Chapter 9
Time: 100 - 70 Years Before the Doom
POV: Kaelen (Elias Vance)
The news of my return, and my unchanging appearance, spread like wildfire through the Verdant Kin. The older Silvanar remembered me as the strange, gifted youth who'd vanished. The younger ones looked at me with open wonder, as if I were a spirit manifest. Elder Lyra, frail but resolute, called for a gathering of the Elders' Council. This was my chance. My true first step.
The council gathered in the oldest part of the valley, under the shade of ancient, towering trees whose roots twisted like forgotten giants. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the quiet, empathic whispers of the Silvanar. The Elders, their faces etched with the concerns of a struggling tribe, looked at me with a mixture of hope and skepticism.
"Kaelen," Lyra began, her voice soft but clear, "you have returned from the world beyond our valley. You look as you did when you left, yet you speak with the wisdom of the ancients. What have you seen? What do you bring to the Verdant Kin?"
I stood before them, my presence calm, assured. "Elders, I have seen the great civilizations of this world. I have seen their power, their knowledge, their triumphs, and their inevitable falls." I let my voice carry a subtle resonance, allowing them to feel the weight of my experiences. "They build with stone and fire, they command armies and seas, and they grow vast and wealthy. But their strength is often their weakness. They rise, then they inevitably shatter, leaving only ruins."
I paused, letting the silence hang heavy. "The Verdant Kin, your way, is beautiful. You live in harmony with the jungle. But you are small. Vulnerable. The jungle itself grows more hostile. The blight you faced years ago was but a whisper of the dangers that gather beyond your borders. Relying on ancient spirits alone will not save you when the true storms come."
A tremor ran through the council. They knew the truth of my words.
"I bring you not just ancient ways, but new ones," I declared, my voice firm. "I have learned to shape stone like the mountains, to build ships that can cross any sea, to forge steel that sings with power. I have learned how empires are governed, how their people are organized, how knowledge is preserved and passed down. And I have learned the discipline that makes even the wild beast a loyal companion." I projected images into their minds: towering defenses of living stone and wood, grand halls, bustling markets, ships sailing mighty rivers, legions of Silvanar warriors, united and strong.
"My vision for the Verdant Kin is not merely survival, but dominance. We will not abandon our respect for the land, but we will master it. We will unite the scattered tribes of Sothoryos under a single banner, a new kind of civilization, built on the foundations of our connection to the earth, tempered by the wisdom of the Freehold and the discipline of the East. We will build a city that rises from the jungle, a beacon of our strength. A palace that will become a myth, a symbol of our enduring power. And we will forge weapons that will protect us from any foe."
A deep murmur spread through the Elders. Many looked fearful, others skeptical. This was a radical departure from their peaceful, hidden ways.
"Such change is... vast, Kaelen," one elder ventured, his voice shaky. "The spirits may not approve."
"The spirits listen to power," I countered, my eyes burning with conviction. "And I wield that power. I am the last Ael'athar. It is my destiny to lead our people to greatness. But I cannot do it alone. I need you. I need your wisdom. I need your belief." I looked at each of them, projecting my unwavering resolve. "And I need strong hands and sharp minds to help me build this future."
The very next day, I sought out Lyra's son. He was named Faelar, a strong, earnest Silvanar with a kind heart and a deep respect for his mother. He was perhaps forty years old, a mature warrior and hunter. He looked at me with quiet reverence, having heard his mother's tales and now seeing my unchanged appearance with his own eyes.
"Faelar," I said, meeting him by the river. "Your mother speaks highly of you. Your dedication to the tribe, your strength in the hunt. I see a leader in you."
He bowed his head humbly. "I merely serve the Verdant Kin, Kaelen. As my mother has. As you did, long ago."
"My service will be different now," I explained, gesturing to the surrounding jungle. "I aim to transform this valley. To teach our people new ways to shape the earth, to build, to defend. I will need loyal people by my side. Those who understand my vision and are willing to dedicate their lives to its creation."
Faelar listened intently as I laid out the initial plans for the city, for the unified tribes. He was a keen listener, asking practical questions about resources and organization, showing a clear aptitude for leadership. He became my first true lieutenant.
Building the Foundation and Forging the Dukes
For the next thirty years, the Verdant Kin underwent a profound transformation under my direct guidance. It was a period of relentless work, teaching, and profound change.
