Logan lay half-reclined in the cushioned chair near his own personal resting room within the castle.

From where he was laying, he saw the afternoon light spilling in through curtains of red colored silk. The glow from the sun warmed his room slightly, just enough to make him sleepy, as his body remained stubbornly heavy.

He could still feel the pain in his chest which indicated that his mana core was still frayed.

He felt how it pulsing irregularly, and though Kryst who stuck to him like glue kept him steady. He felt that every second though he was getting better with his slime healing him, Kryst was his second-best healer beside Lisa and he was thankful for her dedication.

With her around he actually had to force himself not to use magic, something hard to do since he was used to using it almost without thinking now. His dark tendrils were great for picking up normal day things instead of having to pick them up normally for example.

Logan did not dare move until he felt somewhat healed, especially since he knew Lisa will scold him for moving when she told him to stay put, so until she returned, he forced himself to rest.

Just as he was getting used to the silence the sound of armored boots coming closer outside of his room, this instantly drew his attention.

The door soon opened, and Chloe and Kai entered together.

Both wore their knightly attire only differentiated by their gender, polished as always to perfection.

The two stood there for a few seconds before speaking, Logan could feel that they wanted to tell him something.

"Logan…" Chloe said with a polite bow, her golden hair tied back in a braid. "We thought you should hear about the current state of the army that is set to mobilize when you go to the empire."

Logan could help but smirk faintly at her formality. "Chloe, relax… You've been at my side long enough to know that I am not big with formalities. But go ahead. Tell me what trouble we're about to run into."

Kai chuckled and shook his head. "There is no trouble, at least, not at the moment. We've tallied the numbers. Between the knights sworn directly to you, the soldiers trained under us, and the auxiliaries, your standing army sits at just over five thousand."

Logan's eyes widened slightly despite the fatigue. "Five thousand, huh… I wonder how it reached that number. And that doesn't even include the creatures that'll join us. The Wark and goblins alone make up a few thousand. I even heard Krexa found new mounts hyena-like beasts she wants me to tame…" He leaned forward, elbows resting on the armrests. "So, tell me where did all these soldiers come from?"

Chloe nodded. "The refugees that came here… most of them were already searching for a hero to follow. They knew if one of you led them, their chances of survival would be greater than under the other kingdoms. Many were already trained I'd wager some were even sent here to spy on us. But others were veterans of older wars."

She glanced toward Kai. "He thinks differently, though."

Kai's expression hardened. "I think they joined willingly once they saw the kingdom thriving under your rule. And with Ruben's smiths producing arms and armor without pause, equipping them hasn't been an issue. But numbers aren't everything. Five thousand soldiers look impressive on paper, but they'll need to be tested soon. The demons won't underestimate you again after what you did in Elris. And more importantly, these men and women must learn to stand beside your creatures not behind them."

Logan sat back, thoughtful. His beasts had always been his main force, but now… now he had an army. An army of people not bound to him by magic, but by choice.

A small, tired smile tugged at his lips. "Five thousand, huh? Then we'll make them the finest soldiers this continent has ever seen. You both know what comes after we settle things with the demons…"

"Of course, we all know how you rapidly gained wealth; there is no doubt the other kingdoms will want that," Chloe said, knowing full well that her own home kingdom would probably do something when the war with the demons finished.

A firm knock at the door interrupted their talk.

"Enter," Logan called.

The chamberlain, Leonardo, stepped inside in his usual pristine attire, accompanied by the familiar number of scrolls tucked under one arm and a cluster of crystal ledgers in the other. He bowed once before setting them neatly on the table.

"My lord," he began, voice calm but edged with urgency. "I thought that now that you can't mov, you can read through most of this…. There is no better time to provide you with an update on the kingdom's growth."

Logan arched a brow. "Go ahead, Leonardo. You're the one who keeps us from collapsing when I am busy doing other things."

Leonardo allowed himself the faintest smile before unrolling the first scroll. "The most notable change: your capital. What was once a single town on the outskirts has expanded into a thriving city, its population now rests between fifty and sixty thousand souls. Refugees, adventurers, traders, all drawn here by the stability you've created."

Logan blinked while the number slowly sank in. "That many already?"

