The morning sun bathed the eastern slope in golden light, casting long shadows over the rolling grass and dew-kissed stones. I stood with Igor at the base of the chosen hill, a place we now called "Signal Crest." It had the best elevation for miles, and from here, you could see the full sprawl of our bustling town.I adjusted the radio on my belt and glanced down at the unfolded blueprint in my hands. Heavy bootsteps approached from behind—Igor’s unmistakable rhythm.He grunted, arms crossed. “You sure this spot’s stable enough? Soil’s a bit loose on the north side.”“Already reinforced it with packed mana-stone,” came a voice from behind him. “This hill isn’t going anywhere.”I turned to see Grumli, our lead dwarven engineer, marching up with his two younger cousins, Bori and Thalm. They wore thick leather aprons, their red and grey beards singed from the forge, and their faces painted with eager anticipation.Grumli spat to the side and slapped his rolled parchment into Igor’s hands

I looked around and sighed. Lavender bushes hummed with bees, tall sunflowers danced like lazy guards, and cobblestone paths meandered between vegetables, herbs, and hanging vines. It was a rare moment of calm. I knelt beside a small wooden bench, backpack at my feet, as Divina and Finn joined me. She wore a simple green dress today, her silvery-blonde hair tied in a loose braid, while Finn—clutched a wooden dragon toy Kael had carved for him.“You said you had something special to show us?” Divina asked, arching a brow.“Not just special,” I replied, pulling open the flap of my magical backpack, “but nostalgic.”From within, I carefully retrieved a small ceramic pot holding a miniature pine tree—its twisted trunk bent in graceful arcs, delicate needles gently ruffled by the wind. Moss lined the soil like a velvet carpet. The tiny tree stood no taller than my forearm, yet it radiated elegance… discipline… balance.Divina gasped softly, kneeling beside me. “What is it?”“This… is a bon

Later that afternoon, as the sun began to dip and the air cooled, I stood on the overlook by the town walls. From there, I saw it all: the new red-and-blue merchant tents, kids laughing near the cotton candy machine, dwarves building new vendor stalls, and Miss Agnes still yelling at someone to "use ink, not blood" on the registry papers.Our town was no longer a quiet outpost. It was alive, growing, pulsing with trade, trust, and the strange harmony of two worlds learning to live as one. And the heartbeat? It was louder—and faster—every day.*****The message came late last night—delivered by hawk scroll from the mainland."His Majesty King Ernest and Princess Athena will arrive at midday. This is an informal visit. No escort required."Informal, my ass. The king doesn't cross the sea just to say hello. Still, I wasn't about to receive royalty with an empty table. I rummaged through my magical backpack, pulling out containers from the Earth-side grocery I'd stocked the night before—t

That night, standing atop the manor balcony, overlooking the twinkling lights of my growing town, I clenched my fists. My land wasn’t just a village anymore.It was a beacon.And beacons… always attracted the good—and the bad.But I was ready. We were ready.*****Three days after tightening security, something miraculous happened.I was walking with Ella and Elvie early in the morning, inspecting the new market stalls, when Finn, Divina’s boy, came sprinting down the mana road, face flushed with excitement.“My Lord! Miss Ella! Miss Elvie!” he yelled."The Fruit of Eternity! The Fruit bloomed!!"My heart skipped.Without a second thought, we rushed with him back toward the Divine Garden. The villagers we passed saw our urgency and followed in a slow growing tide, whispers trailing behind us.When we reached the garden, gasps filled the air.There, in the very center—between the two grand Divine Tree statues—stood the Fruit of Eternity sapling, now taller than a man, its silvery-green

A few hours later, the sky above the forest clearing had already turned a soft orange, streaked with gold as the sun dipped behind the mountain ridges. The faint trail of smoke from our campfire curled lazily into the wind, carrying with it the mouthwatering scent of grilled hotdogs.We'd just cleared a goblin-infested dungeon—third floor, mid-tier, nothing too nasty—but the real reward had been the cluster of glowing magic stones we pulled from the goblins' stash room. It was dusty, cramped, and smelt like rotten cheese... but worth every step.Kael slumped down onto a log beside me, wiping green goo off his blade. "Goblins, man. Every time I think they can't get uglier, they prove me wrong."Felix laughed, dropping a small satchel filled with stones onto the ground. "At least they drop loot. Look at this haul. Seventy-seven mid-grade magic stones and three pure cores. We should hit dungeons more often."Karl, who'd just set down his mana rifle beside a stump, flopped onto the grass.