City of Desire [Kingdom Building]

Proofread by Thomas F

It is night, and carriages and people are everywhere.

Tourists have increased to the point that we are having difficulty managing them.

The closer we get to the end of the ceasefire, the greater their numbers become. I am glad to see them, not only for the economy and the essence, but also because they are keeping the people in the city.

In the neighbouring cities, the gates are breaking, riots are happening, while here everything looks bustling.

If they only look at tourist areas of the city, it wouldn’t even come to their mind that it is a city that is going to be attacked by the undead in two weeks.

It is opposite in some areas; they have become ghost towns.

I had increased the police presence in those areas, given the number of break-ins that were happening.

Soon, the carriage reached the circular road and turned quickly after. It didn’t turn toward the legacy as it usually does. No, this time, it had moved toward the college.

I don’t usually come to the college to maintain the image of a sacred space for the girls.

If I want to see something, I can do so with my skill if I notice any problems. I tell Margaux that, and she deals with it, keeping the perception of my involvement to a minimum.

It is essential for them to have spaces like these, where they can be their own.

The carriage didn’t turn to the residence or the academic building. It moved straight toward the open space before coming to a stop.

I got out and walked toward the large shrub walls. They are tall, over two meters tall, with hidden enchantments, skills, and spells.

If anyone attempted to enter without permission. I will know immediately.

I walked through the open space and turned. Immediately, I began to hear the voices as I crossed the enchantment of privacy.

Soon, I passed through another shrub wall, revealing a large space.

It is restricted to the girls. Only those with permission could enter here or the space below it.

Most enter through that way.

Shortly, I made another turn and saw the people. Half of them look good, while the other half are bloodied.

“Spread the fire, Keela, or you will be dead before your fire reaches the enemy,” Barb’s voice rang out. As she instructed, the brown-haired teen girl was to widen her flame.

She is wearing light Armor with a sabre and shield in her hands.

She is trying to attack, but the man, who is in his late twenties, is faster and stronger than her.

His name is Remi; he is from her mercenary company.

There are five girls like this, from age sixteen to thirty-five—all armoured and armed, breathing fire from their mouths. Barb and her group are training them.

There are nine more, but those aren’t ready; these five are.

Three of them were supposed to fight at the Battle of Panar, but at the last moment, Barb and I decided to pull them back. We didn’t want them to fight in the upcoming battle as well, but this time we won’t be able to stop them.

Barb inspires all of them, and they want to fight for Velvet Garden and their city.

It couldn’t help but make me emotional, given the number of girls that left the Velvet Garden had reached over three hundred, while these girls were willing to fight to save it.

Nobody is asking them; we are opposed to it, actually, but they are doing it.

Bang!

The spells struck one of them hard, sending them flying, crashing into the shrub wall, where the energy screen appeared.

Though it didn’t save the blond woman as she crashed hard against it, before vomiting a moment later.

“Offense is important, but you have to defend and dodge the attacks as well. If you do not, you will find yourself dead before you even realise it,” said Bell.

The next moment, the girl got up and re-entered the field, fighting more intensely.

It isn’t just her; the others are doing the same. It always happens whenever I come. It is why I don’t like to be here, but Barb says that my coming here inspires them.

“They are doing well,” I said as Barb appeared beside me. “They need to be better. If they want to survive the coming battle,” she replied.

The way they are fighting. They are better than most soldiers. Well, they have been training for months, some for nearly nine months, and Barb is a harsh taskmaster.

“They are ready. Though I still wish they would give up,” she sighed.

“They have made up their mind. We cannot do anything other than help them,” I replied, without taking my eyes off the embers.

It is what we are calling them right now.

These girls are working really hard. They are injured from top to bottom, but they would get up almost immediately and continue with the practice.

“Take five then,” said Barb, a few minutes later; they stopped. A moment later, healing spells covered them.

Feeling the Barb’s gaze, I walked toward the girls and stopped in front of them.

