Near Littlewood, a large group had established a camp in the region’s still-flourishing woodlands, beside a waterfall whose rushing waters dominated the nighttime soundscape, drowning out the music of insects, wildlife, and the rustling of leaves stirred by the evening breeze.
This was no modest group. With nearly 150 members, their presence was clear to any passerby. Their many campfires created a glow that resembled a small village more than a temporary camp.
Almost 50 horses rested from the day’s journey, conserving energy for tomorrow’s trek. With days left before such a large group could reach the Eternal Village, these daily respites were essential.
Half the camp's occupants were at ease. Some shared meals and chats. Others were already in their sleeping rolls. Meanwhile, sentries watched over the camp's perimeter. Their senses adapted to the dangers lurking in the forest.
Even in the depths of night, their keen eyes could detect unusual movements near their resting place.
Wild animals posed the main threat. But their proximity to Littlewood made the guards wary of wandering travelers and local bandits. They might see the guards' large group as a tempting target!
Carrying the emblem of a noble house, like the one emblazoned on their banners and armor, holds little significance in the forests of Valorian. The war had drained the strength of nearly all mainland forces. Few had the time or resources to investigate minor incidents, and seeking revenge for petty crimes was deemed unworthy.
Looting had become increasingly common throughout the region, a consequence of these shifts in behavior that led common criminals to lose ‘respect’ for the grand noble houses.
Among those on guard that night, Baynard was in his tent, a large map spread out on a table as he contemplated his next moves.
'We're two days' ride from Littlewood and seventeen from the Eternal Village,' he mused, tracing the route to his destination.
If Baynard were traveling alone on horseback, the journey would be swifter. Even by carriage, it wouldn’t take him seventeen days to reach the Eternal Village. Yet, with a group as large as his, rest stops were more frequent, and the animals required more downtime. The risk of being discovered by enemy scouts was also higher, necessitating greater caution and a slower pace.
But just over two weeks wasn’t much for an ambitious man!
'Dealing with the Eternal Village will be easy. There are fewer than twenty warriors in the village, and most of them are just ordinary men who have recently learned to wield weapons. Once my army takes down the strongest, like Eliot and Petyr, the others will surrender. Perhaps we won’t even need to fight,' Baynard thought confidently.
Reflecting on the information he had gathered from eavesdropping on conversations and asking questions around the fishing area and within the village itself, Baynard couldn’t help but wear a broad, exuberant smile.
'By dominating the village, I will only need to report our success to Duke Dayflare. Then, I will have command of these men to rule the Eternal Village temporarily,' he mused.
Baynard clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing.
'Even if Duke Dayflare removes me from my position later, a few weeks in charge of the village will be enough. I’ll stir up trouble with Littlewood’s forces and lead my army to the gates of Count Javis Riverash! In that time, I will avenge my father’s death and reclaim what is rightfully mine!'
A malicious glint filled Baynard’s eyes, his heart pounding with murderous intent against what remained of Littlewood.
He didn’t know the full extent of what had transpired after his escape, but he intended to find out in the coming weeks.
'Javis, I’m coming. Get ready!'
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Days later, Wy’s convoy came into view from the village watchtowers, alerting the men standing by.
Suddenly, in the middle of the afternoon, the sound of arriving allies echoed through the surrounding area, alerting the men at the bamboo gate to make way for their friends returning to the village.
Elia and Jonn ran to the village entrance. The ground trembled under the weight of a massive group of carriages and animals approaching. As they joined the guards and other curious villagers, they spotted the banners of the Eternal Village, adorned with the infinity symbol, as Wy and his men rode ahead of the convoy.
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“That’s quite a group,” Elia said to Jonn, squinting to get a better look. She saw several carriages, many new horses, and wagons with small animals. Larger animals, like cows and goats, ran alongside, led by other animals and even dogs.
Jonn shook his head, shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand, a smile spreading across his face as he saw his village’s greatest success to date.
Wy had previously failed to bring newcomers to the village, but now, in one swift move, he was adding a large group to their community!
“I hope we have enough food for everyone,” he joked, pleased with the swift and positive results of his efforts to increase the village’s numbers.
“That’s really impressive,” Elia murmured, aware that Jonn was only half-joking about the sudden influx.
‘It’s a good thing Petyr and I secured a lot of food for the village in that last trade deal. But we must control our growth from now on, or we’ll have to start rationing food again,’ she thought silently, appreciating the arrival of new members but mindful of their capacity to sustain them.
