Elara's Monstrous Ability, Changes in the Village

As Arthur and his entire army arrived at the location where Dawn Light Village should have been, panic began to set in. The once-familiar landscape that should have been their home was nowhere to be found. The army were bewildered, and even Mor'kith, usually composed, looked around with a sense of urgency.

"Where's my Village?!" Arthur's voice trembled with panic, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt a deep sense of dread as he realized the implications of losing his territory.

Arthur tried to recall any details from his previous life that could explain this inexplicable turn of events. He remembered the ominous warning from the people who were once a Lord and had lost their territory, that a Lord could also lose their all their rights to be a Lord if they were not present when their territory lost under attack. Could that be the case?

But then he checked his [10-days Shield Protection] status was still active, and that relieved him a bit and thought this might not be the case.

[10-days Shield Protection]

[Time-remaining: 6 days 12 hours, 32 minutes left]

"We must have taken a wrong turn or something, my lord," Garret suggested, his voice shaky. "The village must be nearby. Let's keep looking."

But despite their efforts, the village remained elusive. It was as if it had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind. Besides the new elven army under Arthur and newcomers, panic began to spread among the Arthur's army, and Arthur could see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes.

Amelia, with her sharp instincts, scanned the surroundings with a puzzled expression. "I don't see any signs of attack or destruction. It's like the village disappeared without a trace, my Lord."

`Was this Elara's doing?` Arthur muttered, his mind racing with possibilities.

Just as the fear and uncertainty threatened to overwhelm them, a soft, illusion light began to shimmer in front of them. Elara stepped out of the light, her appearance serene and composed.

~Swoossh

And in the next moment, the illusory light began to shatter, showing the lost Dawn Light Village they were looking for.

"Welcome back, my lord," Elara said with a warm smile. "My apologies for the wait. I used my talent, [Starlight Illusion], to conceal the village. It was a precaution protect the village from any potential threats in your absence."

~sigh

Then Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and spoke up with concern. "Is the village safe, then?"

Elara nodded. "Yes, the village is completely unharmed. My illusion kept it hidden from prying eyes and potential invaders. It was meant to be a temporary measure, and I had planned to reveal it once you returned."

Arthur sighed, his initial panic now replaced with gratitude for Elara's foresight. "I appreciate your efforts to keep the village safe, but in the future, inform us of such actions beforehand."

Elara bowed her head in acknowledgment. "Of course, my lord, I understand."

With the crisis averted and the village safe, the tension in the air began to dissipate. On the other hand, Arthur couldn't help but marvel at the abilities of his new advisor. Elara's [Starlight Illusion] had proven to be a formidable tool in protecting their home, and he knew he could trust her judgment and talents in the future.

"My lord," Elara said with a smile, gesturing towards the village. "While you were away, we have been hard at work to prepare for the growth of our village."

She gestured toward the neatly arranged rows of houses that had sprung up since they left. "With the help of Alistair, our skilled lumberjack, and the dedicated of your subjects, we were able to construct enough houses to accommodate over 700 people."

Arthur looked around in amazement at the progress that had been made in just half a day. The village had expanded beyond his expectations, and he was impressed with Elara's foresight.

Arthur's eyes widened as he took in the impressive scene before him. The once modest village had transformed into a bustling hub of activity. Arthur couldn't help but appreciate the monstrous abilities of his new advisor.

Arthur looked around, his eyes widening in surprise and awe. "You managed to build all this in just half a day?"

Elara nodded. "Yes, my lord. Alistair and his team worked tirelessly, and the people were more than willing to pitch in to help. Also, with my [Cosmic Blessing], the productivity rate increased by 50% which helped us succeed in building enough houses."

"This is incredible," Arthur exclaimed, his admiration evident in his voice. "You have done a remarkable job. I could not have asked for a better advisor."

Elara's cheeks flushed with pride at the praise. "Thank you, my lord. But this is only the beginning. With the war won, I foresaw that we would soon have new subjects joining us, and I wanted to ensure that we were prepared to welcome them."

