Six months passed...
But Ravenholt was no longer the same city it had been before.
The change didn't happen overnight.
There was no single day when everything suddenly became better.
Instead...
It happened little by little.
A repaired wall here.
A new house there.
A merchant arriving.
A farmer settling down.
A blacksmith finishing a new batch of weapons.
A guard becoming more disciplined.
Week by week...
Month by month...
Ravenholt slowly began to change.
---
The First Month...
The castle was still filled with noise.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Hammers struck stone.
Workers carried heavy materials through the halls.
Stonemasons repaired the old walls.
Carpenters replaced rotten wooden structures.
And blacksmiths worked almost endlessly.
Levi often walked through the construction sites.
Not because he didn't trust the workers...
But because he wanted to see the progress himself.
He stopped beside one of the stonemasons.
"How is this section?"
The man wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Better than we expected, my lord."
He pointed toward the wall.
"The damage was worse underneath than we first thought."
Levi frowned.
"Can it be repaired?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
The stonemason hesitated.
"A few more days."
Levi nodded.
"Then take a few more days."
The worker looked surprised.
"My lord?"
"I want it strong."
Levi looked at the wall.
"Not fast."
He turned away.
"Strong."
---
The new defensive towers began taking shape.
One every forty meters.
Each one designed to give the guards a clear view of the surrounding area.
And each tower...
Had a bell.
The idea seemed simple.
But Gaius immediately understood its purpose.
One bell could mean trouble.
Two could mean danger.
And if the bells continued ringing...
The entire city would know.
The guards began practicing the system.
A bell rang.
DONG!
Another answered.
DONG!
Then another.
Within moments...
The sound had traveled across the walls.
Gaius watched from below.
"Again."
The guards looked at him.
"Again?"
"Your response was too slow."
The soldiers sighed.
Gaius crossed his arms.
"If an actual attack comes..."
He looked at the towers.
"...you won't have time to complain."
The soldiers immediately returned to their positions.
---
The Second Month...
Ravenholt began receiving more visitors.
At first...
Only a few.
A merchant's wagon.
A family searching for work.
A group of craftsmen.
Then more came.
And more.
The roads became busier.
The marketplace became louder.
The inns began filling.
Even the streets around the castle started becoming crowded.
Levi received reports almost every morning.
"My lord."
A clerk placed a document on his desk.
"Another group has requested permission to settle in Ravenholt."
Levi looked at the paper.
"How many?"
"Twenty-three."
Levi nodded.
"Give them a place to settle."
The clerk hesitated.
"There are already several groups waiting."
Levi looked up.
"Then find them places."
"Yes, my lord."
The clerk bowed and left.
Levi leaned back.
He stared at the growing pile of papers.
"...This is getting bigger."
Gaius, standing nearby, laughed.
"You wanted Ravenholt to grow."
"I know."
"You got what you wanted."
Levi sighed.
"I didn't expect this much paperwork."
---
The children Levi had taken in were also beginning to settle into their new lives.
They had more space now.
More food.
More people around them.
Some began helping around the castle.
Others spent their days studying or learning simple trades.
Gaius kept an eye on them.
Levi occasionally visited.
One afternoon...
He found several of them sitting near the courtyard.
One of the children looked up.
"My lord!"
Levi stopped.
"What?"
"Look!"
The child held up a wooden figure.
"I made this."
Levi examined it.
It was rough.
The shape was uneven.
But it was clearly meant to be a little knight.
Levi smiled.
"That's pretty good."
"Really?"
"Really."
The child's face lit up.
Levi continued walking.
Gaius watched him.
"You know..."
"What?"
"They like you."
Levi looked back.
"...Good."
---
The Third Month...
The smithy had become one of the busiest places in Ravenholt.
Torgrim's workshop was almost never quiet.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
Dwarven blacksmiths worked beside human craftsmen.
Some of the human smiths had originally been sent by neighboring nobles.
They had expected to simply follow orders.
Instead...
They found themselves learning from Torgrim.
And they quickly realized how valuable that opportunity was.
One of the human blacksmiths watched Torgrim inspect a newly finished sword.
Torgrim turned it over.
