The sun had barely crested over the rooftops when the town was struck by another wave of excitement. Notices had been posted on the wooden announcement board in the town square.
"Farm Workers Needed. 10 Copper Coins Daily. Apply Immediately."
Faeln Horn, a wiry man with salt-streaked hair and a sharp nose, was adjusting an old lantern behind the counter of his dusty shop when the bell chimed. His nephew, a lanky youth with a mop of brown hair, strode in breathlessly, waving a parchment.
"Uncle! Did you hear?" Jimmy called, eyes gleaming. "Ten copper coins a day to work on the Queen's farm! I think I'll sign up."
Faeln's hand froze mid-air, lantern forgotten. Ten copper coins? That's nearly triple what most earn a day.
He turned slowly, processing the news.Then, like a spark catching on dry grass, a thought burst in his mind.
If she's building farms, then she'll need tools. Equipment. Supplies.
Faeln's eyes widened as he bolted toward the door.
"Watch the shop, Jimmy!" he called out, already halfway down the street.
Jimmy blinked. "Wait, where are you going?!"
No answer.
The boy glanced around the empty shop, sighed, and flopped onto the stool behind the counter. "Not like anyone's gonna come here anyway," he muttered.
Meanwhile at Rain's end...
By mid-afternoon, she had gathered her usual crew in their usual meeting place.
Vaelen leaned against a post, arms crossed and a cocky grin playing on his lips. "So, we're going treasure hunting now?"
Thalos and Talis—the twins—were already crouched on a log,saying nothing but fully attentive. Nyx rolled her eyes at Vaelen's comment and tossed her braid over her shoulder.
"Don't act like you're not excited," she muttered. "Rain, what's the mission exactly?"
Rain paced in front of them, her dark ponytail swishing with every step. "Simple. The Queen believes the raiders might've hidden spoils somewhere on this island. We're to scout the forest—every cave, every crevice."
Nyx raised an eyebrow. "The Queen?"
Rain paused and gave her a sideways glance. "Yes. The Queen.She's not like the nobles from the stories. She's… different."
"She's crazy, you mean," Vaelen said, only half joking. "Promising that kind of pay for farm work? Half the town is already fighting to be a cabbage planter."
Rain smirked. "She's crazy in a good way."
The twins nodded in agreement. Nyx shrugged. "Alright. I'm in. It's been too quiet since the last raid anyway."
"We set out tomorrow at dawn," Rain said. "Pack light. Weapons, rope, lanterns, and water. We'll cover the western ridge first—it's least explored."
"And the most likely place for smugglers to hide things," Talis finally spoke, voice low and firm.
"Exactly."
The group dispersed.
Meanwhile Athena was preoccupied with thoughts. She was trying to fix a schedule for her next steps. The seeds were not quite much,but it's produce should be able to feed the population.
Athena groaned, dragging a hand down her face as she stepped out of the Hall. She stared toward the vast land stretching far beyond the village and muttered, "Ugh, how am I supposed to get all the way there?"
No horses. No carriages. No bicycles. Just... feet.
"System," she said aloud, voice edged with frustration. "Be a dear and drop me a horse. Or heck, even a bicycle. I won't complain, promise."
Ding!
[System Notification: Host may teleport to any previously explored destination on the map for a fee.]
Athena's eyes narrowed. "Wait, what kind of fee?"
[System: 10 Development Points (DP) per teleportation. One-way only.]
She blinked, confused. "So I'll need 10 to get there and another 10 to come back?"
System: Affirmative. 10 DP to travel. 10 DP to return. Total of 20 DP for a round trip. Development Points are not refundable.
Athena grinned. "Oh thank the heavens! That's actually not so—"
She stopped mid-thought. "Wait. Wait. What are Development Points?"
System: Development Points (DP) are earned by advancing the growth and success of Eldora. Actions such as increasing population happiness, expanding territories, improving infrastructure, completing missions, and fostering innovation will earn DP.
Athena squinted suspiciously into the air. "Okay... System, just how many Development Points do I have right now?"
Ding!
[System Notification: Current Development Points: 100]
Her jaw dropped. "Wait, what? I have 100 already?! Since when?"
[System: Development Points were awarded for completing the first mission.]
