The villagers witnessed the birth of the first chick after Hewet’s death, a small creature adorned with pristine white plumage. Its eyes were bright, and it appeared noticeably stronger than typical chicks.
Annabelle, chest puffed with pride, presented her heir not only to her master but also to the entire chicken coop. Her gaze exuded pride, prompting the other chickens to celebrate the new arrival by flapping their wings and clucking in their unique manner.
The humans, accustomed to the village animals’ unusual behavior, watched the chick in silent admiration, smiles spreading across their faces.
Their silence was short-lived. Betta soon approached the newborn, discovering it was a female as she gently cradled it in her hands.
Annabelle, familiar with Betta as the primary caretaker, offered no resistance. She permitted Betta the honor of lifting her princess into the air, conveying through her gaze that the chick should grow accustomed to the humans’ reverence.
Jonn chuckled at the display, his interest piqued by the chick, which had astonishingly been born at level 1.
His eyes drifted to the corners of the coop, where other hens were diligently hatching their eggs.
I think I can expect similar results from the new generations of chickens and calves… Though each animal has its own traits, there’s a good chance today’s success will repeat. In any case, any outcome is welcome. More animals mean more food or more breeding partners.
Jonn thought contentedly as he cradled the newborn in his hands, naming her Ju. The little one gazed curiously at the large human holding her, sensing he differed from the others.
“Welcome to the Eternal Village, little Ju. Stay with your mother a while longer and get used to your new life here.” He smiled, handing her back to Annabelle, knowing the chick needed time with her mother before becoming independent.
Ju is a beast, so she’ll adapt quickly. I’ll give her four days to learn from Annabelle before I leave for the [Exotic Animals] quest.
He left the chicken coop with his fellow villagers, encountering Ice outside. The wolf wore a silly expression. Despite being a carnivorous predator, he understood the value of every chicken and wouldn’t overstep his master’s rules. In return, the white wolf enjoyed fish and eggs occasionally. When the village imported meat, he could feast on leftovers and keep the unused bones.
Unfortunately, the village lacked enough animals for meat production, but Jonn hoped that as the animals reproduced, they’d eventually have roosters and bulls to use for meat.
Jonn wondered what beast meat would taste like. He was curious about this, but also about the intelligence of the creatures in the village. Fortunately, some animals showed no clear signs of sentience, even as they grew stronger and advanced in level.
Some simply appeared to be more powerful versions of regular animals, unlike intelligent beings such as Annabelle.
But that was good, Jonn mused. It would give them room to consume meat coming from village animals without crossing certain moral lines.
With his thoughts, Jonn made his way back home, accompanied by the yawns of his now-relaxed companions. Petyr and Betta took their time reassuring those in the village who were still concerned, spreading the good news to anyone who hadn’t heard Tobin’s earlier warning.
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The following day, villagers flocked to the chicken coop to meet the newest addition to their community. Throughout the day, people passing by could see everyone, from young children to village elders, admiring the new chick.
Annabelle made a point of parading around with her chick so everyone could see, starting little Ju’s journey into Master Jonn’s domain.
Jonn spotted her performing this ritual for the fourth time that day as he followed a group of miners returning from one of the local quarries. He was pushing a wheelbarrow full of broken stones, while his three companions carried tools in their hands. Each of them bore signs of mining work on their clothes and skin.
Exhausted and drenched in sweat from their day’s work, they still managed to keep up a lively conversation on their afternoon walk back to the village, displaying the easy familiarity of those well-accustomed to such a life.
These men were recent arrivals from neighboring Littlewood, bringing with them decades of experience in manual labor and familiarity with all manner of tasks available in the village.
The newcomers—both men and women—had proven to be invaluable additions to the community. Not only did they perform their duties and adhere to the village schedule without complaint, but they also offered valuable insights and suggestions for improving various aspects of village operations.
Despite their advanced knowledge in certain areas—thanks to Hewet’s innovations and the legacy of mechanisms left behind by the old Elder—Jonn and his people remained humble, aware of their limited exposure to the wider world.
While the newcomers didn’t know everything, each brought their own expertise to share. The farmers were developing an automated irrigation system that would streamline crop watering with fewer hands needed. The miners had already proposed several new techniques and tools to enhance the local mining operations. Similarly, both the cooks and builders were making significant contributions by introducing established Littlewood technologies to their new home.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
While these improvements weren’t revolutionizing the village overnight, they were gradually reshaping daily life.
Villagers found themselves freed from unnecessary tasks, allowing them to channel their energy into more productive endeavors. This shift had boosted the village’s output without requiring additional manpower.
Jonn valued these contributions to his domain, but the benefits extended beyond mere productivity gains. The newcomers had brought with them a wealth of intelligence about Yeoman Ferry and the current state of affairs in Littlewood.
Thanks to their willingness to share information, the village now possessed a detailed map of the Littlewood region, complete with territorial divisions and key political factions. Their insights revealed the complex web of allegiances and rivalries, including who had aligned themselves during the recent conflict between Javis and Ferry.
Even without sending scouts into town, they had a clear picture of the situation there now!
