Waking up from his slumber, Thorian began his day as he always did. He cleaned himself, coaxed Nox out of sleep, and then headed to the Cultivation Hall with an Elixir in hand. The two then spent the next two and a half hours meditating.
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Cultivation Realm Qi Gathering Seventh Stage (58.2%)
Satisfied with his progress, Thorian and Nox proceeded to clear all the dungeon layers of the day before returning to the village. As they reached the sprawling walls of Wolvendale, alongside the main teams that cleared the fifth layer of the Verdant Labyrinth, Thorian signaled Forlune to join him privately.
“Is something the matter, my lord?” Forlune asked as they walked away from the group.
“Yesterday, you made your intentions of becoming the vassal lord of one of the new villages very clear,” Thorian began before cautioning in a serious tone, “But do you understand what that means?”
“I’m not sure, my lord…” Forlune frowned. “Do you oppose it?”
Taking a moment to exhale, Thorian clarified, “Becoming a vassal lord now means you wouldn't be able to fulfill your duties as a general anymore. A general’s duty cannot be done half-heartedly, and you wouldn't be able to give it your all while focusing on managing and growing your own village.” He paused, then added, “So, you're faced with a choice: being a vassal lord or being a general.”
Hearing these words, Forlune looked down, his eyebrows furrowed. He then bit his thumb, saying, “I really don’t want to lose my position as general…” He then scratched his head in frustration before taking a deep breath. Looking at Thorian, he asked, “Does becoming a vassal lord immediately prevent me from being the general, no matter what?”
“At this current moment, yes,” Thorian nodded. “However, I do envision a future where our kingdom is large enough for you to hold both positions simultaneously. You could have people you trust deeply oversee your domain while you fulfill your duties as a general.”
“And who would those people be?” Forlune inquired, scratching his head.
“Aqua, for one,” Thorian replied with a smile. “In my eyes, he is already your right-hand man. With his intellect, he is the most suited for such a task.”
“That’s true; he has a knack for such things,” Forlune chuckled. He then took a deep breath, a contemplative look in his eyes. “Right now, losing the general position for just a small village next to Wolvendale doesn’t seem smart. I’d rather wait and rule a region far from here, like those human dukes.”
“I quite like your ambitions,” Thorian responded with a smile. “So, it shall be. Soon, you’ll find such a dominion under your control, before you even realize it.”
Forlune laughed, shaking his head. “That’s still too far in the future to dream about. But what about the two last villages? Who will rule them?”
After a moment's thought, Thorian replied, “Some of our council members haven’t had the chance to stand out, given the fierce competition here in Wolvendale. Allowing them to take on this role will give them a greater sense of purpose and help them grow into their own.”
"I know who you're talking about," Forlune said with a smile. "I'm sure they would welcome the opportunity."
With a pat on Forlune's shoulder, Thorian issued his directive. "Gather the council. Let's resolve this matter and start on the two villages this afternoon."
Turning to leave, Thorian was called back by Forlune. "My lord, one last thing. When are we planning to tackle the third layer of the Thunderous Citadel?"
After a brief pause, Thorian smiled and replied, "Soon."
Thorian then headed back to the inner village. As he observed the houses and buildings, he suddenly raised an eyebrow. I forgot about the Tailor's Atelier and the Carpenter's Workshop.
Covering his face in embarrassment, Thorian sighed. The past few days had been so hectic that he had let critical plans slip through his mind. At this point, I might need a secretary just to keep track of all the tasks I need to complete in a day.
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Shaking off those thoughts, Thorian toured the inner village until he found suitable spots for the two new buildings.
Build Tailor’s Atelier and Carpenter’s Workshop.
With that thought, the two buildings were quickly constructed. After notifying Hewer of the new Workshop, Thorian headed to the meeting place in the outer area of the village.
As he sat down on a log, Thorian turned to Zogarth and said, "Before we start our meeting, I'd like to inform you that I've just established two buildings: the Tailor’s Atelier and the Carpenter's Workshop. I want our focus today to be on staffing those two buildings."
