Dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold as Arvind's sword sliced through the morning air. A rhythmic whoosh-whoosh echoed through the courtyard, followed by the sharp clang of metal on metal.
His movements were fluid, each strike precise. A blur of steel, his sword danced in the early light, leaving behind ghostly afterimages. With every swing, his breath grew heavier, his muscles straining. Yet, his determination remained unwavering.
A Few Hours Later
Sweat beaded on Arvind's forehead as he leaned against the weathered stone wall, catching his breath. A wide grin spread across his face, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. He had a hunch that the junior knight level was not far off. With that thought, he opened the system panel.
**System Panel**
- Strength: 9/10
His eyes, narrowed against the holographic display's blue glow, scanned the word "strength." A surge of excitement coursed through him as he recognized the familiar power.
He closed his eyes, letting his mind wander. A future unfurled, a future where he stood tall, a beacon of hope and security. He envisioned himself leading his people, inspiring them to face adversity with unwavering courage.
He shook off the vision, his heart still pounding. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves," he muttered, grounding himself in the present. The lingering scent of sweat clung to him as he stepped out of the courtyard, sword in hand. The future, with all its promise and peril, would have to wait.
After a quick bath, Arvind wrapped himself in a plain, soft robe. As the chill of the morning breeze touched his body, his sore muscles began to relax. Wrapping the robe tightly around himself, a sense of tranquility washed over him. The warmth of the fabric soothed his tired body, and a contented sigh escaped his lips. He felt invigorated, his mind clear and focused.
As his mind cleared, he remembered that he had not yet converted the razorback core into magical crystals (system currency). With that thought, he rang the bell. Shortly, a knock broke the tranquility. "Come in," Arvind shouted.
The male servant approached with a low posture and respectfully said, "My lord, how may I help you?"
Arvind, leaning on his chair, said, "Ask Shankar for the key to the storage room and bring the razorback core."
The male servant replied respectfully, "As you command, my lord." He bowed and left.
A Few Minutes Later,
"As per your instruction, I have brought the razorback core," the servant said, sweat appearing on his forehead.
"You can go now," Arvind said.
Arvind summoned the system with a thought, and a blue display materialized before him. With a mental click, he selected the option labeled "Magic Crystals Conversion."
Arvind approached the oak table where a faint, translucent blue circle materialized—a holographic interface that seemed to bloom from the very air, its edges flickering with intricate elemental runes.
The three Razorback cores lay before him: the level 2 core, a deep sapphire blue roughly the size of a small apple; the level 1 core, a lighter azure no larger than a walnut; and the level 0 core, a tiny, almost translucent sphere no bigger than a marble.
With deliberate movements, he placed the level 2 core into the center of the holographic circle. Instantly, the interface responded. Microscopic fractals of earth-toned energy began to unravel from the core, like fine threads being pulled apart by invisible hands. The blue essence slowly separated, transforming into pure elemental energy that danced across the holographic interface.
A panel materialized to the right, displaying:
```
CORE CONVERSION PROGRESS
---------------------
Source: Razorback Grazer (Earth Elemental)
Level: 2
Purity: 97.3%
ELEMENTAL ENERGY BREAKDOWN
--------------------------
Earth Energy: 763 units
Conversion Rate: 99.2%
Magic Crystal Generation: 45 units
REMAINING RESIDUE
-----------------
Elemental Ash: 2.8g
Biological Remnants: Trace
```
The core continued to dissolve, its blue essence becoming increasingly transparent. Where it once sat, only a fine, gray ash remained—devoid of any magical signature. The holographic interface pulsed subtly, the elemental energy being seamlessly absorbed into what appeared to be a reservoir of swirling, translucent energy.
A soft chime—more a sensation than a sound—indicated the conversion was complete. A new option appeared on the interface:
```
[CONVERT TO MAGIC CRYSTALS]
[Magic Crystals: 68]
[Conversion History: Level 2: 45, Level 1: 15, Level 0: 8]
[STORE]
```
Arvind's mind hovered over the store options, the potential of the newly converted energy reflecting in his calculating eyes. The holographic interface shifted, revealing two primary sections: Resources and Knowledge. Arvind selected the Resources tab first, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the available items.
