The once seldom used space of Izra’s audience chamber became a hive of activity. Invigorated by whatever political machinations were going on in his head, and the acquisition of a talented mage to do all the work for him, Izra began attending to his duties as Headman of Canthari. He sat in his seat of power at the head of the chamber while Prospero and Olin drafted summons for various tradesmen and members of the community, held meetings with them to discuss and plan public works projects, and established budgets.

For all his indolence and pompous attitude, Izra was surprisingly generous with his wealth. Prospero had to do very little haggling or corner-cutting with the planned works, as Izra readily agreed to the prices each of the tradesmen suggested.

In the days that followed, Canthari became the epicenter of an enormous public works initiative, coordinated and aided by the strange all-knowing mage, who each day returned to the audience chamber with new plans, detailed schematics, and strange ideas about technologies that did not even exist.

The people of Canthari were feverish with excitement. Gold was flowing into the hands of the workers, and the village they called home had myriad new wonders under construction. Better days were on the horizon, this all of the townsfolk believed.

At night, banquets were held in the audience chamber. Izra, seated at the head, enjoyed—maybe for the first time since his being posted here—the adulations of his subjects. And, though he was forced to share a portion of this newfound glory with his new retainer, the young mage Prospero, he was happy all the same to have glory.

Prospero, for his part, was quick to redirect the joyous thanks of the people to Izra, complimenting him for his generosity and his obvious love for his people, as well as lavishing him with praise for lending the townsfolk the use of his estate as a headquarters. Never minding the fact that this was what Izra should have been doing this whole time in his role of authority. Still, what mattered now in the grand scheme of things was to keep Izra happy and keep the ball rolling.

After two weeks of diligent, tireless work and planning, the people of Canthari tasted the first fruit of their labors. The brand new water mill now sat beside the stone bridge across the stream in the center of town. One by one, farmers brought baskets of wheat or agricultural produce to be ground down into flour, and Prospero and Olin patiently instructed each of them in its operation.

That night, the village held a celebration. A bonfire was built in the street near where the mill had been built. The villagers brought food and wine, and an entire community turned out to celebrate the creation of something exciting and new.

“This is a good first step,” Prospero said happily to Olin, who marveled at the work being saved every time he saw it. Even now, in the dark and the warm orange glow of the fire, he and Prospero stood appreciating the result of their hard work.

“I’ll say! Think of the time it will save,” Olin said fondly with a contented sigh, taking a sip from his cup of wine. “Time to spend making more things, growing more things. I daresay going hungry in winter shall be a thing of the past, if we keep this up!”

Prospero looked troubled by Olin’s words. “Starving? Truly?”

“Certainly. That much is true just about everywhere,” Olin said, as if it were only natural. “The fields lay fallow after harvest, and its too cold to grow anything. Game animals starve or wander to warmer climes in search of food, making game meat a scarce luxury. That’s to say nothing of lordly policies against hunting.”

“They prohibit hunting?”

“Aye. Game animals are meant to be the property of the lord of any given land, just like any other resource. Poaching is a serious crime.”

“So people starve instead,” Prospero said, indignant.

“They do,” Olin said regretfully. “You see what I meant now, the other day, when I said I was not as kind as you made me out to be. As a soldier, I defended the interest of the same lords that keep back the wealth of the land for themselves, at the common man’s expense. Someone like you, who has power and uses it to help those without, that is the act of a good man.”

Prospero pursed his lips as he internalized what Olin had said. “Perhaps so. I aspire to goodness, at least. I think I am not wholly good.”

“I think no-one is wholly good,” Olin said with a laugh. “The gods, maybe.”

“Nope, definitely not the gods,” Prospero said with an incredulous laugh. “The greeks had the right of it, the gods are way worse.”

Olin laughed anxiously, eyeing Prospero with a look of concern. “You don’t seem very fond of the gods, Prospero, I’m surprised. I would have thought a sagely man would be more spiritual.”

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“Olin, you’re probably more spiritual than the gods are. The gods worship their technology and the allure of obscene wealth that most of them will never even have. It’s better to say they’re insane. And most problematically of all, I think the gods will wish you ill when they realize you exist. Your people were fortunate to escape their notice all this time.”

Olin lowered his voice and leaned nearer to Prospero. “Prospero, you speak as if… you are one of them.”

“Not exactly. Your gods created and control your world. I have no power to stop them directly. I can only choose to work with the good ones among them to save you from the bad ones among them.”

“Then you are more like an angel,” Olin said with a smile. “I’ve heard of such beings before. Champions and Heralds, come down to the world of man to deliver warnings and aid to spare mankind the chaos of divine warfare.”