"Alright then," she muttered, pulling up the map and marking the lush, stream-side location she had chosen earlier. "System, teleport me to this location."
System: Confirm teleport to [Unnamed Meadow - Sector B3]? Cost: 10 Development Points.
"Yes, confirm."
System: Teleportation commencing...
There was a soft hum of energy, and in a blink, Athena vanished from the Hall and reappeared at the edge of a serene field — rich green grass, a crystal-clear stream winding through the trees, and open space as far as the eye could see.
"Now this is what I call potential," she breathed with a grin. Looking around the land could contain at least 300 farms,she could easily expand as well.
The grass rustled softly beneath her feet, swaying gently as a cool breeze brushed against her cheeks. Birds chirped above, fluttering through the branches, and a stream gurgled a few paces away, winding lazily through the clearing.
The sight of the stream reminded her that she was yet to take a bath. She sniffed herself and groaned. She looked around and eliminated the thought from her head,this place was too open to take a bath.'Focus Athena, you can have a bath later.'
She slowly began pacing out the land, mentally dividing sections.
She walked a bit further, passing a small patch of uneven ground. "Animals over there," she decided, pointing as if the goats and chickens would magically appear. "Close enough to water, far enough to not stink up the fields."
She frowned slightly as she stopped and turned, staring at the expanse behind her. "We're going to need a storehouse. Something simple for now, just enough to keep harvested crops from spoiling."
The breeze picked up again, carrying with it a faint sweetness.
Curious, Athena looked toward the tree line. She glanced back at her chosen farmland — it felt safe, quiet — but still, better to know the area. she stepped past the edge of the clearing and into the forest.
The light dimmed under the canopy, and she walked carefully, ears tuned to the natural rhythm of the woods. She passed thick brambles, moss-covered rocks, and the occasional startled rabbit. The forest felt... untouched. As if it hadn't seen people in years.
She ducked beneath a low-hanging branch and froze.
Just a few paces ahead, nestled in a gentle rise of land, was an orchard.
Dozens of trees stretched before her, heavy with red apples that glinted in the filtered sunlight. Their branches sagged under the weight, fruit shining like polished gems.
Athena's eyes widened in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me..."
She walked forward reverently, reached out, and plucked one apple from a low-hanging branch. The skin was smooth and warm from the sun. She took a bite.
Sweet. Crisp. Real.
Her shoulders dropped in joy and she laughed quietly to herself.
"This is perfect."
She stayed a moment longer, plucking three more apples and tucking them into her cloak. An orchard right beside the farm... this place really was blessed.
The system's glowing map hovered faintly in the corner of her vision, a gentle guide as she moved beneath the canopy. It was quiet, peaceful even, the kind of silence only disturbed by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant bird call.
It took some time, but eventually, the thick trees began to thin, and Athena found herself approaching something familiar: a tall wooden gate, the same one she'd passed through on her very first day in the village.
She slowed her steps, gaze fixed on the structure. Up close, it looked... worse.
Curious, she ran her fingers along the coarse surface of the wall—solid, maybe stone reinforced with something else."System," she said aloud, "where does the wall end?"
System:
Displaying current defensive boundary.
The map blinked into focus. A semi-circle curved protectively around the village's landward side, blocking the dense forest from view. On the other side, the line ended—cut cleanly at the shore.
Athena narrowed her eyes at the map, then at the world around her.
The wall was solid, she had to admit. Maybe enchanted? Reinforced? She made another mental note to investigate later.
But the gate... the gate was laughable.
Two planks wide. No locks. No hinges, just a makeshift lever on the inside to hold it shut. It looked more like a barn door than a town entrance.
No guards. No archers. No one watching.
She stepped closer, peering around the post. Anyone could stroll in—or out.
And no one would stop them.
"No wonder this place kept getting raided," she muttered under her breath, crossing her arms.
She remembered walking in that first time. No challenge. No questions.
"This village is begging to be invaded," she said, half to herself and half to the system. She looked up at the wall one more time, then pushed the gate open with ease and stepped back into the village.
The sun was already high up in the sky casting a golden sheen over the village,a warm reminder from her belly made her change course,from the Hall to her home.