Eiran passed through the corridor to the Hall of Fathers. The hall had no door, but the moment anyone entered, they would normally be repelled by an ancient force. He felt nothing—the protective barrier was weak against him.
On the walls were inscriptions, and Eiran read them with ease. "This isn't just history," he realized, "but the secrets of the settlement that the ancestors of these people discovered."
He walked around, his mind absorbing the information, though most of it was tedious. He felt the need to sleep but held himself back until he could absorb everything. Not that he understood it all—he simply read everything, letting the knowledge pour into his mind.
The Ethiopian alphabets were more feeling-based than typical inscriptions. If you could grasp their meaning, they would flow into your mind as you looked around, imparting understanding directly to the reader.
He emerged hours later with some understanding of what was expected of him. Regrettably, it aligned with what Moldread had wanted to achieve on his own but had failed for one reason: the Lord Chair.
The people still stood waiting outside. He used terms they would understand: "We are going to become a Martial Community. Everyone from age five and above will learn a basic form of combat."
The people looked around in confusion but with acceptance.
"Other professions will be secondary. Those who have combat skills should come forward." Over five hundred stepped out. His gaze passed over them before he turned to Vael. "You will assess them."
Then he addressed Rolrend: "You will aid him."
Rol complete name is Rolrend
Eiran continued, "Moldread and his people will be Breakers for now. In three days, those good at that work will resume doing what they excel at,"
He addressed an older woman, the Misfortune Teller "you will oversee that, along with the gentleman beside you."
He concluded, "After a week, what has been created will be exchanged with other settlements."
He turned and entered the ancestral building. His orders were clear, but the question remained: how could he feed ten thousand people?
Everyone sprang into action to fulfill their assigned roles as Eiran sat on the Lord Chair. The weight wasn't overwhelming, and he leaned back, settling into his new position.
The glass table didn't respond until after an hour had passed.
"This is an incredible system of cities," Eiran thought.
Each settlement operated separately from the rest, making them work with what they had and uncover their unique value. With a lord, they could exchange their specialties for what they lacked.
What made it remarkable was the extreme specialization. This settlement possessed Brown Stone that could transmute into steel, glass, floating dust, and an inertia-storing force.
For some reason, the older people forget things over time, causing knowledge to disappear. But now, with mass recollection, they could revive that lost wisdom.
"They can even summon rain from here. They can also increase the yield of plant materials falling at the Gathering Area," Eiran muttered as he explored the chair's functions.
The Gathering Area was a vast expanse of solid ground where wind carried different types of fruits, cereals, and leaves. The Gatherers' job was to collect them before they spoiled, then separate and process them at designated locations.
The Breaking Area was a region where brown rocks grew like trees. The older specimens were more valuable, and different shades provided varying properties.
"I can control the probability of any plant materials falling," Eiran observed.
Eiran's plan didn't rely solely on the Gathering Areas but on what he was discovering through the chair's capabilities.
The most challenging aspect of managing a settlement was sitting on the Lord Chair for extended periods. However, those settlements with someone capable of long sessions could access additional functions, particularly supporting inter-settlement exchange—not just regular trade.
Eiran witnessed flashes of scenes until thirty-nine nodes representing settlements appeared on the glass table. Each had goods to exchange but lacked someone who could operate their Lord Chair.
Eiran chose to bear the burden of facilitating their exchanges. The thirty-nine settlements were alerted that they could now trade, but with a fee for his services.
Thirty-nine additional weights pressed upon him, and immediately, a flood of exchanges began occurring across the network.
He had learned from the Hall of Fathers about the types of food that aided development and the quantities required. Using the fees collected, he began purchasing these essential supplies.
Soon, the room filled with provisions.
Eiran halted the purchasing and summoned help. From his chair, he could send messages anywhere and to anyone.
Rolrend's wife and Vael son arrived and began organizing the supplies, but they quickly realized they couldn't handle the volume alone.
