Lila entered the room accompanied by Ricardo, her expression shy and somewhat nervous. Miguel, upon seeing her, offered a welcoming smile. "Hello, My lord," she said softly.

"You can call me Miguel when we're not in public," he replied, trying to make her more comfortable. "Please, have a seat."

Lila nodded and sat down, still a bit hesitant. Ricardo remained standing, watching attentively. Miguel looked at Lila, his expression softening. "How are you? Are you adjusting well here at the mansion?"

"Yes," Lila replied. "Everyone here is very attentive to me. I'm fine, thank you."

"I'm glad to hear that," said Miguel, genuinely relieved to know she was being well treated. He paused, carefully choosing his next words. "Do you know why I called you here?"

Lila nodded, indicating she did. Miguel took a deep breath before continuing. "I need to know who it was and, if possible, why they attacked your village. As far as I know, the village you came from is within the domain of this barony. Something like this happening is very concerning."

Lila bit her lower lip, looking thoughtful. She lowered her eyes for a moment before looking back up at Miguel. "Yes, My lord," she began, quickly correcting herself. "I mean, yes, Miguel. I know the reason why my village was attacked."

Miguel leaned slightly forward, showing his full interest and concern. "Then please, tell me. What was the reason?"

Lila took a deep breath, trying to gather the courage to speak. She knew that what she was about to say was important and that Miguel needed to know all the details. Ricardo was also attentive, understanding the gravity of the situation.

"My village was hiding something," Lila began in a low voice. "Something the attackers wanted. And I think it has to do with my magic."

Miguel remained silent, absorbing the information. He knew that magic was rare and powerful, and Lila's presence in her village could have attracted unwanted attention.

"You believe they attacked because of your magical ability?" Miguel asked, his voice calm but full of concern.

"Yes," Lila replied. "But I'm not sure who they were. I just know they were after something, and I believe it was me."

Miguel nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. He knew he needed to protect Lila and learn more about the enemies who had attacked her village. "We will find out who they were and why they attacked," he promised. "And we will do everything we can to keep you safe."

Lila nodded, looking a bit more confident with Miguel's words. "Thank you, Miguel. I trust you."

Miguel gave an encouraging smile, feeling more determined than ever to protect those under his care. He knew that Lila's presence and her magical ability could be a key element in uncovering the mysteries surrounding the attack on her village.

With the conversation underway, Miguel prepared to listen further and fully understand the situation. The protection and safety of his barony depended on it, and he was determined to do whatever was necessary to ensure a secure future for everyone.

Miguel looked at Lila, his expression filled with concern and curiosity. "Is there anything you remember that might have attracted the attention of these attackers?" he asked, trying to understand more about what had happened.

Lila took a deep breath, trying to contain the emotions that were beginning to surface. "A priest from the church appeared a few days before," she began. "He was very enthusiastic about my magic. He said it was something extraordinary... because I don't need a catalyst to use magic..."

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"Catalyst?" Miguel asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Lila nodded, explaining carefully. "I was also unsure about it, but the priest told me that I don't need to use magic gems or staffs to channel my magic."

Miguel was surprised, as was Ricardo, who stood beside him. "That's rare," Ricardo murmured, understanding the gravity of the situation.

Lila continued, her voice trembling slightly. "A few days after the priest left, these armed men appeared. They started killing everyone in search of me. I managed to hide, but my parents ended up dead..." Her voice broke, and tears began to stream down her face.

Miguel stood up and went to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay now," he said softly. "You are safe here. We will find out who these men are and ensure this doesn't happen again."

Lila nodded, trying to control her tears. "Thank you, Miguel," she murmured, her voice still shaky.

"You may go and rest," Miguel said gently. "We will take care of this."

Lila stood up, still wiping away tears, and left the room. Miguel watched her leave, feeling a weight on his heart. He knew that protecting Lila and learning more about these attackers would be crucial for the safety of the barony.

When the door closed behind her, Miguel turned his gaze to Ricardo. "This is more serious than we thought," he said in a low voice. "We need to investigate this priest and the men who attacked Lila's village."

