Build A Future

When the villagers noticed Elias standing in the middle of the woods, they were shocked. It was not because his arrival was sudden, but they did not see him coming. There were no horses behind him, or the carriage which could adjust in the woods. As if he just appeared out of the thin air.

They stood there with a quiet murmur that echoed in the dark valley.

"I hope I have not shocked you." Elias smiled warmly, making them flinch. They had never seen a noble smiling at them before. "I am here to discuss the deal I have offered you earlier." he watched their uneasy faces with a lingering smile on his face.

"Yes, please come with us." They finally nodded and took him to the clearing. They were waiting for him there anyway.

The woods were not dense, but they felt like a sanctuary. Between crooked trees and mossy roots, a small cluster of makeshift homes had been built by commoners. men and women who had once been cast out, or had fled from the cruelty of the cities, have been living here in hiding. Here, they had found refuge, a fragile peace. But now, the promise of that peace trembled with the return of Elias.

He didn't arrive with soldiers as he had promised. He came alone, walking at a calm pace yet they could not help the growing unease in their hearts. But they knew they could not hide forever. So when the villagers had heard he was coming, instead of hiding, they were waiting.

A narrow path between two trees had been cleared for him. Lanterns were lit early, hanging from crooked wooden posts and woven ropes. When he entered the small opening that served as a gathering space, a few wooden logs had already been arranged to sit and discuss the matter.

One of the barefoot and thin but proud women gestured toward a wooden log covered with a woolen blanket.

"My lord," she said softly. "Please, sit. You must be tired."

An earthen cup was offered with water, then a second with tea. Elias accepted them politely, though he didn't drink. He rested the cups beside him and turned to the people gathering around. Some sat on crates, others stood leaning against trees. their arms were crossed not in defiance, but in fear of hoping too much.

The eldest among them was a wiry man with silver hair and sharp eyes. When others nudged him, he stepped forward. His shirt was patched at the shoulders and knees, but his voice was clear.

"We welcome you, Lord Elias," he said carefully as his calloused hands folded in front of him. "Last time you gave us an offer and time to think about it. We were grateful for the offer but we are commoners with no experience and you didn't ask anything about our abilities. That made us wary. We are not sure if you want us as workers or you treat us as slaves."

He paused and looked back, when the villagers nodded behind him with their expressions guarded, he continued,

"But we heard you are really clearing the land," he said. 

"You have heard it right. You have no choice but to leave this land since a large tourist spot would be built here. Even if I leave the protection, lord Velmore would take it and by that time, you would not even be given a chance to leave your household. I am sure you already have this clarity." the man sighed but nodded. He was not a fool to believe that they could live here freely when the crown had claimed this land.

"But we have nowhere to go, my lord. And that brings me back to your offer. Are you sure you are offering us work? That you will provide food, shelter, and real wages." His voice grew rougher. "Are you sure, my lord? You don't owe us anything. Why take us under your wing?"

Elias smiled softly. It was not a cruel or vicious one they had often seen. But a kind one and full of pity yet it had ambitions one could feel from a distance.

"I am not doing it for you," he said simply.

The villagers stiffened. Silence stretched, but Elias did not stop.

"I need loyal people. People who will not betray me the moment gold clinks in another's pouch. People who know what hunger feels like and will treasure bread when it is shared. People who don't have the luxury of deception."

He stood slowly, looking at each of them with a quiet, patient certainty.

"If you choose me, if you choose Crestford, I will give you a future worth protecting. There will be land to call your own, food for every child, warmth in the winter, and work that gives you pride."

His gaze shifted back to the elder.

"I can not make you rich overnight. But I can offer you dignity. I can offer a future where your children don't have to run or hide."

The villagers exchanged glances. A young mother clutched her son's hand tighter. A man in the back wiped his hands on his trousers, unsure. But something had shifted in the air.

The elder lowered his head briefly, then raised it again.

"And if we say yes, my lord? What happens next?"

Elias's smile was small, almost tired.

"Then tomorrow, I will send the tools and my men. You will help them map the land. And you will carry timber and clear the brush. And in return, you will be paid. I will not offer you copper scraps that belong to slaves but You will be paid in silver like any other employee working for a noble. With that, build the future that you will live in."

He turned slightly, gesturing toward the woods behind him.

"A few traders mocked me today for trusting the poor. They think I am a fool. They think I will be ruined." He looked at the people before him with sharp, quiet fire. "Let's prove them wrong. If you need time to think more, you would never be able to make a decision. So you have to decide at this moment only." 

The elder stepped forward and extended his hand, worried that their only chance would slip away. Elias took it without hesitation.

"We will follow you," the elder said, voice rough with emotion. "And we will build your Crestford."

Around him, murmurs of agreement followed. He finally picked up the cup of tea and took a single sip.

"Good," he murmured. "Then let us begin."