NOVPUBOnce he was ready, he stepped out of his chambers and made his way through the halls of the barony. Cleora had prepared a set of clothes for him, arranged them for him in his room.
His room was square-shaped and spacious, with a big bed in the middle. A table and wardrobe are present on the right side of the room. A window large enough to give him the view of the forest behind the mansion.
The grand stone structure stood tall, its walls lined with banners bearing the sigil of his house. Servants moved about their duties, offering him respectful nods as he passed.
He had now become their lord, even though they weren't married yet.
Outside, the air was crisp, the scent of earth and metal lingering from the nearby site. His drake awaited him in the courtyard, a magnificent beast with crimson scales and piercing golden eyes. She let out a low rumble as Jolthar approached, shifting her wings slightly before lowering herself to allow him to mount.
Without hesitation, he climbed onto the creature's back, gripping the reins. Maelruth strode through the streets towards the forge, her wings folded on the flank. He was looking at the change in the town and how the construction had affected it. It seems like the town has increased in size, and more people have come here to live and work.
He came out of the town, and yet he could see the houses stretching further as he neared the forge.
The view of the forge came into sight—a bustling place where labourers moved around, working tirelessly.
As Jolthar moved through the path, several men turned their heads, pausing momentarily before bowing in respect. He dismounted and made his drake rest near the main tent while he moved around. He talked to the men while he looked around. The forge was coming along fine, and the large workshop spread further than the normal smithy he had seen.
Nora and Roblan had done well, their efforts evident in the swift progress of the work. By bringing in more workers, they had ensured efficiency, but it was the use of magicians that truly made the difference.
Especially with the Tera Mages, their mastery over earth magic made the heavy lifting effortless, reshaping the very ground to aid construction. Boulders that once required a dozen men to move were now shifted with a mere gesture. The workers, once strained under the sheer weight of their labour, found their burden significantly eased.
He also noticed elephants, their massive forms moving steadily through the site. They were being used to drag heavy metal bars, their raw strength supplementing the mages' magic. The combination of magic and beasts of burden created a near-perfect synergy, turning what should have been a slow, gruelling process into something almost seamless—an awe-inspiring display of both human ingenuity and magical might.
He heard from Roblan that both mother and daughter were so dedicated to the work that they barely stayed in the mansion. Their hands were in everything—overseeing the workers, coordinating resources, and ensuring the progress never faltered.
Roblan also mentioned something that took him by surprise—their reserve gold had been completely emptied. His mother, a woman of pride and careful planning, had even borrowed from her father—something she had never done before.
That alone spoke volumes about how much they had invested in this endeavour, not just in wealth but in determination, sacrifice, and sheer will to see it through.
He was thankful that he had met Nora and decided to come here.
- 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Meanwhile, far from the forge, a carriage rolled through the gates of the barony.
Its arrival was met with curious glances from the guards and passing servants. The crest on the carriage marked its occupant as someone of significance.
The door swung open, and out stepped Johamma, Jolthar's grandmother. Her presence commanded immediate respect.
As she got down from the carriage, the guards immediately arrived before her and enquired who she was. She said she was here to meet Jolthar Kaezhlar.
The guards were confused and asked her who she was.
She stated her name, and the guards immediately paled.
Johmma Kaezhlar.
Kaezhlar, a name not many were unknown to.
Though they weren't aware of the person, the name was enough to make them tremble, so they quickly made their way into the mansion, prompting them to inform their baroness as quickly as possible.
Johamma stood before the entrance, only a single maidservant present with her. She had come alone without any escort.
While coming towards the mansion, she took notice of her surroundings, and even inside the mansion, there were a lot of people moving around.
So, it was true. They are indeed developing the barony.
Cleora came out of the mansion and saw Johamma standing near the carriage, looking around.
It was her first time meeting Johamma; she had only heard of her in stories, but seeing her face-to-face, Cloera was surprised. Nobody would believe that she was a grandmother. Johamma's beauty was nothing less than that of a woman in her prime; flawless skin, not a single wrinkle was present. Her silver hair, the clan's signature trait, was braided and hung down in front of her shoulder, adding elegance to her appearance. Her clothes fluttered in the gentle wind, making her look like a timeless beauty.
Though her status was that of a fallen goddess, she still looked like one.
Cleora composed herself as she approached her. For whatever reason she came, she had to offer her respect to the first lady of the Kaezhlar clan.
"Lady Johamma," Cleora greeted, offering a graceful bow.
"It is an honour to have you here."
Johamma studied her for a moment before giving a small nod. "I assume my grandson is inside?"
Cleora looked elsewhere and said, "Well, Jolthar isn't in the mansion. He left in the morning."
"Where is he? Can you call him? I want to talk to him."
"I will send a word for him. Meanwhile, why don't you stay in the mansion and let me offer you a tea?"
Johamma sighed and went inside the mansion while Cleora sent a word to Jolthar.
If she wanted to meet her grandson, she needed to be patient.
-
The hall of the Baroness's mansion was a testament to family legacy. Paintings adorned the walls—luminous portraits that captured moments of triumph and intimacy. Cleora's image dominated the space: one painting showed her in formal imperial court attire, another depicted her overseeing the barony's construction, and a third captured a more intimate moment with Nora and Roblan.
Johamma studied these images with a gaze that missed nothing.
These two women were extremely beautiful, and both were carved from the same marble of beauty and elegance. Age had done nothing to both of them.
Cleora moved with deliberate grace, her movements a dance of calculated precision. She was in her early forties but carried herself with the vitality of a woman half her age.
Johamma gazed at her with calculating eyes.
Servants brought tea—not the simple brew of local taverns but an exotic blend from the imperial provinces. Delicate porcelain cups, trimmed with gold, reflected the afternoon light.
"It seems like your barony is seeing some rapid changes," Johamma said, her voice smooth as silk, sharp as a blade.
Cleora's smile was a dangerous thing. "We grow. We expand. We are just trying to improve."
"And Jolthar?" The question hung between them like a drawn sword.
"What is he doing here?"
"It is his home," Cleora replied, watching Johamma's reaction carefully. "so it's only natural he stays here."
Johamma's brows twitched.
Johamma, still keeping her calm, asked, "Do you even understand what you're saying?"
Her voice was measured, but there was an undeniable edge to it—one that carried both authority and restrained anger.
"The barony is still under the protection of Kaezhlar," she continued, her gaze sharp, unyielding. "And yet you dare to begin development without so much as consulting us? Without seeking approval, without so much as a word? And now—now, you stand here, spouting such nonsense as if it holds any weight."
There was no need to raise her voice. The sheer weight of her words carried enough force on their own.
Cleora's expression remained composed, yet her words carried unwavering resolve.
"We are grateful for your help in our time of need, and we do not take that lightly," she said, her gaze steady. "But let me make one thing clear—we do not need your permission to decide what happens here."
Her voice was firm yet devoid of hostility, merely stating an undeniable truth.
"We have the ministry's approval, and that alone is enough. The empire stands above all of us, and its will has already been set in motion. Whether you approve or not is irrelevant."
Cleora added, which made Johamma's brows furrow deeper.
"You are not in a state to protect yourselves; how would you protect us?"
"You should really mind what you speak, child," Johamma said, sipping her tea. She wasn't angered by what she said. Her years of experience made her what she was today. She was still patient, as she has yet to meet her grandson.
