"System, scan those crops."
Kyle said under his breath.
[Scanning…]
[Analysis Complete: Mana-Infused Crops]
[Mana Concentration: 2%]
[Properties: Boosts physical health, accelerates mana system developnt, strengthens internal organs over ti.]
Kyle's heart skipped a beat.
Mana-infused crops were rare, and even the Royal Capital could only produce them in tightly controlled laboratories or ancient, sacred fields.
For a few backwater farrs to grow them here—on land that looked like a wasteland—ant one thing:
This land was hiding a secret. A powerful one.
And it now belonged to him.
The mont Kyle confird the truth of what he'd seen—the shimring soil, the mana-infused crops, and the farrs who worked the land with a balance of grace and power—he knew this land was far from worthless.
It was a hidden gem, and now, it was his.
With Queen silently slithering behind him like a dark shadow, Kyle descended into the valley proper.
He kept his posture straight and his steps asured, projecting both confidence and calm.
Kyle had no interest in ruling these people with fear—he wanted them to trust him. To follow him.
As he approached, the old farr from earlier raised a hand, motioning to the others to stand down.
Several farrs stopped their work and turned, so clutching tools cautiously, others with wary curiosity.
They did not know who Kyle was, but they could feel the aura he had around him and made an educated guess that he was a noble, and a high-ranked one at that.
"Young Lord, I didn't expect you to co down so soon. Are you the new lord of these parts? Kyle Armstrong?"
The old man greeted, giving a respectful, if stiff, bow.
"I believe in acting while the mont is right. And please, no need for titles here. I ca to speak, not to command.""
Kyle said with a small smile.
The farr's brow lifted.
"That so? Then what brings you here?"
Kyle looked around at the neat fields and the simple, sturdy hos.
"I've co to introduce myself properly. I've recently been granted the land around this valley—and this place falls under it. But I'm not here to uproot anyone or claim what isn't mine. I'm here to help."
A silence fell over the group. One of the younger farrs, a girl barely older than Silvy, looked at Kyle with wide eyes.
"Help us?"
"Yes. I see potential here. Great potential. But I also know this valley's survival didn't happen by chance. You've built sothing worth protecting. I just want to know—what do you need?"
Kyle said, stepping forward.
The old farr glanced at the others.
The atmosphere shifted, so of the tension bleeding away. His expression softened, and with a nod, he turned back to Kyle.
"If that's how you feel… then co in. Let's talk properly."
Kyle followed the man to a modest wooden house nestled at the heart of the village.
The inside was humble but warm, filled with the scent of herbs and earth.
A fire crackled in the corner, and simple dishes were already being prepared.
As they sat, Kyle asked the question that had been tugging at his curiosity since he arrived.
"How long have your people been living here?"
The old man, now seated across from him, rubbed his chin.
"My family's been here for six generations. Maybe longer. We've always lived quiet, passed down our way of life in silence."
"And the technique? The way you manipulate internal energy and mana through your farming—it's more than just instinct."
Kyle asked, his tone gentle.
At this, the old man stiffened. For a mont, Kyle thought he might have crossed a line. But then, with a tired sigh, the man leaned back and gave a reluctant nod.
"It's not sothing we share freely. But you saw through it so quick, it'd be foolish to pretend otherwise. It's an old practice. We call it the 'Breath of Earth.' Passed down from my grandfather's grandfather. A way to connect body, spirit, and land. Not just to survive, but to thrive."
He admitted.
Kyle leaned in slightly, fascinated.
"It's incredible. The results are clear in the soil, the crops—and your people."
The old man studied him.
"Most outsiders don't look twice. You did."
"I've seen enough to recognize sothing special. And I an it when I say I want to support you. You don't need to hide anymore. Let give you resources—tools, protection, whatever you need to expand what you've started here."
Kyle said.
The old man paused. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"You speak with sincerity. That's rare."
Just then, a bowl was placed in front of Kyle—thick stew with roots and vegetables that shimred faintly with mana.
The mont he tasted it, his eyes widened slightly. The warmth that spread through his chest wasn't just from the heat—it was the magic inside the food.
He finished the bowl quietly, and when he set it down, his mind was already racing.
This place wasn't just valuable.
It was vital.
With farrs capable of cultivating mana-enriched crops, and techniques that enhanced the physical and spiritual developnt of even commoners, Kyle had stumbled upon a hidden force—one he couldn't afford to ignore.
These people had to be brought under his banner.
As he rose to leave, he looked the chieftain in the eye.
"Thank you for trusting . I hope to earn more of that trust in the days ahead."
The old man stood and gave a deeper bow this ti.
"We'll be watching, Lord Kyle."
Kyle nodded and stepped outside, Queen waiting like a silent sentinel.
He smiled faintly.
This land was going to be his foundation.
And this was just the beginning.
______
Standing before the gathered farrs, Kyle glanced over the humble hos and the simple tools they worked with.
The land held untapped potential, but before anything grand could be built, he knew where he had to start.
"The first thing we'll focus on is improving your safety and living conditions. Before we talk about expansion or profits, we make sure the people working this land are protected and comfortable."
Kyle began, his voice calm but firm.
The farrs exchanged looks, clearly unsure of how to respond.
So looked hopeful, others skeptical. Kyle noticed the hesitation and decided to push forward.
"I intend to begin a large-scale construction project soon—one that will raise this valley's status across the Duchy. But I want to know what you need first. This is your ho. What would make your lives easier?"
Silence followed his words.
The farrs shuffled awkwardly, hesitant to make demands of their new lord.
But before the silence could stretch too long, a younger farr—barely in his twenties—stepped forward with clenched fists and nervous energy.
"I-If it's not too much to ask can we get sothing to make irrigation better? We need a better way to get water to the fields currently. Carryin' buckets from the river every day—it's tough. We lose ti and strength we could be using for other work."
He stamred,
Kyle's eyes softened, and he gave a small, approving nod.
"A good suggestion. Irrigation is the foundation of sustainable farming. We'll make that our first project."
The relief on the young man's face was imdiate, and whispers of approval spread through the crowd.
Queen, coiled quietly nearby, flicked its tail in acknowledgnt—as if it, too, approved.
Kyle's promise was clear. He wasn't here to rule from above.
He was here to build—together.
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