The man, alone again. Found himself inexplicably lonely.

Of course the gobs still farm every night which is some good company in the morning but they rarely come during the day so the man regularly finds himself lonely.

Philip had said he had an important appointment in the capital so he would likely not show up for some time.

Even Bear was unable to abate the man’s loneliness.

Of course all he could do was experiment with the new stuff left by the builders.

Included in that new stuff would obviously be the mill.

The man walked along the smooth wooden floor and down a set of three steps into the workshop/mill area.

There was quite a large amount of storage space and tables around the large stones. The dwarf Autly had instructed the man on how to run the mill but he still found himself hesitant around the machinery.

A large wooden lever sat beside the hanging stone. Pushing on it carefully activated another series of levers, pulling a block away from the windmill’s clutch. Instantly the room shook with the heavy torque of the rock’s weight being added to the spinning windmill.

Slowly it began to churn, emitting the soft rumble of rock scraping rock. From the center he carefully dropped half crushed Roya flowers into a long wood chute.

These were the first flowers collected from the field behind the house. Amazingly the flowers seemed to grow like weeds in the field. The man was nervous at first but he was pleased that the worries were meaningless.

Watching the mill carefully he began to notice course powder accumulating near the outside of the stones. Thumbing at it carefully he turned a sturdy dial to lower the upper mill stone.

At a better height the Roya powder was now just that, a powder.

The man was amazed. He’d never managed to get it to this fine before.

The sudden change in quality sparked the desire to cook but he unfortunately found himself with no one to cook for.

"Oy! Anyone home?" A gruff voice called loud enough to cut through the clambering stones and gears.

"Guest?" The man asked no one with a growing smile.

Quickly he leapt up and rushed for the side door of the house. Turning the smooth bronze knob he spotted a lone man in a red cloak.

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The man was glancing between the house and the man’s old hut. He wasn’t sure which was more confusing at the moment.

"Hello." The man says with a smile as he walks towards the new guest. "Can I help you?"

"Ah. So there is an inhabitant." The gruff cloaked man scoffs a laugh. "Impressive place you’ve got here. Is it just you?"

"Indeed." The man admits with a lonely frown.

"Hmm…" Cloak says, seemingly considering a few facts before speaking. "I suppose I have an idea…"

The man didn’t continue the words, forcing the man in the forest to sigh in a bit of confusion.

"Right, my bad. The name’s Rex."

"Ah, Rex. It’s good to meet you. It’s always nice to have new company. Would you like some food? I’m sure traveling has been tough."

"Pah! This much is nothing." Rex says rubbing his graying beard and prodding at the air with his nose. "That smell… "

"Right. I’ll cook for you. Go take a seat It’ll be ready in just a minute." The man says, refusing to take ‘no’ for an answer.

And Rex likely wouldn’t have given that answer anyway. He had a certain philosophy. Never turn down a free meal. Even if its from your worst enemy. If it comes down to it, it will be a chance to try some new poison he might not have a resistance to yet. The mere thought always titillated him.

But this time he wasn’t thinking about poison at all.

A warm aroma permeated from the entire area around the mill and house. Walking to the table the man indicated, Rex quickly understood where the scent came from. A few hundred yards from the house sat a wide field brimming with waving flower buds.

The sight transfixed Rex and before he knew it a steaming plate was sitting before him.

Gingerly he took the split loaf of bread in his hand. He glances at the man for a moment in an effort to assure he was eating the food as intended. The man indeed nodded so Rex tore a large chunk from the burger ravenously.

Liquid dripped from his lips forcing him to wipe it with his wrist unceremoniously.

"Amazing." Rex spouted before stuffing his lips with another bite of meat, veg, sauces, and bread. "Amazing, amazing!"

After devouring the burger he pounded a fist against the table without a word. The man took the gesture as a request and promptly began work on another.

Minutes of peering at the field and again the burger appeared. Rex was thrilled and stuffed it down his mouth faster than the first. Fortunately the man had expected as much so he had doubled the overall size of this burger.

"Uuuuuu…" Rex groaned rubbing his stomach happily. "Better than the finest whore in the valley. Maybe the whole north continent…"

Absentmindedly praising the meal Rex stared at the sun without a single care.

"I was unaware I had been a virgin for so long." Rex again mumbles.

But really was it so much like sex?

"Glad you liked it." The man says unsure how else to take the words.

"Make’s me regret what I have to do now." Rex says standing up and lugging his thick sword to his shoulder. "Stay safe."

With that he turned around and left. Lightly mumbling about going to meet some ‘noble brat’.

Indeed that is how the man in the forest first met ‘Rex of no last name’. First King of Wolfbourne.

Another domino in the row of thousands that when fell would lead to the rise of the grandest empire on the northern continent.