54- The Weight of Leadership

The days following Aldric's breakthrough in mana stone creation were spent in rigorous study. He worked alongside Seraphina, refining his theories and techniques, yet the sheer mana cost remained a problem. Even with his absurd control over mana, he could barely produce three mana stones before his reserves were completely depleted.

Seraphina, determined to master the process, attempted to follow Aldric's method—but it quickly became clear that she lacked the extreme precision he possessed. Even she, a master in her own right, struggled to condense raw mana without it dispersing or destabilizing.

"It's frustrating," Seraphina huffed, rubbing her temples. "Even if I can sense the compression happening, I can't hold it together like you do."

Aldric, sitting cross-legged on the floor, exhaled slowly. "That's because the process requires near-perfect control, and I've been refining my mana manipulation since I awakened Arcanis."

She scowled. "So, you're saying I lack control?"

"Not at all," he said with a smirk. "You have precise mana control, but you use it differently. You're a spellcaster, not a forger. This is an entirely new technique, one that nobody else in this world has mastered yet."

Seraphina crossed her arms, muttering to herself before sighing. "Fine. But don't get too cocky. You're still draining my mana stash, after all."

Aldric chuckled, but his mind was already moving toward bigger ideas. The knowledge he was gathering—mana circulation, Arcanis techniques, aura breathing—was invaluable. If he was the only Arcanis user, he needed to develop a proper foundation.

An elite unit of Arcanis warriors… imagine how powerful they could be.

The thought made his heart race with excitement. But that dream would have to wait. More pressing matters demanded his attention.

⸻

The following days at Raven's Nest were grueling. Aldric and Lucien were buried under mountains of paperwork, their offices cluttered with reports, trade agreements, and security evaluations.

Lucien groaned, tossing a document onto the pile. "I swear, if I have to go through one more logistics report, I'll start a rebellion myself."

Aldric, equally exhausted, let out a dry chuckle. "Welcome to leadership, Lucien."

Before the conversation could continue, a clerk entered, bowing respectfully. "My Lord, Sir Lucien… The families of the fallen have arrived, as per your request."

Silence fell over the room.

Lucien glanced at Aldric, his expression grim. "Are you sure about this?"

Aldric set his quill down, his face unreadable. "Yes. It's my responsibility to face them."

Lucien hesitated. "You know this isn't your fault. They knew what they were signing up for. We upheld our end of the contract, and their families have been well compensated."

Aldric exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "No amount of coin or benefits can replace a loved one, Lucien."

Lucien sighed, knowing there was no changing his mind. "Then I'll stand with you."

⸻

The guest hall was filled with quiet murmurs as the families of the fallen gathered. They were common folk—farmers, craftsmen, and laborers—dressed in their best clothes for the occasion. Some clutched letters, others held mementos of their loved ones.

The air was heavy with emotion. Grief, gratitude, uncertainty.

Maids moved gracefully through the hall, offering warm tea and refreshments. Clerks assisted guests with paperwork, ensuring that no family was left unattended. Even the servants of Raven's Nest—many of them of common birth—watched the proceedings intently.

Standing near the entrance were Red and Mara. Their hands rested on their weapons, but their posture was relaxed. They weren't here to intimidate. They were here to ensure that this meeting was one of respect, not authority.

When Aldric entered, silence fell over the room.

He stepped forward, his expression solemn yet composed. He met the eyes of every person in the room, acknowledging their pain before bowing deeply.

"I offer my deepest apologies for your loss," he said, his voice steady. "It was my failure that led to their deaths, and for that, I will bear the weight of their sacrifice."

Gasps filled the room.

An elderly woman, her hands trembling, dropped to her knees. Tears welled in her eyes. "My Lord… please, do not bow to us! We are but common folk!"

More murmurs spread through the crowd. Some looked at each other in shock. Others followed suit, bowing in response.

A man, the brother of a fallen soldier, clenched his fists. "Our families have served Ravensbourne for generations. My brother was proud to lay down his life for this land. We do not blame you, Lord Aldric."

A young woman spoke through quiet sobs. "The benefits and care you've given us… we never expected such generosity. Because of you, our families will not suffer."

Aldric looked at them, his heart heavy yet grateful.

Then, a small voice broke through the silence.

"I used to hate you," a boy no older than ten said, stepping forward. His small hands were clenched at his sides. "You made Father go away… I thought you took him from me."

Aldric knelt down, meeting his gaze. "And now?"

The boy hesitated, glancing at his mother before speaking again. "But… I heard from his friends. They said you fought with him. They said you were sad when he was gone." His voice trembled. "I can't hate you for that."

The room was silent as the boy took another step forward. "I want to be like my father. I want to protect our home, just like he did."

Aldric placed a hand on the boy's head, his voice soft yet firm. "Your father would be proud of you. And I promise, I will not betray his memory."

Tears welled in the boy's eyes, but he smiled.

From the side, Red groaned, shifting uncomfortably. "Damn it… Not another tear-jerking moment. I swear, I can't get used to this."

Mara, arms crossed, nodded in agreement. "Yeah… It's honestly unfair. Every time I think I've toughened up, he pulls something like this."

