?"
"Redstone Valley."
Kelsin frowned.
"That's near our farmland."
If monsters settled there…
Everything would collapse.
Arin stood.
"Prepare a strike team."
Rynor grinned.
"Finally."
Jaren laughed.
"Let's hunt."
Lyra took a deep breath.
"I'm ready."
The system responded.
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Regional Threat Detected]
[SYSTEM PROMPT: Subjugation Mission Available]
Arin looked toward the dark horizon.
"First monsters… then nobles… then empires."
"One step at a time."