Kellan and his fellow knights rode into Arkhaven under a sky heavy with dark clouds. Despite the victory they had secured, the town was subdued, its streets filled with an eerie silence. There were no cheers to greet the returning soldiers, no banners waving in celebration. Instead, the air was thick with grief and sorrow. The knights, battle-worn and weary, dismounted quietly, their faces reflecting the heavy burden they carried.
As they passed through the town, Kellan saw the families of the fallen soldiers waiting anxiously. Some held their breath, hoping to see their loved ones among the returning troops. Others clutched their palms, their eyes already brimming with tears as they learned of the fates of their sons, brothers, and fathers. The news of the deceased spread quickly, and soon the town was filled with the heart-wrenching cries of those who had lost someone dear.
The final battle had claimed over seven and half thousand lives, most of them from the northern regions of Fort Arkhaven and Bluehaven or its surroundings. The loss was palpable, a weight that pressed down on everyone, making the victory feel hollow. For the people of Arkhaven, the cost of the war was too high to celebrate. Instead, they mourned, their grief hanging over the town like a dark cloud.
The reward ceremony, once planned to be a grand affair, was carried out in a somber, subdued manner. The soldiers gathered in the town square, where Lord Arlyn and his council quietly distributed the rewards. There were no loud proclamations or applause, only the soft rustle of parchment and the clinking of coins as they were handed out. Some received silver coins, others gold, and a few were awarded titles for their exceptional service. The knights who had been instrumental in the discovery of Ashvatha were granted land as a token of their contribution.
Kellan stood among them, his thoughts a mixture of pride and sorrow. He had come a long way from being a tenant farmer's son to a knight and now a landowner. The recognition was gratifying, but the weight of the losses they had suffered tempered any sense of triumph. When his name was called, he stepped forward to receive his reward—an estate of his own.
With the deed in hand, Kellan made his way to the land administration office. The mood in the office was somber, the usual bureaucratic chatter subdued in the wake of the town's grief. The Land Magistrate, an older man with deep lines etched into his face, looked up from his desk as Kellan approached.
"You're here to claim your land, I see," the Magistrate said, his voice gruff but not unkind. He took the deed from Kellan and unrolled a large map of the northern borders of Alanor on the table between them. The map was marked with several dark spots, each representing land without a current lord.
"You've been awarded 1,000 acres of land," the Magistrate continued, his finger tracing the outline of the northern region. "These dark spots are available. Do you have a preference, or shall I assign you one?"
Kellan stared at the map, his mind racing. Each spot represented a new beginning, but it also reminded him of everything he had lost. He hesitated, the memory of Emberfall, his home village, coming to the forefront of his mind. It had been razed to the ground by Galdor's forces, and the thought of rebuilding it, of making something new out of the ashes, filled him with a sense of purpose.
"Is there any land near Emberfall?" Kellan asked after a moment, his voice steady but laced with emotion.
The Magistrate looked up, surprised by the request. "Emberfall?" he echoed, his brow furrowing. "That area is mostly mountainous and was heavily damaged during the war. Few have shown interest in it." He paused, studying Kellan's face. "Why do you ask?"
Kellan took a deep breath before speaking. "It's where I was born. It's where my family lived, where my mother…" He trailed off, the pain of her loss still fresh. "I want to rebuild it. To honor their memory."
The Magistrate nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. "Very well," he said, his voice gentler now. He pointed to a dark spot on the map, nestled among the mountains. "The land around Emberfall is still available. It's yours." The magistrate signed the deed and wrote something before giving it back to Kellan.
Kellan looked at the map, his eyes tracing the familiar contours of the land that had once been his home. The mountainous terrain was rugged and challenging, but it was also beautiful, with its cascading waterfalls and dense forests. He could see it in his mind's eye, the village rebuilt, the fields fertile once more. It would take time, effort, and no small amount of determination, but it was a challenge he was ready to face.
"Thank you," Kellan said, taking the deed from the Magistrate. He felt a surge of resolve, a sense of purpose that cut through the sorrow weighing on him. Emberfall would rise again, and in doing so, he would honor the memory of all those who had been lost.
As he left the administration office, the rain that had been threatening finally began to fall, soft and steady. Kellan stood in the town square for a moment, letting the cool droplets wash over him. He looked towards the distant mountains, where his new life awaited.