The carriage stopped outside the gates of Ashwick. For three weeks, Aric had prepared for this moment, rehearsing speeches and strategies to rebuild trust with the townsfolk.
But nothing could have prepared him for what came next.
"STOP!" a voice bellowed from atop the gatehouse. The guards stationed there raised their spears and blocked the entrance entirely.
From within the carriage, Seraphina leaned forward and looked at the guards.
"What is the meaning of this? Why are we being denied entry into our own town?"
One of the guards hesitated, clearly intimidated by her presence. Finally, he stammered out an explanation.
"M-my apologies, Lady Arkwright, but… Mayor Sebastian has issued a decree forbidding your family from entering Ashwick until further notice."
Seraphina's shadow tendrils flickered faintly beside her,
"Explain yourself."
The guard swallowed nervously, "I-it's not my decision, my lady. Please speak with Mayor Sebastian directly if you wish to understand."
As the tension mounted, Aric turned to Seraphina,
"This feels familiar." he muttered quietly, recalling the nightmare that had haunt him. The vision of Ashwick burning, its people screaming and the chaos consuming everything.
Seraphina arched an eyebrow, "Familiar? What are you talking about?"
"Remember the dream I told you about? The one where Ashwick fell because of something I couldn't stop? Well… don't you think it's strange how we're suddenly not allowed into the town Doesn't that strike you as symbolic?"
Seraphina scoffed softly, rolling her eyes.
"Symbolic? Don't flatter yourself. This isn't some grand prophecy or premonition—it's politics. Pure and simple. Someone probably convinced Sebastian to restrict us, knowing full well it would infuriate us."
Moments later, Mayor Sebastian appeared at the gate, accompanied by two guards. His tall but plump frame wore expensive looking robes that marked him as a man of influence. His eyes lingeried on Seraphina before settling on Aric.
"Ah, Lord Arkwright." Sebastian began mockingly,
"How kind of you to grace us with your presence. Unfortunately, the good people of Ashwick no longer wish to associate with House Arkwright—not after the atrocities committed under your leadership."
Aric clenched his fists tightly but lets go as he stepped forward, meeting the mayor's gaze,
"I understand. So what exactly do the people want, Sebastian? Tell me—what will it take to prove that we're here to help and not destroy?"
Sebastian chuckled, "Oh, I'm sure you'd love to play the hero, wouldn't you? Very well, then. If you truly mean to fix things, provide a deposit upfront. A gesture of goodwill, shall we say? Prove that you're willing to invest in this town's future that you destroyed."
His lips curled into a triumphant smirk, "Of course, I assume such funds might be difficult for you to gather, given your…recent financial troubles."
In the other carriage, Evelyn exchanged uneasy glances with Penelope.
Look at this guy. Thinking he's hot shit. Aric mocked Sebastian internally.
Aric nodded firmly, "Alright. We'll pay the deposit but only if you allow us to enter and stay until we've resolved every issue in this town. No excuses."
Sebastian's grin widened, "Very well, Lord Arkwright. Name your price, and I'll consider it."
Without hesitation, Seraphina reached into her pouch and withdrew a single note from the dwarven kingdom. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it toward Sebastian, who barely caught it in time.
Woah...that was hot. Aric thought to himself as he watch Sebastian catching that note like some beggar.
"This should cover whatever ridiculous sum you had in mind." Seraphina said icily,
"Now step aside and let us through."
Sebastian signaled to the guards, who reluctantly lowered their spears and opened the gates. As the carriage passed through, Aric glanced back at Sebastian one last time before sitting down.
The townsfolk stared at them with a mixture of suspicion and hostility. He clenched his fists tightly, forcing himself to remain calm,
"I'll handle the people when we get down." Aric said rather confidently.
Seraphina arched an eyebrow skeptically,
"Hah? Handle it? And just how do you plan to 'handle' an entire town full of people who hates you 'dear'?"
Aric replied firmly, ''Let me go alone and talk to them directly. If they want answers, I'll give them answers. If they want apologies, I'll apologise. Whatever it takes."
Seraphina frowned slightly, "It's too dangerous for you to face them alone. They might not listen and they have already attack you before. We don't want a repeat of last time."
"Exactly." Evelyn interjected sharply, their carriages side by side,
"You're walking into a lion's den blindfolded. Don't be reckless."
Aric shook his head, "I'm not being reckless. I'm trying to resolve this without burdening any of you. Besides…"
He glanced towards Evelyn and Penelope, "It's my mess. I should be the one facing them."
Seraphina scoffed softly, rolling her eyes,
"Sacrificing yourself for the greater good? How noble. I'm going to say this once Vayne. You're not going alone. I'll go with you to the fountain, and we'll face the people together. That way, they can voice all their demands straight to us.
After some deliberation, they agreed to split up. Evelyn and Penelope would head to the Golden Griffin Inn to rest and prepare the rooms, while Aric and Seraphina made their way to the fountain aka the heart of Ashwick.
Evelyn turned to Aric with a concerned expression,
"Be careful Lord Vayne. These people aren't forgiving and please protect yourself."
"I'll be fine." Aric assured her with a reassuring smile. "Just focus on getting some rest."
Penelope nodded hesitantly, clutching her bag as she stepped out of the carriage.
"Good luck, Lord Arkwright." she murmured softly before following Evelyn toward the inn.
Once they were gone, Seraphina turned to Aric, "Time to face the music."