My first task was to begin uniting the tribes. I sent Faelar and other trusted Silvanar on scouting missions to nearby, smaller tribes, carrying my message. Not a demand for subjugation, but an offer of protection, prosperity, and a shared future under the leadership of the last Ael'athar. My personal demonstrations of power – shifting rivers, raising immense walls of stone and living wood with a thought, instantly healing injuries – convinced many. They saw not a conqueror, but a savior, a true force of nature on their side. Slowly, hesitantly at first, then with growing conviction, the scattered jungle tribes began to send their people to my growing settlement.
My next focus was building the new city. It rose from the heart of the Verdant Kin's valley, a marvel unlike anything Sothoryos had ever seen. I didn't just build, I taught. Using my earth control, I shaped the foundations, but I made the Silvanar learn the methods of quarrying, stonecutting, and basic masonry. With my plant control, I wove massive, durable structures of living wood, teaching them how to graft and guide the growth. Rivers were diverted for clean water and irrigation. Fields were cleared, using techniques I learned from Essos to maximize yield. Housing, temples, and communal spaces began to take shape. It was slow work, demanding immense effort from both me and my people, but they saw the vision, and they built with fierce pride. This city would one day be the core of my empire, and the great palace that would sit at its heart, a symbol of our power, was already being envisioned in my mind's eye.
Crucially, I began to train apprentices in the arts I had mastered. I picked the most promising young Silvanar, those with keen minds and disciplined spirits.
* For smithing, I found Aerion, the swift scout who once favored jungle birds. He had a natural aptitude for precise movements and a burning curiosity about how things worked. I taught him the secrets of Valyrian steel, the folding techniques of Yi Ti. We set up hidden forges deep in the jungle, powered by underground vents I could access with my earth control. He learned to temper metal, to shape it into blades of unmatched quality. He would forge the weapons of my future armies.
* For sword arts, I chose Valerius, the powerful young hunter. He already possessed incredible strength and courage, but I taught him discipline, precision, and the intricate Valyrian fighting forms, combined with the quick, deadly movements I'd learned from the Katana masters. He became a master of combat, dedicated to protecting our people.
* For language and administration, I chose Sylvani, the quiet, observant woman who loved the ancient trees. She possessed a meticulous mind and a serene patience. I taught her to read and write the common tongue of Essos, to understand the intricacies of governance, trade, and record-keeping. Together, we began to write down the language of the Silvanar, creating a written form for their clicks and hums, giving them a new way to preserve their history and communicate.
As these chosen few mastered their skills, I began to introduce the concept of House names, or last names. The Silvanar had always gone by single names, or descriptive titles. But an empire needed structure, lineage, a way to pass on reputation and responsibility.
"From this day forward," I declared before my chosen apprentices, "you will be more than just individuals. You will be the foundation of our future. You will be the Dukes of this new age."
* To Aerion, the smith and scout, I gave the name Aerion Caelenor, symbolizing his mastery of celestial fires in the forge and his future as a gleaming vanguard. He would become my Duke of Forges and Vanguard, responsible for our arms and our swift movements.
* To Valerius, the powerful hunter and warrior, I gave the name Valerius Ithilien, for his deep connection to the earth's defenses and his noble, unyielding strength in combat. He would be my Duke of Arms and Defenders, leading our forces.
* To Sylvani, the scholar and quiet strength, I gave the name Sylvani Lumiel, for her bright wisdom, her illuminating insights, and her graceful administration. She would be my Duke of Lore and Prosperity, managing our resources and knowledge.
* And to Faelar, Elder Lyra's son, my first true lieutenant, I gave the name Faelar Ambaron, symbolizing his fundamental connection to the world, his foundational role, and his unwavering leadership in our growth. He would be my Duke of Earth and Expansion, overseeing the growth of our cities and our people.
These were my legendary Four Dukes. My trusted friends. My closest advisors. For thirty years, I taught them, mentored them, and shaped them. We built, we organized, we forged. The seed of my empire was planted, its roots growing deep in the Sothoryan soil. The time for conquest would come, but first, we had to build an unshakeable foundation.
With the first city taking shape and the Four Dukes established,
* Aerion Caelenor
* Valerius Ithilien
* Sylvani Lumiel
* Faelar Ambaron