A stream of raw food with preservative additives poured from the ancestral building to the storage areas. Eventually, the thirty-nine settlements sold their available goods and temporarily closed their trading options.
"How long will this food last?" Eiran wondered.
"Make sure you identify those who know specialized crafts and place them in appropriate roles," Eiran commanded Vael.
"Yes, Lord!"
Eiran's work continued as he focused on the settlement's infrastructure. The buildings remained intact and could last many more years, but the roads had cracked and shattered from constant foot traffic and heavy stone transport.
Inside some homes where people worked in secret, repairs were also needed.
There was also the matter of weather control and rain, which served to cleanse the entire settlement and provide exotic, non-underground water that refilled their reservoirs.
Then there were concerns about improving the quality of growing brown rocks and increasing the yield of plant materials.
Eiran followed the guidance from the Hall of Fathers and began implementing improvements.
First, clouds gathered. People raised their heads in fear—last time, blood rain had fallen. But now, normal rain descended, cold and soul-touching.
People stood in it as it washed over them, bringing comfort and soothing sensations. They felt as though their sins were being cleansed from their bodies and souls.
Eiran frowned. "Someone must have corrupted the rain function before, causing the blood rain."
He investigated more and found that creating rain came with conditions. It could only be done once or twice monthly, and the function was shared—if many settlements used it simultaneously, others had to wait.
But means of changing the form of rain to blood. 'There might be something I didn't know'
Wind swept through the settlement as the rain lasted two hours, gentle and refreshing.
Buildings appeared freshly cleaned, and as natural light returned and the artificial blue sky reappeared, birds began singing again.
Children played in puddles, darkness completely lifted from their hearts.
Eiran smiled at the sight as he leaned back. Roads and damaged areas were being repaired automatically, though people hadn't noticed yet.
The gathering areas were also showing increased productivity.
It took a day before other settlements requested expanded exchange functions.
Eiran agreed to support them. Now there were forty-seven settlements in the network. The fees were small but accumulated with each exchange. Since individual trading sessions were typically limited, there were restrictions on items per transaction.
This time, Eiran began ordering traditional martial attire with variations. Designs for females, males, and children, all adjustable and crafted by the settlement's tailors.
As martial clothing, they were resilient and featured pockets and belts for weapons.
Other variations were profession-based: Gatherers, Breakers, Shapers and Grinders.
There were also designs for specific statuses and functions like guards, instructors, and full soldiers who trained purely for combat.
He distributed these with explanations, though the people understood their purpose intuitively.
By the third day, there was a massive transformation in people's attitudes, temperament, and physical condition. Gone were the ragtag, dirt-smeared, hungry men and women.
Their eyes filled with desire and purpose as they worked earnestly to establish themselves in their new society.
Those old with wisdom positioned themselves at the forefront, trying to demonstrate expertise and hoping to secure their places using wisdom and experience.
---
On the sixth day, Eiran rose from the chair with a frown. "I suppose it's time to test the people's fighting capacity."
Seven days of continuous sitting would open a gate to uncharted territory, and beast hordes would emerge. If the people survived, they would pass the first hurdle of exploring the wider world.
The moment Eiran sat back down, the countdown would begin. But he wanted to test his people's readiness first.
---
Four hundred warriors moved in unison, stabbing with sharp-tipped spears and pulling back with identical intensity.
They were well-spaced, turning and shifting in different directions, sweeping, stabbing, and parrying with their spears while also pushing back with the shaft's butt end.
Eiran didn't claim expertise in combat, but he was impressed. Their eyes were focused, their bodies tense and relaxed in appropriate moments.
"I hope they're ready," Eiran said to himself. The instructor was an older man who now looked younger and stronger, moving with authority as his voice boomed out commands for each maneuver.
This was just the warm-up. Then came sparring, which was equally impressive. Some were naturally better than others, but as far as Eiran could see, the development was remarkable.