Checked the balance.
Examined the edge.
Then handed it back.
"Better."
The blacksmith smiled.
"Thank you, Master Torgrim."
Torgrim frowned.
"Don't thank me."
The blacksmith blinked.
"Then..."
"Make another one."
The smith laughed.
"Yes, Master."
Levi occasionally visited the smithy.
He saw weapons being produced in greater numbers.
Armor was becoming more standardized.
Repairs were easier.
And the guards were receiving equipment that was much more reliable than what they had before.
Levi looked over the workshop.
"Can we keep this pace?"
Torgrim crossed his arms.
"For now."
"For now?"
"We need more materials if you want more."
Levi nodded.
"Then I'll get them."
Torgrim smirked.
"That's what I wanted to hear."
---
The Fourth Month...
The walls were almost finished.
The difference was obvious.
The old sections had looked worn and uneven.
Now...
They were reinforced.
The foundations were stronger.
The damaged sections had been rebuilt.
And the new towers stood above the city.
The workers had also managed to improve several older sections of the wall.
Not everything had gone according to plan.
Some areas took longer than expected.
Others required completely different repairs.
But Levi had allowed the craftsmen to make adjustments when necessary.
One evening...
Levi and Gaius walked along the top of the eastern wall.
The sun was beginning to set.
Gaius looked over the city.
"Remember what this place looked like when you returned?"
Levi nodded.
"Yeah."
"Not exactly impressive."
"No."
Levi looked toward the streets below.
There were people everywhere.
Merchants closing their shops.
Children running home.
Guards changing shifts.
Farmers returning from the fields.
Smoke rising from chimneys.
Levi smiled slightly.
"...It's different."
Gaius nodded.
"It is."
---
The Fifth Month...
Trade had become a major part of Ravenholt's growth.
Wagons arrived almost every day.
Food.
Wood.
Stone.
Iron.
Cloth.
Tools.
And other supplies.
Some merchants who had once avoided Ravenholt were now actively seeking trade agreements.
Levi spent hours reviewing them.
Some offers were good.
Some were questionable.
Some were clearly trying to take advantage of Ravenholt.
Those were immediately rejected.
One afternoon...
Levi looked at another proposal.
Gaius stood beside him.
"What does it say?"
"They want exclusive rights to sell their grain here."
Gaius frowned.
"And?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because if they control the grain..."
Levi placed the paper down.
"...they control the price."
Gaius nodded.
"Good."
Levi pushed the document aside.
"We need several suppliers."
"Exactly."
Ravenholt was growing.
And Levi was learning that growing a city wasn't simply about building walls.
It was about making sure the city could survive.
---
Meanwhile...
The guards had improved considerably.
Training became a regular part of their routine.
Formation drills.
Patrols.
Night watches.
Fire response.
Civilian evacuation.
Defensive positioning.
They practiced until their movements became natural.
One morning...
Gaius watched a group of soldiers perform a formation drill.
"Again!"
They moved.
"Faster!"
They moved again.
"Keep your shields together!"
The formation tightened.
Gaius nodded.
"Better."
One soldier smiled.
Gaius immediately pointed at him.
"Don't get comfortable."
The smile disappeared.
"Again."
The soldiers groaned.
Gaius smiled.
---
The Sixth Month...
The castle was nearly finished.
The last major repairs were completed.
The halls had been cleaned.
The damaged structures replaced.
The walls reinforced.
The towers operational.
The bells tested.
The gates strengthened.
And the castle itself...
Finally looked like a proper seat of Ravenholt again.
Levi stood in the courtyard.
Workers were carrying away the last of the construction materials.
Torgrim arrived from the smithy.
"The final equipment shipment is ready."
Levi turned.
"Already?"
"Yes."
"Good."
Torgrim looked around.
"Not bad."
Levi smiled.
"Coming from you..."
Torgrim raised an eyebrow.
"Don't get sentimental."
Levi laughed quietly.
---
Later that day...
Levi climbed the tallest tower.
He stood at the top.
Looking over everything.
Ravenholt stretched beneath him.
The repaired castle.
The strengthened walls.
The towers.
The streets.