The Magic Awareness Seed caught his attention immediately. The description hovered in crisp, translucent text:
```
MAGIC AWARENESS SEED
--------------------
Price: 250 Magic Crystals
Effect: Subtly amplifies magical energy perception
Enhances environmental attunement
Foundational magical talent development
```
"Barely enough for the scraps," Arvind muttered, frustration evident in his voice. He knew the potential of such an item—a critical tool for someone at his level, something that could fundamentally change his magical perception. Yet the price felt prohibitively high.
His mood shifted when he scrolled to the agricultural section. High-Yield Crop Packages appeared, and a small smile crossed his face.
```
HIGH-YIELD WHEAT SEED PACKAGE
-----------------------------
Price: 15 Magic Crystals
Contents: 3 bags of specialized wheat seeds
Guaranteed 40% increased crop productivity
Enhanced drought and pest resistance
```
"This one is not ridiculous," he murmured, quickly purchasing three bags. The system acknowledged the transaction with a subtle pulse of energy.
```
[Remaining Magic Crystals: 53]
```
Turning to the Knowledge section, he first noticed Foundational Agriculture—a comprehensive guide covering crop rotation, composting, and irrigation techniques. Practical, useful information that aligned perfectly with his baronial responsibilities.
But another entry caught his eye, causing him to mutter a frustrated, "Damn it."
```
MAGIC SENSORY BASICS
--------------------
Price: 120 Magic Crystals
Passive Skill: Faint magical resource detection
Identifies magical herbs, energy flows
Preliminary magical resource awareness
```
The Magic Sensory Basics skill taunted him—another potentially transformative ability, locked behind a crystal paywall. He could feel the potential, the way it could revolutionize his understanding of magical resources, but the price remained out of reach.
Arvind closed the knowledge section, his attention returning to the converted elemental core. The magic crystals generated from the Razorback core glimmered softly—a reminder of the system's potential and his own current limitations.
His thoughts quickly shifted to the Warcraft forest, the perfect place to gather more magic crystals. He murmured to himself, "Anyway, they are our current enemy; don't blame me." No political restriction or external limitation would prevent him from accessing the system's potential.
His mind returned to reality, and he noticed three large sacks of wheat seed, a smile spreading across his face. The knight training reform had been assigned to Aldric. He recalled Aldric's dark expression, but he had comforted him—there was no need to hurry the reform. A sense of relief washed over him, mixed with a pang of guilt. Slowing down the reform was in his interest; a faster pace could overburden his already strained resources.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. "Come in," Arvind responded.
"My lord, your breakfast is ready," Anika said.
"Hm."
"Ask the servants to take these sacks to Shankar so he can distribute them to the farmers," Arvind instructed.
Anika nodded, her curiosity piqued as she glanced at the sacks.
Arvind then rose and went to the dining hall. The table was laden with dishes made from razorback meat, bread, stew, and ale. The air was thick with the intoxicating scent of roasted flesh, a heady aroma that hinted at the beast's magical nature. It was a feast fit for a king, or perhaps a count.
As he ate, he savored the rich and delicious taste of the meat. "Pity my previous self. Only the beast's meat that is delicious is worth it for me, despite the plain cooking," he thought.
He drank a cup of ale, his mind wandering to the spices of his past life. "I should bring Indian cooking techniques here, as I feel sick of the plain cooking style." He mused about whether the fusion of Indian and local flavors would create a culinary masterpiece. The idea amused him, and he was eager to see the results.
---
At the Study
Morning sunlight filtered through the study's dusty windows, casting long shadows across ledgers and wheat harvest data. Shankar stood with the practiced posture of a lifetime of service, his weathered hands smoothing the report's edges—a gesture both precise and protective.
"The harvest is good," Shankar began, his voice carrying the weight of years of experience. "But our resources remain stretched thin. The knights' training demands have been... considerable."
Arvind's young face creased with concentration as he studied the parchment paper. The weight of Ravengarde's legacy bore down upon him, a heavy mantle that seemed to age him beyond his years.
"The serfs," Arvind said quietly, "they'll need extra consideration." It wasn't a question, but a statement of principle. His finger traced the data showing the most vulnerable serfs' allocations.
Shankar's subtle frown spoke volumes. They both understood the delicate balance between survival and sustainability. The knight training program, Arvind's bold initiative, had strained the bar
"We'll increase the serfs' share by an additional ten percent," Arvind decided. "And I also need to recruit more workers. The castle repairs have to speed up, and we cannot let our defenses falter."
His mind worked through the calculations—the wheat harvest, the knight training, the castle's restoration.
