The Glitched Mage-Chapter 79: Returning Home

By the time the sun rose over Eldrin's Crossing, the gold from the auction had been collected and secured. The profits from the Mystic Flora sale had exceeded even their expectations, filling several heavy chests now locked within their temporary residence. Every bid, every frantic offer, had cemented the value of their wares.

Mal let out a low whistle as he ran a gloved hand over the neatly stacked coinage. "Thats a lot of gold," he mused, his silver eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "And this is just the beginning."

Riven leaned against the table, idly rolling a gold coin between his fingers. "Enough to set the foundation for what we need," he murmured. "The next step is reinvesting this gold where it matters."

Mal stretched as he leaned back into his chair. "Materials, then?"

Riven nodded. "We need enough lumber, stone, and iron to reinforce the main structures at the encampment. We'll start with the essentials— a simple market place for the merchants that will come, an proper infirmary and more housing. Once the first wave of workers arrive, we'll expand further."

Mal whistled again. "That's going to be a hell of a logistics nightmare."

Riven smirked. "Then it's a good thing we know how to make nightmares work in our favor."

Within hours, the necessary orders had been placed. Several merchant houses—those not affiliated with the Deveroux Guild—were more than willing to accept high-value contracts in exchange for discretion. Massive shipments of timber, quarried stone, and metalwork were set to depart in the coming days, their routes carefully planned to avoid suspicion.

Mal oversaw the final arrangements, ensuring that every caravan bore no insignia and no records tied them to the Shadow Kingdom.

By midday, everything was set.

Riven stood at the edge of the town, his gaze fixed on the distant road leading back into the wastes. The weight of the past few days lingered, heavy yet exhilarating.

But for now, it was time to go back home.

—x—

As the towering apartment block loomed into sight, Riven exhaled in quiet relief.

Their carts pulled closer to the encampment, the steady creak of wheels echoing against the worn stone. Eyes turned toward them, voices murmuring as recognition spread. A crowd gathered, anticipation thick in the air. At the forefront, Riven's generals stood waiting, their expressions sharp with expectation.

The moment Riven stepped off the cart, the weight of the journey lifted from his shoulders. The encampment buzzed with activity—workers hauling stone for new structures, warriors training in the open courtyard, and the ever-growing farmland stretching further than before.

It was a sight he had longed to return to.

Mal dismounted beside him, rolling his shoulders with a sigh. "Feels different already," he muttered, eyes scanning the surroundings.

Riven nodded. The encampment was no longer just a gathering of survivors—it was becoming a small city. The apartment complex stood proudly against the barren landscape, its construction a testament to their progress. The fortified storerooms near the fields were now filled with crops and medicinal herbs, a lifeline for the people who had once struggled to survive.

Krux was the first to approach, his golden eyes sharp with recognition as he stepped forward. "You made good time," he said, eyeing the loaded carts behind them. "And judging by the weight of those chests, I take it the auction went well."

Mal smirked, slapping a hand against one of the heavy wooden chests filled with gold. "Well enough that we'll need to start counting in thousands instead of hundreds."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the gathered crowd, warriors and workers alike exchanging glances. The idea of such wealth, after years of scraping by, was nearly unfathomable.

Riven exhaled, his gaze sweeping over his people. They had endured hardship, loss, and the slow, grueling process of rebuilding. But now? Now they had momentum. And momentum meant power.

Aria stepped forward, arms crossed, her silver eyes searching his. "What's the next step?"

Riven glanced toward the fortified buildings in the distance—the storerooms, the half-finished market square, the blueprint for a kingdom still in its infancy.

"We expand," he said simply.

The crowd around them quieted, listening.

"The Deveroux Guild has accepted our terms," Riven continued. "Within weeks, they'll begin sending workers—artisans, builders, blacksmiths. People we need to accelerate our growth." His gaze burned as he surveyed his gathered people. "But we cannot afford to be complacent. Before they arrive, we must be ready. That means fortifying our borders, securing the trade routes, and ensuring we are prepared for what comes next."

Damon cracked his knuckles, grinning. "About time we got to the fun part."

Nyx raised a brow. "The fun part being what, exactly? Lifting heavy things? Swinging hammers?"

Damon scoffed. "No, the fun part is preparing for the inevitable betrayal."

Mal sighed, rubbing his temples. "You really know how to ruin a good mood, don't you?"

Damon shrugged. "I'm a realist."

Riven smirked but didn't deny it. "He's not wrong. The Deveroux Guild will play nice for now, but they'll start pushing boundaries soon enough. We need to make sure that when they do, we control the terms."

Krux folded his arms, nodding. "And how do we do that?"

"By making sure they need us more than we need them," Riven said. "The herbs we sold at the auction were just the beginning. Our next harvest must be even stronger—enough to make the guild dependent on our supply."

Mal perked up at that. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that," he said, voice laced with intrigue. "The latest batch of Void Thistle and Bloodroot are mutating faster than anticipated. The abyssal energy in the soil is shifting them, enhancing their properties in ways I can't fully predict yet."

Riven arched a brow. "Good or bad?"

Mal exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Potentially both. The Void Thistle, in particular, is becoming something entirely different. It's more than just an amplifier now. It's absorbing ambient mana at an alarming rate."

That caught Riven's attention. "Absorbing mana?"

Mal nodded. "If it continues, we might be looking at the first naturally grown mana-draining plant in existence."

The group fell silent.

That was a game changer.

Nyx let out a low whistle. "You realize what that means, don't you? If we cultivate it properly, we could create potions capable of draining magic itself."

Riven's mind whirred with possibilities. "Weapons," he murmured. "A countermeasure against enemy mages."

Aria's eyes darkened with understanding. "A resource that every kingdom would kill to control."

