"Most of these buildings were already here when Adrian arrived," Seraphina explained as they approached Silvercrest. "He made a few improvements, but the territory was already well developed."
Ashveil surveyed the settlement with mixed feelings. He had spent several days struggling to repair Ashen Hollow’s ruined cottages, yet Silvercrest had possessed proper defenses, a farm, and a workshop from the beginning.
Unfortunately, Silvercrest’s territory core had lost its authority following Adrian’s death.
Although its buildings remained standing, Ashveil couldn’t claim the abandoned Lord’s Hall or transfer his territorial authority here.
Moving his people would mean abandoning Ashen Hollow’s functioning territory core, including the protection and development functions attached to it. For now, that wasn’t an option.
The three entered through the wooden gates and discovered five villagers working near the farm. Upon noticing Seraphina, a middle-aged man immediately approached them.
"Lady Seraphina? Where is Lord Adrian?"
"He’s dead," Ashveil answered. "He attacked my territory and was killed during the battle."
The villagers exchanged uneasy glances, but none appeared particularly distressed. Instead, the middle-aged man asked what would happen to Silvercrest without its Lord.
"You can remain here if you wish," Ashveil said. "But without soldiers or a Lord to protect you, I doubt this place will remain safe for long."
The villagers fell silent.
Ashveil continued, "My territory is east of here. I can provide shelter and protection, but you’ll have to work for your food."
The villagers discussed the offer among themselves before agreeing. Although they were reluctant to abandon their homes, remaining in an undefended settlement was an even worse prospect.
Among the five newcomers was a man who had previously worked in Silvercrest’s workshop. Although he wasn’t a professional blacksmith, he had some experience repairing tools and working with heated metal.
With five additional workers secured, Ashveil began inspecting Silvercrest’s supplies.
Inside the storehouse, he discovered a considerable supply of grain and dried vegetables, amounting to several hundred units of food. There were also farming tools and a small reserve of fast-growing wheat seeds, which could produce an early harvest under suitable conditions.
These supplies were precisely what Ashen Hollow needed. Its newly established farm lacked seeds, while its growing population was already putting pressure on its limited food reserves.
Ashveil instructed the villagers to prepare whatever they could carry before searching Adrian’s private quarters.
There, he discovered five Source Stones stored inside a wooden chest.
He immediately put them away, bringing his total to eight Source Stones.
His next stop was the workshop, where several wooden practice targets stood against the far wall. A collection of unfinished bows and training equipment had been left beside a workbench.
While examining the equipment, Ashveil discovered a leather-bound manual containing illustrations of archery techniques, training formations, and instructions for maintaining ranged weapons.
The Lord System immediately identified it.
[Basic Archery Manual | Grade: D]
[Type: Military Training Manual | Condition: Intact]
[Evaluation: Contains fundamental archery techniques and training methods for developing Tier 1 ranged soldiers.]
Ashveil’s eyes brightened.
An archery training manual!
His spearmen were capable of fighting in close combat, but they lacked any reliable means of attacking enemies from a distance.
With this manual, Ashen Hollow could eventually establish a proper archery training program. Soldiers who completed the necessary training could specialize in ranged combat, giving the territory a more balanced military force.
Of course, they would still need bows, arrows, and a suitable training area. The manual wouldn’t magically transform his spearmen into archers overnight.
Nevertheless, it provided something Ashen Hollow had previously lacked: a practical way to develop ranged soldiers without relying entirely on recruitment vouchers.
Ashveil carefully stored the manual.
After finishing his inspection, he prepared to leave. The heavier equipment would remain in Silvercrest, since transporting it across the hills would be troublesome, while the villagers carried the grain and seeds.
Seraphina glanced toward the Lord’s Hall one final time before following them through the gates.
The return journey proceeded slowly because of the additional people and supplies. By late afternoon, the group had reached a wooded ridge overlooking a narrow valley.
Ria suddenly stopped and raised her hand.
"Little lord, there’s something approaching."
Before Ashveil could respond, a distant rumbling echoed through the valley. Ria immediately directed everyone toward a cluster of bushes, and the group concealed themselves behind the surrounding vegetation.
Moments later, enormous wolves emerged from the forest below. Each was nearly as large as a horse, with dark fur, powerful limbs, and jaws filled with sharp teeth.
Armored humanoids rode upon their backs. Their grayish skin, protruding fangs, and crude iron equipment gave them a particularly savage appearance.
Ashveil focused on the nearest rider.
[Grimfang Rider | Tier 3]
[Race: Ashen Orc | Type: Cavalry Unit]
[Evaluation: A dangerous mounted warrior possessing exceptional mobility and close-combat strength.]
There were more than a dozen of them.
Ashveil immediately understood that confronting such a force would be extremely dangerous, especially with five defenseless villagers accompanying him.
Fortunately, the riders hadn’t noticed them. They were moving through the valley in a loose formation, occasionally stopping to examine the ground.
"They’re tracking something," Ria whispered.
As if confirming her observation, a human figure suddenly emerged from the opposite hillside.
The man wore expensive but badly damaged clothing and carried a large shield. Three armed soldiers accompanied him, all of them running desperately toward the forest.
Another Lord?
Before Ashveil could examine them further, the Grimfang Riders charged.
The enormous wolves crossed the valley with frightening speed, spreading out to intercept the fleeing humans. The soldiers attempted to form a defensive line around their Lord, but the first collision immediately shattered their formation.
One soldier was knocked aside by a charging wolf, while another fell beneath a rider’s weapon. Their Lord attempted to escape through the trees, only to be intercepted and struck down.
The entire confrontation lasted less than a minute.
Ashveil remained hidden throughout the massacre. Even with Ria and Seraphina beside him, attempting to rescue strangers from more than a dozen Tier 3 enemies would have been reckless.
Afterward, several riders dismounted and searched the bodies.
One of them recovered a small object from the fallen Lord’s belongings and held it up for the others to examine. The creatures exchanged a few words in an unfamiliar language before turning north and disappearing into the forest.
Ashveil waited until Ria confirmed that they were gone.
Only then did he approach the battlefield with Seraphina, leaving the villagers hidden along the ridge.
The fallen Lord had already been stripped of most of his valuables. However, Ashveil managed to recover several Gold Coins and a Source Stone from his clothing.
His shield had also been left behind.
[Bastion Shield | Grade: D]
[Type: Shield | Condition: Worn]
[Evaluation: A sturdy shield offering reliable protection against ordinary weapons.]
Despite the scratches covering its surface, the shield remained usable. Ashveil secured it among their supplies before noticing something beneath the dead man’s torn coat.
Concealed inside a torn section of the dead Lord’s coat lining was a small wooden token bearing an unfamiliar symbol. Whoever had searched the corpse earlier had apparently overlooked the hidden compartment.
Ashveil examined the token more closely. It reminded him of the wooden token he had discovered in the ruined territory several days earlier, although the symbols engraved upon them were different.
Ashveil couldn’t determine their purpose, but the fact that the Grimfang Riders had searched the dead Lord made the discovery particularly suspicious.
He stored the token away and returned to the others.
By the time they reached Ashen Hollow, the sun was beginning to set.
The settlement had changed considerably during their absence. Another cottage was nearing completion, the farm had been cleared for cultivation, and a simple holding enclosure had been constructed for the six captured kobolds.
Rowan hurried forward to greet them, only to stop when he noticed the unfamiliar villagers carrying sacks of supplies.
"Five new residents," Ashveil explained. "Arrange somewhere for them to stay. They’ve also brought grain and seeds for the farm."
Rowan’s expression brightened at the news, and he immediately began organizing the supplies.
With nine villagers now available, Ashen Hollow’s workforce had more than doubled. The additional grain would help ease their immediate food shortage, while the seeds provided a foundation for future harvests.
However, the additional villagers also meant more mouths to feed.
Ashen Hollow now required thirty units of food per day to support its villagers and soldiers, including the Forgotten Kobold.
Feeding the six captured kobolds increased that amount to thirty-six. Although Silvercrest’s supplies would sustain them for some time, Ashveil knew they couldn’t depend on those provisions forever.
Ashveil instructed Rowan to prioritize the farm and continue repairing the remaining cottages. He also ordered the spearmen to maintain their patrols, particularly along the western approaches.
Although the journey had brought considerable benefits, the encounter with the Grimfang Riders remained troubling.
Those creatures had effortlessly destroyed another Lord’s forces, and there was no guarantee they wouldn’t eventually approach Ashen Hollow.
Ashveil returned to the Lord’s Hall and placed the mysterious wooden token beside the one he had previously recovered.
Two similar objects, both connected to fallen Lords.
He didn’t know what they represented or why the riders had been searching for one, but he intended to find out.
For now, however, Ashen Hollow’s survival came first. With the Monster Tide approaching, he needed stronger defenses, more soldiers, and a reliable food supply.
The territory had finally begun developing, but the dangers beyond its borders were growing just as quickly.