Minutes later-

In the grand hall, there was a conference with the top leaders of Osnines. Everyone had solemn looks.

"There was a passage to the Underrealms right under this mountain?!" Wolfgang asked, trembling in fear.

He heard stories about it, ancient cautionary tales to scare children. There was once an ancient dwarven empire predating the current human empires that loved digging for valuables. They dug deeper and deeper until one day, they uncovered something they shouldn't have. An empire that could rival the Erebium Empire collapsed within a fortnight. What remained of the dwarves became fragmented mountain kingdoms.

"Yes. We must stop all mining operations immediately. Otherwise, we risk our demise." Rilden solemnly nodded, also knowing of those tales.

"Alright! Send the messengers! Stop all mining operations on the mountain immediately! Anyone who continues mining will receive 50 military lashes!" Wolfgang immediately issued the order to several commanders.

"Yes, my lord!" The commanders saluted and hurried outside, cold sweat dripping down their foreheads.

"Lord Hero, I don't mean to contradict you, but stopping the mining would significantly damage our economy and cause thousands to become unemployed." Tonya worriedly said.

"They won't need to mine from now on. I want them to be converted into soldiers as soon as possible." Rilden surprisingly said.

"Hah? Soldiers? They are Thralls. Slaves." Tonya frowned.

"We don't have much of a choice. The southern orc and goblin tribes are stirring and will attack Osnines and Tulens within 90 days." Rilden said, recalling his second prophecy.

 

[The Orc and Goblin tribes are stirring! They suffer from overpopulation, and their food consumption outpaces their sustainable production, causing infighting and strife. Amidst the chaos, Heroes and Prophets have risen and are now unifying the tribes under their command into a massive horde. Once they complete the unification, they will send the excess population as vanguards to attack their surroundings. Osnines and Tulens would become major targets for them, as the Ludiron cult will inform the orcs and goblins, stirring their combative nature to seek out and battle the Hero of Qhiion, the human god they think is the most worthy opponent. It is expected that within 90 days, their heroes and prophets will order tens of thousands of vanguard to assault Osnines and Tulens, led by legendary generals. Make sure to recruit and train soldiers before that happens! The now-unemployed miners are a good start.]

 

"We received reports of unrest there, but to think it was this serious..." Wolfgang became worried.

"My Hero, we should send for aid from the coalition," Astrid said.

"My husband. The empire is obligated to help when attacked by alien forces." Elarose solemnly added.

"I am afraid that would be impossible now." Tonya bitterly said, placing two tiny scrolls on the table. "Two messenger birds sent these this morning. Rilden Greyblade is recognized as the king of Tulens, Osnines, and Steorus by the Erebium Empire and the Kaladin Coalition, signed by the emperor and the high king. Our three nations will now bear the Greyblade flag and be ruled under Hero Rilden Greyblade and Hero Candidate Elarose Greyblade. Also, we will have military independence but can trade with both forces. In short, they wouldn't help us deal with the South."

Elarose and Astrid took the papers and read them, their expression grave.

"It is said that Emperor Benedict is a shrewd man. This move is the same as using us as a meatshield while blocking any chance for us to conquer our neighbors or take any side of the conflict." Elarose said.

"High King Evar is said to be as mighty as he is cunning, and they call him the White Wolf King for a reason. He likely wants us to remain neutral and stabilize the South. Once we die, they can easily reclaim the territories." Astrid added.

"On the one hand, we don't need to fear their retaliation, but on the other hand, we can only depend on ourselves. This is a blessing and a curse in one." Wolfgang shook his head.

"However, we will have legitimate reason to conquer southward while trading with both forces. And having constant combat with a strong foe can be a blessing in disguise for us since I am here." Rilden pointed out.

Everyone in the room nodded. Indeed, it was as much of a disaster as it was an opportunity. Qhiion thrived in bloodshed, and the following war would be very bloody.

But then there was a crucial question.

"How will we raise a force? Putting aside emergency recruitment of the now-unemployed miners, we can only seek volunteers or hire mercenaries. Either way, we need funds for that, but due to stopping our mining operations, we lost a major source of revenue." Tonya worriedly said.

"Leave the money issue to me." Rilden confidently said.

"Do you have a plan?" Tonya raised an eyebrow.

"I have my ways. Oh, and can you show me your ancestral grave?" Rilden said.

"Yes, but why?" Tonya warily asked.

"To make a divine garden." Rilden grinned.

.

.

.

On the peak of the mountain-

There was a bald island inside a crater, surrounded by water. Some ruins were built on the island and the lake, likely left by the last civilization.

"This is your ancestral grave? It's beautiful." Rilden said, admiring the view.

"Yes. That was why we selected it. Here, we bury our royal family." Wolfgang said.

"Would it be fine to convert it into a divine garden?" Rilden asked, but already knew the answer.

"There is no greater honor than converting an ancestral grave into a divine garden of Atrivia." Wolfgang smiled.

Indeed, what better reward is there than to be buried in the loving gardens of Atrivia rather than rot in the soil and be eaten by maggots? Some even say the soul could find peace if the body is buried in such a divine place. Rilden would also prefer to be buried in such a place, rather than being burned or buried in a casket or tomb.

"Wow! So this will be our new home?" Sapphirli asked.

"It's very spacious and defensible." Turqirli looked around.