Their luck was that villages usually brought along a few animals. And when these animals joined the Eternal Village, they often produced more than they had in their previous homes.
But the village couldn’t survive on eggs and milk alone. There was also a reliance on crops, which naturally limited its growth potential.
The mushrooms could help delay the moment when they would have to limit their population growth, providing a good source of protein for the village. However, it would take time for them to reach the potential needed to meet the current demand for protein, so Elia decided it was time to put the brakes on their growth.
“We have to stop recruiting for a while,” she said to Jonn, watching Wy’s group draw closer. “From now on, we’ll limit ourselves to recruiting people with specific professions from the cities. We can bring in healers, blacksmiths, carpenters, you name it. But common laborers will have to wait until the next harvest before we recruit them again.”
Jonn readily agreed, “Yes, we’ll follow your suggestion. With this new addition, we’ll probably exceed 240 inhabitants. As there are still groups that need to return, it’s possible we’ll reach 300 inhabitants before we pause new additions.”
She said with an optimistic look, “That’s enough for now. More people would be helpful, but we can’t manage much more without risking the order and harmony of the village.”
"Hmm." He agreed, falling silent as Wy’s group finally stopped a few meters in front of the village’s entrance gate, where the temporary camp for the newly added residents was located.
“We’re back, Village Elder. I hope my contribution today makes up for my previous failure,” Wy said as he smiled, gesturing toward his group. “I’ve brought 50 new people and many animals for the village.”
“That’s quite a group, Wy!”
“You’ve really outdone yourself this time!”
“Are you aiming to earn the title of best recruiter in the village?”
Some of the older members of the village, guards in general, commented as Jonn and Elia stopped next to Wy.
Wy smiled at his companions, but before engaging in conversation about his results, he directed the two village leaders to the carriage of the leader of the community who had agreed to join them.
Jonn and Elia stopped in front of Bessy’s carriage, where the 70-year-old woman’s grandchildren had already descended, and Alis had arrived quickly.
Wy indicated with one of his hands as he said, “Village Elder, this young lady here is Alis, the healer of this group. And this lady in the carriage is Bessy, their Elder and leader of their people. Bessy isn’t well. You should check her condition and see if our medicines can help her.”
Jonn looked at Alis, the beautiful woman with the golden hair, one of the most beautiful he had ever seen. But this woman’s concern and Bessy’s condition caught his attention more than anything else.
Jonn narrowed his eyes, employing his {Skills} to examine Bessy. Within thirty seconds, he identified her critical condition—an acute respiratory illness threatening her life. Without prompt intervention, she wouldn't survive beyond a week.
After acknowledging Bessy's grandchildren and Alis, he spoke carefully, "Your Elder suffers from an advanced respiratory infection. I'd like to study her condition in a more suitable environment before attempting treatment. While I can't make immediate guarantees, there's potential for improving her health."
Alis was impressed by Jonn's precise diagnosis without a physical examination. She couldn't resist asking, "Are you a healer?"
"I've studied some medicine…" he replied truthfully.
Alis interpreted his response quite differently from its intended meaning.
"I see… Please, Elder of the Eternal Village, allow me to observe your work. I've been caring for Bessy and would greatly value learning your methods," she said, bowing in gratitude before even receiving his answer.
Jonn smiled. This woman seized opportunities, not waiting for them.
"Very well," he agreed, then gestured for his men to assist the large group's settlement, organizing camp expansion and integrating the new animals into Annabelle's community.
Jonn directed Bessy's grandchildren to transport her within the village walls, accompanied by Alis and Elia, the latter naturally invested in the elder's treatment.
Elia needed to negotiate with this community's leader for smoother integration into the Eternal Village. A successful treatment would ease this process. Elia knew, from experience, that newcomers integrated better when their leader endorsed the village's plans. Losing Bessy and requiring new leadership would complicate matters significantly.
The group swiftly entered the walled village, proceeding to the newly completed and operational Council building. Lacking a proper infirmary, Jonn opted to use one of the Council's vacant rooms for treatment.
But he and Elia used this situation to put into their plans the construction of a small post to deal with the sick. Recently, a flu had been spreading among the members of the village, and with the arrival of the first healer in the area, it seemed like the right time to make this investment.
Bessy's grandchildren placed her on a table in the sparsely furnished room, which contained only a table and several chairs. Jonn positioned himself on one side, while Elia and Alis stood opposite. The grandchildren waited anxiously at a distance, hands pressed to their hearts, awaiting the village leader's assessment.
Jonn summoned the Celestial Magnifying Glass and began his detailed examination.