The market district of Nepthuren no longer felt like a fledgling town. It pulsed like a living artery, drawing traffic from every direction. Caravans rattled down the Crimson Road, adventurers filed through the gates, and merchants bargained loudly in a dozen tongues. Stalls spilled into streets where goblins traded glowing mushrooms, beastkin haggled for hides, and humans argued over baskets of grain.
In the glow beneath the city, Vael had carved his own seat of power. The young vampire prince now commanded seven of his kin, pale and sharp-eyed, who had chosen to live near his castle hollowed into the cavern walls. Lantern light shimmered against their cloaks as they stalked the markets at night, neither hidden nor feared—just another piece of the strange puzzle that was Kai's nation.
---
But the heart of the buzz was a spider.
The townsfolk called it Webber. It loomed in a chamber off Glowhollow, its silk spilling into workshops and guild halls. Where once people wore patched hides or rough-spun cloth, now garments of silver and black glimmered in the sun. Cloaks, tunics, dresses, even work aprons—all spun by the spider's patient legs.
The beastkin were the most amazed. Wolfkin tugged cloaks across their shoulders, marveling at how the fabric didn't snag against fur. Stagkin wore tunics with broad loops cut for their antlers. But the birdkin—the feathered clans—were transformed. For the first time, Webber wove clothing that worked with wings.
A hawk-winged youth stepped into the square in a long silver robe slit from shoulder to waist. His wings unfurled, catching sunlight on every feather. He leapt into the air, beating once, twice, and rose high above the marketplace. The robe clung close, trailing light without drag.
He shouted down in wonder. "I can fly! It doesn't weigh me down!"
Birdkin all around cried out in amazement. A crow-woman tested hers next, a short jacket tight at the shoulders but free at the wings. She spun in the air, cawing with laughter. Others scrambled to order the same, the square erupting into cheers and applause.
Kippers were wary of being eaten by the spider, whispering nervously when Webber's mandibles clicked. But the spider remained calm, its silk steady and patient. And if it ever turned hostile, they all knew Overwatch would burn it down in a heartbeat.
Kilo, bold as ever, stood before Kai in brand-new armor of black silk. The suit fit snugly, light as air but tough enough to resist blades. He struck a pose, tiny chest puffed out.
"What do you think, mister?"
Kai smiled. "You look like a hero already."
He knelt and presented the sword he'd worked on—a narrow, lightweight blade, perfect for Kilo's size. The kipper grasped it with reverence, swinging once before nearly falling backward. The crowd laughed, but Kai only ruffled his hair.
"I like you, Kilo," Kai said softly. "Don't make me regret it."
---
That night, they gathered around a bonfire in the square. Smoke curled into the dark, carrying the smell of roasting meat. For the first time, the bread was different. After weeks of experiments, Kai had managed to teach the farmers yeast-making. The loaves puffed, soft inside with golden crusts. People tore chunks and passed them around, marveling at the taste.
"Bread that breathes," a goblin said with a grin full of crumbs.
The farmers were still baffled by Kai's next demand. He'd had them plant fields of sugarcane. At first, they muttered—why waste soil on a reed no beast would eat? But when Kai boiled it down and let them taste the crystals, their confusion gave way to wide-eyed delight.
"Sweetness," one whispered, holding the grains on his tongue like treasure.
Kai chuckled, though sweat beaded his brow. He'd done the refining by hand, resisting the temptation to lean on his tattoos. Progress, he told himself, had to be shared.
---
The Hollow Howl tribe arrived then, dragging a freshly killed deer through the market. Blood streaked the cobblestones, and the smell of iron filled the air. They butchered it with efficient claws, dividing meat into shares. The crowd gathered for portions, but what caught Kai's eye was the fat being tossed aside.
"Can I have the fat?" he asked.
A wolfkin shrugged and pushed a bucket toward him. "Sure."
Kai carried it to a workbench, heating it with stone trays until it rendered down. He mixed in ashes, then called goblins to gather fragrant flowers. They crushed petals into the mixture, and soon the scent changed from harsh to floral.
When he held up the hardened bars, people leaned closer, frowning.
"What is that?" a human woman asked.
"Soap," Kai explained. He rubbed it with water until lather foamed in his hands. "For washing."
A goblin sniffed, eyes wide. "It smells like flowers."
The crowd stirred, murmuring. Merchants leaned in, calculating.
Within minutes, the square was alive with offers. "I'll trade three sacks of grain for a bar!" "Five silvers for two!" "Ten, if you can make a cartload!"
Kai shook his head, smiling faintly. "One at a time. Everyone gets clean."
---
As the excitement swelled, Kai spoke of other ideas. "Makeup," he said, almost as an afterthought.
The word hung strange in the air. Women frowned, tilting their heads.
"What is makeup?" a beastkin asked, ears twitching.
"Powder and paint," Kai explained. "To color the face, brighten the eyes, add beauty where nature leaves it plain."
A ripple of laughter moved through the crowd, but curiosity outweighed skepticism. Some leaned closer, whispering. Others asked what colors he would make. Merchants, already seeing profit, began scribbling notes.
Kai only smiled. "We'll see."
---
The night wound down with laughter and song. Bread and stew were passed around, soap bars were sniffed like prized relics, and the fire threw light across faces from every race.
Daniel leaned back against a log, smirking at Kai. "You never stop, do you?"
Kai tore off a piece of bread and chewed slowly before answering. "If we stop, we stay like the rest of the Old Realm. And I'm not interested in staying."
From the shadows, Webber clicked softly, spinning more cloth even in the night. Overwatch's glow pulsed faintly through the stone, silent but watchful. Vael's vampires lingered at the edge of the firelight, pale eyes catching the flames. The Hollow Howl feasted on their kill, gnawing bones without shame.
And Kai, tired but content, looked out across them all—goblins, beastkin, humans, kippers, werewolves, vampires—and thought, Things are working out nicely.