"I feel a child is sleeping in the soil," Agaterli narrowed her eyes at the bald island without plants.

"Ah! You feel it, too?" Emerli exclaimed.

"Now that you mention it, I feel special weeds are growing in the water. The fish are also slightly special." Sapphirli also noticed something.

"Mumumu... I can't sense anything." Turqirli grumbled.

Each of the sisters had their specialty and detection abilities. They were still weak, but it was nothing to scoff at.

Rilden, who heard them, couldn't help but smile as he looked at his third prophecy.

 

[The ancestral grave on top of Bildsfell Mountain is the perfect location to build a divine garden. It is highly defensible and isolated, has a vast lake with mineral-rich water and aquatic life, and has a spacious island in the middle. However, an ancient seed is growing in the middle, belonging to a mythical Equilibrium Fruit Tree, able to produce neutral-element fruits that can refine and improve the bloodline of those who eat them(Half the effectiveness for non-neutral bloodlines). Due to being too high-level, the seed sapped all the surrounding nutrients, making the island bereft of life without germinating. There are also slightly mutated freshwater weeds that can nurture the carps in the lake, making them into minor treasure fish that can slightly improve one's talent. These treasures will naturally be yours after converting the ancestral grave into a divine garden. You should invest at least half of your crystals in the garden.]

 

Rilden didn't hesitate to invest. He immediately forked all 16 crystals, 8 for the garden and 8 for the nymph sisters. Naturally, the four nymphs smiled from ear to ear, unable to conceal their excitement.

"Thank you, my lord! We won't let you down!" The four sisters said in tandem, swallowing their share on the spot.

Within 10 minutes, they broke through again, reaching Tier 2. They knew that their improvement rate would triple and reach tier 6 after a year of digesting the crystals. How could they not be happy?

Taking the other 8 crystals, they happily skipped to the island to perform the ritual. As nature spirits, they naturally had this ability. Druids could also do it, but nymphs had an edge, being the blessed daughters of Atrivia.

Reaching the middle of the island, the four sisters planted the 8 crystals in a shallow ditch, covered them, held hands, and began dancing and singing.

"Is that a folk dance?" Rilden, who followed them to the island, couldn't help but comment.

"Yes, Alpha. Many folk dances were copied from the nature spirits and some agricultural rituals, thinking they were fun. They later added music and festivities, and have long since become a tradition." Audfrey quietly explained to Rilden.

"It does look fun..." Elarose felt an urge to join the sisters.

"Sister Elarose, you should join them. You are the Hero Candidate of Atrivia, so joining would only have a positive effect." Audfrey smiled and said.

Elarose's purple-gold eyes shimmered with excitement. Moments later, she had already locked hands with the four sisters and danced with them, feeling joyful about it.

"That's nice to look at..." Rilden couldn't help but smile as he looked at them.

Several minutes later, a change began to happen. The soil started turning purple-gold in the middle and started spreading. At first, it was slow, but as time passed, the speed gradually accelerated!

"Whoa..." Rilden gaped as he saw the soil under him visibly shift color.

"So this is the fabled purple gold soil..." Wolfgang muttered.

"It's beautiful..." Astrid stared in awe.

"Praise be to Mother Earth..." Audfrey gave a short prayer.

The wave continued, entering the lake and passing through it, reaching the outer edges of the crater. Only then did the wave stop.

"My lord, the ritual is complete!" The four nymph sisters went to Rilden and reported.

"Good." Rilden nodded and took out the mutated seeds. "Plant these next and take good care of the garden."

"Yes, my lord!" The nymph sisters happily said and started tending the garden like diligent bees.

Knowing it would likely take a few days to see a noticeable change, Rilden and the others left.

Although he had just spent all of his accumulated crystals, Rilden wasn't worried since there were plenty more where that came from!

 

[There is an Atrivia's Love forming in—]

 

"Things are looking good." Rilden grinned and turned to Elarose, "Did you have fun?"

"Yes, my husband. I want to do that again sometime." Elarose nodded and looked back at the island.

"Do you want to continue staying there?" Rilden asked, sensing a look of longing in her eyes.

"Mm... I feel strangely comfortable there. I wouldn't mind living there." Elarose nodded, feeling a strange sense of attachment.

"Sister Elarose, you are the Earth Mother's blessed daughter now. It is second nature for you to stay in such a location." Audfrey explained.

"Uuu... I want to stay there but don't want to stay far from my husband..." Elarose bitterly muttered.

"That is the second effect. It is said that a Hero of Atrivia can only feel at peace when either beside her husband or in a purple-gold field. Without them, it is said you will slowly die from depression. It is connected to the very mythos of Atrivia, as she stays in her field whenever Jurgan goes on a hunt, or accompanies him otherwise," Audfrey explained.

Elarose lowered her head and nodded. That was indeed what she felt. When next to Rilden, she felt happy and content, but when away, she felt a sense of emptiness and longing. She knew it was unnatural, and before being a Hero Candidate, this had never happened before.

"How about we build a small house there? You can then stay there most of the time. I can also come and occasionally accompany you, or you can come with me when you want to travel or visit Tulens." Rilden suggested.

Elarose seriously thought about it and nodded. "Okay! I think that would be best."

And so, Rilden started a side project to build a simple house in the divine garden.