.^^ the Sage ^^

— Josef —

The Messenger was happily sorting through all of the new deeds, once I'd fed them all to Evagil, and I looked back at the gathered people. "Now, for what did you come here, except to attempt to steal from me? Or to express your interest, Monk, I mean no disrespect... to you." I smiled at the monk, who'd looked momentarily offended.

She chuckled and bowed. "Of course not, Sir. Thank you for your consideration... I honestly came up here to see what you were like. The Twins told me a bit, but they only knew you for two days, so that was rather bare, incomplete for a real assessment."

"Ahh, Yes. That makes sense. And you two? Answer my question, my patience for rude people is legendarily thin." I grinned, showing my sharpened teeth.

They flinched, and the one who'd spoke first cleared his throat. "Yes, that is quite funny, Duke Elect, but we are not here to steal-"

"Do I seem to be laughing?" I growled.

He paused, and then gulped nervously. "Ah... I see, well, we are simply here to offer our congratulations, and of course to make sure you understand the dynamic of our fair city-"

"You mean you wish to maintain your precious Status Quo." I chuckled dryly.

"Correct. As you are aware, the Lord's and Elite of this fair city live in the Plateau City, while the servant classes live down in the Shanty-Town. But, now that the Shanty-Town is gone, we would like to offer our bids for the new, beautiful city that you've created right on the water!" He smiled happily, but the greed in his eyes and mind were unmistakable.

"Hmm... rejected. The people of UnderTown live in those buildings, and as that city is SS+, unlike yours, which is B+, they are technically richer than you, and as such you will Excuse my lack of care for your excuses to want to displace the Dwarves and Servants which you have reviled for so long. Let me be perfectly clear: You will treat them with respect, or I will place your head on my wall as a trophy." I grinned savagely, and then let my teeth slowly return to normal. "Anyway, moving on, any other orders of business? I've been summoned by the King, so I can't doddle around here any longer."

They bowed, seething mad, and I hummed, making a note to make examples of them when I returned. "Of course, Duke Elect... very clear. We live to serve." They muttered.

"I would hope so. Now leave, and don't bother me unless there's a matter of law and order to attend to, and at that point you will contact the Guild, who will contact me." I shooed them off, and then stood up finally, stretching.

They disappeared, teleporting back to their own homes, and I looked at the Monk. "Good day... I will examine your Orphanage at a later date, to see if it fits our standards for proper care of children." She nodded.

I laughed. "You will do no such thing, because your standards are probably terrible, my friend. I have clean running water, proper hygiene, sewage lines, food from every portion of the food pyramid, and heating for the cold nights. You would learn a thing or two from my facility."

She blinked slowly. "You have such things... for the children?"

"Yes? Why else would I have it? A portion of it goes to my little cabin, but the majority is for the shelter, yes." I shrugged.

"Most monasteries are lucky to have food and water! How did you manage that?!?" She demanded.

"I build an entire city with sewage, clean running water, heat, and everything else, and you're confused how I managed it in one other location within the walls of that same city?" I asked dryly.

She blushed. "Ah... right... that makes sense. My apologies."

"No, don't mind it. In fact, Evagil will be giving each of the monasteries a proper greenhouse and hygiene building; baths, outhouses, the works. It's imperative to the children's health, so don't bother trying to say no, it'll be as utilitarian as you'd like it to be, nothing fancy, just stone and water... well, Except for the greenhouses, those are made of glass and iron." I nodded.

She bowed her head slowly. "I truly appreciate any help you would give, Sir... we do alright for food, with the money our Clerics make as members of Parties, but the clean water, that is imperative, you are correct."

"Of course, having them haul the water from the well is still a way to build character." I grinned, and she laughed heartily.

—

After they'd all left, and Ashen was losing rather horribly at a game of cards, with Saccharine grinning wolfishly every time he won, (terrible poker face,) I decided to check in on my Dragon.

'So, I have Summoning Magic, yes?'

'You do, would you like to try it?'

'I would, Yes.'

'Alright... Hmm... it seems Francois is not at the Cave... he's somewhere in the forest. Odd.'

'Send me to him, then. Maybe he's hunting?' I shrugged.

'Perhaps... or perhaps something is hunting him. I sense several human presences in the forest.'

'Well that won't do.' I frowned, and sent myself to his side instantly.

My vision swam and my gut dropped, making me lean against Dominique's shoulder to regain my balance, but when I did, I looked up and surveyed the situation.

Six people surrounded us, wielding weapons of all kinds, and they were perplexed by my arrival, so they weren't currently attacking.

I stood up slowly. "Now who the fuck told you that you could hunt in MY forest?!? And to hunt one of MY servants?!?" I hissed at them, readying the shield spell.

One of them stepped forward, touching her fist to her armored chest in a lazy salute. "Who are you, then? Before I answer?"

"I am Duke Elect Josef Von Eisenberg, the person who owns this entire section of forest and the two mountains within it!!!" I snapped.

