The flourishing spring of etabsam continued, each passing month solidifying Mark's reforms and the kingdom's growing power. The Iron Serpent network expanded steadily, its tracks stretching further across the verdant plains and into the mineral-rich mountains. The coal-fired foundries not only produced superior iron but also began to experiment with the rarer metals Ellaine had discovered, producing alloys stronger and lighter than anything previously known. This led to advancements in everything from agricultural tools to military armaments, giving etabsam a distinct advantage.
Mark's focus was now on diversification. He established a new Agricultural Innovation Bureau, led by a talented young Human scholar named Master Lyell, who, under Mark's guidance, pioneered steam-powered irrigation pumps and early mechanical plows. This drastically increased crop yields, transforming once-barren lands into fertile breadbaskets, further bolstering etabsam's self-sufficiency and trade surplus. The education system was reformed, with public schools emphasizing practical skills, engineering, and basic literacy, fostering a new generation of skilled workers and thinkers.
Ellaine, under Mark's guidance, began to delve deeper into her own magical abilities. Mark, with his past-life understanding of scientific principles, helped her view mana not just as an ethereal force, but as a quantifiable energy. He encouraged her to analyze spell structures like chemical formulas, to break down magical effects into their fundamental components. This unique approach allowed Ellaine to develop more efficient wards, more precise divination spells, and even rudimentary mana-conduit systems that could channel raw mana to power industrial processes, complementing the steam engines. This wasn't about creating new magic, but about applying an engineer's logic to arcane arts, a process that subtly enhanced Ellaine's power and versatility. She even managed to detect the subtle mana signatures of the Black Hand agents – Kaelen Dusk, Seraphina's Shadow, and Raxus the Silent – moving within the capital, though their cloaking spells made precise identification difficult. She reported her findings to Ben, leading to increased, though covert, vigilance.
It was during this period of intense magical and scientific integration that Mark's own mana-sight began to awaken, a latent ability unlocked and refined by the unique circumstances of his coma and his mind's relentless analysis of magical structures. His scientific approach to mana, previously an intellectual curiosity, had laid the groundwork, allowing the trauma and subsequent crucible of his unconscious state to forge a direct, intuitive connection to mana currents. He began to perceive the faint, shimmering flows of energy that permeated everything, from the pulsating lines within Ellaine's spell arrays to the subtle auras around individuals and the deeper currents within the earth. This newfound sense, though still raw, provided an additional layer of perception, subtly aiding his strategic understanding and giving him an even more intimate connection to the world he was reshaping.
Ben, ever the silent guardian, intensified his intelligence network. He recruited loyal members of the Beastfolk community and former disgruntled merchants who had been harmed by the Black Hand. They formed an informal counter-espionage unit, silently tracking suspicious individuals, noting unusual movements, and gathering whispers from the underbelly of the city. Alfred, using his charm and connections, helped him cultivate new informants, often without them even realizing they were working for the Crown. They knew the Black Hand was observing, but the extent of their infiltration was still a mystery.
Kaelen Dusk, meanwhile, submitted detailed reports to The Weaver. "The Prince's methods are alarmingly effective," his report read. "He has transformed an agrarian backwater into an industrial powerhouse in mere years. His approach to resource management, combined with the Dwarf's engineering and the Lady's arcane insights, is unprecedented. He fosters loyalty through prosperity, not fear. His core team is fanatically devoted. His greatest weakness appears to be his personal safety, despite his bodyguard's vigilance, and his reliance on complex machinery which could, theoretically, be disrupted."
Seraphina's Shadow observed the court. "The noble restructuring is largely successful. Anya Reynard is a master of political manipulation. The old guard is isolated, the new loyal. Few lingering resentments remain, and those that do are too fearful to act. However, the Human City-States alliance, though economically powerful, is still riddled with internal rivalries that could be inflamed."
Raxus the Silent, from the Demon Wastes, reported on the mana shifts. "The Prince's mage, Ellaine, is a prodigy. She is developing mana-channeling techniques that could circumvent our crystal monopolies. Her detection spells are growing stronger. etabsam's magical defenses are becoming formidable, a direct threat to our arcane operations."
The Weaver received these reports in their hidden chamber, their long, clawed fingers tapping rhythmically on their projected map of Sugbu. etabsam, now a radiant beacon, stood out starkly. The period of observation was ending. The time for a more direct, and far more devastating, retaliation was at hand. The peace, vibrant and rich, was about to shatter.