Corvin trudged through the dense forest, the fading light casting eerie shadows around him. His clothes were torn, his face grimy and twisted in anger. The once-proud beast tamer now looked like a broken man, driven by thoughts of vengeance. As he moved, he muttered to himself, lost in his rage.
"They think they've beaten me?" he grumbled, his voice echoing through the trees. "They've only seen the beginning. I'll return with a force they can't even imagine. That prick Valentinus, that pretty fox beastkin, that insolent brat Remy, and even that other kid… I'll tear them apart one by one. They'll all pay for what they've done."
The sun continued to dip below the horizon, and the forest darkened rapidly. Corvin's pace quickened as he noticed the encroaching darkness. His bravado began to wane, replaced by a growing sense of unease. His earlier confidence crumbled as he became aware of the growing shadows and the sounds of the forest.
Rustling leaves and distant snaps of twigs heightened his senses. Corvin's eyes darted around, trying to locate the source of the noises. "Who's there? Show yourselves!" he demanded, gripping his blade tightly. His voice was edged with a mixture of bravado and anxiety.
The forest seemed to close in on him, and he could feel the tension rising. The noises grew louder, more frequent. Corvin's hand tightened around the hilt of his blade, preparing for a confrontation. "Am I hearing things? Damn it, focus!" he muttered to himself, trying to steady his nerves.
Suddenly, figures emerged from the shadows—the same two beastkin he had once controlled. Their eyes were hard, their expressions determined. Corvin recognized them immediately, but his arrogance remained. He tried to project confidence despite the sinking realization of his situation.
"So, you've come to get your revenge, huh?" Corvin's voice was a mix of challenge and uncertainty. "You think you're so brave, coming after me like this? Well, come on then, bring it on! I can still take you!"
The beastkin slaves advanced without hesitation, their resolve unshaken by Corvin's bravado. His attempts at intimidation started to falter as he noticed their determination. "Wait, listen. My beast tamer magic might not work on you two anymore, but don't forget it still works on others. I can offer you anything you want—land, women, power, control. You can be my right-hand men, ruling beside me. Think about it! With my power, we could have it all!"
The beastkin slaves shook their heads, unmoved by Corvin's offers. "We don't want your offers, Corvin," one of them replied, his voice cold. "Your poor attempts at winning us over mean nothing. You've tormented us for too long."
As the slaves closed in, Corvin's arrogance gave way to desperation. His fighting skills were evident, but his strength was waning. The beastkin, although not equal to him in strength, overwhelmed him with their sheer determination. His attempts to fight and negotiate became increasingly futile.
The scene grew tense as Corvin's desperate pleas and futile struggles were met with the cold resolve of the beastkin. The grim reality of Corvin's situation became evident as the scene faded into darkness.
Meanwhile, outside Mira and Keir's home, the sun was setting, casting a warm, golden hue over the area. The discussion about Remy had concluded, and the group was shifting focus to broader topics. Valentinus, still processing the earlier conversation, addressed Keir.
"Alright, it's settled then," Valentinus said. "I'll be taking the child in myself, as I don't want to impede on your lifestyle."
Keir nodded, ready to move on to the next topic. "So, you wanted to continue our talk?"
Valentinus acknowledged the need for further discussion. "Oh, right. Well yes, basically I wanted to pick your brain about how you planned on influencing those around you and see if I could assist you in any way."
Keir grinned, his enthusiasm evident. "Changing people's mindsets and way of life won't be easy. I think the key is to make their lives easier. If people don't feel like they're constantly fighting for survival, they might be more open to accepting new ideas."
Valentinus raised an eyebrow, still trying to process how such a young mind could be so wise. "That makes sense. But how exactly do you plan on accomplishing this?" he asked.
Keir's excitement grew as he explained. "I've got plenty of ideas—"
Before Keir could finish his sentence, Mira interjected with a sense of urgency. "I think addressing the fact that Corvin will likely return is more urgent. We need to prepare for that threat."
Valentinus nodded in agreement. "Hmmm… I suppose you're right. We should focus on preparing for Corvin's return."
Keir, however, suggested a different approach. "Actually, I think we can handle both issues at once."
Both Mira and Valentinus looked at Keir. "What do you mean?" Mira asked, confused.
"Well, improving the village's safety is part of making the villagers' lives better, right?" Keir said with a childish snicker.
He then began to explain, "I've had this idea in my mind for a while now, and I think we could really benefit from building a border around the village!"
Everyone looked at Keir in confusion; they didn't even have the slightest idea what he was talking about.
"Here, it would be better if I showed you!" he said as he grabbed a stick off the ground and started drawing a rough diagram on the ground.
"A border wall could protect the village and provide a sense of security. It's not just about defense; it also makes the villagers feel safer, which can help with changing their mindset."
Valentinus and Mira looked at the drawing with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "While the idea sounds great, is something like that even possible?" Valentinus asked. "How do you plan to build it?"
Keir acknowledged the complexity of the task. "That's a good question. I've been thinking about it, too. With my barriers and your abilities, Valentinus, plus gathering the necessary materials, I'm confident it can be done. We can work out the specifics later."
Remy, who had been listening quietly, asked a practical question. "So, in that thing you drew on the ground, the river seems to be outside the walls. How will people get water without having to leave the safety of the village?"
Mira nodded, appreciating the attention to detail. "Good question, Remy. It's an important detail to consider."
Keir's face lit up with a solution. "I've already thought about that, too." He then looked at Mira and explained, "Mira and I have been using water slimes to collect and store fresh water so that we didn't have to travel to the river constantly." Mira began to catch on to what Keir was talking about and nodded. "So in a similar way, we'll use water slimes and dig trenches to bring water into the village. Essentially, we will create a man-made river that flows through the village, so people won't have to leave the safety of the walls to get water."
Valentinus's interest grew as he listened to Keir's plan. "I must admit, I'm quite impressed. Your ideas are unique. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how this all turns out."
Keir smiled and said, "I guess the first thing to do would be to start gathering the materials needed." As they discussed the material gathering and living arrangements, Valentinus suggested relocating closer to the village. "It might be best if I move closer to the village. That way, we can coordinate better and get things moving more quickly."
Keir agreed and proposed building homes using forest materials. "That's a good idea. We can use the materials from the forest to build you and Remy a sturdy home. It's a concept I've been thinking about."
Mira's reaction was a mix of surprise and mild frustration. "Seriously, Keir? Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?!" she said as she gave him a playful punch on the head.
Keir, slightly surprised but amused, responded with a grin. "Hey, better late than never! We'll get it all sorted out soon."
Valentinus expressed his appreciation for the plan. "I'm glad to see the plan coming together. We should rest tonight and get this process started first thing in the morning."