Ironmarch was a small city at the edge of the Eastern Land and the dreaded Abyss. The reason Luceran's father, the Emperor of the Kyros Divine Empire, sent him here was simple: he wanted Luceran to fortify and grow it. Right now, Ironmarch had a population of about fifty thousand people and was split into two parts: the inner and outer rings. The inner ring was a busy center with stores, bars, and the city's main hall. The outer ring was just for homes. The city only had two gates, one to the north and one to the west. The south and east were naturally protected by a huge lake and a tough mountain range.
"Trodo, hey! Trodo, you gotta wake up!" a guard in a simple armor whispered loudly to his friend, who was fast asleep during his watch. Their job was to patrol the city hall.
"Hey, Jack! Go get all the maids to clean the master room in the city hall. Move it!" a fat, middle-aged guy with a mustache shouted. He was so excited, his mustache was glistening with spittle.
"Yes, City Lord!" Jack yelled back. "Wake up, you moron!" He gave Trodo a slap on the head before running off to find the maids.
High above the city, Luceran looked down at the land, feeling relaxed even with the strong wind hitting his handsome face. He was tired of sleeping in tents and bathing in rivers. A few minutes later, a small city with thirty-foot walls came into view.
"Finally!" Luceran said, a happy relief in his voice. His days of roughing it were finally over.
"I've already contacted the mayor, Your Highness. He should have everything ready for you," Nelez said.
"Good to know," Luceran replied. He couldn't help but dream of a warm, soft bed, good food, and maids to wait on him. In minutes, the city got bigger as the three of them got closer on Draka's back. When they flew over the city, they could see people staring up at them. Some looked scared, having never seen such a huge, scary-looking beast before, while others were just in awe. Draka landed in the city hall's courtyard. The pair jumped off, and Nelez straightened his clothes. A gentle gust of wind came from Luceran, magically wiping away the dust from their long trip. In front of them, a group of people, led by the mayor, were running toward them in a frantic rush.
"Greetings, Your Highness! This humble servant is Daaz. I am the mayor of this city!" The fat mayor, sweating from the run, greeted Luceran with an eager bow.
"Prepare the room," Luceran said with a nod, then walked toward the main building.
"Maids, follow and serve the prince well!" the mayor commanded the maids who were still bowing.
"Yes, my lord!" the maids replied in unison, then followed Luceran inside.
"Nelez, we'll start discussing our plans tomorrow," Luceran ordered his butler.
"Of course, Your Highness! Have a nice rest," Nelez replied, bowing. "Mayor Daaz, please lead the way to your office." The mayor quickly led Nelez away.
"This way, Your Highness!" A maid who looked like the head of the group walked ahead, guiding the prince inside. After a left and a right turn, they arrived on the second floor.
"The main room is in the left wing, Your Highness," the maid informed him. "Bela, please lead the prince to his room. Your Highness, please excuse us. We'll get your dinner ready." The head maid bowed with the other three maids and left.
Bela, a tanned, good-looking girl, led the prince to his room. After a few more turns, they arrived at the end of a corridor, where a huge wooden door, the size of two people, stood before them. Bela opened the door and stood to the side, waiting for the prince to enter.
Luceran stepped inside and looked around. The room was a decent size, with a small chandelier hanging in the middle and candle chandeliers in each corner. The rectangular room had a large leather rug in the center. The bed was big enough for two people, and a small study table was placed beside it. A door on the opposite wall led to the bathroom. In short, it wasn't a bad room for Luceran, especially since he hadn't slept in a real bed in half a month.
"Get the hot water ready. I need to bathe," Luceran ordered the maid.
"Yes, Your Highness," Bela replied, bowing, and went into the bathroom.
The First Day
"Your Highness, please wake up. Advisor Nelez and the mayor have been waiting in the office."
The prince yawned and slowly opened his eyes. He looked to his left to see Bela getting his clothes ready. Above the study table, a set of meals was already prepared for him. 'Damn, that was satisfying. I slept like a baby,' he thought. He stood up and stretched a bit before slowly taking off his clothes and heading into the bathroom. Bela followed, ready to help him.
"Is everything ready, Mayor?" Nelez asked. The middle-aged man looked like a meticulous scholar in his glasses and formal office attire.
"Of course, Lord Nelez! All the info about Ironmarch's military, economy, and the surrounding area is prepared!" the mayor answered nervously.
"Good morning, everyone!" The door suddenly opened, and the handsome young man stepped in, looking completely refreshed.
"Good morning, Your Highness! You look well-rested now," Nelez greeted, a hint of a smile on his face.
"Haha, I had a good rest." Luceran smiled back and took a seat at the desk. "Now, remind me again of my purpose here, Nelez."
"His Majesty has tasked Your Highness with strengthening this border city. Beyond that, His Majesty also encourages you to begin building your influence, as Ironmarch is strategically located near other major regions," Nelez answered. Luceran tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
"How's the military of Ironmarch?" Luceran asked the mayor.
"Reporting to Your Highness, the Ironmarch garrison has five thousand men. A fifth of them are veterans. Most soldiers are in the early stage of the Flesh Strengthening Realm, while the veterans are in the middle stage," the mayor replied.
"Are there any soldiers who follow the Arcana Path?" Luceran asked.
"Unfortunately, no, Your Highness. It costs too much to keep Arcana Path soldiers for Ironmarch's economy," the mayor answered, his face red with embarrassment.
"Oh? How bad is our financial situation?" the prince asked.