Red let out a deep sigh. "It's one thing for a noble to act all righteous in front of a crowd. But him? He actually means it."

Mara smirked. "And that's why it works. The man's too stubborn to be fake."

The two guards shared a glance before returning to their watch, both secretly moved by the scene in front of them.

In the background, the maids and clerks wiped their eyes, deeply moved. They had worked for nobles before, but never had they seen one treat commoners with such respect.

"This is different," one maid thought. "We're not just servants. We're people here."

Another clerk clenched his fists. "I've worked for lords who saw me as disposable. But here… we matter."

The atmosphere shifted. The sorrow in the room did not vanish, but it became something else—something stronger.

Lucien, watching from the side, sighed with a small smile. "Aldric, you really exceed all my expectations."

Aldric stood up, addressing the room once more. "Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. Their families will always have a place in this territory, and their names will be honored. If there is ever a need, know that Raven's Nest will stand by you, just as your loved ones stood by me."

The families, their grief now mixed with pride, bowed deeply in response.

Aldric turned to leave, but not before placing a reassuring hand on the young boy's shoulder once more.

The boy, looking up at him, clenched his small fists with determination.

"One day, I'll stand beside you, Lord Aldric."

And with that, Aldric left the hall, carrying the weight of both the fallen and the future.

———

The events in the guest room did not stay behind closed doors.

At first, it was whispered among the maids and clerks as they went about their duties. A simple comment here, a hushed conversation there.

"Did you see it? Lord Aldric bowed to them…"

"A noble bowing to commoners? That's unheard of!"

"And did you hear what the families said? They didn't demand more compensation or lash out in grief. They were proud to have served under him."

"Did you hear about the compensation? It was an excredible amount, no Noble in history compensate families of the fallen, in fact I feel like they embrace their death, less mouth to feed and less to pay."

The gossip spread like wildfire. By the end of the day, the entire manor was buzzing with talk of Aldric's actions. Servants shared the story with their friends and families in the city, and from there, it seeped into taverns, markets, and guild halls.

Even Mara and Red, during a break between training sessions, found themselves discussing it with their unit.

"Alright, listen up," Red said, leaning against a wooden post with his arms crossed. "I know you all heard the rumors, so let me set the record straight."

His unit, a mix of veteran warriors and fresh recruits, leaned in eagerly.

Mara smirked, sharpening her blade. "Yeah, yeah. The Lord bowed, the families cried, and now half of you softies are tearing up just thinking about it."

A young recruit scoffed. "Come on, Mara, even you looked a little misty-eyed."

She shot him a glare. "Say that again and you'll be eating dirt for dinner."

The group laughed, but Red's expression turned serious. "Jokes aside, this is exactly why people are flocking to Raven's Nest. Where else do you see a noble treating his people like people?"

One of the mercenaries, a burly man who had seen his fair share of employers, nodded. "I've worked under lords who wouldn't even acknowledge us unless we failed. Here, we get proper wages, decent lodging, and now I hear even the families of the fallen are treated with respect?" He shook his head. "No wonder mercs are scrambling to get in."

And indeed, they were.

——-

Within days, the rumor had reached every corner of the territory. It spread beyond the city walls, carried by merchants, travelers, and wandering swordsmen.

Below Raven's Nest, Raven's Shadow, saw a sudden influx of fighters—battle-hardened mercenaries looking for stability, eager young warriors seeking proper training, and even retired soldiers hoping to put their experience to good use.

Blacksmiths, scribes, healers—people of all trades began applying for work. Even simple laborers who had grown weary of mistreatment by lesser lords packed their things and made their way toward Raven's Nest, hoping for a chance at a better life.

A merchant passing through the region wrote to his peers in other territories:

"The Young Lord of Ravenbourne is no ordinary noble. His people do not fear him; they respect him. The streets are safe, the workers are well-paid, and even the lowest servant walks with dignity. If you seek fair trade and opportunity, there is no better place to go."

And yet, while his territory flourished with new applicants and eager workers…

———

Buried in his office, Aldric remained unaware of the growing legend surrounding him.

His desk was covered in stacks of parchment, contracts, and recruitment reports—reports he hadn't even looked at yet. His days consisted of meetings with Lucien, endless paperwork, and long hours of meditation as he refined his understanding of Arcanis.

The sheer complexity of his new power required constant experimentation. Mana circulation, aura breathing, and refining his control—every moment he wasn't leading, he was training.

Lucien entered the office, dropping yet another pile of documents onto the desk. "You should really step outside once in a while."

Aldric, deep in meditation, cracked one eye open. "And do what?"

Lucien smirked. "See the lines of people forming outside our gates. At this rate, we'll have enough recruits to form an entire army within the month."

Aldric frowned, confused. "Recruits?"

Lucien raised a brow. "You really don't know, do you?"

Aldric sighed. "Brother, I've been locked in here, drowning in paperwork or training to not accidentally blow myself up. What am I missing?"

Lucien chuckled, tossing a report onto the desk. "Let's just say your reputation is growing faster than you think. The world is starting to take notice, my dear brother. Whether you like it or not."

Aldric leaned back, rubbing his temples. "I swear, I just wanted to enjoy my study in science and magic properly… Now what have I gotten myself into?"