Five days had passed since the beginning of the development projects.
I was in my office dressed in a light brown shirt and black London-style jeans, engaged in a discussion with Kaylen, my trusted advisor.
Draped in his long white robe, he was carefully examining a detailed plan spread out on the table. His piercing blue eyes scanned every line and detail, his finger tracing a precise path on the map.
"With this the construction and development of the port will be nearly complete," he declared his tone filled with satisfaction.
I nodded, my gaze following his finger on the plan.
"Once the port is finished, we'll be able to transform Ednia Island into a leading economic hub. Trade opportunities with neighboring kingdoms will expand significantly."
Kaylen nodded in agreement, his expression calm but focused.
"Yes, and it will give us a major strategic position on the maritime trade routes."
The conversation shifted as he posed a crucial question.
"How is the extraction of the energy stones progressing?"
I crossed my arms, pondering the recent updates.
"It's moving forward without issues for now, but we need better equipment to improve efficiency. This mineral is more challenging to extract than we anticipated."
A silence fell as I delved into my thoughts.
These energy stones were a groundbreaking discovery.
Since their identification, i had taken steps to form a dedicated extraction team, but our industrial-revolution-level technology was hindering our progress.
These minerals were a strategic resource that could not only boost the economy but also unlock unprecedented prosperity for Ednia.
Kaylen broke the silence, his tone calm yet pragmatic.
"These minerals are critical. If we could find a way to modernize our tools, the extraction process would be much faster."
I nodded, agreeing with him.
"We'll need to look for artisans or inventors capable of designing more advanced equipment. Perhaps even establish alliances with kingdoms that are more technologically developed."
As we were deep in thought, the door burst open abruptly.
Ben dashed in, his boundless energy filling the room.
His small frame perpetually tousled light brown hair, and sparkling eyes made him an endearing sight.
He exclaimed enthusiastically:
"Big brother Jonady! Big brother Kaylen! Come play with me!"
Kaylen, accustomed to these joyful interruptions, placed a fond hand on the boy's head and tousled his hair.
"Not today, Ben. The king and I still have a lot of work to do. It's important for Ednia."
Ben pouted, crossing his arms in a sulky manner.
After a few seconds, he relented reluctantly.
"Alright… But you promise we'll play another time?" he asked his hopeful gaze unwavering.
I smiled gently, crouching to his level.
"Promise. Now, be a good boy and help the servants if they need it, alright?"
His face brightened slightly and he ran out of the room, but not before flashing us one last mischievous smile.
Once he was gone I turned to Kaylen, still amused by the scene.
"Children have endless energy."
Kaylen nodded, a light laugh accompanying his words.
"Yes but he brings a lot of life to this palace. That's a good thing."
Returning to the matter at hand, I gave the plan on the table one last glance.
"Let's go inspect the progress on these new projects. It's time to see how things are shaping up on the ground."
Kaylen agreed, carefully rolling up the map before following me out of the office.
The palace corridors were bathed in light, and despite the intense atmosphere of work a sense of serenity lingered.
The future of Ednia was being built day by day brick by brick, decision by decision.