The days that followed were some of the busiest Kaelen had ever known. The village of Greystone transformed with a speed none could have imagined. Every villager — from the youngest child to the grizzled elders — worked tirelessly to prepare for the impending threat. Hunting parties ventured deeper into the forest, gathering food and rare materials. Craftsmen forged weapons and reinforced homes, while Kaelen and Liora coordinated defenses and training sessions.
The sun barely peeked over the horizon when Kaelen was already awake. The sharp chill of early morning filled the air, but the low murmur of the village waking up brought him a strange comfort. Today, he wasn't just the lord overseeing preparations; he was a guardian of these people.
"Kaelen!" a voice called out softly.
He turned toward the sound. It was his little sister, Neria, stepping out from the wooden cottage with a small bundle of herbs in her hands. At eight years old, Neria was small, with bright, curious eyes and an infectious smile that could light up even the darkest room.
"Good morning, Neria. What have you got there?" Kaelen asked, walking over to her.
"I found some healing herbs near the creek," she said proudly. "I wanted to help."
Kaelen smiled and knelt down to her level. "That's very thoughtful. These will be useful in case anyone gets hurt."
Neria beamed. "I want to help protect the village too."
Kaelen's heart clenched. Protecting the village was no easy task — and with war looming, he worried constantly for her safety. Still, she was brave, maybe even more than he was at her age.
Unlike Kaelen's dark necromancer powers, Neria's unique class was something far rarer. The Nature Warder — a hybrid of elemental affinity and deep communion with the natural world. She could manipulate plant life, heal wounds using botanical energies, and summon protective barriers made of vines and bark.
The system had assigned her this class during the early days of their arrival in Greystone, as a perfect balance to Kaelen's undead summons. Though she was still learning, her powers were already impressive for her age.
"Let me show you," she said excitedly, lifting her hands.
From the earth, small green tendrils grew, weaving around Kaelen's arm like a gentle bracelet. He felt a soothing warmth spread through his skin.
"You're amazing, Neria," he said softly.
She giggled, but there was a seriousness in her eyes — a determination that went far beyond a child's playful curiosity.
Kaelen's mind was interrupted by the familiar chime of the Refund System. This time, the interface appeared with an important message:
System Update: Sister Integration Feature Activated.Mechanic: When MC spends resources on sister's abilities or related upgrades, refund is shared — MC gains 50% of the refund multiplier, sister receives remaining refunded resources.Note: Refund system profits the MC with SP gain; sister gains resources or items refunded.New Quest Added: Support Neria's Growth — Help Neria master her class abilities.Reward: 15 SP, Rare Crafting Materials.
Kaelen's eyes gleamed. This integration meant they could grow stronger together, supporting one another's unique paths.
That afternoon, Kaelen and Neria trained side by side outside the village.
Kaelen summoned skeletal warriors and undead beasts — a hulking golem and a creeping swarm of bone spiders — while Neria called forth thick vines and glowing orbs of nature energy. They practiced coordinating attacks, Kaelen's summons drawing enemies into traps set by Neria's plants.
"Remember," Kaelen advised, "if you use your barriers to protect the villagers, it'll give me more time to summon reinforcements."
Neria nodded seriously. "I won't let anyone get hurt."
Their training was interrupted by Liora approaching with an urgent expression.
"There's news from Lady Seraphina," Liora said. "More bandit groups have formed near the eastern border. They're working with rogue mages."
Kaelen frowned. "We don't have many fighters yet. How much time do we have?"
"About ten days," Liora replied grimly.
Kaelen's mind raced. Ten days was not long to prepare an entire village for battle, especially one as small and impoverished as Greystone.
"We need to focus on the village's weak points," Kaelen said, tapping his fingers on the table. "Walls, traps, and food supplies. If the villagers don't have enough to eat, morale will plummet."
That evening, Kaelen called a meeting of the village council, including Liora, Lady Seraphina, and the heads of families and guilds.
"We are on the brink of war," Kaelen began, voice steady but filled with urgency. "Our enemies are numerous and well-armed. We must stand united."
The council members nodded solemnly.
"We will divide the village into sectors," Kaelen continued, "assigning defenders to each area and setting up watch patrols. Liora will oversee defenses and traps. I will focus on summoning and resource management."
Lady Seraphina spoke next. "The refugees from nearby villages have started arriving. We must allocate resources wisely."
A burly man, the village blacksmith, grunted. "We can forge weapons, but we need more iron."
Kaelen nodded. "That's where the refund system helps. We'll gather materials, spend them, and refund with multiplier bonuses."
As the meeting ended, Kaelen found himself walking alongside Liora.
"Kaelen, I wanted to tell you something," she said quietly.
He looked at her, curious.
Liora hesitated, cheeks flushing. "I… I care about you. Not just as my lord or my partner in defense — but more."
Kaelen's heart skipped.
"I've been feeling this way for a while," she admitted. "I know we're preparing for war, but I couldn't keep it to myself."
Kaelen smiled softly. "I feel the same, Liora."
That night, under the pale moonlight, Kaelen and Liora shared a quiet moment, their hands brushing as they talked about the future — uncertain, but hopeful.
Kaelen thought of Neria and the village depending on him. The coming war would be brutal, but for the first time in a long while, he felt something else: the warmth of companionship.
The System updated again.
Quest Completed: Village Fortification – Phase 1.Reward: 20 SP, Blueprint for reinforced gates.
New Quest: Train the Villagers – Improve the combat skills of 50 villagers.Reward: 25 SP, Advanced Combat Techniques.
As days passed, Kaelen, Liora, and Neria pushed harder than ever before. The village was no longer just a place of hunger and fear; it was becoming a fortress.
The villagers, inspired by their lord's determination and the promise of the Refund System's power, fought to learn, adapt, and survive.
And Kaelen knew this was only the beginning.