As days passed, Ravengarde experienced increasingly unstable weather patterns. Frequent storms and droughts plagued the land. Sudden heatwaves or cold snaps damaged the crops that farmers had planted.
Relentless wind currents made infrastructure development stagnant, leaving Aldric feeling helpless. What could he do? He could not scold the elements or the people suffering under their wrath.
Days turned into a blur of fatigue, headaches, and mild magical poisoning for both the townsfolk and Aldric. The crops continued to fail, and the once manageable magical beasts like the starflame and juvenile razorback grew more aggressive. The servants in charge of the pens struggled to maintain control, their efforts futile.
Even Arvind felt the influence of the active elemental energy, which gnawed at his fighting spirit. His patience wore thin, yet his sense of responsibility kept him grounded and determined to find a solution. Despite the oppressive weather, he and Anika ventured into the town to comfort the people, offering reassurance amidst the chaos.
With the assistance of Eldrin, the son of Bramir, Arvind gathered the townsfolk amidst the strong wind in the town square.
He clenched his fists and took deep breaths, trying not to show his anxiety, and spoke, "I know that everyone has lost hope in me to solve this crisis. Please believe in me one more time." He paused, staring at their tired faces, then continued, "Erik and I are working around the clock to find a solution. Don't worry, everything will return to normal."
Placing his hand over his heart, he said, "Let's pray to the God of Light to bless us in solving this crisis." The townsfolk followed him in prayer, their voices rippling through the windy town square. Among them, a serf whispered fervently, "Please, God of Light, help us." The collective desperation and hope in their prayers echoed through the air, creating a solemn yet powerful moment of unity.
As Arvind finished, he saw Aldric looking worriedly at him. He glanced at Anika and said, "I hope we solve this most challenging time of our lives."
Anika, with a smile of encouragement, replied, "My lord, I believe you will pass this challenge."
After a few minutes, he turned to the deserted square, mocking himself, 'I made a cruel miscalculation that led me and the townspeople to suffer.' He clenched his fist tightly and gripped the pendant his mother had left him, murmuring, 'I promise this is the last time. Never! Never again.'
After the speech, he and Anika returned to the castle, as the weather did not allow them to stay in Ashford. Exhausted not just physically but also mentally, he retreated to the courtyard, hoping the scenery would offer some clarity.
Standing at the edge of the serene pond, gazing lost in thought, he overheard the knights murmuring among themselves, discussing the potential collapse of both the magical and environmental stability. Their words stoked the flames of his logical mind, overcome by a feeling of helplessness.
Arvind's face contorted with rage, his eyes full of fury. He clenched his fists tightly and slammed his fist into the nearest wall, the impact echoing throughout the courtyard. Despite injuring himself, his mind remained clouded with irrationality.
A few minutes later, Anika found him nursing his injured hand. She hurried to get the medicine box and came back. Silently, she tended to his wound and applied the medicine, her heart heavy with concern as she looked at his frowning face.
She understood the immense pressure he was under. Her resolve hardened as she realized Arvind's mental state was deteriorating. Requesting access to the library, Arvind approved. Immersing herself in studies of ley lines and elemental resonance, sweat beaded on her forehead as she pieced together the implications of the disturbances. She murmured, 'How can the ley line disturbances be so powerful?'
Anika learned that ley lines are an interconnected network where active elemental energy flows throughout Atheron. If disturbed, the impact on the environment is devastating, such as an imbalance in the water element creating more rainfall. Initially, she didn't think that ley line disturbances had grave implications for Ravengarde. Anika clenched her fists as she muttered, 'He doesn't believe me.'
As night fell, both Arvind and Anika spent a restless night.
---
The next day, after training and breakfast, Arvind's patience had crumbled. His mind raced with thoughts, 'I have to see the progress myself.' He said to Anika with rage, "Let's check their progress."
While Erik was busy stabilizing the ley line with sweat dripping down his forehead, the task was more challenging than before. Bramir, with a grim expression, asked, "How is it? Can you solve it?"
Erik didn't respond to him.
Arvind and Anika hurried over. Seeing the two flustered men, Arvind's temper boiled over. "Enough excuses!" he shouted sharply. "I trusted you two, and look what happened! The people are losing faith, and so am I!" His words hit them like a hammer, leaving them visibly shaken. For twenty minutes, he vented his frustration, hurling a torrent of curses, his voice echoing through the field, even his saliva splattering on Bramir.
Turning to Erik, he locked eyes with him, fury burning within. "You priest, who only knows how to talk big, you are nothing. Look at what you've done! It was my biggest mistake to believe in you!" He turned away sharply, his back trembling. The weight of responsibility made him lose his composure at that moment, his heart feeling as if it were cut by a knife, remembering his misplaced faith.
Erik stood frozen, a mix of guilt and humiliation clear in his eyes. He clutched his staff, wanting to defend himself but knowing his mistake had led them here.
Bramir stepped forward, trying to bridge the gap. "My lord, Erik is not just talking. He is a man of skill, and the Church of Light's reputation is not just words." He glanced at Erik, then back to Arvind. "He just needs more time to solve this crisis."
Arvind's rational mind was clouded by anger. He needed someone to blame for the growing crisis.
Anika, sensing the tension, interjected with certainty. "My lord, I believe the source of the disturbance lies beyond this ley line node," she said, pointing at the glowing nodes.
Hearing her words, Erik's expression shifted. Realization dawned on him, his mistake now clear. He gazed at the ground, fists clenched in guilt.
Arvind's anger wavered, replaced by a glimmer of hope. "Oh, really? Can you clarify?"
Anika explained that the ley line node in the wheat field was connected to a larger node. The disturbances in the larger node influenced the imbalance in the nodes here. "Ley lines can be imagined as a river with its tributaries," she said.
