The morning sun cast long shadows across the castle grounds as Arvind made his way to the training yard, his sword's familiar weight at his side.

The leather grip of his training sword felt rough against his calloused palm—a reminder of how far he'd come from his first awkward attempts at swordplay.

Today, he would train alone without Aldric's supervision, having mastered the basics. The next step would be advancing to junior knight, after which Aldric would teach him the advanced course. The thought brought a slight smile to his face.

"Form follows function," he muttered, recalling Aldric's frequent reminder. The cool dawn air filled his lungs as he began circulating his fighting spirit, a gentle warmth spreading through his limbs like sunlight seeping through water. His muscles responded more readily now, a symnol to the system's talent boost.

He started with the basic sword techniques—slashing, stabbing, and chopping. The practical movements favored by knights weren't flashy, but they were efficient.

Each sword movement cut through the morning mist with increasing precision. Slash! Step! Pivot! Strike! Sweat began to bead on his brow, his breathing growing heavier with each sequence.

"Again," he commanded himself, pushing through the burning in his muscles.

Hours passed as the sun climbed higher, until finally, exhausted, he lowered his sword and sat down, panting heavily. "System," he called out mentally.

**SYSTEM PANEL: Arvind, Baron of Ravengarde**

- **Basic Overview**

- Name: Arvind Hale

- Level: 1 (Apprentice Baron)

- Territory Influence: Minor (↑ trending)

- Town Name: Ashford

- **Personal Stats**

- Knight Level: 0 (Apprentice Knight)

- Progress to Level 1: 47%

- Strength: 6/10 (+1)

- Intelligence: 7/10

- Charisma: 6/10

- Talent: Mediocre (Enhancement Active)

- **Recent Achievements**

- Street Cleaning Initiative: +2% Territory Influence

- Basic Sword Mastery: +5% Combat Efficiency

- Leadership Display: +1% Charisma

His eyes lingered on the progress indicators, particularly noting his strength increase from 5 to 6.

The system's talent boost helped, but it wasn't a miracle worker. Like a magnifying glass focusing sunlight, it amplified his efforts rather than replacing them. "Maybe I can become a mage," he chuckled to himself, though he could feel his natural limitations.

The voice of his old fencing instructor echoed in his mind: "Discipline sharpens talent into mastery. Without it, even the greatest gifts are wasted."

"I've come far, but it's not enough," he mused, raising his sword once more. "Three hours, that's enough for today."

The dining room's warmth was a welcome change from the cool morning air when he finally arrived for breakfast.

Aldric sat with his usual stern expression, while Faelan shuffled through papers even at the breakfast table.

"Your form is improving," Aldric commented without looking up, surprising Arvind. "I watched from the battlements."

"Still finding time to supervise, even with the wall construction?" Arvind asked, reaching for the bread.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Aldric's lips twitched in what might have been a smile. "A knight captain's duty never ends, my lord."

Turning to Faelan, Arvind said, "After breakfast, come to my study. I have something to ask you, and bring the cultivated land census data."

"Yes, my lord," Faelan replied, curiosity evident in his voice.

In the study, the conversation with Faelan revealed the grim reality of Ashford's agricultural situation.

The farmers were struggling, their crops mostly consumed by beasts, and the soil was infertile. Faelan's roughly sketched map painted a clear picture of the challenges they faced.

"It's worse than I thought, but not unexpected," Arvind said, frowning at the map. "You've done well gathering this information, Faelan. It's thorough."

After dismissing Faelan with encouragement to continue his census work.

Arvind organized an inspection group comprising himself, Anika, and five knights.

As they descended the hill toward Ashford, the streets were livelier than usual, with villagers continuing their cleaning efforts.

Deciding to walk instead of riding in the carriage, Arvind observed the town's transformation.

The once-filthy streets had been cleaned, and makeshift drains prevented stagnant puddles. Even the air felt lighter, free of the previous stench.

"Small steps," Arvind muttered, watching a group of children playing with wooden hoops near the town square. They glanced his way, whispering excitedly before running off. "But progress, nonetheless."

A baker stepped out of his shop, offering a friendly greeting and commenting on how the clean water had improved his bread. These small signs of progress brought a slight smile to Arvind's face.

Seeing Bramir working alongside the townsfolk, Arvind felt a surge of gratitude. "Bramir, come here," he called out. "We're going to inspect the fields."

Bramir nodded, handing over his task to his son before following Arvind.

