Chapter 123: Magic Beasts Herd

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[CURE COMPONENT ACQUIRED: VOID ESSENCE]

[STATUS: 1/1]

[CURE COMPONENTS: 3/4]

[REMAINING COMPONENTS: █████████████████]

[SYSTEM NOTE: ONE COMPONENT REMAINS. THE PATH FORWARD IS CLEAR. CONTINUE TO GROW. CONTINUE TO INVEST. CONTINUE TO FIGHT.]

---

Emeric leaned back and exhaled.

Three components out of four was good progress.

He has a little over a year to spare before the condition was fatal. He had checked it every single chance he got.

He closed the notification and looked out the window. The sun was setting and the sky was red.

One more.

---

The next morning.

The village square was busy.

Marta had set up a cooking booth per his instructions. A large cauldron, a fire with tables, bowls and spoons. The servants—Bess, Nella, Pip—moved around her, helping her prepare.

Emeric approached.

Marta looked up. Her face was flushed from the fire. Her hands were stained with flour.

"My lord."

"Marta. How’s it going?"

"Better than expected." She gestured to the cauldron. "The locusts. I’ve been drying them. Grinding them into flour. Mixing them with vegetables. Making a soup."

She paused.

"It’s... unconventional."

"But?"

"But it works." She ladled some into a bowl. Handed it to him. "Try it."

Emeric took the bowl, looked at it. The soup was thick and brown. Steam rose from it and it smelled... good, actually. Savory and hearty.

He took a sip.

His eyes widened.

"This is good."

"I know." Marta smiled. "The locusts add a... nuttiness. A depth. It’s not just vegetables anymore. It’s a meal."

The villagers approached.

They seemed hesitant, even wary. They had heard about the locusts. They had seen the knights collecting them. They had been skeptical and some disgusted but they were hungry and the smell was good.

An old woman stepped forward. She was the same woman who had thanked him the day before.

"Is this... the locusts?"

"Yes," Marta said. "Try it."

The woman hesitated, then took a bowl and managed a small sip.

Her eyes widened.

"It’s... good."

She took another sip and then another.

The villagers crowded around, and took bowls.

"Okay now." Marta said. "One at a time.

She had them line up within minutes and began dishing out the soup. It was more like porridge. He didn’t care. So long as it was edible, the name didn’t matter.

They began to eat and talk.

Laughter began to fill the air. This was the first he had seen them laugh since he had gotten here.

The apprehension was fading. Guess food would do that to you.

Marta thanked Emeric with the tip of her spoon.

Emeric watched as the feast continued.

The servants were hard at work and Marta directed. The cauldron emptied. Refilled. Emptied again.

There was enough. More than enough. For everyone.

---

Later that morning.

Bjorn found him in the study.

The dwarf was covered in dust. His hands were dirty and his face was streaked with grime.

"I’ve inspected the damage."

Emeric gestured to the chair. "Sit."

Bjorn sat and pulled out a parchment, then unrolled it.

"The village first. Forty-seven houses destroyed. Twenty-three damaged. Twelve intact. The well is contaminated. The temple lost its roof. The market is gone."

He pointed at the parchment.

"We can rebuild. It will take time. Three weeks. Maybe four. But we can do it."

Emeric nodded.

"The estate?"

Bjorn flipped the parchment.

"The west wing is sealed like you said due to structural damage. The library has water damage. The ballroom is abandoned. The basement is warded. There are leaks as well as cracks and rot."

He paused.

"We can fix it. All of it. But it will take time. And more hands."

Emeric leaned back. "How many more?"

"Twenty. Maybe thirty. I’ve sent for more artisans from the capital. They’ll be here within the week."

"Good."

Bjorn rolled up the parchment and stood up.

"I’ll start on the village first. The houses. The well. The temple. Then the estate."

Emeric nodded.

"Do it."

Bjorn turned, then walked to the door before he paused.

"You did good with the Guild and handling the village."

Emeric looked at him.

"Thanks."

Bjorn grunted and left.

---

That afternoon.

The construction began.

The craftsmen moved into the village with hammers, saws, nails and all they needed. They worked in teams. Dwarves. Elves. Humans. They began rebuilding the houses. Some were in charge of repairing the well and the temple roof. The villagers watched while some helped. The children ran between the workers. The women brought water, while the men were in charge of the heavy lifting.

It was slow. It was hard. But it was working.

Emeric stood at the edge of the village. Watched.

Gaius approached.

"The beasts are still in the trench. What do you want to do with them?"

Emeric considered.

"We can’t keep them forever. They’ll starve. Or break free."

"What do you suggest?"

"We let them go."

Gaius blinked. "Let them go?"

"They’re not dangerous. Not anymore. The redness is gone. They’re just animals. We release them. Far from the village. Far from the fields. They’ll find their own way."

Gaius studied him.

"And if they come back?"

"Then we deal with them. But I don’t think they will."

Gaius nodded slowly.

"I’ll see it done."

He turned to walk away when Emeric called out.

"Hold off on that for now, commander. I might have an idea."

He climbed a horse, ready to go back to the estate.

He pulled the unread notification that was calling his attention.

CURE COMPONENTS: 3/4

- Thornback Wyvern Heart — ACQUIRED

- Blood Lily — ACQUIRED

- Void Essence — ACQUIRED

- █████████████████ — REMAINING

---

Very soon, he told himself. Very soon.

---

The morning was bright.

Emeric stood at the edge of the trench. The fence was still there—wooden stakes, sharpened, set into the ground. Beyond it, the herd. One hundred and seventy magic beasts. Ironhide Bovines. Thunderhooves. Ashmanes.

They were calm now. Docile even, but these were wild creatures. They would stay locked up forever. The redness in their eyes was gone. They grazed on the grass that grew along the trench walls. They drank from the water that pooled at the bottom and some watched him with curious eyes.