Within hours of its fall, Sigret still trembled from the shock. The scent of burnt gunpowder hung heavy in the air, and faint moans seeped from beneath the rubble. Yet amidst this destruction, the outlines of a new order began to emerge. Kisor's soldiers, led by Sevara, secured the town, gathering prisoners and extinguishing small fires, while Sigret's residents hid in their homes, awaiting their fate.
In the partially ruined hall of Sirot's palace, which only hours earlier had been the scene of the slain baron's arrogance, stood Javer, Kisor's former chief butler and Sigret's newly appointed mayor. His face showed a mix of exhaustion and seriousness, but his eyes gleamed with unwavering determination. His task was immense: to transform this "stable" into a city worthy of Zidan's vision.
"Gentlemen!" Javer said, his voice echoing in the hall that still bore the marks of battle. Before him were three young people, two males and one female, whom Zidan had carefully chosen from among the educated in Kisor and sent to assist Javer in his new mission. They weren't "graduates" in the modern sense, but they possessed literacy, some experience in record-keeping, community organization, and a basic understanding of arithmetic.
"This is Sigret," Javer continued, gesturing towards the broken windows overlooking the muddy town streets. "It has suffered for too long under neglect and corruption. Our mission is to change it. To make it a place where people live with dignity, cleanliness, and prosperity."
The first young man, Gareth, with light brown hair and calm, intelligent blue eyes, stepped forward. Gareth had worked as a record keeper in Kisor and possessed a knack for organizing information. "Mr. Mayor, the task seems daunting. The streets are overflowing with garbage, the water is polluted, and people live in abject poverty."
"I know, Gareth," Javer said. "And that's why you're here. You, Gareth, will be responsible for organizing records, enumerating the population, and distributing resources. I want to know everything about this town, from its population to its basic needs."
Javer then turned to the second young man, Lysander, with dark hair and serious features. Lysander had worked in organizing refugee camps in Kisor and had experience dealing with crowds and distributing supplies. "Lysander, you will be responsible for organizing the sanitation teams. I want to see these streets clean. We'll start by collecting feces and garbage, and we'll use them as fertilizer for Sigret's fields. We will implement the incentive system that Baron Zidan applied in Kisor: three copper pieces for every pound of waste. I want to see people working and getting paid for their efforts."
Lysander's eyes widened. "Paying money for filth? Mr. Mayor, that's unheard of here. People might refuse."
"Let them refuse at first," Javer said with a faint smile. "But when they see their neighbors getting paid and their fields flourishing, they'll change their minds. I've seen this happen in Kisor. Trust is built on results, not empty promises."
Finally, Javer turned to the young woman, Seraphine. Seraphine was a clever young woman with long black hair and sharp eyes. She had worked in organizing humanitarian aid for refugees in Kisor and possessed a strong sense of justice and empathy. "Seraphine, you will be responsible for health and education. I want to see latrines built everywhere. I want to see people learn the importance of hygiene. And I want to see small schools opened to teach children reading, writing, and arithmetic. This is the foundation of building a strong society."
"Education? Mr. Mayor, no one here has ever thought of that," Seraphine said, her eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "People here can barely find their daily bread. Will they accept?"
"We will provide them with food, and we will provide them with hope," Javer said. "When the stomach is full, the mind begins to think. This is Baron Zidan's vision. A vision for a new kingdom, based not only on strength but on knowledge and prosperity."
The three immediately began to work, excited by the challenge. Sigret was about to undergo a radical transformation.
Meanwhile, at the army camp outside Sigret, Sevara inspected his soldiers. They had suffered some losses in the battle, but the victory had been decisive. He knew that Zidan would ask him to compensate for the deficiencies and prepare the army for upcoming missions.
"Leelin!" Sevara called out.
Leelin, the battalion commander, a strong young man with blond hair and blue eyes, stepped forward. Leelin had shown bravery and skill in the Battle of Mount Caver, where he led part of the infantry in the attack on Sirot and Rick's forces, and he had also shown wise leadership in the Battle of Sigret, where he led his squad in breaching the wall.
"Yes, My Lord Commander!" Leelin said, standing at attention.
"Leelin, you have shown courage and skill in the last two battles," Sevara said, his voice carrying a note of appreciation. "You have proven yourself a trustworthy leader. And for that, I have decided to promote you to the rank of battalion commander."
Leelin's eyes widened in astonishment. Battalion commander! That was a high rank. "Thank you, My Lord Commander! I will never let you down!"
"I know," Sevara said. "Now, your new mission is to compensate for the shortage of our soldiers. I want you to start recruiting and training Sigret's youth. Look for the strong, the intelligent, and those with a fighting spirit. Apply the same training methods we learned in Kisor. I want them to become part of Zidan's new army."
"Yes, My Lord Commander!" Leelin said enthusiastically. "I will make them soldiers Baron Zidan will be proud of!"
The next day, Sigret witnessed a sight it had never seen before. Javer ordered the opening of the food stores that had been piled up in Sirot's palace. The stores were full of grains, bread, and some dried meat, which Sirot had hidden for himself and his entourage, while his people starved.
Crowds gathered in the main square, their eyes filled with suspicion and anticipation. They were accustomed to hunger and to the false promises of nobles.
Javer stood on a raised platform, with Gareth, Lysander, and Seraphine beside him. "People of Sigret!" Javer called out loudly, his voice echoing through the air. "You have suffered for too long! You were starving while your former master's stores were full! But that era is over!"
Kisor's soldiers began distributing food. Fresh bread, grains, and pieces of dried meat. Mothers wiped away tears of joy, men smiled shyly, and children played with pieces of bread.
"This... this is real?" an old woman whispered, taking a piece of bread. "I haven't seen bread like this in years."
"It's from Baron Zidan!" Javer said. "He sent me to feed you and to make Sigret a better place! You will not starve anymore!"
A murmur began among the crowds, then turned into shouts. "Long live Zidan! Long live the good noble!" Voices rose, filling the square and reaching every corner of Sigret. They were cries from the depths of hearts that felt hope for the first time in a long time.
Javer stood watching the scene, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He saw hunger turn into hope, and despair into joy. He saw how Zidan's vision, a vision of justice and prosperity, began to materialize here in Sigret.
At that moment, Javer wished he could return to Kisor immediately, to see Zidan, and tell him how much the people here loved him. How his words and actions had changed the lives of thousands. He knew the road would be long, and the challenges immense, but he now had a loyal team and a people who were beginning to believe in hope. Sigret, once just a black dot on the kingdom's map, was about to become a new beacon in the Kingdom of Albido.