Truly, Nordland has the worst fate of all Imperial provinces.

Even their capital of Salzenmund looks like an upstart village, partially due to the poor climate, but also due to frequent Norscan raids, and the presence of the Wood Elves from the nearby Laurelorn Forest . While not as demented as Drycha, the Elves still limited the human growth and expansion, even harvesting timber or medicinal plants from the forest.

Fishing was risky due to the presence of pirates and raiders, while the Imperial Fleet at Dietershafen struggled to build ships due to lack of timber.

I could help a little, and I did. And no, it wasn't to impress a fiery red-headed Wizard lady. Some things should be done, simply because it was the right thing to do.

I could harvest a thousand tall trees for the Navy. I could fly around and destroy any raiders, and bring their ships and weapons as loot.

I could build breakwaters against the Sea of Claws storms, and sponsor more roads and lumber mills.

And I did it all in three days. It wasn't like I could get tired. My body was mostly a puppet, a time-locked golem able to work non-stop for millennia.

Of course, my mind would crack much sooner, and I did allow myself some breaks. But that Graf of Middleheim was correct too. I was a mountain that flew.

The Baron of Nordland was quite happy for my gold and help and especially for the three Runefangs. And the dozens of pirate ships filled with pirate heads.

Of course, the pirates will rebuild and return, the trade was too lucrative. But some respite will be helpful.

"Do you want my advice, how to grow your province, Baron?" I asked as the man stared with disbelief at his new relic weapons.

"Of course, Warden. Your wish is my command..." the man offered a bit too eager. He was right, since I did have power over him. But legally. not so much.

They are all Elector Counts, if they lead a province of the Empire.

There are also the local titles, such as Baron, Duke, Graf, Arch-Lector, etc, which mean something for each particular province. Each place has thousands of years of history and lore, and different ranks and such.

"No. Legally your are my equal, among the nobility of the Empire. Your province lacks three precious things to become a force among the provinces of the Empire. Firstly, population.

You just have too few people. So you should go take them. Raid Norsca, steal their women and children. In 50 years, that problem will be solved." I continued in a colder tone.

Gissela cursed something in a muffle. The Baron just nodded. "Kill their men as well. We can do that. We can also raid."

"Next thing, is a fleet. Both for warfare and trade. You have Kislev, the Wood Elves and the High Elves as potential trade partners. Each of them have things that others want. You only need to move the goods, and become as rich as Marienburg." I proposed next, and watched the man get a glint in his eye.

"All right. Even if we cannot harvest timber from the west, to the east we have the Forest of Shadows . Still dangerous, but less than the crazy Elves and their forest magic." the Baron accepted with a determined voice.

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"Indeed. And for that you will need the third thing you lack. Magic. If you can recruit some Bright or Amber Wizards to help it would be great. But if not, you can certainly entice Battle mages without a Wind to help. Even better, start a College of Magic here, and train up your own mages. That forest is quite dangerous, I hunted a dozen Chaos cults in there." I explained in a casual tone.

The Baron looked at me, then at the Bright Wizard at my side. "I don't suppose you could stay a bit longer..."

"Not really. I have my Army of the East and the entire Sylvania to deal with. Maybe in a decade or two." I said in sad voice. Can't do everything, can I?

The man sighed. "Wizards are expensive."

I grinned a bit too wide. "Good thing that raiding is profitable then. Still, if you find a Black Ark with your ships, light a beacon in your courtyard. Those things aren't easy to deal with. Not even for me."

Learning about the Black Arks of the Dark Elves had been a wake up call. Mutated marine monsters, flesh-crafted into war engines of gigantic size. I might need a very big stick to beat those things up.

As I flew away, I did cross over the Forest of Shadows again, and descended a few times to let Gissela show me her Fire Magic.

While I expected Fireballs and Firewalls and even Fire Swords, two of her spells jumped to my attention.

The first one was called Fire Beam, and was basically a continuous laser beam that kept hitting her target until it died, or she ran out of Wind. And since it could kill even a Great Spider, it should also work on Vampires and that sort of monsters.

And the other spell was even more impressive and more important. Purge. With a single word, anything corrupted by Chaos would burst into flames, and keep burning until the corruption was gone, or the Wizard ran out of mana. I was quite certain Purge would also work on Vampiric corruption, since that was also powered by warpstones.

I so wanted to learn that spell. I wanted it very very bad.

My heart began to hurt and I spoke the word. "Purge !"

The winds of magic condensed around me and wobbled, but nothing happened. No fire. Damn it!

Gissela coughed in surprise, even as the spider lair around us burned bright. "What was that? I felt the Winds change. For a second."

"I am a poor Wizard, I told you. Can't even purge." I muttered in defeat, head hung low.

The Bright Wizard glanced at me weirdly, but didn't say anything. At least she didn't compound on my shame.

My hand clenched on air, and instead a thin Ghur spear formed. More like an arrow in fact.

Throwing the arrow, I struck a distant Giant Spider hiding in a corner. Headshot too!

Take that, crazy world.

I might not be a good Wizard, but I could throw things really fast.

Clenching my hand again, the Ghur arrow returned into my hand. It wasn't a nice spear like Martak could do, but I finally made something with Magic.

"I didn't know Magic Missiles could be recalled to your hand." Gissela muttered in envy.

That's what got your attention? It was a simple trick of Ghur, restoring a thing to its place by time warp. Wait...maybe it was a big thing.

*Congratulations

-You have invented a new spell. Arrow of Time. +5 Amber Magic affinity.

-For using the arrow without an Amber Bow, you gain a minor Achievement. +10 Amber Magic affinity.

I stared at my game screen with a frown. This should be good, right?