Lynna walked up to the mayor's office,feeling burdened by what happened last night and her recent choice. She braced herself for the usual disarray of … but upon entering, she found the space transformed. Where once there was clutter and disarray, order now reigned.
The once messy office was now neatly organized; books were lined up on shelves and important papers were stacked or filed properly. The desk, once a hoarder's delight with open bottles and random jewels, now gleamed with purpose. It bore the tools of governance—ink pots and quills neatly arranged, alongside carefully folded maps and documents.
The mayor acknowledged Lynna with a nod, gesturing to the seat across from him. "Tell me about your findings," he began, his tone indicating that he sought more than just a recount of events.
As Lynna reported, the Mayor listened intently, occasionally stroking his neatly trimmed beard. When the account came to the part about pardoning the tinker family, he raised an eyebrow. "And what does Lady Elara think of this?" he asked, his gaze shifting to where Lady Elara stood. It was clear she had been talking closely with the Mayor before Lynna came.
Elara, who had been observing from the corner of the room, spoke up, her voice a melodic contrast to the room's austere ambiance. "I approve. There might be more cult-like actions in these difficult times, but they're not always worrying. It is exceedingly difficult to attract the attention of a god, and such small-scale rituals rarely do. If you're sure they won't be doing it again, this seems appropriate."
The conversation paused as Miss Decker quietly entered, setting a tray of tea on the table before making an elegant exit. The steam from the cups momentarily drew their attention away from the weighty matters at hand.
Once the tea had been poured and she had left, the Mayor resumed the conversation. "Lady Elara, about the various conditions you asked for, concerning the promotion of our village to a town..."
"Yes, Mayor," Elara interjected smoothly. "Build a church to Tenor. Give your people a haven other than Steia. Perhaps if they had such sanctuary, they would not turn to clandestine gatherings in the forest."
The Mayor rubbed his chin thoughtfully, picturing the edifice at the end of the market street. "That should not be a problem."
Elara's gaze settled on Lynna, warm and conspiring. In contrast, Lynna sat rigid, her eyes betraying a flicker of suspicion. What does she want from me? Lynna mused, wary of what was coming next.
"And an official militia to aid Lynna," Elara continued, "She should not bear the village's safety alone."
"Of course, I know some lads who could serve well," the Mayor agreed eagerly, while Lynna's protest went unheard, lost amidst the visions of progress and prosperity.
Continuing the discussion, Elara presented another requirement: "Also, when you become a town, you can't keep calling this place Twin-Forest Village. I propose Soluriel as your future town name. It bears the legacy of a hero from the annals of Valorian history. Soluriel was a guardian whose valor once saved our kingdom from unraveling into chaos. I hope by adopting it, this town will not only honor a storied past but also herald a future of strength and resilience."
The Mayor's eyes sparkled at the name, the future bright and promising in his mind.
Amidst the plans for growth and improvement, Lynna got lost in her thoughts. Coming back to the village, to her parents and her roots, she had hoped to make a significant impact. At the Academy, her potential had been praised, and now the weight of reality pressed upon her. She pondered her life choices, the 'what-ifs' dancing in her mind like the leaves outside the window. Could she have done more with her life?
Yet as she listened to the Mayor's joyful proclamations and Elara's confident proposals, Lynna felt a glimmer of pride. Despite her doubts, this was her home, and these were her people. And perhaps, in helping to transform this village into the town of Soluriel, she would indeed matter as she had always wished.