It was an afternoon a week after the Andrea and her knights had arrived. She was given a break from the outdoor spars this week by her maid so she could recover from the painful sunburn she had developed. It had been a hard won break. Grizt had not been very keen on the idea, but she relented once Karita had sat down to talk to her about it. She still had was forced into what Grizt called a light spar at night after her physical training. It was all very much a tiring.
Grace took a sip of tea before letting out a sigh. Speaking of Karita, she was getting along better with the goblins after finally learning their form of meditation. In fact, Oaguz said they'd be actually going over some lessons on the matter. As far as she could tell, Karita was actually becoming even a little respectful.
Unfortunately, that brings up another matter entirely. She had hoped that Andrea had finally accepted Grizt as something more than a lesser creature and slave. Unfortunately, her decision to honor the fight seemed to be more of a matter of personal pride. If anything, she had become far more strict in her dealings with the goblins. For instance, she had put her foot down and started running them through some of the more official protocols for servants. She had at the very least expanded their basic Aelunia cooking repertoire. She had also gone over some other basics. She had taken it upon herself to supervise them during their work and going over basic mistakes. She seemed to be very dedicated to insuring Grace received the best care possible. Honestly, she wished the woman would get along with the goblins. Grace hated the feeling of hostility around her.
As for the other knights. They seemed to more or less keep to themselves. She rarely ever saw them unless they were on guard duty. They were not very sociable at all.
In any case, Grace, Karita, and Andrea were holding a meeting in the manor's study. The reason for this little meeting was about the situation that they were all here for in the first place. It was actually Grace who noticed it the previous day when she had some free time in the afternoon. They had been so busy with these small side projects that they forgot they never came up with a proper plan for the town restoration project. Now here they were having a talk about it.
"I still fail to see how you cavorting around with the blue haired goblin can help you," Andrea remarked to Karita after she stated that her studies with the goblin was for a research project.
"It's very simple! If I can learn and adapt her people's magic to our own, we can finally achieve even greater feats than ever before since they actually have a way to bypass one of the major restrictions we currently face in modern magic!" Karita tried to explain. It was clear in Grace's opinion that the knight hadn't quite understood it.
"All I'm saying is I doubt it. Look, those creatures probably are lying about it. After all if they are so capable, why are they not as advanced as we are? The fact is that they are savages and likely making up things up," Andrea suggested as she belittled the goblins," I mean look at them. It's been a week and they are still making mistakes that anyone else can catch."
"Andrea, please be more civil about them," Grace requested yet again," They aren't savages. They just have a different way of life in their lands than we do."
"It's possible that there is a mitigating factor that is slowing or restricting their progress," Karita added her own opinion on the matter," After all, I am getting results from the meditation."
The caused Grace to perk up," Oh, you mean that you can already sense the spirits they're talking about?"
To this, Karita shook her head as she reached for a cookie," No, I can't say I have. However, I am noticing a better refinement of my magical control. It also helps me think more clearly."
"My, that sounds good!" Grace was happy to hear that there were already sign of improvement from the goblin training.
Andrea snorted at this and shook her head," I doubt it. If you ask me, it sounds like it's all in your head. You're only fooling yourself."
"That's quite the insult to my character you know. I do have pride as a mage!" Karita exclaimed in annoyance.
"I might apologize if it weren't for the fact you're not a mage and can be held responsible for the Princess's current exile," Andrea rudely retorted.
"You-!"
"STOP THIS NOW!" Grace commanded as she rose and slammed her hands down upon the table they sat at in the study," We are here to work out what to do about the area here. We are not here to bicker!"
Karita relaxed a little and nodded to Grace. As for Andrea, she looked away sullenly as if considering something. Grace could have sworn she muttered something, but then the knight placed her attention on her charge before nodding in assent.
"Ok, well then. I don't know much about ruling over people. I have always served," Andrea pointed out as everyone settled down from the previously heated line of conversation.
"Well, I was just thinking you might think of something that could help us. Another perspective never hurts," Grace answered .
Karita then cleared her throat," Well, I can say for certain that I haven't the faintest idea on what to do either. Without the resources for a proper survey and the area's history with the Lost Range, I doubt we'll be getting much help as things are."
"Well, I think we might have to look into investors, but there's the issue of attracting their attention. Maybe if we could find something on our own?" The princess suggested as she settled back into her seat.
"Absolutely not!" Andrea cut in," I know about the personnel requirements for such a job. Especially in a place of danger like the Lost Range. You aid would have to have help. Help that would have to be taken away from your direct service here and we can't spare such at this time."
"But if we maybe got some local volunteers?" Grace tried to hold on to the idea.
Sadly, it was Karita that would shoot this down," Not likely, I have taken a look at the village. The place is on its last legs. There are only a few families left here and even they seemed to have lost hope in this place recovering. If anything, I'd give them less than a decade before this area becomes fully abandoned at the rate of things if even half that."
Grace looked down at the table sadly as she thought about this. They had to come up with something. ~You're focusing too hard on it. Listen to me and take a breath to calm yourself.~
Grace could feel the corner of her lips raise slightly at the words of her friend. Jade had been around less lately. It was starting to worry her, but each time Jade simply reassured her that everything would be fine. Regardless, she followed the instructions and took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. She considered it from a different perspective. She stopped considering what they didn't have and started to assess what they had. She had a few disheartened families who owned declining farms. None of the crops they could grow here couldn't be provided by a more successful community elsewhere. She might have to meet with them to get a better handle on the situation.
She had a group of knights who could help with some of the things they needed. The problem was the the women were by and large uncooperative with her. The seem to only care about each other and listening to Andrea's orders. She doubted she could depend on them regardless. Though she had no doubts about Andrea. She was certain that, if the woman could let go of her prejudices, she'd become quite helpful. As it stood, she just seemed to be more interested in basic and, if Grace was being honest, petty things.
She also had Karita, her magical aid. She was honestly trying, but her focus was more on magic than on other areas of importance. It was good that she was starting to open up more and get along with the maids. Grace was certain that if anyone could be counted upon among the human residents of the manor that Karita was earning that distinction in Grace's opinion.
The other resources they had were herself, which Andrea was certain to argue against, Jade, who was missing more and more of late and no other human knew the truth regarding her, and the goblins. It was at this last bit that she considered something. They had their own ways about things and they could help. They were already training and teaching two of them. Not only that, they were a group that seemed to be dependable together. Sure they had a tendency to cause trouble when out of their areas of experience and knowledge.
Now that she thought about it, she realized that they did have a group of dependable people to send on a small expedition. Even better, it might give Andrea some time to cool down a little without the goblins being everywhere. Maybe even help her appreciate them when the work they usually do goes undone for a bit. Not to mention how success might help her opinion of them as well.
Grace had been in silent thought for a bit before she finally looked up at the others. She had her plan put together. As such, she opened her mouth to share her decision.