“How can you assure us?”

The room held its breath as I weighed my next words, understanding the gravity of the moment.. “That’s a fair question,” I started, maintaining steady eye contact with the elder who challenged me. “The assurance I offer is not just in words alone, but in action. Allow me to demonstrate these farming techniques on a designated plot. You’ll see tangible results before any full commitment is made.”

A murmur of cautious approval rippled through the room, but the head elder raised his hand for silence. “And if this demonstration fails? Our lands and people would suffer from any decrease in yield due to your experiments.”

He has a good point. I reply, “To mitigate this risk, how about we select a plot that is currently providing a below normal yield. This way, we can minimize any potential losses.”

“And during this time, you expect us to halt our expansion?” Another elder, this one more confrontational than the head elder. He was dressed in nicer clothes and was fuller, he sat to the left of the head elder. “What assurances do we have that your methods will compensate for our halted progress?”

“Yes, I do ask for a pause in your expansion,” I affirmed. “As for compensation, if after two months the results aren’t as expected, I offer to toil away at the land till there is a result, but you can continue expansion until I can give those results that I have promised but failed to deliver initially.”

Approval rippled through the room, but the nicely dressed elder seemed unconvinced. “We do not need another farmer, instead of laboring away if you fail, I want you to acknowledge that you are not a Sage, and pay the price for deceiving us.”

I frowned at that, the audacity of that statement was wild. He was disrespecting me directly, not even subtly. Something was up with him, and I need to figure out what. “And who might you be? To make those demands of a Sage.”

“Me?” He looked at me smugly. That can’t be good. “I am Priest Xuán Shān of the goddess of fertility. If I can not question your authenticity about your status as a Sage, then no one else is eligible.”

This was not great. My whole plan hinged on me having the most indirect authority. I didn’t even know the true relationships between priests and Sages. But based on how he was behaving it seemed that this guy not only had a greater direct authority in this village then me, but he was equal to me in status. He was the only one eligible to scrutinize my actions. How would a Sage react to being called out by his fellow equal?

Tension rises in the room as we stare at eachother and the other elders look at each other uncomfortably. I look at the elder at the head of the table, but he remains unflustered and watches this go down. He wants to see how I will react. I might need to do something ballsy.

I lightly smile as I finally reply, “I can agree to those conditions,” He looks at me triumphantly, but frowns once he notices that I am not finished. “But I need the date to be extended to 4 months and once I succeed, I need you to never question my status as a Sage.”

“Yo-” The priest gets interrupted by the sharp eyed man, “Those terms are appealing, but we will need to cast a vote. If you don’t mind stepping out for our discussions?”

Taking the hint, I agree. “Of course.” I headed out while Cai Lin led me back to my room. “Once the decision comes to a close, I will be back to fetch you to tell you about the results.”

“Thank you, Cai Lin. I’ll take a break for now while I await the results.

* * *

-POV Chieftain

The room fell into reflective silence as the door closed behind Jié Míns. I glanced around the council table, noticing the tension in the room from the spat that happened between Priest Xuán Shān and Sage Jié Míns. Anger and annoyance etched on the Priest's face. His authority had been openly challenged, and his dissatisfaction was palpable. Even I didn’t dare to so openly call out the Priest, lest I bring the anger of the goddess on my head.

I spoke up, breaking the silence. “Let’s discuss the Sage’s proposal,” he suggested. “We need to weigh the potential benefits against the risks. Considering the conditions he’s offered.”

Priest Xuán Shān scoffed, his voice tinged with irritation. “He’s no Sage,” he muttered, loud enough for others to hear. “A true Sage wouldn’t negotiate so.”

I ignored the Priest, I wasn’t qualified to get in between their fights, nor did I want to. Perhaps they can even keep each other in check? “If the Sage’s techniques work, we could increase our crop yields, and we can avoid throwing our young into battles. Saving their strength for when it truly matters.”

“But Chieftain Ming, four months is a long time to pause our expansions,” another elder countered, voicing his concern.

I acknowledged this. “True, but the pause can also give us time to consolidate and re-equip our soldiers in better gear and plan for the future. Either outcome will leave us in a more positive position.”

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The Priest also added with a grin that even sent shivers down my spine. “And if he fails, I will make him pay for trying to fool a Priest of the goddess.”

There was silence at that before the conversations slowly started up again. Elders were expressing both skepticism and hope. I observed the chatter and did not interfere in their discussion going forward.

I eventually called for a vote. “We must decide based on Greenhaven’s best interest. All in favor of accepting the Sage’s terms, raise your hand.”

One by one, the hands went up, with the majority supporting the agreement. Priest Xuán Shān, clearly unhappy, abstained from the vote.

As the meeting wrapped up, I pondered over what the future would look like. The Sage’s proposal, if it works out, can make us the most prosperous city in the region, ensuring the future of our generation. The next few months will be a test of Sage's method, and I am looking forward to it.

