Chapter 184 Plans for future

Words : 1044 Updated : Oct 4th, 2025

Late January,1825, The battle had left its scars, but life had a way of pushing forward. In the aftermath of destruction, the people of the barony slowly returned, their resilience shining through as they worked to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. One side of the town, which was destroyed, was now being renewed. The streets, once filled with the sounds of battle, were now alive with the hammering of nails, the creaking of carts, and the voices of merchants setting up their stalls once more. Trade resumed, and with it, the pulse of the barony grew stronger. The fear that had gripped the town during the siege began to fade, replaced by a renewed determination. Jolthar stood upon an open plain, his sharp gaze scanning the land before him. Beside him stood Cleora, her posture poised yet thoughtful as she observed the area. "This is it," Jolthar murmured, crossing his arms. Before them, stretched several acres of land, a vast open space positioned strategically near the mines. The earth was solid, the terrain level, and the location ideal—far enough from the town to prevent accidents, yet close enough for easy transportation of materials. Jolthar had scouted the area thoroughly before making his decision. Here, he would build his forge—no, not just any forge, but a massive smithy that would become the heart of weapon production in the empire. He had aimed to make it happen, and he will. The mines had enormous deposits of dratium ores, keeping a steady supply. A place where the finest blades, armour, and siege weapons would be crafted. A forge of war.@@@@ Cleora studied him for a moment, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Are you certain about this?" Jolthar nodded, his eyes gleaming with great interest. It had been a while since he had done any smithing. He can't wait to get back into it again, and he needs to attend to his long-blade Knashii too. "We already have funds, and we just need to start building, and it would be up and about in no time," Jolthar said, his tone casual. Cleora then said, "You have my support to do anything here. And the funds, I have to say, I was a bit sceptical when he said he would send them. I was surprised when the gold arrived in two days; that too, he had it sent through the airway." She looked at the horizon and said, "I think he values you to that extent." Jolthar remained silent. - A while back, a conversation with Prince Milan After General Remin had departed, Prince Milan and Arvant sought out Jolthar for a private discussion. Jolthar took the drake to the mansion and ensured it was attended to before meeting Milan. They met in Cleora's hall, away from prying ears. Milan leaned forward, his fingers interlocked as he regarded Jolthar with curiosity. "So... what exactly do you mean by a forge?" Jolthar met his gaze evenly. "I'm starting a forge—weapons of all kinds. Not just swords, but lances, shields, and even enchanted armaments if possible." Arvant was baffled. A forge of that scale would need a lot of resources and manpower, not to say a lot of gold too. Unlike earlier in the day, when she had been at the heart of battle, issuing commands and fighting alongside her people, she seemed almost at peace now—though a sharpness remained in her eyes, a constant alertness that never faded. Behind them, two horses stood tethered to a wooden post, their ears flicking every so often. Maelruth was back at the mansion. The drake had been resting up, recovering from the poison that had nearly claimed its life. Though Wymar's potion had done its work, the drake was not fully healed. Jolthar had seen the way it flinched now and then, muscles twitching from residual pain. The wound along its left flank had stopped festering, but the darkened veins around it showed that the venom had been strong—too strong for any normal creature to survive. The sight of his drake like this made something in Jolthar tighten. Seeing it so weak, so vulnerable, set his teeth on edge. He would make whoever had done this pay. But that was a thought for another day. He had learnt the name of that assassin group from Arvant. For now, there were more immediate matters at hand. He turned to Cleora. "Lady Cleora," he began, but before he could continue, she interrupted him. "You can call me Cleora," she said, turning to him fully. Her voice was soft but firm, her gaze steady. "You've already called me by name once before, so do so from now on. I would like that." During the battle, he shouted her name, ignoring the honorifics. Jolthar was momentarily caught off guard—not by her words but by the way she smiled as she spoke. It was a rare, genuine expression unburdened by the weight of leadership or battle. Her smile made any hardened warrior's heart swell, and her gaze could make his legs turn to jelly. A smile so beautiful, it draws you in like a dream you never wish to wake from. For a brief second, he was silent, staring at her, as if trying to figure out how someone like her—someone hardened by war and politics—could still smile like that. Then, realizing he had been staring for too long, he cleared his throat and turned away slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine, fine," he muttered. Then he added, grumbling, "Just stop smiling at me like that." Cleora raised an eyebrow. "What? You don't want me to smile?" Jolthar exhaled sharply through his nose, his lips curving into an involuntary smirk. "No, just... don't smile at me like that." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Ah, fuck. You really are a one fiery lady." Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire Cleora let out a soft chuckle, her smile widening to tease him further. Jolthar shook his head again, turning his gaze back toward the open land. "You're impossible," he muttered under his breath. Cleora only crossed her arms, watching him with amusement. "And yet, here you are, standing beside me."

Chapter 184 Plans for future

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