Under the morning sun, two figures stood on the battlefield, their presence commanding the attention of the two opposing armies lined up on either side. One was Elan, a warrior dressed in dark leather armor, a magic-infused bow resting in his hands.
His piercing gaze locked onto his opponent—a knight clad in silver armor, a long spear gripped firmly in his gauntleted hands. The air between them crackled with tension as their bout commenced.
Elan wasted no time. He raised his bow, drawing back the string, and an arrow of ice materialized from pure magic. With a sharp twang, the arrow shot through the air, leaving a shimmering trail of frost.
The knight reacted instantly, swinging his spear in a defensive arc, shattering the icy projectile before it could reach him. But before he could steady himself, Elan was already launching another attack—a flaming arrow, its burning tip roaring with heat.
The knight thrust his spear forward, summoning a translucent shield of fighting energy around him. The flaming arrow struck the barrier, causing a small explosion of embers, but the shield held firm.
Elan narrowed his eyes, recognizing the knight's precise energy control. Instead of relenting, he fired a rapid series of black stone arrows, each crackling with earth magic.
The knight spun his spear with practiced ease, deflecting most of them, yet one managed to graze his shoulder, slicing through his armor. A small trickle of blood seeped from the wound.
Elan smirked. His barrage was working.
Switching tactics, he nocked a poisoned arrow, the tip gleaming with a virulent green hue. The knight charged forward, spear held high, ready to close the distance. But Elan fired, forcing the knight to halt his advance and block once more with his shield.
The arrow shattered against the energy barrier, but a faint mist of poison drifted through the air, seeping past the knight's defenses.
The knight coughed but refused to waver. He stood tall, though his breathing had grown slightly ragged. His armor bore the scars of elemental attacks, and faint traces of frost and fire lingered on the metal. Yet, despite the injuries, he remained resolute, gripping his spear tightly.
Realizing the knight had endured the worst of his ranged attacks, Elan lowered his bow and drew his twin short swords, their enchanted blades glinting under the sunlight. The knight tightened his hold on his spear, recognizing the shift in battle.
Elan darted forward, his movements swift and precise. He struck first, aiming for the knight's exposed side, but the knight parried with his spear, redirecting the attack effortlessly.
With a powerful thrust, he retaliated, forcing Elan to twist away at the last second. The knight pressed his advantage, his spear sweeping in powerful arcs, forcing Elan onto the defensive.
In close combat, the difference in skill was evident. The knight's mastery over his weapon outmatched Elan's speed and agility. Each of Elan's slashes was met with a perfectly timed counter.
A well-placed strike from the knight's spear cut across Elan's arm, drawing blood. Gritting his teeth, Elan stepped back, breathing heavily. He was outmatched in melee combat.
But the knight was not without weakness. His energy reserves were depleted after defending against the relentless arrow attacks earlier. The poison had also begun to take effect, slowing his reactions ever so slightly. The knight lunged for a final decisive strike, but his movements were no longer as precise. Elan barely dodged the attack and managed a glancing blow against the knight's armor.
Both warriors stepped back, panting, recognizing the stalemate. Neither could continue without risking severe injury.
The battle had reached its conclusion—a hard-fought draw. The spectators from both armies, silent until now, erupted into murmurs of acknowledgment and admiration. This was no fight to the death, merely a test of strength, skill, and endurance.
Elan wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze fixed on the knight before him.
"Elan," Alfred said, his voice steady despite his injuries. "It seems neither of us could claim victory."
Elan smirked. "That also means you couldn't defeat me, Alfred."
Alfred—the commander of the William family's private army—gritted his teeth. "Then our armies will decide the outcome. A battle between our forces will determine who takes control of the camp."
Before Elan could respond, Alice stepped forward, arms crossed. "Alfred, have you forgotten? You were the one who said Elan would have to surrender the camp if he lost. But you didn't win, did you?"
A knight clad in the same armor as Alfred interjected, "But the Baron didn't defeat Alfred either."
Alice shot him a sharp look. "The camp in Gate City is registered under Elan's name. By law, only if Alfred defeats him can he take control."
Elan glanced at Alfred, his expression calm. "And I'm a Baron. That means I outrank you, Alfred. According to tradition, the highest-ranking noble commands the camp." He let the words sink in before asking, "What do you say, Alfred?"
Alfred coughed, spitting out dark blood—the remnants of the poison lingering in his system. His fists clenched. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Elan. I will challenge you again."
Elan chuckled. "We'll see."
With that, he turned and walked toward the camp, Alice, his brother, and his army following close behind.
As they entered the camp, Alice leaned closer to Elan. "How did you advance to the sixth rank of Magic Archery?"
Elan whispered, "I'll tell you in my tent."
Alice nodded in understanding.
Reaching the entrance of his tent, Elan turned to address his warriors. "Do not provoke the William family's army. We may be rivals, but we are also hosts." His voice carried authority as he continued, "Help them set up their tents. Show them the hospitality of warriors."
The warriors responded in unison, "Yes, Baron!"
Elan's gaze shifted to two of his men. "Reed, you'll oversee assisting the William family's soldiers." Then, turning to another, "James, take some warriors and head into the forest. Cut down enough trees—tomorrow, we start transforming this camp into a proper settlement with wooden buildings."
Both warriors nodded, acknowledging their orders. Satisfied, Elan stepped inside his tent, Alice following behind. His younger brother led the four newly awakened mages elsewhere for training.
Inside, Elan gestured. "Set up a barrier first."
Alice nodded and began weaving a protective spell, ensuring their conversation would remain private. Elan sat on a chair, watching as Alice methodically formed the barrier. Once the spell was in place, she took a seat beside him.
Without delay, Elan began explaining. "After I received your message that the William family's army was coming, I made preparations." He explains revising the contract and forming an equal contract with the Earth Wolf, securing its strength, and negotiating with the Statue Tribe regarding their demands.
Alice's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I brought the basic druid inheritance, as well as basic mage and alchemist inheritances."
Elan nodded. "I have the basic hunter inheritance. That just leaves the priest inheritance… and the artist inheritance."
Alice exhaled. "The priest's inheritance will be difficult to obtain. As for the artist's path, it's divided into four main professions—Bard, Painter, Puppeteer, and Trickster."
Elan leaned back slightly. "Tomorrow, we'll meet with my familiar and discuss our next steps."
Alice folded her arms. "What about the William family's army? Do you plan to just let them be?"
Elan smirked. "Nothing needs to be done—let them attack the tribes on the other side of the mountain. Meanwhile, while you were gone, we explored the surrounding area. We discovered three iron mines, one brass mine, one black iron mine, and two lead mines."
Alice raised an eyebrow. "You're planning to open some of the mines and send word back to Gate City?"
Elan nodded. "Exactly. I want to attract other noble families."
Alice's expression darkened. "You think the William family is too dangerous?"
Elan's voice was firm. "We don't know what they're truly planning. I'd rather not wait to find out. With more noble families the situation would be chaotic and we would able to protect ourselves." He hesitated for a moment before adding, "And there's something else. We discovered a small spiritual energy node."
Alice's eyes widened slightly. "A spiritual node? You want to build a mage tower there, don't you?"
Elan nodded. "Not just a mage tower—I want to build a town around it. This place has too much potential to abandon."
Alice studied him for a moment before asking, "So you've decided to stay here?"
"Yes," Elan said with certainty. "But first, I need to discuss this with the Statue Tribe's totem."
Their conversation continued, shifting to matters of food supplies, war preparations, and long-term strategy. The future of the camp—and their survival—depended on the choices they made next.