Ricardo nodded, his expression serious. "We will do that, Miguel. We won't let something like this happen again."

Miguel sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but with the determination of his allies and the strength of his leadership, he was prepared to face any challenge that arose.

***

Miguel was in his office, reviewing some documents, while Ricardo organized some scrolls on a nearby shelf. The atmosphere was calm, but there was a tension in the air due to the recent revelations and concerns about the barony's security.

Suddenly, the door opened and the young servant John entered, carrying a wooden box. "Here are all the maps I found, my lord," he said, placing the box on Miguel's desk.

Miguel looked at the box with interest and thanked him. "Thank you, John. You may leave now."

John bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him. Miguel opened the box and saw various papyrus maps carefully stacked. He looked at Ricardo and said, "Let's look for any map that seems useful and shows the local geography. Any information is important."

Ricardo nodded and approached the table. Both began taking the maps out of the box, spreading them on the table to examine them. There were all kinds of maps, some more detailed, others rudimentary, each offering a different view of the region.

Miguel picked up one of the maps and opened it, scanning the lines and symbols drawn on the papyrus. "We need something that shows the exact location of villages, forests, mountains, and any other strategic points," he said, focused.

"Understood," Ricardo replied, picking up another map and doing the same. "Let's see what we find."

The search was meticulous and detailed. Miguel and Ricardo carefully examined each map, looking for any clue that could be useful. The room was silent except for the soft sound of scrolls being unrolled and analyzed.

Time seemed to pass slowly as both focused on the task. Miguel knew that finding the right map could make a difference in the security and planning of the barony. He felt the importance of this search and was determined not to let any detail slip by.

With the maps spread across the table, Miguel and Ricardo continued to examine each one, knowing that any relevant information could be crucial for the next steps they needed to take.

---

Miguel was examining one of the maps when something caught his attention. He found a map detailing the barony's mountains and forests. His eyes widened as he noticed the vast amount of forests and woods covering the region. It was impressive to see how nature dominated the territory.

While looking at the mountains and their descriptions, one in particular stood out. The mountain was painted in a shade of red, differentiating it from the rest. Curious, Miguel showed it to Ricardo and asked what it meant.

Ricardo studied the map for a moment before responding. "I've seen this before in some specifications. This red-painted mountain is known as a fire-spitting mountain. They rarely do this. There are reports that the last time one of these mountains spat fire was 400 years ago."

Miguel pondered for a few moments. The description Ricardo gave was clearly of a volcano. If it was indeed a volcano, it could have one of the main ingredients for making Roman concrete, volcanic ash. This would mean not only stronger walls but also more durable roads and buildings.

He turned to Ricardo with a determined expression. "If this mountain is what I think it is, we can obtain the material needed to make concrete. This would change everything."

Miguel looked at Ricardo and asked, "How long do you estimate it would take us to reach this mountain on horseback?"

Ricardo looked at the map again and mentally calculated the distance. "If this location is correct, it would take 3 to 4 days to get there."

Miguel was grateful that Ricardo knew how to read maps so well. "Perfect. Prepare a slightly larger escort. In two days, we will leave for that mountain."

Ricardo was confused and concerned. "That mountain is dangerous. Why do we need to go there?"

Miguel looked directly into Ricardo's eyes, his determination unwavering. "Trust me. There is an important ingredient for my plan on that mountain. We need to go."

Ricardo slowly nodded, accepting Miguel's explanation. He left the room to start the preparations. Miguel remained alone, looking out the window of his office. His thoughts were full of possibilities. If he could produce concrete, he could completely transform the barony's infrastructure.

As he gazed at the landscape, he imagined unbreakable walls, durable roads, and resilient buildings. The future seemed promising, and Miguel was determined to do whatever it took to turn his visions into reality. With the right materials, he could ensure the safety and prosperity of his people, building a lasting legacy.

The journey to the mountain would be just the beginning of a new era for the barony. Miguel knew the task would be arduous, but the reward would be worth the effort. With one last look out the window, he turned to his sketches, feeling a renewed sense of purpose and determination.