“When I arrived, I knew absolutely nothing,” Ren began, his voice calm yet holding a quiet authority that made both Hazel and Ogren listen intently. “That first night, I was walking down a deserted road when I noticed someone hiding in the bushes, bow drawn, ready to ambush a lone traveler ahead of me. I shouted a warning, and the assassin fled. The man I’d saved turned out to be no ordinary traveler—he was the leader of the southern raiders, one of the most feared and organized factions in the region.”
He paused, glancing at Hazel, who held his gaze, her expression revealing a mix of intrigue and admiration. “The old man was grateful and invited me to his home. I quickly learned he was no stranger to power and influence, though his methods were questionable. Together, we devised a plan to strike back at the faction that had nearly taken his life.
We did more than just retaliate—we dismantled them. And in their stronghold, we found a hoard of resources they’d taken from other villages: food, livestock, supplies. Suddenly, we had a foundation.”
Hazel’s eyes narrowed as she listened, her mind racing through the implications.
Ren was no simple bystander in this story. He’d taken an isolated incident and turned it into an opportunity, positioning himself at the heart of an operation that others had spent years trying to control. There was brilliance in that, a ruthless cunning masked by his calm demeanor.
“Still,” Hazel interjected, putting aside her blanket as she leaned forward. “One raid, even a significant one, wouldn’t fund a town like this—not to this level. And not within the span of a year.” Her gaze sharpened, challenging him. “You’ve done more than you’re letting on, haven’t you?”
A flicker of amusement passed over Ren’s face. “Of course. I figured you’d notice,” he admitted with a hint of admiration. “After all, you are Aropia’s princess. I would expect nothing less.”
Hazel held her composure, even as her curiosity deepened. “As Aropia’s princess, it’s within my right to demand full transparency from anyone administering anything within our borders,” she replied, a subtle authority underscoring her words.
Ren chuckled, unruffled. “Then I’ll tell you. If you’d taken a look around the markets, you would’ve seen it for yourself.”
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Ogren’s voice broke in, “You’re talking about that strange coin they use, right? The one they call… the Renn?”
Ren nodded, pleased. “Exactly. I knew it would be impossible to gather the resources needed through traditional means, so I decided to upend the system entirely. I minted my own currency and put it into circulation—the Renn.”
Hazel’s brow furrowed as she examined one of the coins Ogren handed her. She ran her fingers over the finely struck symbol, noting its weight and the way it gleamed in the firelight. “A new currency?” she asked, incredulous. “How could you get people to accept it? And without the government's involvement?”
Ren shrugged, undeterred by her questions. “I knew the people needed something of value in return for their labor in building this town. So, I created a closed economy. Inside Haven town, the Renn is the only currency accepted for everything from taxes to basic supplies. And to get it, people work on public projects—building roads, securing the wall, establishing trade routes with the pirates along the coast. Slowly, the Renn became more valuable than the old Aropian currency.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over them. “Now, the Renn’s value is stable, even double that of Aropia’s currency. We kept a tight hold on supply, prevented inflation, and made it a reliable store of value. People can save, invest, and trade confidently within Haven town, knowing that their labor is worth something tangible.”
As Ren finished, the fire crackled, filling the silence.
Ogren, more a warrior than a strategist, seemed lost in thought, unable to fully grasp the intricacies of what Ren had achieved. But Hazel understood. Ren hadn’t just built a town—he’d created a microstate, a self-sustaining economy where the people were loyal not out of fear, but because they had a direct stake in its success.
Without military support, without senators, without even the legacy of a royal name, he had established a place where order reigned and prosperity was real.
Hazel gazed at him, marveling at his ingenuity. In one short year, this man had built something that Aropia itself had struggled to achieve for decades. She realized, with a sense of awe and caution, that Ren wasn’t just a man with vision—he was a force capable of changing nations.
“Tell me about the relationship between you and my father ,” was Hazel’s next inquiry.
“Well there isn’t much to tell , we only communicated once and that was to warn me about gaining too much influence. He was content with me maintaining stability in a small town but he cautioned against expanding my authority to the other parts of the southern region ,” Ren answered her.
“Still , I can’t believe that I am only learning about you now ,”Hazel went on.
“This town was completed two weeks ago. The better part of the year was spent learning about the workings of your world..” Ren stopped talking too late.
“Our world?” Ogren jumped on that last part .