The houses.
The marketplace.
The fields beyond the city.
The people.
So many people.
Six months ago...
This place had felt like it was barely holding together.
Now...
It was alive.
Levi rested his hands against the stone railing.
"...We actually did it."
Gaius stood behind him.
"Not completely."
Levi looked back.
Gaius smiled.
"You still have a mountain of work waiting for you."
Levi sighed.
"...I knew you were going to say that."
---
But even with all the progress...
There were still problems.
Not every house had been repaired.
Not every road was finished.
Some sections of the city still needed work.
The farms needed expansion.
The marketplace needed better organization.
The guard force needed more recruits.
And Ravenholt still needed more teachers, healers, craftsmen, and builders.
There was always something.
Always another problem.
Always another piece that needed fixing.
But for the first time...
Those problems felt different.
They weren't problems caused by a city dying.
They were problems caused by a city growing.
---
One evening...
Levi sat in his office.
The same office.
But even that had changed.
More shelves had been added.
More maps covered the walls.
More documents filled the desk.
He looked through the latest reports.
Population increasing.
Trade increasing.
Construction continuing.
Guard training improving.
Food supplies stable.
The castle repaired.
The walls reinforced.
The city expanding.
Levi slowly put the papers down.
He leaned back.
And looked through the window.
The night sky was clear.
Ravenholt's lights shone below.
For a moment...
Everything was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Levi's expression slowly changed.
His mind returned to that night.
The Black Church.
The ritual.
The words.
The Vessel.
He stared into the darkness.
"...Six months."
Nothing.
No attack.
No message.
No sign of the cult.
Nothing.
Levi closed his eyes.
"Maybe..."
He stopped.
He knew better than to finish that thought.
The Black Church had waited fifteen years before making its move.
Six months meant nothing.
Levi stood.
He walked toward the window.
Outside...
Ravenholt continued to grow.
The city was becoming stronger.
The people were settling in.
The walls were ready.
The guards were ready.
The castle was ready.
But Levi knew...
Being ready didn't mean danger would never come.
It only meant that when danger finally arrived...
Ravenholt wouldn't be the helpless city it once was.
Levi looked toward the distant horizon.
"...Come if you dare."
He turned away from the window.
"Ravenholt is ready."
And somewhere far beyond the city...
Something was moving.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Waiting.
The six months of peace...
Were only the beginning.
Later That Evening...
For once...
Levi's desk wasn't completely buried in paperwork.
There were still documents waiting for him.
But not enough to consume his entire day.
Levi stretched his arms.
"...Finally."
He stood from his chair.
"Maybe I can get some training in."
He left his office and walked down the hallway.
His footsteps echoed through the castle.
As he passed one of the rooms...
He heard voices.
Levi slowed down.
"Hm?"
He looked inside.
Several maids were gathered around a small table.
And among them...
Was one of the little girls Levi had taken in.
She was sitting quietly...
Carefully watching one of the maids.
"Like this."
The maid gently demonstrated how to fold a cloth.
"Fold it evenly..."
The girl copied her.
Like this?"
"That's right."
The girl smiled.
Another maid placed a small tray in front of her.
"Now try carrying this."
The girl carefully picked it up with both hands.
She took a few steps.
Slowly...
Carefully...
The maids watched her.
"Very good."
Levi stood at the doorway.
He didn't say anything.
He simply watched.
The little girl was learning how to help around the castle.
Folding clothes.
Organizing things.
Carrying trays.
Learning how the maids worked.
Nothing extraordinary.
Nothing grand.
But...
She looked happy.
Levi smiled.
"...Good."
One of the maids noticed him.
"My lord."
Levi raised a hand.
"Don't mind me."
The girl turned around.
"My lord!"
Levi smiled.
"Keep practicing."
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes!"
Levi continued down the hallway.
His smile remained.
---
Soon...
He reached the training grounds.
The sound of wooden swords could already be heard.
CLACK!
CLACK!
CLACK!
Levi stopped.
He recognized the voice immediately.
"Again!"
Gaius.
Levi stepped into the training area.
Several of the boys Levi had taken in were there.
They were holding wooden swords.