The arrival of a woman interrupted the training session.
She had long gray hair, a wrinkled but refined face, large eyes with dark irises that seemed to swallow light. Her presence made the warriors, including the instructor, visibly uncomfortable.
But she didn't glance at them, moving directly toward Eiran beckoning them to notice him standing there.
"SALUTE THE CRIMSON SAVIOR!" the instructor shouted.
The warriors formed a line, spears twirling in their hands, creating gusts of wind. Then they moved abruptly, stabbing faster than before, turning and stabbing again in a coordinated display.
"Haaa!"
They echoed in unison, though one stumbled before quickly recovering and rejoining the formation. It resembled a martial dance with spears.
"Hail the One in Silven thread!" they chanted together, their voices booming throughout the settlement and attracting more attention.
The woman smiled at the display—a rare expression for someone who typically foretold disasters.
Her clothes were similar to others', but she had made adjustments, wrapping herself with small glass ornaments that chimed as she moved. Her earlobes held long, thin molded glass pieces that jingled when she turned.
Her hair was woven atop her head and draped down her back due to its length. She wore black pigment on her lips and thick eyeliner around her eyes.
"Hail the One in silvren thread!" she said with a slight bow.
'This woman is formidable,' Eiran thought, recognizing it in her elegance. Those eyes had seen things no one should witness while retaining sanity.
He nodded at her, then turned his gaze to the warriors who had just saluted him. The instructor immediately began demonstrating true sparring to showcase their mastery.
As attention focused on the warriors, she spoke: "Every day it worsens, My Lord. The gate you wish to open will bring beasts specifically hunting you."
"Annihilators?" he asked.
"No. Beasts of this world, corrupted by the Annihilators," she replied. "Perhaps you need not be at the front line—we can handle it. Some of us have regained our former glory."
"Why dictate what the lord should do?" Vael stood behind Eiran, transformed into a tall, broad-shouldered man whose muscles grew daily.
He had reached Rank 4 within just a week, thanks to the Strength Vein Skill Eiran had granted him.
He had also built a small group of elite warriors, teaching them the same skill. They were destined to become the Lord's Personal Guard.
"I apologize. That wasn't my intention," she quickly said to Eiran.
"It's alright," Eiran replied.
He had learned from the Hall of Fathers that this woman was older than Moldread and had served the previous Lord. Little was recorded about her since the Hall focused on crafts and their creators rather than detailed history.
What was mentioned was that she had created Memory Crystals that preserved information and knowledge.
"My Lord," she called again, "I have captured all my visions regarding your opponents and their possible powers in this." She bowed, extending her hand. "Please accept it."
Eiran glanced at the offered earring. "Hold onto it for now."
"Without me present, will they be able to face the beast horde?" Eiran asked.
"Yes. There shouldn't be any problems."
"Vael, prepare them for the beast horde tomorrow." Eiran returned to the ancestral building, sat on the chair, and the countdown began.
[Your Lord has Awakened the Settlement Ascension Rite. In 12 hours, 100 beasts will invade from the North Wall.]
Everyone felt the knowledge and understanding flow into them about the North Wall's location and significance.
The warriors moved to the wall and established camp with necessary supplies. Those with previous combat experience began explaining what to expect to the newcomers.
The Misfortune Teller didn't appear publicly, but when others contacted her, she simply said, "I don't know."
She was normally incapable of not revealing disasters she foresaw, but in the case of a Lord's presence, that burden was lifted from her as long as he was aware.
---
The wall stood close to where they harvested brown rocks. It stretched a hundred meters, shaped like a giant mountain. Then it began to move.
Eiran stood at the front of the army, watching. The warriors behind him were eager to demonstrate their capabilities to their lord.
The Misfortune Teller remained at the far back, hiding behind others with a troubled expression. Disaster was approaching—those beasts would be far more dangerous than the warriors and could handle, especially with the Lord present as their primary target.