Each decision was a careful negotiation between immediate survival and long-term vision. "Leave 50% to the castle and distribute the other 50% to the farmers," Arvind finally decided. As you know, most nobles distribute their share with an 80:20 ratio—80 for the lord and 20 for the farmers.
"Bold plans," Shankar murmured, a hint of both pride and concern in his voice. "You think like a true baron, young master. But boldness must be tempered with wisdom."
Arvind's jaw clenched, frustration gnawing at him. His eyes, a stormy gray, flickered toward Shankar, seeking the older man's guidance. The weight of leadership, a heavy burden, pressed down on his young shoulders.
"No one will starve," he said firmly. "Not while I'm responsible."
Minute later,
As tranquility returned to the study, Arvind sat comfortably, listening to the noise of workers outside. He decided to visit the site.
Walking along the stone path, he observed the workers diligently repairing the northern collapsed wall. It was only ten percent finished, which caused Arvind's face to darken as he considered the shortage of skilled and numerous workers.
Meanwhile, a foreman mason noticed Arvind's expression and approached him. "My lord, as you can see, we are not lazy and are working hard to complete the wall repair."
Arvind shifted his gaze from the wall to the foreman and said, "So you mean that you need more workers."
"Yes, my lord, especially masons if you can," the foreman mason replied.
"I have instructed Shankar. What have you completed? Don't tell me that in three months, you only made this much progress," Arvind said, his hand behind his back, pointing to the wall.
"No, my lord, look at the servants' quarters. Do you see any fresh mortar or new tiles on the roof?" the foreman said, his hand trembling.
"Yes, but I can only see so far," Arvind replied with skepticism.
"But that is the sign, right? And we have also reinforced the cellar beams," the foreman mason said.
Arvind interrupted as he saw Bramir approaching, "You better not cheat. I will reward you if you complete it faster."
The foreman mason's hand shook in excitement as he left.
Arvind turned to Bramir with a faint smile, "What brings you here?"
Bramir, his hands shaking in excitement, replied, "My lord, I found an old man with knowledge of magical fauna. I think he can help us address the magical bird problem."
Arvind raised his eyebrows, "Oh! Let's meet him then." He wondered if the old man was a liar or truly knowledgeable. But he had already agreed, so there was no harm in finding out.
The trio—Arvind, Anika, and Bramir—took carriages to Ashford.
---
The image of Ashford began to appear in the distance as the carriages traveled. Anika gazed out at the passing scenery, noticing the half-completed wall filled with workers busy as bees. The wall stood approximately 12 feet high and 4 feet at the base, made of a combination of stone and timber.
Anika excitedly pointed her white finger in the direction of the wall. "My lord, the wall! The wall!"
Arvind's pupils dilated as he heard her shout and followed her finger. The wall stood high and majestic despite incomplete, casting long shadows in the morning light. His heart swelled with relief, a burden lifted knowing that progress was being made. His breath steadied, and a newfound determination flared within him.
He clenched his hand tightly, feeling the rough leather of his glove bite into his palm. The sensation grounded him, a physical reminder of the responsibility he bore. He took a deep breath, his chest rising with renewed resolve, as he envisioned the wall standing as a testament to their resilience and hard work.
As they entered the town, Arvind saw the newly constructed toilets made of wood and bamboo. A satisfied smile appeared on his face. He muttered silently, "I won't have to worry about town hygiene now, and we can get fertilizer. Killing two birds with one stone," he chuckled to himself like a child getting his candy.
A few minutes later, as the carriage creaked along the clean street, they saw an old man waiting by the side of the road. He had a lean build, giving an impression of frailty but with hidden strength from years of experience and wisdom. His posture was slightly hunched from age, his deep-set eyes seemed to pierce through one's soul, and his calm, thoughtful demeanor exuded wisdom and pragmatism.
Once the carriage reached the old man, Bramir got up and invited him to enter. Arvind's eyes widened with curiosity as the old man entered the carriage. "He doesn't look like he's acting," he murmured.
"Hello, what is your name? And how can you help us?" Arvind asked with a smile.
The old man replied gently, "People call me Erik, young man. Slow down, let me get comfortable first."
Arvind raised his eyebrows, his eyes widening at Erik's frail figure. He curled his lip and murmured, "Interesting," as this was his first time seeing someone address a noble like this.
To Be Continued...