"Very Good," Arthur appreciated his advisor, then he ordered. "Now, please set up the podium and gather all the subjects, I'll announce a few words."

"I've prepared that too," Elara said with a smile, one of her hands gesturing towards the Village's Hall. "Please, follow me, my lord."

Arthur couldn't help but feel curious about how far her divination could foresee the future. But he decided to think about it later, as he had more important things to worry about

With the new elven soldiers submitted to his territory, his territory now has more subjects from the elven race than from the human race. From his previous life experiences, social disparities would appear between different races.

Moreover, if that happened within the Dawn Light Village, an internal war might break out, so he had to act quickly to prevent it. And of course, Arthur already thought of trying something new to his subject about this regard.

Soon, as Arthur arrived at the heart of the village, he addressed the people who had gathered to welcome them back. "I am proud to announce that with the hard work of each and every one of you, Dawn Light Village has grown stronger and more prosperous," he declared. "I am grateful for all of your contributions and dedication to our home."

Standing before the assembled crowd in Dawn Light Village, Arthur took a deep breath to steady himself.

"Today is a momentous day for our village," Arthur began, his voice carrying with authority and warmth. "I am pleased to share that over 600 brave warriors from the Snow Elf Race have chosen to submit to Dawn Light Village from our earlier war. They have recognized our village and wish to be a part of it."

Cheers erupted from the villagers, expressing their excitement. Arthur allowed the excitement to settle before continuing, "This marks a significant step in the growth and prosperity of our village."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the diverse crowd of humans and elves that now called Dawn Light Village home. "I want to take this moment to remind all of you that we are not defined by the color of our skin, the shape of our ears, or the strength of our limbs. We are defined by the strength of our character, our unity, and our ability to stand together in times of hardship."

Since from now onwards he would also be getting more and more subjects from other races, he needed to prepare and introduce them to the diversity in unity from within, so that later there wouldn't be severe disunity within his territory.

Arthur's words resonated deeply with the villagers. He continued, "As we welcome our Snow Elf allies, I urge each and every one of you to embrace this opportunity to build bridges with other races. Let us break down the barriers that divide us and create a village where mutual respect and understanding thrive."

He glanced at Elara. "As my advisor, I know you share this vision. I ask you to continue to foster an environment where all races can flourish and contribute to our territory."

Elara nodded, her expression resolute. "It is my honor and duty to ensure that our village remains a place where every individual is valued and respected, regardless of their race."

As the celebration continued, Arthur knew that this was only the beginning of their journey. With each new subjects, each new relationship formed, and each step taken towards prosperity, Dawn Light Village would grow stronger, not just in numbers, but in spirit and character.

~ding

[Loyalty of all subjects +5]

[679 Snow Elf's Loyalty +10]

~ding

[Persuasion has taken effect]

[Effect: Your subjects will positively consider others of a different race.]

`Oh my god, this really works!` Arthur couldn't help but hide his excitement before the crowd.

...

Within the Village Hall...

The atmosphere in the Village Hall was tense as everyone gathered around the large table. Elara, with her keen eye for detail, was the first to speak up.

"Lord Arthur, while the village has grown significantly, we must not overlook the areas that still need attention. We lack adequate defenses, and our infrastructure could be further improved. Additionally, we need to establish a proper system for resource management and allocation. The infrastructure development has been progressing well, but we still lack in essential resources such as healthcare facilities, and advanced crafting workshops..."

As Elara's words sank in, Arthur felt a knot forming in his stomach. There were many aspects of village management that he had little experience in. As a former Traveler, he didn't have rich experience in governance nor village management. He glanced at the others, hoping for some reassurance, but their expressions were similarly grave.

"My Lord, would you be so kind as to share your thoughts on this matter?" Elara's eyes locked onto Arthur's.

Arthur's brow furrowed with concern.

...