By the time they returned to Blackstone Town, the sky was nearing dusk.
The town entrance was much livelier than usual, with many unfamiliar faces visible from a distance. A group of people in ragged clothes, their faces weathered by the elements, had gathered there. Men, women, elderly, and children alike mostly carried simple bedrolls and sacks. Their eyes held the exhaustion of long-distance travel and the apprehension of a strange environment, yet they tried their best to stand tall, as if to prove they still had the strength to work. Beneath the fatigue was a flickering hope for a stable life.
They were refugees displaced by war or famine from nearby regions. Having heard that Blackstone Town was recruiting labor and that the local lord was relatively benevolent, they had brought their families to try their luck. Several guards maintained order while the civil official performed simple registrations and offered reassurances according to Leylo's pre-established plan for receiving refugees.
As the column moved forward toward the north side of town, the silhouette of Blackstone Castle had already risen from the ground, significantly taller than when they had left. The sturdy stone walls had reached their intended height, and massive scaffolding surrounded the stone fortress. Craftsmen and assisting townsfolk were busy with the final stages of construction.
One last massive log, serving as the ridge beam for the main roof, was being slowly hoisted into place by dozens of craftsmen and townsfolk. Accompanied by rhythmic chants of "Heave! Ho!", the beam was prepared to be slotted into the mortise-and-tenon joints of the flanking walls.
"The Lord is back!"
A sharp-eyed worker spotted Leylo's party, and a chorus of greetings immediately erupted from the construction site.
"It's topping out!"
As the giant beam settled steadily into its place with a perfect fit, someone shouted excitedly, drawing a thunderous cheer from the crowd. According to the customs of the Duchy of Thunder Dragon, the "topping-out" was a crucial milestone in construction. It signaled the completion of the main structure; all that remained was internal renovation and refinement. This was not just a celebration of hard labor, but a ritual carrying the hope for a peaceful future.
Leylo dismounted, handed his reins to a knight, and strode toward the construction site. He shed his leather armor, which was stained with mountain dust and a hint of blood, and an attendant handed him a relatively clean set of lord's casual attire to change into.
The old town mayor, Buck, had already received the news. Leaning on his cane, he approached with a jovial smile, followed by several respected elders of the town holding sacrificial ale and freshly baked bread. This was the tradition: the topping-out ceremony had to be presided over by the Lord himself to pray for the strength of the building and the safety of the household.
Leylo took the ceramic jug of ale and the coarse but fragrant bread. Standing directly beneath the castle, he followed the simple ancient ritual: he raised the ale high above his head, poured a portion onto the earth and a portion toward the sky, reciting words of blessing to thank the land for its support and the sky for its protection. Then, he broke off a small piece of bread and symbolically placed it upon the newly installed ridge beam.
Having completed the ritual, Leylo turned to face the craftsmen, the townsfolk involved in the build, the onlookers filled with joy, and even the newly arrived refugees. Caught up in the warm atmosphere, the newcomers momentarily forgot their exhaustion and anxiety.
"You have all worked hard!"
Leylo's voice was not exceptionally loud, but in the now-quieted construction site, it reached every corner clearly. "The fact that Blackstone Castle could top out so quickly is thanks to the sweat and effort of every single one of you! This castle will be our shared home, a barrier against the wind and rain, and a shield for our peace!"
He continued, "Today is a day for celebration! In accordance with custom, and to reward your diligent efforts, I have decided..."
Everyone held their breath, looking expectantly at their Lord. Rewards were a tradition of the ceremony and the best comfort for their toil.
"Every registered resident of this town—including our new friends who arrived today—provided they choose to stay in Blackstone Town, will receive two pounds of wild boar meat per person!"
"Oh!!!" "Long live the Lord!" "We have meat to eat!!"
The crowd erupted in a staggering cheer that even drowned out the previous excitement of the topping-out! Two pounds of wild boar meat! In this era of scarcity where commoners rarely tasted meat, this was a lavish reward. While boar meat was not as tender as beef or mutton, it was plentiful and rich in fat—enough for a family to enjoy several hearty meals and recover their strength.
The children were the happiest, jumping in place and cheering with mouths watering. The adults beamed, congratulating one another and casting grateful glances toward Leylo. Even the apprehensive refugees were stunned by the sudden surprise; they hadn't expected to receive a gift from the Lord the moment they stepped into the territory. They knew then that coming to Blackstone was perhaps the best decision they had made during their long displacement.
Ed had already received the signal. He directed several knights to carry out large baskets of pre-portioned boar meat. These were the harvests from previous hunts; a portion had been smoked for storage, and the rest had been kept for just such an occasion.
The distribution began immediately. The knights called out names according to the register provided by Mayor Buck.
"Old John's family! Five people, ten pounds of meat. Take it!" a knight said with a laugh, handing a large slab of marbled meat to an old man with a white beard whose face was flushed with excitement.
"Thank you! Thank you, Sir Knight! Thank you, Lord!" Old John cradled the heavy meat in his arms as if it were a precious treasure, drawing good-natured laughter from those around him.
"Next, Pete's family! Three people, six pounds!"
"Coming, coming!" A teenage boy watched the meat being handed out and let out a loud slurp as he swallowed his saliva, only to be playfully swatted on the back of the head by his mother.
"Glutton! Go home and let your father stew it until it's tender!" Amidst the laughter, the boy finally received his family's portion.
Old Mayor Buck leaned on his cane and slowly shuffled to Leylo's side, the flickering torchlight reflecting in his cloudy eyes. "My Lord, look at how happy they are," he remarked emotionally. "It's been so many years since Blackstone Town was this lively... and this full of hope."
"It's only the beginning, Buck." Leylo's gaze swept over the crowd. "To truly stabilize Blackstone, we still have a long road ahead."
"Yes, indeed," Buck nodded.
Leylo asked, "How is the preliminary settlement of the refugees going?"
"They are temporarily housed in several empty buildings on the edge of town and in makeshift shacks," Old Buck reported. "I spoke with several of their leaders; they are all willing to follow your arrangements and trade their labor for food and shelter."
"Good," Leylo nodded. "More refugees may arrive in the coming days. Tell the civil officials to handle the settlement well. The development of Blackstone cannot happen without population."
"Yes, My Lord!" Old Buck replied.
Over the next two days, Blackstone Town operated in a busy yet orderly atmosphere. Internal renovations on the castle continued, with the clanging of tools echoing as stonemasons smoothed walls and carpenters began crafting doors, windows, and interior structures.
On this particular afternoon, Ed hurried to Leylo's presence. His expression was grave.
"My Lord, a patrol squad on the perimeter has returned. They found some... unusual traces at the edge of the forest, about thirty kilometers northeast of the territory."