Volume 2 Chapter 5 The Genderbend Female Traveler, Entering the Black Forest
King Vladislav Kinshield Bearer, ruler of the Bearer Kingdom, sat heavily on a thick bench of carved oak, twisting his long beard around one thick finger. His deep-set eyes, gray as old steel, stared at the ground as if the answers lay hidden in the stone.
He could not understand this woman who had so easily brought Drahomir, one of the famed Steel Crushers, to his knees. Nor could he make sense of the fight between them. From what his men told him, the cause of their clash sounded like a childish spat blown far out of proportion.
A heavy silence sat between the nobles until the king raised his voice low and firm.
"Is it truly possible to build a country beyond the Black Forest?"
The answer came at once, sharp and certain.
"It must be done."
That single line echoed in the chamber like a sword striking a shield. The king leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing. If this plan could succeed, it would bring great gains to his kingdom. The miners needed timber. If a friendly land rose beyond the forest, they could get it faster and cheaper.
He crossed his arms, broad chest rising with a slow breath. It might be worth the risk. But the cost of failure needed to be made clear.
He turned to one of his men.
"Who is that woman standing over there?"
The reply came without pause. One soldier stepped forward, chin high.
"That is Lady Elodia, second princess of the Empire of Loriengita."
Whispers spread like fire in dry grass. Even here, far from the empire's heart, that name still carried weight. The idea that such a massive nation had cracked shook many, and yet the fact that its grip had slipped brought a strange sort of relief.
The soldier's next words dropped like a hammer.
"And that woman beside her... she is the general who destroyed the Empire of Loriengita and sent Parisess to hell."
The air shifted. Even the wind outside seemed to pause.
Eleonora's lip curled into a crooked smile. She gave a small nod, not proud, but not denying it either. Titles and power meant little now. She had no nation. No army. Nothing but the fire in her chest and a future built from ash.
The king sat forward, resting both elbows on his knees.
"Then I will send you soldiers. If you truly build this nation, I want cheap timber in return."
Eleonora's brow creased. Her fingers curled slightly at her side. She had planned to gather troops on her own. Free troops. Soldiers loyal only to her. Once outside help came in, so did outside control.
She opened her mouth, but before a single word escaped, François stepped forward.
"I accept. Is that agreeable, Lady Kamitafira?"
Eleonora turned toward him, eyes flashing. She didn't like that he spoke for her. She didn't like it one bit. But François simply nodded and moved on, brushing past her protests as if they were smoke.
To him, trained troops—even borrowed ones—were more valuable than a chest of gold. To turn them down now would be foolish. The payment could come later.
He crossed his arms, his voice calm but heavy.
"Are you thinking of taking your time training them? We don't have years. If they're going to fight, we need them ready fast."
That was the truth. Five years to build real soldiers. Three months to make fodder. But even fodder had to learn not to break under a horse charge. Not to run. Not to freeze.
Each of those lessons cost time, sweat, and lives.
François's eyes stayed sharp.
"This is what we face. And if we don't accept help now, we'll owe even more later."
Eleonora exhaled slowly. Her eyes dropped to the floor.
"...All right. We'll treat the timber as payment."
She didn't like it. But with only three knights and two servants, she didn't have a better option.
The king gave a single nod. And he added.
"As for supplies, we'll load up the wagons before they march. After that, you're on your own."
There was no more room for fear. No turning back now.
Vladislav gave 150 soldiers. Eighty on foot, twenty with bows, and fifty for support—supply, cooking, accounting, washing. Three wagons rolled behind them, heavy with tools and grain.
It wasn't much. But it was enough to call it an army.
Most of them were boys, still green. To make up for it, he added a few scarred veterans to lead them.
François checked the lists and nodded.
"This is the bare minimum to be called a fighting force."
The king's hand waved it off.
"Plenty of nobles can muster that much. It's not the number. It's how you use them."
With the agreement in place, Eleonora and her allies made it official. The Bearer Kingdom would get first choice of timber after the new nation rose. Trade deals would come later.
Elodia signed her name in careful strokes, then pressed a ring into hot wax, sealing the deal.
* * *
Days later, the soldiers reached Magelun, a wide forest that could be seen from miles away. Trees thick and tall as towers closed in on all sides. The miners who marched ahead had short legs and moved slow, but they had worked fast. The base was already starting to take shape.
Axes rang out. Trees fell with heavy thuds. Bark was stripped. Branches cut. Logs piled up like bones.
There was no time to dry the wood. Houses went up raw, still green inside.
One man stared at the mess and shook his head.
"You're doing all this without even drawing a plan?"
Viktor just tapped the side of his head and grinned. "It's all in here."
Another worker wiped sweat from his brow and pointed to a bubbling stream.
"We could lead water from there and start growing crops."
Eleonora turned her eyes toward the river.
"Keep the latrine far away. Water carries sickness."
But her eyes didn't linger on the stream. They drifted to the edge of the trees—to the shadows watching them from a safe distance, quiet and still as wolves.
Someone was out there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Character Notes:
• Bearer Kingdom - A kingdom ruled by King Vladislav. Located east of the continent. It is known for its blacksmithing industry and reliance on timber.
• Vladislav - The ruler of the Bearer Kingdom. His appearance is regal, with a long beard that he often ties. He is a strategic thinker, pondering the benefits and risks of alliances.
• Drahomir - A member of the royal palace warrior group, the Steel Breakers. He is short in stature (around 150 cm tall) but fierce and protective of his clan. His appearance includes miner attire, and he is quick to anger, especially when it comes to Victor's decisions. He challenges Eleonora to a duel to test her strength.
• Elodia - The second princess of Loriengita. She has shown favor to Georges, who aims to marry her by achieving military merit.
• François - The fourth son of Baron Lanramoncie of the Loriengita Empire. The one who join the tournament before.
• Magelun - A dangerous and barbaric land, but a potential refuge from the East Clanf Kingdom.
• Viktor - Viktor Kinshield Novak. A dwarf from the Kinshield Clan. His appearance is described as short, with a long beard and a stout, barrel-like body. He is charismatic and jovial, though his behavior becomes erratic when drunk.
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