Their clothes were simple.
Their faces were covered in sweat.
And standing before them...
Was Gaius.
"Feet apart."
The boys adjusted their stance.
"Keep your back straight."
They corrected themselves.
"Good."
Gaius demonstrated a basic sword movement.
The boys copied him.
Not perfectly.
Some were too slow.
Others nearly lost their balance.
One boy fell backward.
THUD!
Gaius looked down at him.
"You alright?"
The boy immediately got back up.
"Yes!"
Gaius nodded.
"Then continue."
The boy raised his wooden sword again.
Levi watched quietly.
Gaius noticed him.
"My lord."
Levi nodded.
"How are they doing?"
Gaius looked at the children.
"Better than expected."
One of the boys raised his sword proudly.
"We're going to become knights!"
Another shouted.
"Strong knights!"
Gaius sighed.
"They've been saying that since they started."
Levi smiled.
"Why?"
One of the boys looked at him.
"Because..."
He tightened his grip around the wooden sword.
"We want to become strong like you!"
Another boy quickly added.
"Like Lord Levi too!"
Levi blinked.
"Me?"
The children nodded.
"You both protect people!"
"We want to protect people too!"
"We want to become knights!"
Gaius looked at Levi.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"They volunteered."
Levi looked at the children.
"They did?"
Gaius nodded.
"Every single one."
The boys stood proudly.
"We want to train!"
"We want to become strong!"
"We want to be knights!"
Levi smiled.
"Then..."
He stepped into the training area.
"Keep training."
The children immediately straightened.
"YES, MY LORD!"
Levi chuckled.
Gaius handed him a wooden sword.
Levi looked at it.
Then at Gaius.
"...I was planning on training myself."
Gaius smiled.
"Then train with them."
Levi sighed.
"Fine."
He took the wooden sword.
The boys looked excited.
Gaius stepped back.
"Alright."
He crossed his arms.
"Let's see what you've got."
Levi raised his sword.
The children raised theirs.
For a moment...
The training grounds became quiet.
Then...
"Begin."
CLACK!
Wood struck wood.
And the training continued.
Levi's eyes moved across the training ground...
Watching each of the children.
Their stances.
Their movements.
Their determination.
But eventually...
His eyes stopped on one of them.
The older brother of the little girl.
Levi watched him closely.
The boy raised his wooden sword.
CLACK!
He blocked Gaius's strike.
He stumbled backward...
But quickly regained his footing.
Gaius attacked again.
The boy blocked.
Again.
And again.
Levi's expression slowly became more focused.
...He's improving.
The boy's movements weren't perfect.
Far from it.
His stance still needed work.
His swings were sometimes too wide.
And he was still relying too much on his strength.
But...
Levi noticed something.
He's learning.
The boy watched Gaius carefully.
Every time he made a mistake...
He corrected it.
Every time Gaius showed him something...
He remembered it.
Levi narrowed his eyes slightly.
This kid grows faster than the others.
Another strike came.
The boy ducked.
He attempted a counterattack.
Gaius easily blocked it.
"Too obvious."
The boy gritted his teeth.
"Yes, sir!"
He adjusted his stance.
Gaius attacked again.
This time...
The boy reacted faster.
Levi's eyes widened slightly.
Again.
The boy was still losing.
But the difference between his first attempt...
And his latest one...
Was obvious.
His body is adapting quickly.
He's still young...
Yet he's already beginning to understand how Gaius moves.
Levi looked at him for a moment longer.
Then...
A thought crossed his mind.
What's his name again...?
Levi remembered.
The boy's name was...
Elias.
Levi watched Elias tighten his grip around the wooden sword.
Elias...
You've got potential.
Gaius struck again.
Elias blocked.
CLACK!
He stumbled.
But didn't fall.
He immediately returned to his stance.
Levi smiled faintly.
And more importantly...
You don't give up.
The boy looked toward Gaius.
"Again!"
Gaius raised an eyebrow.
"You sure?"
Elias nodded.
"Again."
Gaius smiled.
"Alright."
Levi stepped back slightly.
Watching.
Waiting.
Let's see just how far you can go, Elias.