"Indeed. And that is only the capital," Leonardo continued. "The surrounding villages and satellite towns have nearly doubled in size. Refugee influx accounts for much of it, but so too does the pull of opportunity. As you know, with your modified plants, food is no longer an issue; farmers, craftsmen, merchants, everyone sees this land not only as a gold mine, but it is far safer than their homelands."

He tapped the glowing ledger crystal, projecting faint charts of farmland and roads. "Agriculture has flourished beyond expectation. The mole-constructors have carved irrigation channels that rival anything in the old empires. Spirit-blessed crops from Sylvari and our other allies grow in abundance, resistant to both weather and blight. The granaries are stocked enough to last through two winters without rationing."

Kai let out a low whistle. "No wonder the markets and the taverns are always full."

Leonardo nodded, moving on. "Trade, too, has become one of our greatest strengths. The new aerial transport facilities are buzzing day and night. Our coinage, infused with mana crystals as you decreed, has become more desirable than the gold minted in some kingdoms. Already, caravans accept it as the default standard of exchange."

Logan frowned slightly. "That sounds… almost too good; there is bound to be a catch."

The chamberlain's expression sobered. "It is, in a sense. Rapid growth of this scale is both a blessing and a danger. With prosperity comes attention. Enemies will look upon us and see a prize. To maintain what we've built, we must keep investing in farmlands, stable water sources, stronger walls, more forges, and greater storage. Infrastructure must keep pace with expansion, or we risk the very stability that draws people here."

He placed the scroll flat, meeting Logan's gaze directly. "In short, my lord… the kingdom thrives. But it must tend to it more than ever, so I expect you to help me while you recover and before you leave..."

Logan noticed that before he had a chance to speak to Chloe and Kai again, they were gone.

Only he and Leonardo were still in the room, his chamberlain already muttering about ledgers and trade routes.

Evening fell swiftly.

Warm torchlight and soft light from crystals filled the corridors, and soon the sound of familiar voices drifted in through the open hall.

The doors to the dining chamber opened, and one by one, the girls returned. Their hair was tousled from the various fights in the labyrinth. Their armor, though, was still just as clean and new as when they left. If anything, it now faintly glowed from lingering mana, but each and every one of the girls seemed to be doing well.

"Welcome back," Logan said, rising slightly from his chair before easing himself back down. His body still protested when he moved, but he could not help but smile when he saw all the girls he loved in one place. "So… how was the test run?"

The dining table quickly filled as servants brought in dishes, and the room buzzed with chatter.

Rubina was the first to speak, tugging at her crimson suit as she dropped into her seat. "I don't even want to take this thing off," she admitted with a grin. "Fits better than any dress I've ever worn. And it doesn't burn when I overuse my fire magic… I can tell you with ease that I have destroyed more than a few dresses."

Alma snorted, nearly spilling her drink. "I hope you were alone during that time! As for me… I really need something other than floating like a damn balloon waiting for the wind to pick up." She gestured at her gown-like armor, her cheeks red but her laughter genuine with the others. "But… at least I'm getting the hang of being in the air, even if slowly."

Ruri fidgeted, eyes lowered until Rubina nudged her lightly. "…My rings," she murmured, glancing at Logan. "They feel like… part of me now. For once, I wasn't useless."

"You were never useless," Logan said softly, but Ruri smiled shyly at his words before concentrating on the table; his words meant more than she had expected.

Marie, of course, leaned back with her arms crossed, smugness radiating off her. "See? What did I tell you? The suits are perfect… Flexible, fashionable, and functional. Ruben's engineering, combined with my crystal arrays, made the perfect combination. These suits can shift into formal wear, casual outfits, even a few surprises, you name it."

Serana smirked faintly. "So now you just want us all in matching dresses for dinner?"

"Don't tempt me… I still have a few codes to change your dresses at a whim," Marie shot back.

The laughter lingered until Lisa raised her cup, her tone soft but steady. "Let's toast to these incredible suits. They'll be indispensable in our next battle and even the one after that … So, in a few words, Logan, we will be we'll be ready when it matters. We'll stand by you, Logan. Not behind you but by your side."

The room grew quiet for a moment before everyone raised their cups as the words settled among them.

Logan met her gaze, then looked around at each of them in turn.

Before he could enjoy the night, though, he was grabbed by the shoulder by Lisa.

[We will talk later tonight]