The Scholar's Rebirth

Elandor gestured to other parts of the map, continuing his explanation.

1. Aedrelis (Elves and Mixed Races): The central continent and the birthplace of elves. Once a haven of learning and magic, it now houses scattered elven settlements and a few human enclaves. The main elven kingdom lies far inland, cut off from the outer islands.

2. Dravania (Dragons): A mountainous continent ruled by dragons in both their true and humanoid forms. It's a land of vast caves, volcanic peaks, and magical energy. The dragons are reclusive and rarely interact with the other continents.

3. Vorynthia (Beastkin): A lush jungle continent dominated by beastkin tribes. Each tribe wields primal magic tied to the land. The continent's untamed wilds make it nearly impossible for outsiders to navigate.

4. Iserion (Frozen Wasteland): A desolate, icy continent inhabited by human clans and frost giants. Few venture there, as the freezing temperatures and magical blizzards make survival nearly impossible.

5. Solvaris (Human Empires): The largest and most politically fractured continent. It houses multiple human empires, each vying for dominance. Magic is viewed as a tool for conquest, and wars are frequent.

6. Lumindor (Fairies): A radiant continent of floating isles and shimmering forests. Fairies rule this land, their magic tied to light, nature, and illusion. Outsiders rarely set foot here, as the fairies guard their borders fiercely.

7. Gorgorath (Orcs): A rugged, desert-like continent marked by harsh landscapes and towering mesas. Orcs dominate the land, their culture centered on strength, honor, and ancient war magic. Despite their fearsome reputation, they are known for their loyalty to allies.

As Elandor explained the world's history, Eira found herself glancing at Draco. He leaned against a wooden pillar, his molten-gold eyes scanning the map with a calculating gaze. She studied him for a moment, noting how his human form seemed both effortless and powerful.

Elandor cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to the map. "Eira, the task before you isn't just about our island. If what you've done with the core is any indication, you may hold the key to restoring balance to the entire world."

Eira's stomach twisted. She glanced at Draco, whose expression was unreadable, then back at Elandor. "No pressure, right?"

The village chief gave her a small, knowing smile. "None at all."

Eira stood at the edge of the map with Elandor and Draco, listening as Elandor explained the island's dire farming situation.

"The land has been barren for years," Elandor said grimly, tracing his finger over the island's western plains. "The old core's magic was too weak to sustain life. Even with the new core, it'll take time for the soil to heal."

Eira frowned. "How long?"

"Months, at least," Elandor replied. "Maybe years. We have a few seeds left, but not enough to feed the entire village."

Eira leaned back, crossing her arms. "We can't wait that long. Tomorrow morning, after the meeting, we'll head over to the farms,let's see if there's something I can do."

"I'll send someone to one of the nearby islands," Elandor said. "There's a trade hub a few days' sail from here. They should have seeds and farming tools."

"And gold?" Eira asked, raising an eyebrow.

Elandor hesitated. "We don't have much. The raiders stripped us of most of our resources. But I'll figure something out."

Draco, who had been leaning against a pillar with a bored expression, finally spoke. "Or we could just raid them back."

Eira shot him a glare. "We're not starting a war."

Draco smirked. "Your loss."

Before Eira could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps reached them. She turned just as Kael burst into the room, his face flushed and his breathing heavy.

"Eira!" Kael's voice was a mix of relief and frustration. "Are you alright?"

Eira blinked in surprise. "Kael? What are you doing here?"

"I felt the shift," Kael said, his eyes scanning her for injuries. "I thought—" He stopped mid-sentence when his gaze landed on Draco.

The two men stared at each other, tension crackling in the air. Kael's hand instinctively went to his sword, but Eira stepped between them before things could escalate.

"Kael, this is Draco," she said quickly. "He's… well, he's the dragon."

Kael's eyes widened. "The dragon?"

Draco smirked. "What, were you expecting scales and wings?"

Kael didn't reply, his hand still hovering over his weapon.

"Relax," Eira said, rolling her eyes. "He's not going to eat you."

Draco chuckled. "Not unless you give me a reason to."

"Draco," Eira warned.

Kael narrowed his eyes but reluctantly dropped his hand from his sword. "Fine. But I'm keeping an eye on him."

Once the introductions were over—awkward as they were—Eira turned back to Elandor. "We should keep the core's restoration a secret," she said firmly.

