The Madness of Yilheim

In the marble halls of Weston, under chandeliers of golden flame and silence thick as mist, a noble Aurellian lounged upon a cushioned throne. His foot pressed lazily upon the back of a kneeling Elf woman—her shoulders trembling, her collar chained to the base of the dais. She did not speak. Slaves were not permitted such liberties.

The noble was bald, draped in violet silks and adorned with far too many rings. Thick bands of gold clinked as he twirled a translucent, glowing crystal between his fingers—one of the crystals Theosis had sold. It pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat.

He took a slow sip of wine and smirked. "Where did he come from?"

Behind him stood a tall knight in silver armour, etched with the insignia of House Grekon. His helm was tucked beneath his arm, revealing shoulder-length brown hair and cold eyes.

"Kintol, sire," the knight replied flatly. "The builders reported strange constructions, unlike anything local."

The noble raised the crystal to the light. "I spent a fortune acquiring these stones... and it was more than worth it. I have never absorbed such potent Vitalis."

Invisible force swept across the chamber like a hush—thick, vibrant Vitalis blooming from the crystal. The kneeling Elf's breath caught in her throat.

"I want more," he said simply.

Another man at his side—shorter, dressed in a scribe's robes—cleared his throat and leaned forward.

The noble turned to him. "Raise the tax in Kintol by one hundred percent."

"Sire?"

He gestured lazily with the crystal. "Inform them it will remain that way until every last one of these stones is offered to me. Refusal to pay shall be treated as criminal rebellion."

He clinked the crystal against his wine glass and smirked as it chimed.

---

Three Days Later – The Council Hall of Kintol

The village council hall was made of stone and cedar, dimly lit by morning sun filtering through high windows. Six figures sat around the table—elders, farmers, craftsmen—people who had once held no power but now bore the weight of a village's fate.

Elder Miron sat at the head. His white beard brushed the parchment in his hand as he read aloud in a low, heavy voice.

> "By order of House Grekon, under the sovereign command of Lord Aerion, tax upon the village of Kintol shall hereby increase by one hundred percent. This decree shall remain in force until all crystals of the type currently in the possession of His Lordship are surrendered by the village.

Failure to comply with this demand within four days of notice will be considered a direct act of sedition, and punished accordingly.

Signed, High Treasurer Velorn of House Grekon."

A heavy silence fell across the room.

Then—

SLAM!

Elder Jareth, middle-aged man with short brown hair struck the table with his palm. "This is preposterous! The tax we pay is already crushing. Now this? A hundred percent increase?" His voice shook with fury. "The king has lost his damn mind."

Across the table, elder Anya, an old woman with grey hair and piercing eyes spoke calmly. "We cannot stand for this. This is not governance. This is exploitation."

Solma, a younger woman, no older than thirty-five, leaned forward, voice tight. "What do you propose we do, Elder Anya? Defy the kingdom? We are a village of farmers. What power do we have?"

Thomel who sat beside her—a lean, wiry craftsman with worry creasing his brow—added, "With this tax, our village will collapse. People will starve."

Elder Branrik, pale and gaunt, adjusted his spectacles. "These crystals… what are they? And how does House Grekon believe we possess them?"

Elder Miron set the letter down, eyes shadowed. "They seem convinced the crystals are here. If that is true, then someone found them—and someone sold them."

Murmurs of fear rippled through the council.

Branrik spoke again, voice trembling. "We must tell the people. Let them know what's coming."

"And say what?" barked the first man. "That they owe eighty percent of their crops and coin? How will they feed their children?"

Elder Jareth. A man with a weathered face and a crooked nose spat to the side. "This is just an excuse. They want more than tax. They want our land. Our daughters. Our pride. And if we don't obey—"

He didn't finish. He didn't have to.

Elder Miron looked at them all. "We will gather the people. We will explain the situation. And we will ask—humbly—if any have seen crystals like this. If even one is found, we must offer it."

"And if none are?" Anya asked.

Miron's voice was a whisper.

"Then we pray."

---

The bell rang thrice—low and heavy.

Only adults gathered in the village square that afternoon. Children were kept away. The mood was grim, the air tight with tension. Clouds loomed low, as if the heavens themselves had come to listen.

Elder Miron stood at the front of the wooden stage, flanked by the other five village elders. His robes were pressed, but his face was tired. Scroll in hand, he raised his voice.

"We have summoned this gathering," he began, "to address the recent decree from the royal house of Grekon."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"They've gone mad again," someone muttered.

"We barely make ends meet as it is," another hissed.

Elder Miron unrolled the letter. "The tax imposed upon our village has been doubled—one hundred percent increase—effective immediately. Until, and I quote, 'all Vitalis Crystals within Kintol are offered to the Crown.'"

The words struck like arrows. Gasps. Shouts. Fists clenched. A chair toppled over at the edge of the crowd.

"What Vitalis Crystals?!"

"We don't have any damn crystals!"

"If there was anything that valuable in Kintol, the Crown would've bled us for it years ago!"

Theosis stood near the back, arms folded. He narrowed his eyes.

They want that boy's crystals…

He said nothing. But his posture tightened.

On the other side, Frederick and Anna stood side by side. She held his arm, her grip tense.

Frederick whispered, "We have to tell them. We know who brought them here."

Anna's voice was low, firm. "They're not ours to give."

"This tax increase is about to destroy our lives, Anna. You know what happens when we fail to pay."

She shook her head. "That boy saved our family."

"I won't lose my family to protect a stranger's secret."

Frederick yanked his arm free.

"Frederick—!"

But he was already moving through the crowd.

As he walked, his thoughts churned like a storm.

I knew that boy was bad news. Should've trusted my gut. First he falls from the sky, then builds a palace. Now this…

He reached the stage and stepped forward.

"Elder Miron. I need a word. Privately."

The crowd stirred. Some stared. Others whispered.

Elder Miron frowned. "Now?"

"It concerns the crystals."

A hush fell.

Elder Miron nodded slowly. "Come."

They disappeared behind the curtain at the back of the stage, where the other elders soon joined them.

Inside, away from the noise, Miron turned to him. "Speak."

Frederick exhaled. "It was Valerius. The boy who rebuilt the house."

Miron blinked. "Lerius?"

"He brought the crystals. I saw them myself. Glowing blue stones. Said he didn't know what they were but he knew they were very valuable. He gave some to Theosis as payment to rebuild our home."

The other elders exchanged glances.

Miron leaned in. "Does he still have them?"

Frederick nodded. "At least half."

Thomel grunted. "Then this matter is simple. If the crystals are here, and we need them to protect the village, then we take them."

Frederick froze. "Take them? By force?"

Jareth said coldly, "If he won't give them freely, then yes. This is for the good of all."

"That won't be easy," Frederick said, shaking his head. "You haven't seen him. He's… different. Strong. And smart."

Elder Miron narrowed his eyes. "How strong?"

"He built a house that glows in the dark. Made running water with no river. I watched him lift beams twice his weight. I don't think he's just a boy."

"He's still just one person," Anya muttered.

Frederick's voice dropped lower, but his words struck with force.

"You don't understand," he said. "He took a bullet to the head… and was completely unharmed."

The room froze.

Jareth leaned forward, brow furrowed. "What… did you just say?"

Frederick nodded grimly. "You heard me. A man in the village shot him—clean through the skull. And he lived. Not a scratch. No scar. Nothing."

A long silence. Then the Thomel scoffed lightly—uneasily. "That's not possible."

Frederick stepped closer. "My daughter Grace found him with a hole in his belly. We brought him home. We thought he was dying. The next morning, he stood up and walked like nothing had happened."

Elder Anya, the woman with the grey braid, pressed her lips together. "You mean… he healed overnight?"

Frederick nodded. "And more. You saw him build a two-story house with rooms and pipes and water that flows without magic. He drew the entire blueprint with measurements none of our builders have ever seen. He invented glass bulbs that glow. Door locks. Chimneys that regulate heat. Drainage systems. A pool. Even the builders call him a genius."

Solma whispered, "What manner of being is he…"

Elder Miron stood motionless. His eyes narrowed with thought. "He took a bullet to the head... and survived?"

"Yes."

"Healed from a gut wound in one night?"

"Yes."

Miron exhaled slowly and looked around the room. "Then we are not dealing with a common boy."

Jareth muttered, "He might be a knight. Or a weapon. A spy from some forgotten kingdom."

Elder Anya raised a hand. "Or he might be a blessing. Think, everyone—what if he was sent here to help us?"

Branrik barked, "Help us? He's holding the one thing the king wants and we're about to be crushed under tax! He's a threat."

Miron turned sharply. "Enough."

The room fell silent.

Then Miron looked back to Frederick. "If he's as powerful as you say, then trying to take the crystals by force might destroy this village."

Frederick nodded. "That's why I want to speak to him. Let me try. He might still see reason."

Miron turned to the others. One by one, the elders gave small, reluctant nods.

"Very well," Miron said. "You have until sunset tomorrow. Convince him. If not…"

He didn't finish the sentence.

He didn't have to.

---

Grace sat cross-legged on the chair, needle in hand, sewing a patch onto one of her father's old shirts. Her brow furrowed in focus, but her voice was light.

"I wonder why they called a village meeting."

Valerius lay sprawled on the floor beneath her, arms folded behind his head. The polished wood beneath him gleamed in the afternoon light streaming through the tall glass windows.

"No TV. No video games. I've never been so bored in my life," he muttered, his voice echoing lazily across the room. "Where are your friends? They lessen the boredom. They're... fun to have around."

Grace looked up. "And I'm not?"

Valerius turned his head toward her with a slight smirk. "You want me to be honest? You're boring."

Grace's eyes narrowed. She grabbed a small ball of thread and hurled it at him.

Valerius caught it midair with one hand. "Thanks for the entertainment."

"You're impossible," she said, stifling a grin.

Just then, the front door creaked open. Frederick and Anna stepped inside, both looking tired—no, strained. Their expressions were serious. Grace immediately noticed.

"Mother? Father? What was the meeting about?"

Frederick didn't answer right away. He exchanged a look with Anna, who gave him a subtle nod. Then he turned to Valerius.

"Can we talk to you, Lerius?"

Valerius sat up slowly. His green eyes studied them both. "Yeah. Sure."

They all sat down around the dining table. Grace placed her sewing kit aside and joined them, sensing something was off.

Frederick spoke first, his voice low and hesitant.

"Something's happened. A few days ago, the crystals you gave Theosis… they reached the hands of a noble in Weston."

Valerius leaned forward slightly. "And?"

"And… they were too good," Frederick continued. "That noble has absorbed them. He wants more. Now the Royal House has raised Kintol's taxes by a hundred percent until every single one of those crystals is handed over."

Anna added, "They've turned the entire village upside down, Lerius. People are scared. They think we're hiding something. The council is desperate. If we don't give them what they want…"

Valerius raised a brow. "They'll burn the village?"

"Not immediately," Frederick said. "But they'll destroy it slowly. They'll bleed us dry through taxes. Take our land. Our daughters. Our lives."

Grace looked pale. "That's… monstrous."

Valerius rested his chin on his hand. "So... what does this have to do with me?"

Frederick inhaled, then said it. "We know you still have crystals."

There was a pause. Grace turned toward her father, alarmed. "You told them?"

Valerius didn't flinch. "I figured you would."

Frederick looked ashamed. "Lerius… we didn't want to involve you, but—"

"You did," Valerius interrupted, standing up. "You involved me the moment you walked through that door like ghosts."

Anna's voice trembled. "We're sorry. Truly. But we're out of options."

Another pause.

Then Valerius sighed. He turned and walked toward the stairs. "Wait here."

They did.

Footsteps creaked above, then came the soft sound of a drawer sliding open. A moment later, Valerius returned with a small cloth bag. He walked over to the table, dropped it gently in front of Frederick, and sat back down.

The bag clinked softly. Frederick opened it. Inside were seven crystals—still faintly glowing with Vitalis.

Frederick looked up, stunned. "You're… giving them to us?"

Valerius shrugged. "They're just rocks."

Anna shook her head. "You don't know what you've done. This… this will save us. Thank you, Lerius. From the bottom of our hearts."

Valerius looked away, uninterested in gratitude. "Just make sure they don't come knocking on my door. I'm not a fan of royalty."

Just then, the door swung open.

Theosis stepped inside, brushing dust off his coat. His eyes scanned the room—and landed on the small bag of crystals on the table.

"Ah," he said, grinning. "So that's where the rest went."

Valerius leaned back. "Missed the meeting, old man."

Theosis chuckled. "Didn't need to be there. I knew this day would come." He turned to Frederick. "I assume you're handing those to the council?"

"Yes," Frederick replied. "Tonight."

Theosis nodded approvingly. "Good. It'll buy us peace—for now."

Then he looked at Valerius. "You know, when I met you, I knew you were strange. But now? You're a walking miracle."

Valerius rolled his eyes. "I'm a tired teenager who needs a nap."

Grace smiled quietly at that, watching him with something unreadable in her eyes.

Frederick stood and placed a firm hand on Valerius's shoulder. "Thank you, Lerius. You saved this village."

Valerius said nothing, but his eyes softened.

The moment passed.

Anna turned to Grace. "Come, let's prepare something for dinner. A meal fit for a hero."

Grace glanced at Valerius and smiled. "A very bored hero."

---

Miron's House – Morning

Frederick stepped inside quietly, holding a cloth pouch in both hands. Elder Miron looked up from his table.

"You have them?" the old man asked.

Frederick nodded and placed the pouch gently on the table. "Lerius gave them to me. All of them."

Miron opened the pouch, and the faint glow of the Vitalis crystals lit his face. He stared in silence, then whispered, "These are real…"

"I didn't think he would give them away this easily." Frederick added.

Miron nodded slowly. "Did he ask for anything?"

"Nothing."

The elder's eyes darkened. "We'll hand them to the collector."

---

In The Council hall, elder Miron placed the leather pouch at the centre of the table. The room fell silent as the faint luminescence of the Vitalis crystals bathed the elders' faces in soft glowing light.

He untied the pouch with a reverence usually reserved for sacred relics. The crystals clinked softly as they poured onto the table.

Anya leaned forward, her sharp eyes narrowing behind wrinkled lids as she pick up one crystal. "By the stars… they're humming," she breathed. "I fell it. It's as if they're vibrating."

"I've lived seventy-eight years and seen all kinds of mana stones mined from the Cindel mines," Thomel muttered, adjusting the strap of his leather apron. "But nothing ever radiated heat without fire. These are unnatural."

"I've heard of mana crystals," Solma said cautiously. "But Vitalis crystals? Never. Not even in the old scrolls."

Jareth tapped the table with his knuckle. "That's because they don't exist in public records. Not here. Maybe not anywhere in Grekon."

"They're not Grekonian," Branrik said, arms crossed with a crystal in his hand. "My fingers tingling as we speak."

Anya's brow furrowed. "Then where in the gods' names did that boy get them?"

"Lerius," Elder Miron said quietly. "Frederick told me. The crystals were his."

Solma's eyes narrowed. "A child has access to something so valuable?"

"He's not an ordinary child," Miron replied. "You've all seen the house he built. He knew things no one here teaches. Engineering, design… even metallurgy. Where did he learn that?"

Jareth grunted. "It doesn't matter where he learned it. What matters is this—" he pointed to the crystals—"has drawn attention. Royal attention."

Thomel leaned forward. "And not the kind we can afford."

"Have you all forgotten the letter?" Branrik snapped. "The king has demanded a hundred percent tax increase until these crystals are surrendered. He's treating this village like a mine."

"Because he's being led," Jareth said firmly. "He's a puppet. That boy on the throne—he's only twenty. His uncle, the Duke, has always had his hand on the strings."

Anya nodded grimly. "Ever since King Rahlion died, the court has rotted. This kingdom is no longer ruled by law, but by desire."

"Greed," Solma added. "Wrapped in gold."

"But how many of these crystals does the court expect us to have?" Thomel asked. "Do they believe we're hoarding them?"

"They must," Branrik said. "Or else why demand everything we have in exchange for reducing taxes?"

Solma shook her head. "And if we hand these over… what then? What happens when they come back for more?"

"Then we tell them we don't have anymore," said Thomel. "We tell them the supply ran dry. That the crystals were a gift from an old traveller who died."

Anya looked to Elder Miron. "You trust this boy, Lerius?"

Miron hesitated, then nodded. "Not entirely. But he's given us a miracle. Without asking for anything in return The money he donated from Theosis selling these crystals have drastically improved the loves of everyone in this village. Not to talk of his inventions and how he improved our food."

Thomel muttered" Ever since eating his food, I've lost all craving for my wife's cooking."

"That doesn't mean he won't be a problem," Jareth said. "Power attracts danger. And if he's the source of these crystals, then the danger is already on its way."

Branrik leaned back, exhaling slowly. "There's talk among the villagers. They're starting to whisper that the duke obsession isn't just taxation. That he's… obsessed with elves."

Solma frowned. "Elves?"

"I spoke to a courier," Branrik said. "He'd just come back from Grekon's capital. Said the Duke's been capturing elves and using them as slaves."

"Slaves?," Thomel muttered. "Aren't slaves outlawed all over the continent?."

"The duke," Solma whispered. "doesn't seem to care.

"Well that's not our problem," Jareth said. "If they think Lerius has more, they will return."

"We must ensure," Anya said slowly, "that this offering is received as our final contribution. No more. No less."

Miron nodded. "Let's hope this satisfies the collector."

"And if it doesn't?" Branrik asked.

The room went silent again.

Then Thomel muttered, "Then all hope is lost."

---

To Be Continued...