“Eliot, it’s good to see you safe,” Jonn greeted as his friend drew to a halt, the two new animals flanking Windy while Veris descended gracefully from above.
“New envoys. Help from the horde,” Veris announced in her characteristic terse manner, alighting on a pillar near Jonn and Annabelle.
The eagle appraised Annabelle carefully before offering a respectful nod, which Annabelle returned with regal acknowledgment.
“I’m not entirely sure what transpired,” Eliot explained, scratching his head. “Upon reaching the horde’s camp, they held a celebration before naming these two to go with me back. Maybe they want to make things more stable? I’m still trying to figure out what’s up with these creatures,” he said with a laugh.
Elia, who had hurried over after the village alert, cast her eyes downward and shook her head. Eliot’s straightforward nature made him ill-suited for diplomatic matters. His simplicity had likely caused him to miss crucial details.
‘Unfortunately, he was our only option for this,’ she lamented, though without casting blame.
Fortunately, they could rely on Annabelle’s superior ability to communicate with the animals.
“My master,” Annabelle said, causing several newcomers to stare in astonishment, “these are Caron and Feli. They come offering help. The horde recognizes the Great Eternal Village’s kindness and has sent these two to contribute.”
The presence of beasts in the Eternal Village was common knowledge, as were whispers about the Village Elder being a mage—though few could distinguish rumor from truth. For the newcomers, hearing Annabelle speak provided startling confirmation that perhaps all the rumors were indeed authentic.
Jonn remained indifferent to the surrounding murmurs and speculation. As more mages emerged within the village, concealing the truth would become impossible. He had already planned to address the Council about this reality soon, though many of his companions already harbored their suspicions.
His explanation that animals respected him and Elia because of the [Wildheart Talisman] wouldn’t sustain inquiry indefinitely!
But the time for complete transparency hadn’t yet arrived.
“I see. So you’ve come to strengthen our alliance…” Jonn said warmly, noting the bear and armadillo’s eager nods. Both creatures focused intently on him, their eyes gleaming with interest—clearly recalling Veris’s remarkable transformation during her brief stay in the Eternal Village.
Jonn understood their motivation perfectly. He had enhanced Veris just as he had his own animals!
And now those two newcomers to the area—both at level 2—were interested in the benefits of living in the Eternal Village.
It seems the Aether Tears I provided have produced many beasts, Jonn reflected. They previously had fewer than ten beasts, yet now three are with me. Their collective strength must have increased.
With an expansive smile, Jonn declared, “You’re welcome in my village. Live in harmony with our animals, and we’ll prosper together.”
The bear and armadillo acknowledged their welcome before following Windy into the enclosure.
Veris lingered by Jonn’s side, delivering a message in eagle speech.
Annabelle, more versed in human language, translated, “The horde thrives, growing larger and stronger. While they’ve maintained peace since our agreement, they expect trouble. One of their number senses the approach of the Tyrannosaurus Rex.”
Jonn’s expression darkened at the implications, but he couldn’t deny the gravity of the situation. With a heavy sigh, he responded, “Understood. We’ll prepare accordingly.”
Veris acknowledged with a nod before spreading her wings and soaring to perch atop the henhouse.
Annabelle made a sharp, decisive gesture to her great master. Then, she leaped down from the towering fence pillar and retreated to her feathered palace.
Scanning his surroundings, Jonn met the concerned gazes of Elia and Eliot, their worry mirroring his own. Meanwhile, most villagers remained oblivious to the troubling developments weighing on the trio’s minds.
“Let’s get back together,” Jonn said, waving them over. “I have matters to discuss with you both.”
Turning to Alis, who lingered nearby, he added, “Alis, we will continue our conversation later. I need to address something with Eliot and Elia now.”
“Of course,” the young healer agreed, letting the three go on their own wherever they went.
Once they had distanced themselves from prying ears, Jonn told the two mages about the five individuals who would become mages in the coming weeks.
Surprise and elation mingled in their reactions.
Jonn asserted his reliance on their support in guiding and overseeing these newcomers. He also stressed the need to convene and establish a schedule for meditation sessions in his former house outside the village walls—their shared meditation sanctuary.
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Jonn’s primary aim was to use [Magic Breath] to enrich the meditation space for his two fellow village mages. He preferred to reserve the crystals from [Mana Manipulation] for the animals’ use.
Jonn’s concern remained on beasts, making his investment in magical creatures with inherent physical [Race] bonuses a logical strategy against other beasts and exotic animals. Apart from periods when one of the mages was absent from the village, Jonn had not given them the blue mana crystals he could produce.
His approach to nurturing magical growth within the community meant that Eliot and Elia would need to coordinate their meditation schedules in his former house. With the imminent emergence of five new mages, the village would soon boast seven magic users besides Jonn—all requiring regular meditation sessions in their shared sanctuary.
While Jonn had access to magical caves scattered throughout the region, most were too distant from the village core for practical daily use by his fellow mages. Hence, his old house remained the principal meditation site for the village’s magical practitioners.