"So far, Ironmarch mainly relies on the Vask Lake and the mountainous regions for its economy. We have farms to the north of the city, but they don't help much. The army also sometimes works as mercenaries for trade groups needing protection in the area," the mayor explained. His voice got softer and more embarrassed with each detail.
After listening to the report, Luceran understood the city's problem. When he heard that the military had to work as mercenaries just to get some cash, he knew the situation was bad. He looked at the papers on the table about the military and economy and rubbed his forehead, his expression troubled as he thought about a solution.
"Are there any merchants from outside coming, or even settling here, to sell their goods? What about the local stores and inns? Is the tax money not enough to support the military?" Nelez asked, his voice calm but probing.
"Merchants rarely come to Ironmarch. The inns and stores find it hard to develop because of safety problems. Monsters and bandits roam the area, which is why merchants don't want to trade, and few outsiders visit the city. This has led to the economy getting stuck. People have little income, which means less buying power, which means the inns and local stores struggle, and it all leads to less tax money for us," the mayor carefully explained.
"I see... so the main issue is safety?" Luceran figured out.
"Well... if it were that simple, the military could just clear the area of monsters and bandits, Your Highness, but..."
"But the monsters and bandits are on the same level, if not stronger than the military, so you have to just wait and do nothing, which leads to this stalemate?" Luceran finished the sentence for him. The mayor looked down, too embarrassed to face the prince while laying out the problem.
"Sigh, how utterly amazing," Luceran said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Take me to the barracks," he ordered.
With the mayor and Nelez in tow, he walked out of the city hall and toward the barracks. The walk took them through the outer ring, where simple homes lined the streets. The buildings were basic, made with local stone and wood, and the faces they passed were tired from hard work. It was a huge change from the fancy life Luceran was used to, and it made the troubled look on his face deepen.
The barracks were a sprawling complex on the northern edge of the city. A thirty-foot wall of rough-hewn timber and dirt surrounded a huge compound. As they got to the gates, the air filled with the sounds of training: rhythmic shouts, the clang of practice swords, and the heavy thud of feet hitting the ground. The soldiers were clearly in the middle of their daily drill.
The compound itself was simple and all about function. A large, open training field was in the center, with training dummies and weapon racks all over it. Around the edge were long, single-story buildings made of stone and wood, where the five thousand soldiers lived. A smaller, more fortified building stood in the back, probably the commander's office and armory. The whole setup, while crude, was able to hold the city's entire military force.
As they stepped onto the training field, the mayor, Daaz, puffed out his chest and raised a hand to a soldier passing by. "Halt the drills! Attention!" he bellowed.
The training chaos instantly stopped. All eyes turned toward the new arrivals. The mayor beamed, gesturing to Luceran. "Soldiers of Ironmarch! I bring you His Royal Highness, Prince Luceran of the Kyros Divine Empire, and his advisor, Lord Nelez!"
A ripple of murmurs went through the ranks. The soldiers, still breathing heavily from their exercise, straightened their postures. From a group in the center of the field, five lieutenants and a commander came out and marched to the front.
"Reporting to His Highness!" the commander said with a firm salute.
The commander was a big man with a weathered face, and a long, jagged scar ran from his temple to his jaw, a sign of many battles. He had the calm, steady eyes of a veteran. This was Borrin. Behind him were his lieutenants: Dred, a lean man with a scar over his left eye; Karl, a man with a sharp, eagle-like face; Bork, a tall, lanky man with a perpetually bored look; Pelz, a burly man with a powerful build; and Greg, a stocky man with a full beard and a no-nonsense expression.
Luceran and Nelez took a moment to check them out. Borrin, Karl, and Pelz were at the peak of the Flesh Strengthening Realm, while Dred, Bork, and Greg were a step behind in the late stage. The prince could feel the commander's subtle aura. Borrin was at the early stage of the Bone Tempering Realm, a serious strength that put him far above his men.
"At ease," Luceran said. "I'm here to check out the quality of this garrison. I'll be looking for combat readiness, discipline, and skill."
He and Nelez walked through the ranks, not missing a thing. Luceran's questions were direct, and his criticisms were sharp. He pointed out loose formations, weapons that weren't well-kept, and a lack of quick response. The soldiers stiffened under his gaze. Whispers of discontent started to spread. They were just simple soldiers; what did this pampered prince know about their struggles?
"He doesn't know what it's like to fight with limited resources," one soldier muttered under his breath.
Luceran heard it all. He saw the discontent in the soldiers' eyes, the quiet sneer on Greg's face, and the subtle shift in Bork's stance. Even Borrin's calm way of carrying himself couldn't hide the hint of frustration in his posture.
Luceran stopped in the middle of the field and turned to face them all. "I know what you're thinking," he said, his voice carrying clearly. "You're thinking, 'Who is this young noble? What does he know about our daily struggles? He's never faced a bandit raid or a pack of rogue beasts.' You think I'm just a spoiled boy sent here on some royal errand."
The soldiers and their officers froze, their faces turning pale with shock. They hadn't expected him to be so perceptive.
"Your Highness, please forgive our disrespect!" Borrin said, bowing his head in shame, his face flushed. The lieutenants followed suit.
Luceran held up a hand. "Apologies aren't needed. Your thoughts are fair, given your situation. But your passive acceptance of this stalemate is what has led this city to get stuck. The safety problem is the root of your issues, and it's a problem that your current training can't solve."
His voice got colder. "Starting tomorrow, I will train this army myself. I will show you that even with limited resources, a force can become strong enough to not only defend a city but to conquer the challenges outside its walls."