Elandor nodded. "Agreed. If word gets out, it'll draw attention from the mainland—and not the good kind."

Kael frowned. "You think they'd attack us?"

"They wouldn't need to," Draco said, his tone unusually serious. "A restored core is a valuable asset. They'd come to take it—and this island—with or without your permission."

Eira clenched her fists. "Then we won't let them. But for now, no one outside the village can know what happened."

Elandor hesitated, then nodded. "I'll make sure the villagers understand."

As Eira, Kael, and Draco stepped out of the village hall, the sun cast a warm glow over Eldermere, their home and the heart of the island. The village stretched out before them—a shadow of what it once was.

The remnants of past prosperity were still visible in the stone-paved central square, though many of the tiles were cracked and uneven. Wooden and stone buildings lined the streets, their once-proud structures showing signs of decay—roofs sagging, walls bearing scorch marks from past raids, and windows either shattered or boarded up. Despite this, people bustled about, trying to salvage what they could.

Eira's gaze traveled beyond the square. The main road led down to the southern port, the only one still partially operational. Ships no longer came in as frequently as they once did, and the docks, once filled with cargo and trade, now seemed eerily quiet. Further north, the ruined northern port stood, barely more than a skeleton of wooden piers, its warehouses burnt down in a past raid.

She let out a slow breath. "We have a lot of work to do." As she looked around,she lamented internally, "how exactly am I supposed to start when I don't even know the exact situation of the island, and it would take months to explore the whole island."

Right at that moment the system chimed;

"First mission initiated: Cultivating Growth.

Objective: Improve the island's farming knowledge and techniques to ensure food security for the people.

Task: Teach the villagers advanced farming methods and assist in preparing the soil for cultivation.

Reward: Blueprint for the School of Enlightenment."

Sub-mission : Use the system to map out territories for future use.

Rewards: 100 development points.

Deadline : No specific time frame

Eira immediately shed tears of joy,Finally something she could work with.

The first mission was something she was going to do the next day anyway.

She immediately pulled up the system and assessed its map function.

"System,how do I use you to map out the territory. "

"Host,just needs to look at the map of the empire,stored in the system and highlight the territories that belong to the host."

"Wait,Empire not island?" Eira asked almost not believing the system, but surprisingly as she opened it that was exactly what she saw.

And as if the system knew what she wanted to ask next it said,

"If host wants to expand her territory, host just needs to highlight more regions on the system map."

Eira smiled," oh wow,you were really sent to me from above weren't you?" But as usual she was met with silence.

She turned her focus back to the map. Eldermere sat on the southeastern part of the island, built against the natural cliffs and hills that once protected it from outside threats. But with the weakening of the core's magic, nature had begun reclaiming what was lost. Dense forests pressed in from the west, while to the east, the land sloped gently toward the ocean, where the village's two ports rested.

For now, the best course of action was to build walls around the village itself, enclosing the central square, homes, and essential buildings.

She zoomed in on the island and focused on the core areas while taking note of things.

Central Square – The heart of the village, where meetings and markets were once held. Now it was mostly empty, save for scattered merchants trying to revive trade.

Village Hall – Where Elandor handled affairs. The building was partially damaged but still functional.

Residential District – A mix of stone and wooden houses, many abandoned or in poor condition. Some homes had collapsed roofs, while others were boarded up.

Southern Port – The only working port. Ships were scarce, but it still served as the village's connection to nearby islands.

Northern Port (Ruined) – Once the main hub of trade, it was now a burnt ruin, with only a few wooden piers remaining.

Outer Farms (West of Village) – Barren land due to the core's decline. The soil was weak, but with the core restored, there was hope for revitalization.

Cliffs (Northwest) – Natural defenses, but dangerous due to landslides and overgrown pathways.

Forest (West & South) – Dense, home to wild creatures and possible raider hideouts.

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As they walked through the village, villagers stopped to stare—some in awe, others in disbelief.

Eira ignored the murmurs and focused on her surroundings.

Kael ran a hand through his hair. "First the farms, now the walls… What's next?"

Eira sighed. "Everything."

Draco chuckled. "You're ambitious. I'll give you that."

Eira gave him a sideways glance. "If you're sticking around, you're helping."

Draco smirked but didn't argue.

Eira turned to Kael.