Count Javis had emerged victorious from the dispute, and Ferry was presumed dead. Littlewood had fallen under the Count’s control, and negotiations among local landowners were likely already underway to establish peace and a new political order.
Given the intelligence these people provided, Jonn found himself content to let them speak freely, careful not to interrupt their flow of information with unnecessary questions.
“At last, we’re home,” one of the miners remarked, pausing by the animal enclosure.
“Despite the bleakness of these lands, something about it feels like home,” said a middle-aged man, his weathered face etched with sun-deepened wrinkles around his eyes. “Littlewood had its lush greenery, teeming with wildlife and people, but there was something unsettling about the place... I can’t quite put my finger on it—a lingering darkness, an undercurrent of tension that kept you constantly on edge.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” chimed in a younger man, his frame notably muscular compared to the slight builds of Yeoman Ferry’s household servants.
“Keeping up with the power plays and scheming of the nobility was exhausting. In Littlewood, we had to watch our every move—who we spoke to, where we looked, even how we carried ourselves. Here in the village, we can simply focus on our work and live our lives in peace.”
“I pray this village never becomes like Littlewood,” one of them sighed, turning to meet Jonn’s gaze. “Elder, forgive my boldness in speaking about the village’s future, but please shield it from the avarice of nobles and mages alike. As cruel as old Ferry was, things were decent before he got tangled up with mages and started coveting what wasn’t rightfully his.
“Those who follow his path are bound to meet the same fate.”
Jonn studied the elderly man’s weathered face, taking in his ruddy complexion and silver hair. “You have my word—I’ll guard against such greed,” he pledged. “I’ll do everything in my power to preserve the village’s true character.”
The men acknowledged his words with silent nods. None were naive enough to believe that Jonn’s intentions would remain unchanged forever, or that good intentions alone could ward off trouble. Still, hearing their leader’s commitment to these principles was enough to satisfy them for now.
“Speaking of greed, are we really going to keep expanding the village?” one of them asked, glancing toward the greenhouse.
Concealing the truth about the village’s plants remained central to Jonn’s strategy. Yet keeping the villagers entirely ignorant of their agricultural operations proved challenging, especially when these newcomers could help advance their farming methods. So the Council was only limiting entry to the greenhouse, not banning residents from passing near the structure on the west side of the village.
“We have no choice,” Jonn responded, aware that even the newcomers recognized the complications this posed. “In our position, stagnation equals decline. Some of our villagers are already over 70… We can’t expect them to bless us with their presence indefinitely. We urgently need new people."
“In that case, I’d like to make a suggestion,” said the oldest miner in the group standing by the animal fence.
“What do you have in mind, old Tobey?” Jonn asked, a curious smile spreading across his face.
“Elder,” Tobey began, drawing from years of experience, “if we’re to expand our numbers, we should look to folk from villages like our own. City dwellers can be... complicated. Village folk are more sincere, more adaptable. I suggest dispatching a group of guards to scout the territories of Lands of Etheria, Sylvestria, and Eldoria for such settlements,” he advised, knowing such communities still existed within these domains.
“I’ll give it serious thought,” Jonn said, keeping the possibility open.
It is interesting indeed. We have already approved the recruitment of new village members, and Elia is already forming the first recruitment group. Perhaps it is wise to direct part of our group to scout villages before focusing on cities. However, we can’t overlook the potential of cities. Only in urban centers can we find individuals with specialized knowledge and skills capable of contributing more than just labor.
He mulled over these thoughts, recognizing the value of recruiting people with more advanced expertise, a demographic less likely to be found in rural villages.
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After two days of preparation, Jonn finally stood ready to embark on his [Exotic Animals] quest!
As dawn broke, Jonn set out toward the animal enclosure, his preparations complete and the Council and village guards already briefed on his intended expedition.
His supplies safely stored in his space ring, he made his way to where some animals were already waiting: Roulf, Annabelle, Ice, and Windy—all level 2 beasts—ready to accompany him westward.
Only Eliot saw Jonn off as he mounted Windy, watching the village leader’s unusual formation from the western observation tower. The young archer—whom Jonn now knew, like Elia, had mana in his body—thought little of it, finding his friend’s departure quite natural.
Jonn looked back towards Eliot, nodding and smiling before setting off west, towards the Triceratops sighting and large animal tracks, just a few hours’ ride from the village.
When I return, it’ll be time to talk with Eliot and Elia, Jonn considered, pondering over the only two individuals in his village showing signs of becoming mages.
In the days since reaching level 3, Jonn had analyzed everyone in the village and even those at the fishing post, which he’d visited the day before to complete his investigation. Only Elia and Eliot showed signs of transformation, though he didn’t rule out future changes in others.
From Jonn’s perspective, Eliot, and Elia’s situation was recent. This led him to believe that new villagers might show changes in the future, and he didn’t discount the possibility of changes even in the longtime villagers. As he’d observed with animals, even beings of the same species had highly individual progress rates.
And so, as the morning light painted the sky, Jonn entrusted his tribe to the care of the remaining beasts and his fellow Council members, embarking at last on his journey to unravel the dinosaur mysteries lurking in the western reaches of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow!