Eternal Empire - Kingdom Building

Laura handed David a bag, her face radiating anticipation. But David couldn't shake the feeling that her expression was a little too eager, like she was waiting for something amusing to unfold.

He dismissed the thought—Laura wouldn’t send him something dangerous. It was probably just a harmless prank.

As he opened the bag, a flash of pink caught his eye. “What is this?” he asked, reaching in to pull out the contents.

Standing up, he saw what he was holding and shook it lightly. “A cloak?”

It wasn’t an unusual item—practical even—but the color...

“Yeah, a cloak! Put it on!” Laura stood up and draped the cloak over his shoulders, pulling the hood over his head. “Isn’t it nice?”

David examined the pink cloak with white fringes, trying to suppress a cringe. “It feels good, but the color…”

“In my world, red rose cloaks are worn by the best hunters,” Laura said solemnly, her expression unwavering. “It’s an honor.”

“Is that so?” David glanced at Laura, then at Mark, who was stifling a laugh but nodded seriously. Both Laura and Mark hailed from a place called Earth, and although their life eras were similar, Laura's world didn’t have a Mars exploration plan, confirming they weren't from the same Earth.

“Okay, thank you for the gift!” David said, mentally noting to remember this. He carefully folded the cloak and returned it to the bag. “I’ll treasure such an important gift!”

“Well, with the weather warming up, I won’t need it for a while. I can take it out when it gets cold.”

Laura’s true intent wasn’t just to say the cloak would go unused; she hinted that David should wear it when the chill returned. “Unfortunately, in my world, legendary hunters wear red cloaks to slay wicked gray wolves. It’s a good omen, considering what you’re about to do.”

David expressed his gratitude again. “You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”

Laura smiled in satisfaction and then handed Mark a mobile hard drive packed with songs—finally freeing him from Captain Lewis’s dreadful disco collection.

“This is fantastic!” Mark exclaimed, relief flooding his voice. He had complained to Laura about his captain's terrible taste, feeling Fording and David couldn’t understand his pain.

Finally, Laura presented Fording with a two-handed epee crafted with fine artistry. Though she had sent some modern weapons days earlier, they had mostly been one-handed swords and knives. Fording found them good quality but too light for his preference.

Now, holding the new weapon, he beamed with happiness. After thanking Laura, he pondered what gift he could offer in return. Knowledge about the Holy Light seemed to be his only option. Perhaps he could go back to Azeroth for something else? But what would interest Laura?

They enjoyed their meal until the moon hung high in the sky. For those used to early nights, it was already quite late.

After clearing the table and storing the remaining food, they retreated to their cabins for rest.

Maybe it was the new bed, infinitely more comfortable than before, or the wine he had drunk, but David fell asleep almost instantly. His dreams swirled with sweet fantasies, including one of Laura wearing only her pink cloak.

When he finally opened his eyes, still nestled in the cozy new bed, he found himself reluctant to wake.

It was the first time since arriving in this backward world that he longed to stay in bed. The new mattress enveloped him perfectly, and the quilt was so warm and heavy he felt almost trapped beneath it.

“Fortunately, my spiritual will is strong enough,” David muttered as he rose from the bed and quickly washed up.

When he stepped outside his wooden house, he found everyone already awake. Mark was bustling around, preparing breakfast. “Hey, David! It’s rare to see you up so late!”

“Yeah, that new bed is so comfortable, I almost didn’t want to get up,” David replied, stretching his arms overhead.

“Hahaha! I thought it was because you drank too much wine last night.” Mark chuckled, eyeing David with the lightheartedness of a young man in a harsh world. David's unfamiliarity with modern drinks seemed perfectly natural to him.

“Please! A little wine isn’t going to knock me out,” David shot back, taking a seat at the square table.

As they dug into their breakfast, they discussed their plans. Fording decided to stay in the village to dismantle two of the previous four temporary wooden houses. The remaining two would serve as future storage.

