Unrest

The snow kept on falling even though it didn't fall as much as before, occasionally strikes of ice that were comparable to lighting could be heard, but instead of electricity those strikes of ice brought extremely low temperatures to areas hit by them, the mana truly did whatever it wanted with the weather.

The snow pilled up and slowly there were at least 2 meters (6ft 6in) of snow everywhere, with so much snow it was impossible to send anyone outside to work especially when only the citizens and some free humans had a full set of warm cloth.

Because the town was located in a warm climate before the mana came there was almost no warm cloth and it had to be made from the fur of beasts or animals, but there was the problem with tanning them, preserving them, and making them into cloth or blankets.

And with the pelts lacking as they were there was quite a riot from the forced workers, they were unsatisfied with the food, with the environment, with their treatment, they wanted the freedom they had before, after all, they are intelligent human beings, they deserve respect so why doesn't the leader slaughter some of the beasts to provide meat and pelt, it was unthinkable that he values those beasts over theirs well being. It didn't make sense to them, mainly to the new forced workers that recently joined the camp.

Even though they saw how Jordan and his beasts invaded their home. Those people quickly have forgotten that and started to convince others, they thought that if all of them demonstrate at once they will be heard, after all, if the leader wants their support he won't be able to punish them.

***

In a school that served as housing for the forced workers.

Karen walked through the hallway where much-improvised bed laid everywhere, just in this small hallway there were about 100 people and in the school alone there was a total of 2000 people, everyone had to squeeze in. In the hallway there was smoke everywhere from the few bonfires lit in barrels, there was a central stove in the basement but it was nowhere strong enough to heat the school.

That´s why everyone did what they could to warm themselves up, they wear several shirts one over the other, sometimes they sew several shirts together to make one with long sleeves or at least one bit thicker. Those that had hoodies were considered to be lucky bastards. There was no one with cloth made from the pelt or at least with a warm cloth for winter.

Karen came to the middle of the hallway and started to loudly speak, she was confident, after all, she already makes this speech many times "hello, I would like to say something to you, please listen. I am Karen Anderson and I was kidnapped from my camp just like the rest of you, I have watched my friend as they died at the hands of the demon and his followers, then I was forced to work for him to pay for my own life! And now? We are freezing all to death and yet the demon has hundreds of beasts that could provide us fur. We have hardly enough food to survive, and yet the demon hoards all the food in his storage and feeds the beasts with it."

More and more people started to listen, they gathered around Karen and waited for her to continue.

"We need to do something, I am not saying that we should try to overthrow him, but if we all demonstrate at once he will have to listen to our demands. We are all humans, and we deserve decent living conditions together with the rights and respect that we deserve. Once the snow stops to fall and the demon orders us to work again we will all refuse."

"but what if the demon refuses? What if he tries to get back at us?"

Karen "don't worry, he can´t punish as all, if we stick together he will be forced to listen, and once we speak up the citizens and free will join us as well. If the demon wants to have a city to rule, he will have to listen to us!"

At first slowly but with increasing speed, everyone began to agree. It was about time for their voices to be heard.

Seeing the crowd agreeing Karen nodded with a smile on her face, finally, things are going to get better.

***

A few days later Jordan was inside his office together with Jane, before him there was a stack of papers with the number of resources they had available, how they are distributed and how long they are going to last. The result wasn't good, at best they can last for two months before running out of food and wood for fuel.

Once they ran out of food they will have to start with killing beasts or even the forced workers but Jordan wants to avoid that, the beasts are quite intelligent and if they see that they are kept only for the food they will try to leave. That´s why the cowsts that are kept as livestock needs to be watched at all times.

Not only that, but there was also the problem with forced workers, at first they had a month of work before becoming free but now this will have to change to a system based on merit as it is with the free humans.

Jordan kept on going through the papers while Jane was explaining them to him, Jordan was just making the decisions and Jane was doing everything else, without her the camp would be in chaos. While looking at Jane Jordan couldn't help but think. ´I guess I got lucky with her´

Suddenly knocking could be heard. "come in" William stepped in with a worried look and told Jordan "the forced workers, they started to make trouble" Jordan couldn't help but grunt "argh, just what I need, more trouble, tell me what they did"

William told about how the forced workers stole wood and made several bonfires in the town square, right now they are gathered there and demand to be heard.

While sighing and shaking his head Jordan stood up from his chair, he grabbed his axe, and went to the town square. ´I really hate to be disturbed while I have a ton of work ahead of me, time to show them where they belong.