Prospero stared at Olin with a blank expression for a while, before sighing. “That’s close enough actually, I guess. Just do me a favor and don’t run around telling people about that, will you? That’s the last thing I need.”

Olin chuckled and took another sip of his drink. “Your secret is safe with me, my friend. I’m only glad you happened upon us. I hope others can share in the change you bring soon.”

Prospero turned from the mill to stare into the bonfire. As it crackled and burned, he saw the silhouettes of the villagers dancing around it in their night of revelry. In that moment, he was moved to tears. Not only that anyone would say these things about him, but that so many lives would be depending on him, and the world would see it as a game.

Not if I have my say about it, he thought. I will show the world exactly what these beings are, and I will save them from the perils of chaos at the same time. Just you wait and see, Fourier. The gamers don’t stand a chance against me.

“Prospero!” Izra cheered, waddling over to stand beside them. The man was clearly already drunk. “My dear Prospero, excellent work, young man. I look forward to doing great things with you. With your help, Canthari shall stand out as an economic hub in the region. The merchants and tradesmen will flock to us to partake of our grand new inventions, and the taxes they pay will make me as wealthy as a Duke! Hah! What use have I for an army to conquer lands with, if I can enrich myself in a fief the size of a single village!”

Prospero had to conceal a laugh at the man. In his drunken state, he let his political machinations slip. Greedy as the motive was, Prospero still needed Izra for his wealth. So he let the admission pass as if it were nothing. He allowed himself a laugh; a haughty, diplomatic laugh. “To see the value of these projects, and to invest so readily in them, means that you are a truly clever politician, Master Eurytus. If I had come to offer my services to a ruler of lesser caliber, they would not have been able to put two and two together on their own. I am most pleased to be in your service.”

Izra laughed and patted Prospero on his back. “Good! Good! Haha, Prospero, you truly understand me. I have never had the fortune of a great and wise minister. Even the officials at court could not understand my talent, and so they sent me to administer this tiny village. Ah, your words are as refreshing as spring rain. They make me very happy.”

Prospero had to bow his head quickly to hide his smirk. “I aim to please, Master Eurytus. Soon, you will be promoted to a higher station, I am sure of it.”

Izra harrumphed and splashed some of his wine into the bonfire, causing it to flare. “Bah, if only! I’ve been here for decades. Those stuffy scholars, they’ve pushed most of the nobility further and further away from the true halls of power. Only the dukes even pretend to cling to authority anymore. No, in truth it is the ministers and the King’s military officials who will rule the kingdom, when finally the real chaos erupts.”

Prospero was stunned by Izra’s drunken words. Up to this point, the man had only seemed pompous and arrogant. But now, even though he was slurring and stumbling and spilling his drink, he was showing a true understanding of the socio-political landscape of Vallon. Maybe he actually was a talented minister, just an unmotivated and greedy one.

“I see,” Prospero said. “Thank you for enlightening me, Master Eurytus. Though I am well-learned in technology and the ways of the world, I know little about the current affairs of court and state. If you would deign to share your thoughts with me, I would benefit greatly from your edification. Perhaps I could help you to maneuver yourself into a higher position?”

Izra hummed loudly and worked himself into a nod as he considered the offer. “Yes, yes, we should do that. Let’s say, from tomorrow! In the mornings, before your work with Olin begins, we shall take our morning meals together and I will teach you what you wish to know of Vallon’s politics.”

“I eagerly look forward to the opportunity. Thank you, Master Eurytus.”

“Naturally,” he said. And then, he stumbled away in the direction of his home.

Olin chuckled and put a hand on Prospero’s shoulder. “Nicely done, Master Mage. It only took you a week, and you’ve befriended one of the most insufferable men in the world. Ingratiate yourself well and learn all you can. In winter, he will travel to visit the Duke as he does each year. If he were to require your counsel for such an important political affair by that time, and to trust you implicitly with his goals of aiming to higher station, then he would certainly bring you along and make the introduction. That will be your chance to meet a worthy master, and begin making strides to benefit the whole of the Duchy. Then, the rest of the Kingdom will have no choice but to follow suit.”

Prospero looked back at the dying fire now, watching the wood crumble into embers. This time, he had a smile on his face. “It is an excellent plan. Perhaps you too are an able minister, Olin. If you had only been born wealthier.”

Olin waved the compliment away. “Bah, no. Just because I can see how their games are played, doesn’t mean I want anything to do with them. I’ve done enough unscrupulous deeds in my life. All I aspire to now is to do right by my wife and daughter, and give them a happy and fulfilling life.”

Prospero nodded and set a hand on Olin’s shoulder. “I’m telling you, Olin, you’re a wiser, kinder man than just about anyone I know. Past be damned.”