She nodded. "Ah, I see. We were given the task of hunting an Adult Dragon that had been sighted in the area. The Guild said you wouldn't mind. I see they were only assuming, and didn't actually speak with you first."

"You are correct. Leave, and tell the Guild I will be having WORDS with them about this!" I growled savagely, and turned to Dominique, healing his wounds with my hands, checking to make sure every bone was put into the right place and every bone splinter was removed.

"Ahh, much better, Master... I apologize for my inability to protect your lands. They are all S- class, and I am only S+..." he sighed.

"It's alright, little one, you've grown bigger since I saw you last! Benefits of being attached to me during my power-ups, Hmm?" I grinned.

He laughed deeply. "Indeed, Master. By the way, there were several humans cutting down trees in our forest, but I hesitated to kill them, so instead I frightened them away."

I growled softly. "Another thing I will be addressing to the Guild... you did well. I will handle the rest." I touched the ground, and directed Evagil to fix the trees, and erect a barrier over my forest that would only allow wild animals and those with permission in or out. That included the Wyverns, who would likely need something to keep them safe.

When I finished, I realized the group of Rangers were still standing to one side, in a group now, but staring at me. "WHAT?!?" I snarled, growing my teeth. None of them flinched, surprisingly, but I realized that anyone who'd ever killed a dragon was immune to Fear effects.

"So, that dragon, He obeys you?" The lead woman asked.

"Obviously, Yes, and?" I narrowed my eyes, dropping the Intimidating Presence because it wasn't doing anything.

"So he's not going to terrorize the loggers anymore... right?" She asked.

"Of course he will. They don't have my permission to be in my forest, much less cut down any of my trees. He's doing his job, and he didn't kill any of them, because he knew I'd be angry if he did." I shrugged.

She scratched her head slowly. "But we need the lumber. The town about a mile north of here is expanding, lately, and even has its own Guild-hall now."

"Buy it legally, then. Right now it's called Stealing, and I believe the theft of Lumber is considered a capital crime." I rebuked her pleas dryly. "Also, I believe I own the town as well, if you mean the little town just outside the northern edge of the forest, so they should just request it of me, as the owner, and I'd probably just do it myself. I built an SS+ Port City in just one month, I can manage one little town."

She nodded slowly. "I guess that makes sense... I'll tell them to halt the logging until we have permission."

"Wait... So, the little Boom Town has six S- Adventurers?" I asked.

"Well... I'm from there, and this is my party, but they come from all over. I just heard my town was being threatened by a dragon, so I came to help." She sighed.

"Hmm... good for you, loyalty is nice to have. Now, seriously, leave. Tell the town and Guild we'll have to talk about all this, and soon. I have a meeting with the King in a few weeks, and I'd like all my affairs in order before I arrive, in case I have to stay and entertain him for a few days." I sighed.

She raised an eyebrow. "You expect to entertain the king for a few days?"

"You know how royalty is, everything takes longer when they do it." I shrugged, and let my form change. "Oi, Dominique! Bet I'm faster than you!!!" I darted up into the air, ignoring the surprised rangers, and he roared, giving chase.

—

The meeting hall was more like a Viking kitchen than a court room, to my surprise, but I appreciated the aesthetic, as we sat around a deep fire pit to discuss the issues that'd brought us here.

"So! I'm here because the Guild and this town did two things I disapprove of. Why are you here?" I asked, looking at a small, one-armed old man wearing what looked to be living plants as clothes.

He grinned, showing a few missing teeth. "I am a moderator for the issues, is all! I am the Sage, I am!"

"Okay, Buddy, Whatever you say. I am also a sage, but I'm not insane." I replied dryly.

He frowned. "Who are you calling insane? I am simply odd, because I prefer it that way!"

"Well, remain either silent or serious, there's business to be discussed that you don't have any part in." I shook my head.

He shook his head sadly. "Young ones... so serious all the time."

"Moving on, here's the reason I'm here: you can't log my forest without my permission, first of all, and second of all, all the creatures in that forest belong to me, and you will never send Rangers or Hunters in there without my permission!!!" I frowned at the town's chief and the Guild Leader, who was apparently self-appointed from amongst the three members of the Guild here. He was a B+ Ranger, and a bit of a Ponce, (not that I have anything against poncey people, so long as they aren't rude).

The chief, (a middle-aged Blacksmith with stark black hair and white sideburns,) sighed and nodded. "We do understand that, Sir... but, We have more people, now, and we need more houses."

"Yes, and houses made of wood is a stupid choice when you've got earth mages to give you stone houses that don't burn down every spring." I responded blandly.

He glanced at the Guild Master, who shook his head. "I could handle maybe one house in a week? They need about forty, as far as I can tell. And I work in the mine to keep it from collapsing, so I can't waste my energy on the housing project." He sighed.

"Mine? What are you mining?" I frowned.

"Some black crystals have appeared in the old abandoned coal mine, just inside the border of the forest. We've been carefully moving them, because the Blacksmith says they're important." The Little Guild Master shrugged.