When they reached the fountain, a crowd had already gathered. Townsfolk of all ages, their faces hardened with anger and distrust. Whispers rippled through the assembly, growing louder as Aric and Seraphina approached.
"There he is! The monster who ruined our lives! "What happened to the promise you made?'' one man shouted, pointing accusingly at Aric.
"Why should we trust you now? Your words don't mean jack shit!" another woman yelled.
"After everything you've done to us, you think you can just throw out more fake promises?!"
God... even when I promised weeks ago that I'd fix this city—how did it get even worse?
Aric raised his hands slowly, palms facing outward in a gesture of peace.
"I understand why you're angry. What I did to this town was unforgivable. Burning businesses, starving families—it's no wonder you despise me. But I'm here today because I want to make things right. Tell me what you want. Name your demands, and I'll do everything in my power to meet them."
For a moment, silence fell over the square. Then, one by one, voices began to rise.
"We want reparations!" someone called out. "Food, supplies, money—to compensate for what you took from us!"
"Rebuild the shops you burned!" another added angrily. "Give us back what we lost!"
"And jobs!" a third voice chimed in. "Real opportunities—not empty promises!"
Aric listened intently, nodding slowly as each demand was voiced. When the crowd finally quieted, he exhaled sharply,
"Alright. You'll have all of that and more. Starting tomorrow, House Arkwright will provide food and supplies to every family in Ashwick. We'll rebuild the shops and establish new trade routes to ensure stability. And as for jobs…we'll create apprenticeships and training programs to give everyone a chance to succeed."
The crowd erupted into murmurs once again, skepticism mingling with cautious hope. One elderly woman stepped forward, her weathered face etched with doubt.
"How do we know that you'll keep your word? What proof do we have that you're different? You've never once done anything good for this town!"
"You want proof?" Aric said calmly, stepping forward until he stood directly before her. Without waiting for a response, he raised his hands, channeling his creation magic into existence. A loaf of steaming hot bread materialized in mid-air with its parchment paper.
It floated gently into the elderly woman's hands.
"Words alone won't be enough to earn your trust and that's okay. I have no proof that I'm different. All I can offer is what you just saw, creation magic. It allows me to bring anything I imagine into reality—like the bread I just made.
I can't promise gold for everyone—at least, not yet. But I can help rebuild your future. I can offer each of you a brand new life.
Tomorrow, I'll need people to stand with me and help rebuild Ashwick. My creations require care and upkeep, but I'll teach you everything; what electricity is, how healthcare works, the basics of sanitation, and more.
The skills you gain will serve you for a lifetime. And starting now, no one in Ashwick will go hungry, so long as we work together."
A young man named Adam asked, "But Lord Arkwright! You have no magic. How the hell do you have this 'creation magic'? Did you make a deal with demons?"
Oh right… Aric winced internally. Vayne didn't have a drop of magic before I ended up in this body. Of course they'd be suspicious.
He exhaled slowly, then lifted his chin, steadying himself to make a white lie,
"I didn't make a deal with a demon. If I did, my wife would've killed me by now."
Aric then continued by saying, "I am...a late bloomer."
[Seriously?] Ivy's voice echoed in his head with judgment,
[That's the best you've got? 'Late bloomer'? You sound like someone trying to explain why you still can't swim at twenty-five. You're about to lose an entire town's trust with that shit.]
"What I meant was... the magic was always inside me. It wasn't until I woke up from the coma that I knew how to use the magic. I don't have a better explanation than that... so I hope this one will suffice. Even if I had to explain, I didn't know how to use it properly and that's why I didn't show it until now.''
Seraphina rolled her eyes, cringing at his words,
Lysandra above, what the fuck is that reasoning? Late bloomer? The power was dormant? That's not how magic works you bafoon. You be the first person in the world to unlock magic in your 20s.
The only reason people here aren't stoning you right now is because you made bread appeared out of thin air.
She rubbed her forehead, Also I have to ask him later about who he really is when we sleep together.
The crowd stared at him in disbelief as he continued with wave after wave of food erupted into existence. Loaves of bread, slabs of roasted meat, baskets overflowing with fresh vegetables. All landing neatly in a massive woven basket he conjured on the spot.
The aroma of warm, freshly baked goods wafted through the square, drawing gasps of astonishment from the townsfolk.
"For today," Aric announced, gesturing toward the overflowing basket, "take what you need. Tomorrow, we will start the rebuild. Anyone willing to help will receive salaries and opportunities.''
Finally, the elder woman nodded, "We'll see if your actions match your words."
Others began to approach cautiously, drawn by the promise of sustenance and stability. Some reached for the food hesitantly, while others whispered among themselves, debating whether to trust him.
Aric didn't push them. He stepped back to give them space to decide.
[Well well, my Aric.] Ivy chimed in smugly,
[Look at you, feeding the masses like some kind of messiah. Who knew you had it in you?]
I'm no messiah Ivy. All I am doing is giving the people of Ashwick their lives back.
Ivy giggled, covering her mouth with her hands, [Sure Aric. Sure.]
As the crowd dispersed, Seraphina finally spoke, her tone filled with admiration,
"I like what you did but I have to ask. What happens when they realize you can't possibly keep all these promises, Vayne?"
"I don't need to think about it, Seraphina." Aric replied quietly, his resolve unshaken.
"Because I'll keep all the promises."