Arvind turned to Erik, his voice stern. "What do you think? You better consider carefully. If another problem occurs, I will skin you alive to relieve my anger."
Erik, with shame, replied, "Young man, she is right. I am sorry. I initially thought that even if the disturbances did not originate from here, by repairing this node, the magic net could heal the disturbance by itself. But it seems the situation is worse than I expected."
Erik assumed that repairing the local disturbance would allow the magic net to naturally correct itself over time. This belief aligned with his understanding that the magic net acts as a regulator of active elemental energy, just like a king holds authority over nobles.
Arvind gritted his teeth. "What significance does your apology have now?"
Anika stepped in. "My lord, we should hurry to search for the nodes causing the disturbance. Time is of the essence."
Erik added, "Let me stabilize this node first, then we can go."
Once Erik finished, they returned to Ashford. They tied up the war horses and, with Aldric joining them, began their journey to search the nodes throughout Ravengarde.
With the weather temporarily stabilized by Erik's efforts, Arvind and his companions set out on a relentless quest, riding swiftly through the diverse terrains of Ravengarde. Their first destination was the western boundary, where Arvind feared a disturbance could mean conflict with the neighboring baronies.
As they approached the western region, Arvind couldn't help but express his admiration to Anika. "Anika, the forest is magnificent," he said, his pride in his territory evident. Inwardly, he marveled at the beauty and potential of Ravengarde.
Upon inspecting the node in the western forest, they discovered it had just begun to show signs of instability. With Erik's help, they managed to stabilize it.
Arvind stood alone for a moment, looking out towards the boundaries of the two baronies. "Ravengarde will be as prosperous as them," he murmured, closing his eyes and imagining a bustling road leading to Ashford, filled with merchants from both baronies.
Next, they turned northward, quickly reaching the rugged northern coastline with its rocky shores. Arvind's expression hardened as he noticed the murlocs had taken residence along the coast. Clenching his fist, he thought of the challenges ahead. Similar to the western region, they stabilized the node here, bringing a temporary calm to the coastline.
Their journey then took them east, towards the Warcraft Forest. The dense canopy of ancient trees created an awe-inspiring sight. The forest teemed with magical beasts, their presence both a danger and an advantage for Ravengarde.
Aldric gripped his sword as he looked at the sight ahead, prepared for any threat. Arvind, unable to contain his awe, muttered, "This may be a dangerous neighbor, but it's also one of Ravengarde's greatest advantages." To their relief, the node in the forest remained stable, with no signs of disturbance.
They turned their direction inward, heading towards the heart of Ravengarde. On their journey from the Warcraft Forest, they paused at a grand river originating from the forest. Arvind marveled at its magnificence and the resources it promised for Ravengarde. Clutching the pendant his mother had given him, he vowed to develop Ravengarde to its full potential.
As they crossed the river, they reached the central plains, a vast area rich in fertile land and river valleys. Arvind stood atop a valley, overlooking the two rivers—one from the Warcraft Forest and one from the south. He clenched his fist in determination. "This is the foundation that will supplement us with food," he declared, envisioning a future of agricultural abundance.
Their final destination was the southern part of Ravengarde, where tall mountains and rolling hills awaited. Crossing the lush hills, they noted the abundance of magical plants, envisioning the potential of the region.
As they traveled further into the hilly part, they saw a mountain. The mountain air shimmered with faint, unnatural colors—fluctuations of blue, green, and red—indicating uncontrolled elemental energy. Fissures ran through the mountainside, glowing faintly with energy, as if the mountain itself was struggling to contain the forces within.
Small geysers of steam or glowing mist escaped from these cracks, creating an eerie, otherworldly atmosphere. The sky above was unnaturally stormy, with sudden lightning strikes, heavy winds, and brief, localized rains.
As they approached, they saw broken spires, collapsed walls, and weathered statues scattered around the mountain's base and slopes. Some ruins bore intricate carvings of glyphs and symbols, remnants of an ancient civilization that once understood and perhaps manipulated the ley lines.
Their search for the main node had brought them full circle, revealing the beauty and challenges of Ravengarde. They had taken a total of thirteen days to reach here. Arvind's determination to stabilize and develop his territory grew stronger with each step, knowing that the future of Ravengarde depended on their success.
Meanwhile, as Arvind and his group reached the mountain, the ley line pressure originating from where they stood began to exert force in the western direction, as all the small nodes had been stabilized in Ravengarde. Active elemental energy was like water that creates pressure. The disturbances spread to the two baronies, influencing the ley lines there and causing the weather to begin changing as a result.
---
Baron Eladrian stopped from his study, staring at the clouds. His face showed confusion, and he couldn't believe what he saw. He turned to his personal servant and said, "What happened to the weather today?"
The servant replied respectfully, "My lord, I don't know. It is not Zephyith (June) today."
Baron nodded and muttered, perhaps it's just a weather anomaly. He then took a deep breath.
At the same time, Baron Thalmar also noticed the anomaly in the weather. He couldn't help but worry, but he dismissed it, thinking it was just normal weather patterns.
While an adventurer group was in the heat of battle with magical beasts in the barony of Thalmar, the mage pointed his staff toward the beast, chanting a fireball spell. Just as the fireball was almost complete, a disturbance in the active elemental energy, like a stone falling into water, caused the fireball to explode and injure the mage. "Boom!"
At the same time, the magical beast also experienced the same phenomenon. It had just channeled its elemental energy but got itself injured instead. Both the mage and the beast were confused by this event.
The mage said in anger as he got up and kicked the debris, "What happened just now?"
His face turned red with embarrassment in front of his teammates. It was humiliating for a junior mage to make such a mistake as injuring himself while casting a fireball. Despite the embarrassment, the mage was genuinely confused, as he had never faced such a situation before.
To be continued...