The morning air carried the unmistakable crispness of early autumn. Though the days were still warm, the shift in the season was becoming more apparent. The sun, once relentless in its summer heat, now cast a softer glow over Emberhold. Leaves had just begun to change at the edges, tinged with hints of gold and orange, though most of the trees remained green.
Alexander stood on an elevated section of the wall, observing the settlement below. Emberhold was changing—fortifications were stronger, industry was expanding, and for the first time since the siege, trade was beginning to flow again.
But the pressure surrounding them had not eased. The blockade was still active, the mercenaries remained a threat, and food supplies were growing thinner.
Breaking the Blockade Further
By midday, Owen returned from another trade mission, dust clinging to his boots.
"The villages are coming around," he reported. "More of them have accepted our tools, and now they're realizing how much better they are than what they had before."
Alexander studied the simple trade records Owen laid on the war table. The exchange was still small-scale, but progress was evident.
"What did we get in return?" he asked.
"More grain and dried meat," Owen replied. "Not enough to last us through the season, but enough to keep us from starving for now."
Silas exhaled. "That means the blockade is losing its hold."
Alexander nodded. Once people realized they could get better tools from Emberhold, the fear keeping them compliant with the blockade would begin to fade.
"We need to increase production," Alexander said. "More tools, more refined steel. If we can make our supplies last long enough, we can break the blockade completely."
Refining the Industry
At the forge, Gareth and his apprentices worked tirelessly.
The Innovator Path's buffs had fully integrated into Emberhold's daily operations:
Steel production was now 30% more efficient.
Resource extraction (mining, lumber, quarrying) had increased by 20%.
Smithing and metal refinement were 15% faster.
The results were undeniable. Gareth held up a newly forged axe, its sharpened edge gleaming even in the dim workshop light.
"This isn't just good steel," he muttered. "This is the best work we've ever produced."
Alexander took the axe from him, running his fingers along the edge. It was balanced, durable, and sharper than anything Emberhold had forged before.
"How fast can we make more?" Alexander asked.
Gareth crossed his arms. "With the improvements? We can start producing tools and weapons faster than ever. If we had a steady supply of this new metal, we could make enough to arm an army."
Alexander exhaled. "For now, keep the focus on tools. The more we trade, the stronger our position gets."
Gareth smirked. "And if war comes?"
Alexander glanced at the weapon racks behind them, where the first prototypes of swords and armor made from the new metal had begun stacking up in secret.
"We'll be ready," he said simply.
The Mercenary Force Moves Again
That evening, Tyrell returned with an urgent update.
"The riders have spread out," he said, laying down a fresh map. "They've abandoned their old camp near the roads and are moving toward the villages again."
Alexander's gaze hardened. The mercenaries had been watching. Now they were acting.
"Are they attacking?" Elias asked.
"No, but they're making their presence known," Tyrell replied. "Riding through the villages, making sure people know they're there. A show of force."
Silas tapped a finger against the map. "They're trying to scare them. The moment these villages start openly trading with us, they're making sure everyone knows there will be consequences."
Alexander clenched his jaw. Whoever was behind these mercenaries wasn't planning a direct assault—at least not yet. They were trying to starve Emberhold out, making sure it had no allies, no food, no trade.
"They're running out of time," Elias muttered. "They see us getting stronger, and they don't like it."
"We need more information," Alexander said. He turned to Tyrell. "Can you capture one of them alive?"
Tyrell gave a small nod. "It won't be easy, but we can do it."
"Then do it," Alexander ordered. "We need to know who we're really up against."
The Mine Discovery
As the meeting ended, a scout entered, his expression tight with excitement.
"We found something," the scout said. "An old mine, partially collapsed but still accessible. We found traces of that same dark metal we pulled from the ruins."
The room fell silent.
Silas exhaled. "If that's true, then we're sitting on something far more valuable than we thought."
Alexander's mind raced. If they had a direct source of the metal, they wouldn't just be able to trade tools and weapons—they could dominate the region's economy.
But one step at a time.
"Mark the location," Alexander said. "Once things stabilize, we move on it."
The Changing Winds
That night, as Alexander stood outside the war tent, a cool wind swept through Emberhold.
The sky was clear, the stars bright, but the warmth of summer was fading little by little.
The days were still long, but the nights were changing.
And so was the battlefield.