Thinking back at the Priest's behavior, I made a mental note to assign the Sage a personal guard to ensure no foul play will go down. The goal is to have them keep each other in check. After all a mortal cannot argue with those above them, but two of the same station? Hopefully it will give us time to observe and adapt.

* * *

-POV James

The wooden door swung open slowly as Cai Lin entered the room where I was deep in thought, reflecting on the day's tense negotiations. The atmosphere lightened as he approached me with a smile.

He gave me a respectful bow as he gave me the news. “Sage Jié Míns, the council has accepted your terms. While we await the preparation of the demonstration plot. May I suggest a tour of our city? It may provide you with a broader understanding of our way of life and the challenges we face.”

I looked up, my mind still weighed by the upcoming responsibilities, but curiosity got the best of me, plus it will help me take my mind off the upcoming challenges. “That sounds like a good idea, Cai Lin. I’d appreciate a deeper insight into Greenhaven.”

Cai Lin smiled, pleased. “Excellent! Our city, while modest, holds much to be appreciated. We have managed to grow a deeper connection with our traditions and culture since we have not moved for generations.”

As we stepped out into the narrow street. The structures here were made mostly out of wood, with no need for mud to seal holes in the woods. Their designs were simple, and looked like they could only house a single family. Some of the buildings contained carvings on the surface of the walls, depicting a variety of activities and even the same image of what I presume to be the goddess.

He led me to what looked to be a market, with some stalls set up. It wasn’t that impressive, with the amount of stalls being countable on one hand. He continued with his enthusiasm. “This market here is the heart of our city,” Cai Lin explained as a man dressed in clean clothes haggled with another that wore dirt caked clothes, probably a farmer or another physical worker. “Here travelers and traders stop to barter for our goods, whether it be our own city dwellers, other villages, and even on rare occasions, other cities.”

“Villagers are still trading with you despite what happened?” I look at him as I ask. A look of hesitation crosses his face. “Well, we have a few villages that conceded to our great city, and we have amicable relations with them.”

I humm noncommittally while looking around the small market. There seemed to be a small variety of traded goods. There seemed to be some kind of wheat being passed around, as well as some carved goods and pottery. There weren't all that many stalls but there was a fairly wide variety of things for trade.

I decided to browse a little to see anything interesting, while Cai Lin followed me around continuing to explain. “It is with luck that you arrived today, Sage Jié Míns, as we don’t have the market open everyday as there simply isn’t enough goods to circulate. We open the market once half a cycle of the moon, and keep it open for a couple days. It is also a place to socialize, where people can walk, talk, and sometimes even eat some snacks that people decide to trade here.”

I spot a familiar looking white rock and ask the trader behind the desk. “Do you know what this rock is?” Cai Lin stops his ramblings as he looks at what I am pointing at. The man behind the market stand, pipes up. “This here is a very rare rock, when grinded down can be added to food to make it taste better, if you want you can put your finger on the rock to taste it.”

“Really?”

“Of course sir, I wouldn’t lie to anybody. As the goddess frowns upon those actions.” carefully I rub my finger on the rock and put it in my mouth. The thought about how many people have done the same to the rock crossed my mind but I decided this was important for science.

Putting it up to my mouth, it was definitely salt. “How many of these rocks do you have?” Cai Lin peaks around my shoulder as he watches what is going on. “Unfortunately we do not have that many,” the trader replied, his eyes flicking towards the small collection of similar rock on his stall. “These come from the salt flats in the far north. It’s a difficult journey and few are willing to frequent it.”

I nod in understanding and disappointment as salt had so many uses from adding flavor to preserving meat to even helping with open wounds. “I would love to acquire some, but I’m afraid I have nothing to trade for at the moment.”

“Do not worry,” Cai Lin interjected smoothly, “Consider it a gift for our honored Sage. It’s the least we can do.” He turns to the trader to offer him something for the salt. I quickly stopped him. “No need, I do not take debt easily. I also think it wouldn’t be difficult to convince the council of the benefits of the rock. Although forming a caravan might be a whole separate problem.”

Cai Lin hesitates but hesitantly backs down once he realized I truly didn’t intend to borrow from them. We continue as the trader is left baffled at what just occurred, probably wondering about the whole Sage thing.

As we moved through the market, I noticed a guard that had escorted us on our trip towards this. He seemed off duty as he wasn’t dressed in heavy furs and leathers and was casually strolling with his family among the crowd. The sight of him laughing with his wife and playfully ruffling his child’s hair stood in deep contrast with the image I had in my head of the aggressive image of expansion that I have painted these people. It was a peaceful ordinary moment that humanized them in my eyes.

Perhaps I was too hasty to judge. The next four months will give me plenty of time to observe and understand the complexities of the inhabitants. Were their choices driven by necessity or choice?

As we walked away from the market, the sounds of everyday life in Greenhaven—a child’s laughter, the clatter of a cart, the calls of vendors, filled the air. Weaving a tapestry of community life that was hard to ignore. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to this place than met the eye. And perhaps, in understanding that, there could be a way forward that embraces both peace and prosperity.