“We’ll manage, Jonn,” Eliot reassured him, squeezing his friend’s shoulder. He saw no issue in sharing the space with more individuals. “This is good for the village. From what you’ve said, we’ll finally have two more magical professionals besides you."
Besides Alis, another newcomer who had awakened mana control was a professional, a skilled carpenter.
The implications of magic on carpenters remained uncertain to the three. But they knew mana control enhanced physical attributes and deepened one’s understanding of the surrounding world. So they hoped that, regardless of which professional awakened magical abilities, it would benefit the Eternal Village.
“When do you plan to address them?” Elia asked.
Jonn said in response, “Within the next few days. It’s good they experience life in our community as ordinary members first. I want to prevent any villager from developing a superiority complex or mimicking the destructive mages of our region’s past.”
His companions nodded in agreement, their initial excitement tempered by this sobering reminder.
“But,” Jonn continued with a sigh, his tone far from optimistic, “we can’t postpone this conversation too long. I’ve felt a brewing storm for weeks, and the horde’s envoys only confirm my fears. I suspect we’ll face our next challenge sooner rather than later.”
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The following days brought relative calm to the Eternal Village. The final recruiting groups returned, bringing the last planned additions to their community.
Only six recruiters remained in the field, scouting cities for specific professionals—small numbers that could significantly impact the village without straining food resources.
With these latest arrivals, the village’s population had swelled to an impressive 312 human inhabitants and 194 animals. Most animals lived near the village core under Annabelle’s unchallenged reign as the strongest and most respected beast. Meanwhile, 62 humans manned the East Lake outpost, with the remaining residents transforming the village core into a burgeoning town.
The influx of people sped up construction efforts, with materials from the last harvest rapidly depleting because of the myriad of hands at work simultaneously.
Consequently, new walls rose, and houses sprouted steadily, adhering to Elia’s expansion plans.
Amidst this growth, Jonn finally approached the five newcomers who were showing nascent mana control. He explained their future capabilities, revealed his own nature, and summarized his expectations and rules for them.
Grappling with the concept of magic proved challenging, with some individuals responding with denial and difficulty. Yet, despite the grim history of mages, most people relished the sensation of growing stronger and would adapt swiftly to their new status.
Jonn taught them basic magical principles. He warned them not to harm non-mana users. He also instructed them on proper training methods. He stressed the village's danger and their duty to protect it from threats: beasts, rival mages, and hostile humans.
Among the five new mages, Alis stood out, her progress towards becoming an Apprentice reaching an impressive 77%. The others lagged, their advancement ranging from 40% to 70%, less gifted and slower to develop despite equal opportunities.
Elia and Eliot, along with the village’s animals, showed no signs of imminent advancement. The two had recently reached level 2, while Annabelle remained at 81% progress toward level 3.
Though the village was flourishing, Jonn’s anxiety intensified daily. The many positive developments unsettled him. The system had not yet awarded him any new progress points in his quests. It seemed that no matter his efforts, he couldn’t recoup the massive point loss from months ago.
This circumstance led him to conclude that an external threat loomed—likely the danger approaching from the west, originating in Arcanis!
With this foreboding thought, Jonn had been bracing himself for an enemy incursion, working each day under the tension that, at any moment, his companions might sound a major alert.
His instincts proved correct!
After days of anxious anticipation, amid an otherwise ordinary afternoon, Jonn heard the enemy alert blaring from two separate watchtowers!
He was at Tim’s forge when the dual alarms pierced the air, sending chills through the villagers who had long felt secure in their haven.
All the forge workers froze, their eyes drawn to the exit as an eerie silence blanketed their burgeoning town.
Into this tense atmosphere, Petyr’s deep voice boomed, shattering the stunned populace’s stupor.
“Fall back! Everyone outside the walls, retreat immediately!”
In the wake of Petyr’s command, other guards’ voices rose in an urgent chorus.
“Get inside the walled area! We’re sealing the gates!”
“Take shelter in your homes! Stop all activities and find cover!”
Despite the walls, arrows could still arc over the village’s defenses, and the bamboo gate might not withstand a determined assault.
The populace moved, albeit sluggishly, while the village warriors sprang into action, arming themselves and assembling with grim determination etched on their faces.
“An army approaches from the south!” Eliot’s voice rang out from one of the southern watchtowers, his bow already drawn. “At least a hundred strong!”
Jonn heard this as he finished donning his armor and reached the still-open bamboo gate, where bewildered villagers streamed in, sweat glistening on their brows.
Exiting the walled area alongside Wy, Asher, and Sarre, Jonn saw Ice and Phantom converging on their position. Meanwhile, someone rushed to open the animal enclosure, allowing the larger beasts to join the defense.
The village’s fighters halted about 100 meters in front of the southern camp and construction area. There, they beheld the advancing battalion—a formidable force of cavalry, archers, and infantry, all with the same type of costume.
This was no ragtag band of bandits. This was a disciplined military unit, clearly dispatched by a big power.
Jonn’s fists clenched as he grasped the far-reaching implications of this confrontation, regardless of its outcome.
Someone discovered our secret!
He recognized this moment for what it truly was—the opening salvo in a war for what they held!