They switched to horseback as they reached the town's outskirts, the bustling sounds of Ashford giving way to the rustle of leaves and distant clatter of tools.

The farmlands stretched before them like a patchwork quilt of missed opportunities. Dismounting, Arvind's boots sank slightly into the loose topsoil. He crouched, taking a handful of earth and letting it filter through his fingers.

"See these clumps?" he asked Bramir, who knelt beside him. "The soil's compacted. No drainage, poor irrigation." His Earth knowledge felt both a blessing and a curse in moments like these—seeing the solutions but knowing implementation would be an uphill battle.

"Is this... how you usually farm?" Arvind asked, straightening up.

Bramir scratched his head, looking unbothered. "Aye, my lord. This is how it's been done for generations. We plant, we pray, and we harvest what we can."

Anika, who had been inspecting the crops, added, "The fields rely on rainfall. Digging canals or irrigation ditches isn't common practice here."

The stark backwardness of the methods left Arvind momentarily helpless.

His mind raced with comparisons to the advanced agricultural techniques of his previous life—crop rotation, systematic irrigation, and soil treatment. The inefficiency was obvious, so was the potential.

"This won't do," he said firmly. "If we continue like this, we'll barely scrape by with our food. We need a better plan. Otherwise, we will be eating northwest wind."

Bramir crossed his arms, his face thoughtful. "What kind of changes are you thinking, my lord? We can't exactly conjure water out of thin air or make the soil richer overnight."

"No, but there are techniques that will make the most of what we have and prepare us for better yields in the future," Arvind replied steadily. "Irrigation, better tools, and improved planting methods. We'll start small, but we'll start soon."

Anika smiled faintly. "If anyone can inspire Faelan to turn knowledge into miracles, it's you, my lord."

Arvind let out a short laugh. "Miracles? No. Just hard work and knowledge. And perhaps a little inspiration."

Back at the castle, Arvind spread Faelan's maps across his study desk. The agricultural challenges were clear: poor soil management, inefficient planting patterns, and vulnerable crops.

But he had advantages his predecessors lacked—knowledge from another world and a system to help implement it.

"This cannot be," he muttered, gritting his teeth as he sketched new field layouts. "The food reserve should be sufficient before winter comes. Without food, the townsfolk will riot, and it will affect us when we fight the invading beasts. I have to speed up my plan to introduce high-yield crops and modern farming techniques."

His mind was already racing ahead to future harvests, to fields of golden wheat protected by well-trained guards, to a town with full granaries facing winter without fear.

One step at a time, he reminded himself, but the future of Ashford was taking shape before him, one careful plan at a time.

The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the courtyard as the afternoon heat settled over the castle. Arvind decided to take a break from his studies and stretch his legs. At 3 p.m., the castle was at its busiest, providing a welcome distraction from his heavy plans.

He strolled along the stone pathways, observing the bustling activity. Servants carried baskets of fresh produce and crates of supplies from the storeroom, while knights engaged in drills, their swords gleaming under the sunlight.

The sharp clang of steel drew Arvind's attention. He paused to watch the knights, noting their vigorous but inefficient techniques.

Further along, he saw Shankar, the ever-diligent butler, overseeing servants loading barrels into a cart. Arvind approached him, his footsteps muffled by the worn stone.

"Shankar," Arvind called, his voice cutting through the activity.

Shankar turned and inclined his head respectfully. "My lord. How may I assist you?"

Arvind glanced around before speaking. "I've been observing the castle. Is there a shortage of servants? It seems everyone is stretched thin."

Shankar nodded solemnly. "You are correct, my lord. Several positions remain unfilled, and those we have are working long hours to cover the gaps. Morale remains steady, but it could falter if this continues."

"And the castle itself?" Arvind asked, gesturing to the aging walls and weathered structures. "What needs immediate attention?"

"The northern wall, my lord," Shankar replied. "Its cracks are worsening. The storage cellar's beams are rotting, and there are leaks in the roof above the servant quarters. Repairs have been delayed due to a lack of funds and craftsmen."

Arvind frowned, feeling the weight of responsibility. "Prepare a detailed report for me. Include servant shortages, necessary repairs, and the resources we'll need. I'll review it tonight."

Shankar inclined his head. "It will be done, my lord."

Arvind gave a curt nod. "Thank you, Shankar. Let the servants know I'll address their concerns soon. We'll find a way to ease their burden."

As he continued his walk, the sight of his bustling domain filled Arvind with determination. The challenges were mounting, but each problem was an opportunity to strengthen his castle, his people, and his future.