I laughed softly. "I didn't realize I'd made Anthracite grow here as well! It's my special blend of Coal that I use for making A+ steel... it's a Guild Resource, and should be taken to the Mountain that the Wyverns live in... wonderful!!!" I grinned.

The Chief nodded. "I knew it had to be a type of Coal, but when I tried to burn it, it just turned shiny... well, if you have a use for it, we'll happily mine it for you, if we're being paid." He said firmly, staring at me expectantly.

"Of course! Tell me, what's the normal pay miners receive? Also, the crystals don't require you to dig them up, that defeats the purpose; you just smash the crystal, and leave the bottom pieces in the ground, so it grows back." I grinned.

"That does make our jobs easier, and it's about 2 silver pieces a month, for a miner's pay." He shrugged.

"Alright, well that's barely enough to live on! How about 20 silver a month, plus I'll build those houses, and anyone who works in the mine gets to claim one of the cabins for their family, no charge. Anyone else who wants one, it's 100 silver pieces to buy it off my hands, else they pay land taxes of five silvers a month!" I nodded, happy with how things had worked out.

He raised an eyebrow slowly. "20 silver pieces for mining?"

"Mining A Rank Materials, instead of regular coal? Yes. That seems fair to me. Also, any untanned pelts you can sell to the Guild will be tanned by someone with the Leatherworker Skill, and they'll sell them to me to make armor out of, and then I'll sell them back... it's a vicious cycle. Anyway, hunting basic beasts in the woods? That's alright, so long as they're in season. Don't hunt the Monster Beasts or Wyverns or Dominique." I nodded.

"Who?" The guild master asked, and one of the Rangers, the woman who said she was from here, whispered in his ear. "Oh! The Dragon! I see..."

"Yes, he'll be your main point of contact with me. Don't worry, he isn't aggressive to my allies, so if you have permission to enter the forest, and you're polite to him, he'll be perfectly courteous! Anything else?" I hummed.

"Just the Trees?" The Chief sighed.

"Oh! The Trees! Okay, here's the deal: no logging, none, as in, you leave my living trees alone or I'll geld each and every one of you; but if you find naturally downed trees, (of which there are several hundred, due to Dominique and the Wyverns' clumsiness,) you may take them out of the forest, with Dominique's approval. Clear?" I asked seriously.

They both nodded, and the old Sage chuckled. "You like the Trees, Young One?"

"Where I come from, the trees are in danger of all being cut down, because of loggers and land developers getting too greedy to understand that they're killing millions of animals, just by removing their habitats or over-hunting. I won't let that happen, here. So yes, I Love the Trees." I crossed my arms to punctuate my point.

He laughed, and nodded. "Good! Good, the Trees need someone to care for them! I will be going, then, I have people to confuse with Wisdom they don't yet need!!!" With that, he wandered out, and I felt the shift of the air as he teleported away.

"Hmph... wandering Sages, can they get any weirder, am I right?" I chuckled, and the two men laughed as well.

'He was one of the Hero-God's chosen, a long time ago. Now he helps others in his own, cryptic way. Curious of him to be here, though, unless a hero is to be born in this town... I wonder about that.'

"I'm sure it's fine. Anyway, let's get this party started, yeah? You tell the miners about the new practice, (not breaking the roots of the crystals, and tossing in old coal so it can be turned into Anthracite,) and I'll build these houses, no problem!" I grinned, and stood up.

The woman who'd said she was from here nodded. "I'll lead you to the main square. Most of the residential areas are there, behind the businesses... though there's a few more of those now than before."

I followed her to a dusty square about 100ft wide, with a few people selling spring fruit in stalls and such. Around the edges, buildings with wooden signs were constructed, giving it a 'Wild, Wild, West' theme.

I nodded and sat in the center, relaxing and reaching into the dirt for the connection with Evagil. Instantly, a tree formed beneath me, surging out of the dusty earth and growing to full maturity as a orange Tree.

'Why Oranges?' I asked, ignoring the panicking people.

'They have a serious Vitamin C Deficiency epidemic. I'm growing an orchard of them around the mine.' He stated firmly.

'Fair enough. Now let's give them some nice homes, hmm? About fifty cabins should do, sized for families of eight or so. Multigenerational. Make sure each house is slightly different, of course... the messenger and I can handle the layouts, I just need the structures themselves. Solid stone with ceramic roof tiles, if you can?'

'If I can, he says...' he grumbled, and I smiled as close to eighty cabins appeared, ranged around the southern side of the town, towards the mine.

'Perfect, and a few warehouses for the oranges, that would be nice... solid stone with an air-gap to keep it cool inside, to prevent rotting. And a pair of mine-cart tracks headed to the Dragon Mountain? Oh! And this town will need the same hygienic stuff as the port city; sewers, clean water, steam pipes to allow for heating, the works!'

He grumbled some more, but got to work, while the Messenger decorated and designed the interior of the cabins, all while I ate a very delicious orange.