Krux frowned. "And one that would make us an even bigger target."

Riven nodded. "Exactly. Which is why we need to keep this quiet for now. No one outside the Shadow Kingdom can know about this—not even the Deveroux Guild."

Mal smirked. "Good. Because I wasn't planning on sharing."

Damon sighed. "So, while you alchemy nerds play with your magic plants, what do the rest of us do?"

Riven turned to him. "You and Krux will oversee the reinforcement of the encampment. The main road needs to be expanded, and the walls surrounding our settlement must be fortified. We can't allow any weak points once outsiders start arriving."

Krux nodded. "I'll gather the stonemasons."

Damon cracked his knuckles. "And I'll make sure everything holds."

"Nyx," Riven continued, "we need intelligence. I want updates on all merchant activity in Eldrin's Crossing, any movement from Solis, and any shifts in the Deveroux Guild's inner circle. If anyone starts asking too many questions about us, I want to know."

Nyx smirked. "Consider it handled."

Finally, Riven turned to Aria. "Scout the surrounding ruins. We need to know what's still buried beneath this kingdom. There may be resources—old forges, tunnels, caches—that we can reclaim."

Aria inclined her head. "I'll take a team and start immediately."

The orders were given, the path set.

Riven turned to face his people once more, his voice steady and clear as it carried over the gathered crowd.

"There's one more thing," he said. "Up until now, we have survived on necessity alone. We have built with our own hands, fought for every scrap of land, every stone laid in this encampment. But if we are to truly rebuild, if we are to become more than just survivors, we must restore more than just walls and fields."

A hush fell over the crowd, anticipation thick in the air.

"We must restore prosperity."

Murmurs rippled through the gathered people, uncertain yet intrigued.

Riven raised the gold coin he had been rolling between his fingers. "This is more than just a symbol of wealth—it is the foundation of stability. And starting today, it will begin flowing again within the Shadow Kingdom."

He let the words sink in before continuing. "From now on, those who work to rebuild this kingdom will be paid for their labor. Farmers, builders, smiths, scouts, hunters—every hand that contributes to our future will be rewarded."

A stunned silence met his words.

Then, an eruption of voices.

People exchanged glances, the weight of the announcement settling in. For years, they had worked simply to survive, to carve out a meager existence in the wasteland. The idea of being compensated for their efforts was almost foreign.

Riven waited for the initial shock to settle before raising a hand for silence. "I know this is new. I know many of you worked without expecting anything in return because we had nothing to give. But that ends now. The gold we've secured will serve as the foundation of our new economy."

He turned slightly, gesturing toward the apartment complex. "Anyone looking for paid work is to report in front of the apartment building at dawn tomorrow. Roles will be assigned based on skill, and wages will be distributed weekly."

A different kind of energy surged through the crowd now—one of excitement, of renewed purpose. Those who had once resigned themselves to hardship now saw something more on the horizon.

A future worth building.

Damon let out a low whistle. "Well, that's one way to get people moving."

Mal smirked. "And a damn good way to make sure people stay invested."

Nyx crossed her arms, nodding approvingly. "A structured workforce means organized growth. This will make things much easier."

Krux, ever practical, grinned. "And it'll light a fire under the ones who've been slacking."

Riven ignored the scattered chuckles and focused on the crowd, watching as the realization spread. People who had once seen themselves as little more than survivors were now seeing the first glimpse of something greater.

An economy.

A system.

A kingdom.

He exhaled, his gaze sweeping over the faces before him. "This is only the beginning. We will rebuild, not as beggars clinging to the past, but as a force to be reckoned with."

The murmurs grew, some voices rising in agreement, others still caught in awe.

The crowd stirred, excitement threading through the uncertainty. He knew this change would not be immediate. Many would struggle with the concept, some would resist, and others would take advantage. But that was expected.

This was only the foundation.

"Dismissed," Riven finished, stepping back.

Slowly, the gathered crowd began to disperse, voices hushed yet eager, the promise of change lingering in the air. Some exchanged excited whispers, others merely nodded to themselves, already contemplating what role they might take in this new order.

Aria lingered by his side, watching the departing people with a thoughtful expression. "You've given them something to strive for," she murmured. "Something beyond survival."

Riven exhaled. "It's about time."

Mal let out a short laugh, tucking his hands into his coat pockets. "You just turned an entire encampment of outcasts and refugees into employees. I don't know whether to be impressed or terrified."

Damon crossed his arms, smirking. "Definitely a little terrifying."

Krux nodded in agreement. "They'll need time to adjust, but… this changes everything."

Aria folded her arms. "And if someone tries to hoard gold? Stockpile wages? Corrupt the system before it's even in place?"

"They'll find out quickly that greed will not be tolerated," Riven said smoothly. "We are rebuilding something greater than just a city. There will be laws, structure, accountability. And if someone believes they can take more than their fair share at the expense of others…"

His voice dropped, a quiet promise laced in steel.

"They will answer to me."

A slow, satisfied smirk spread across Aria's lips. "Good."

Damon cracked his knuckles. "I like this new Shadow Kingdom."

Nyx smirked. "Me too. Makes my job more interesting."

Riven turned, surveying the encampment—the soon-to-be capital of the Shadow Kingdom. Fires burned low in the hearths, casting flickering shadows against the stone walls of their first buildings. The roads, still rough, would soon be paved. The market, now just an open square of trampled dirt, would soon house stalls and merchants. The fields, already thriving beyond expectation, would continue to flourish.

This was the turning point.

The world had ignored the Shadow Kingdom for years, believing it to be dead.

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But now, gold would flow.

People would have purpose.

And when the world finally turned its gaze toward them, they would not see ruins.

They would see a kingdom rising from the abyss.