A month had passed since the war against the cult. Valoria, once filled with
scars and sorrow, now pulsed again with life. The marketplace rang with the
cries of merchants and the laughter of buyers; children ran freely without
fear. Torches in the square no longer burned as signs of vigilance, but as
lights of festivity.
The royal treasury revived thanks to the sales of magical refrigerators.
Merchants from across the continent queued for days just to claim one. In
humble homes, they preserved food. In noble estates, they stood as marks of
prestige. Whatever their purpose, one truth was clear: these devices had
reshaped daily life in Valoria.
Hospitals that once echoed with grief now carried the rhythm of recovery.
Former hostages, frail and broken only a month before, could now walk on their
own. Elf children played freely with human children in the courtyards,
suspicion forgotten. Bruna, once in despair, now delivered her report with a
relieved smile.
Inside the palace hall, the Council gathered once more. The air, once heavy
with shouts, was now calm with reassuring reports. Erel stood, his face
brighter than before.
"Your Majesty," he said, "the income from the refrigerators has exceeded
expectations. Our gold reserves can sustain three months of expenditures,
perhaps more. The royal bonds were well received. The National Trust Division
has kept prices steady; no disruption in the markets."
Arthur nodded, his gaze calm, relief visible though not overstated.
Then a member of the Development Council rose. "Your Majesty, there is news.
A delegation of dwarves has arrived in Valoria. They wish to join the railway
and mana-powered train project. They wait outside for your decision."
The hall grew silent. Nobles exchanged uncertain glances. Lionel murmured,
"Dwarves… this is unusual."
Arthur lowered his head in thought, then raised it firmly. "Bring them in."
The doors opened, and three dwarves entered. Short and broad-shouldered,
their beards long, their eyes alight with determination. They saluted and
waited in composed silence.
Arthur rose, activating the Oculus—the unseen lens only he could
perceive. Behind their eyes he saw a flicker of flame: genuine passion, not
deceit.
"Why do you wish to join us?" he asked, his tone measured.
One dwarf stepped forward. "Your Majesty, we have forged steel for
centuries, carved tunnels, raised fortresses. But what you are doing in
Valoria—rails binding cities, mana-powered trains faster than horses—this is
something never seen in Etheria. The fire within us burns to be part of it."
Arthur studied him. The Oculus revealed nothing but truth—pure resolve.
He stepped closer, voice low but commanding. "If you join the Development
Council, you are not mere laborers. You are engines of Valoria's future. Are
you ready to bear that weight?"
The three bowed deeply. "We are."
Arthur drew a slow breath. "Then from this day forward, you are part of the
Development Council. Prove that your fire can ignite not only Valoria, but the
world itself."
A ripple of cheer rose in the hall. For the first time, dwarves stood as
equals within the Council.
That night, Arthur stood on the palace balcony. Below, people sang and
danced, torches blazing not for war but for celebration. Marcel approached
quietly and whispered, "Peaceful days, Your Majesty."
Arthur's lips curved into a faint smile as he gazed at the night sky.
"Peace… for now."
He turned back inside, walking into his study. From a shelf, he pulled
several thick, leather-bound volumes and handed them silently to Marcel.
Marcel frowned, weighed down by the stack. "What are these, Your Majesty?"
Arthur's eyes were steady, his voice quiet yet firm. "They are not merely
books. Within them I have written the techniques and strategies I know—guides
to train Valoria's soldiers. Deliver them to the Defense Council. Knowledge is
meant to be passed on, not locked away."
Marcel bowed low, feeling the weight was more than paper. "As you command,
Your Majesty."
Arthur turned once more to the balcony, watching the distant torches.
Tonight, peace reigned. Yet in his heart, he knew tomorrow demanded
preparation.