"As you wish, my lord," Zogarth nodded. "As you’ve instructed me yesterday, I've already brought in as many blacksmiths and alchemists as their buildings could accommodate. There are still many civilians seeking employment, and this opportunity will be most welcome for them."
Smiling at Zogarth's response, Thorian turned his attention to the rest of the council. "As you're aware, Forlune has gathered you to discuss the matters concerning the two villages. For the first one, I'd like Vivax and Lapis to share leadership. You can decide among yourselves who will be the official vassal lord."
"Thank you for this great honor, my lord!" Vivax's expression transformed from shock to pure happiness. "We will never forget this honor."
"I have high expectations for both of you," Thorian nodded at them before directing his gaze to Elder Jarv. "Jarv, I want you to support them as a counselor. You'll represent your species within the village, and it's your duty to ensure that everyone works in harmony for the good of the kingdom."
Elder Jarv bowed in response to Thorian's words. "I will ensure that your will is executed to the letter, my lord."
"Good," Thorian nodded again, then turned to his general with a smile. "Zogarth, I want to include some representation for the orcs in the last village. Do you have someone in mind who would fit this role?"
"I do," the general nodded. "Yorden has been fighting by my side since the beginning. Aside from myself, he is the strongest orc. I am confident he would make an excellent vassal lord."
Thorian nodded, then cast a glance at the two goblin shamans. Elder Oom looked peaceful, while Elder Jarv appeared concerned about him.
How interesting.
Thorian waited a few seconds to see if Elder Oom’s expression would change, but it remained the same. As I suspected, he is quite different from the other two elders. What exactly are your goals, Elder Oom?
After a pause, Thorian turned fully to face Elder Oom. "That would leave the goblins without a vassal lord, which certainly wouldn’t be fair. Elder Oom, would you be interested in being a co-vassal lord with Yorden? You two would have equal say in the matters of the village under my leadership."
Elder Oom's expression shifted from peacefulness to confusion, then he shook his head. "I do not believe that would be a wise choice, my lord. Unless the two are in perfect harmony, having two vassal lords could only lead to chaos and strife. We would be satisfied if you simply allowed one of our goblin champions to be a counselor to Yorden."
"You do not wish to take that role for yourself," Thorian remarked with raised eyebrows, surprised.
"My lord, I would rather stay here next to you," Elder Oom responded with a light bow.
Taking a moment to process these words, Thorian finally nodded. "Then it shall be so." He then addressed the rest of the council. "Since the discussions about the two villages are concluded, this meeting is now adjourned. The vassal lords are tasked with forming their initial team members before we reconvene in two hours. My only requirement is that the teams be composed of an equal mix of our three species."
With that declaration, Thorian stood, prompting the council members to quickly disperse. However, before Elder Oom could leave, Thorian signaled for him to stay.
"My lord, is there something you wish to discuss?" Elder Oom inquired, puzzled.
Pausing briefly, Thorian asked, "What do you seek?"
Seemingly caught off guard, Elder Oom pondered for a moment. "Is this about my refusal of the co-vassal position?"
With a nod from Thorian, Elder Oom smiled. "My lord, I believe your destiny extends far beyond this forest or these few villages. Observing you over the days and weeks, I am convinced you are destined to rule this country and achieve even greater feats. I do not wish to be sent off to some village, concerned only with its management. I want to witness your rise, to be part of the legend you are creating."
Thorian's expression momentarily stiffened before a broad smile spread across his face. "Then I shall not disappoint you." His attention then shifted to Elder Jarv, who had been silently observing from a distance. "Your friend is waiting; you may go."
Elder Oom chuckled as he glanced back. "I already know what he's going to say, and I assume you do too."
"Not everyone shares your perspective, Elder Oom," Thorian replied, shaking his head as he walked away, leaving the two elders to their conversation.
Without resorting to any special abilities, Thorian understood Elder Jarv's perspective. As an Elder Shaman, his motivations and beliefs were inherently aligned with his own and his species' interests.
But Elder Oom is different. His presence, along with Elder Yur’s recent change of heart, gives me hope for the goblins.