They all looked at me with emotions that still make me uncomfortable.

“Since you chose this path, let your effort be unmatched. Let your discipline shine. And when the time comes to fight, do it so brilliantly that none can speak your name without awe,” I said to them.

Usually, I speak a few simple encouraging words, but seeing them working hard, while others chose a safer way and left. It made me feel proud, and I wanted to show that to them through my words.

“We will not disappoint you, Master Silver,” they replied in unison, with their eyes burning in zeal.

I shook my head.

“You can never disappoint me, girls. You have already made me proud,” I said, making their eyes water.

I didn’t want to turn them emotional, but it is the truth. They have already made me proud. Whether they do this or not, it will not alter that fact.

I smiled at them before turning back and walking toward the exit.

“The loyalty, the zeal they have. People dream about it,” said Jon, appearing beside me. “I hope you are thinking deeply about it,” he added.

Jon had presented a proposal to me. It feels too extreme, but that doesn’t mean I am not thinking about it.

I am—more than I want to.

It’s a significant decision, and I want to make it with a clear mind. Not in stress as I am right now. That will only happen after the battle.

“I will give you the answer after we deal with the undead,” I replied. He didn’t say anything and disappeared.

Soon, I was seated in my carriage as it rolled toward the Legacy. I could have traveled much faster on foot or horseback—but I am a lord, and there’s a certain way I must be seen to move.

…

Lord of Deerpond

“It is spread to the rhison market!” informed Lambdin.

There is a dam riot going on in my city; the seventh one in four days. I have a big enough army to crush within minutes, but how would you stop the riot that your soldiers are part of?

The city has been in complete lockdown for the past four days.

From civilians to officials to military personnel. Everybody is forbidden from leaving the city.

They all want to leave, but if I let them go. Then, who will run it, who will defend it against the enemy? I can not have that.

So, the complete lockdown.

My army had moved to crush it, because the Flat of Order is not working. It used to work, but now the emotions of people have reached a sufficiently high level, and it doesn’t.

Overwhelming force is the only tool remaining in my arsenal to control it.

This army consists of my most trusted individuals; the people who are most loyal to me. The people I had brought from my territory, the ones whose families had served my house for generations.

Even the unconventional war of the undead isn’t enough to shake their loyalty.

Bam!

“Another list appeared,” informed my secretary, making me hit my table harder.

“These fucking undead!” I cursed.

It is because of these lists, that I am having such a damn hard time. These lists didn’t just have names of the people, but also stated the things they planned to do.

I shudder whenever I read them. So, other than the names, I stopped reading anything else.

These bastards are very good at these things. They have won many victories without fighting on the island, and now, they are trying the same here.

Every day, it is making things worse, both here at Riverbell and at Port Midlet, but not at Greltheaven.

That bastard is keeping the door wide open and letting anyone who wants to leave. Leave the city, and people are going, but not as much as they should.

I laughed at his unrestricted policy, but as time passed. I noticed it is working.

Despite my having closed gates and a curfew. More people are leaving my city than his. Not to mention, the calm; there has not been a single riot in there.

“The riot is in control, my lord,” informed Lambdin.

He didn’t need to inform me. I could feel the chaos calming down, but it wasn’t entirely gone. I could feel it simmering, and it wouldn’t take long for it to explode again.

“Is there any message from Darius?” I asked. My son had gone to meet the Marquess Grimvale. He had already held a couple of meetings with Marquess’s men.

If we want to survive, we will need to hold. We cannot stop the undead, but he could.

We haven’t gotten much yet, but his people had hinted at the price if the Marquess agreed. It is massive, but I might have to pay it for my safety.

Silver and Zanav had also sent their people there. Zanav is making some progress, but Silver is not.

It’s not surprising. The undead want Greltheaven; they wouldn’t stop until they got their hands on it.

Opposing them would only make the undead angry. Even Marquess Grimvale wouldn’t want to do that. They won’t be the only enemy he will have to face after coming to the region.

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