“Once we finish our residences, we can tear down the rest,” David said. “We’ll rebuild kitchens and warehouses that are more durable. It’s a slow process, but we’ll get there.”

Mark nodded, excitement gleaming in his eyes. “After I check the potato fields, I’ll head to the Mars base for my potato project—no resources from Cold Winter Village this time. I’ll rely completely on what I find on Mars. It’s a challenge, but I’m ready for it!”

David raised an eyebrow. “So, you’ll be gone most days?”

“Yep, just back for food and sleep. It’ll be worth it,” Mark said, grinning.

“Laura and I will head to the northern forest and see if we can wipe out those wolves,” David said, finishing the last bite of potatoes and bacon. “Make sure you pack enough weapons. Who knows what else we might run into?”

“Got it!” Laura replied, determination in her eyes.

“And if you run into trouble, send a signal!” Fording interjected, his voice serious. “Let me know if you face any dangers you can’t handle. I’ll come to support you as quickly as I can.”

David nodded, feeling reassured. With Fording's strength, he doubted any enemies lurking near Cold Winter Village would pose a serious threat.

After changing into his training uniform, courtesy of Laura, David double-checked his gear. He made sure he had first aid supplies, ropes, water, and ammunition before strapping on his backpack. His round pistol and handaxe were at the ready, and he slung a brand-new hunting bow and quiver from his waist.

He turned to Laura, who was similarly equipped. In addition to her bows and pistols, she carried an extra shotgun. Though she had more climbing gear than handaxes, her preparation matched David’s.

With both of them decked out for their mission, they could have been mistaken for adventurers, hunters, or warriors.

“See you later, Mark!” David waved as he and Laura headed toward the northern forest.

After crossing an open plain and a gentle slope, they officially entered the forest. The comfortable temperature dropped several degrees as the shade enveloped them, as if the forest itself was greeting the two newcomers.

“It’s cool here…” David remarked, glancing around at the towering trees.

They moved quietly, and after a moment, David turned to look back at Winter Village. It was now out of sight, replaced by an endless sea of green.

“Have you been here before?” Laura asked, her curiosity piqued.

“No.” David responded quickly, glancing around the dense trees. “I used to stay on the edge of the forest, even circling it to hunt for prey, but I never went deep inside.”

His last encounter with a pack of wolves had been a harsh reminder of why he avoided venturing too far. That experience confirmed his cautious nature.

“I didn’t expect you to be so cautious.” Laura smiled, realizing her understanding of David was still surface-level. It was puzzling; she felt she knew Fording better. She had done some digging after returning, uncovering information about Tirion Fording, a significant figure. But David? His name was so common that searching for him yielded nothing useful.

“Maybe you don’t exist in any records,” she mused aloud, the idea making her even more curious about the young man beside her.

David shrugged. “If a hunter isn’t cautious enough, he’ll end up as prey.” It wasn’t just his belief; it was a lesson ingrained in him by the old hunter who raised and trained him.

“So, you’re the village head of Winter Village, a hunter, and a priest of the Holy Light?” Laura noted the unique blend of roles. “You learn combat skills from Tirion and want to work part-time as a soldier?”

“Why not? There are no restrictions. The more skills I have, the better prepared I am for any situation.” David scanned the area, noting the lack of animal activity, especially wolves.

Suddenly, he spotted something glinting in the sunlight. “What’s this?”

He crouched down, examining the ground near a low hill surrounded by taller trees. The stones had various metallic lusters.

Laura joined him, inspecting the rocks. “Looks like copper ore and iron ore. This should be good news for you?”

“Absolutely!” David exclaimed, excitement bubbling in him. The discovery of easily accessible metal deposits was a boon for the village’s future. “With these ores, today is definitely not wasted.”

As they walked around the hillside, they stumbled upon a naturally formed cave. David prepared to light a torch, then glanced at Laura.

“Ready?” he asked, his expression uncertain.

“Let’s see what’s inside!” she replied, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.