The Troll-woods—once a name whispered with dread, a place shrouded in shadow and forgotten by men.

Yet under Kaen's rule, this forsaken land had been transformed.

No more Trolls stalked beneath its boughs.

No darkness lingered.

And so, the name that once suited it was no longer fit.

Kaen, who had purged the forest in a blaze of cleansing fire, gave it a new name:

Ashenwood—Forest of Cinders and Rebirth.

At its heart lay a vast, circular valley. This, he named Elohir—Sanctuary of the Stars.

As agriculture spread, trade routes opened, laws took hold, and a census was enacted—the foundations of the kingdom were now fully in place. What followed was an age of construction, bold and unrelenting.

Thankfully, during the earlier campaign into the forest, Kaen had ordered his Rangers to map its terrain in detail. Armed with these charts, Joanna and her hundred engineers spent a full month drawing up plans for the future capital.

The grand blueprint was divided into three concentric zones:

1. The Outer Ring—the vast plains beyond the forest. Here, four towns would rise at the cardinal points—north, south, east, and west—each designed to support 5,000 to 10,000 inhabitants, farming settlements, and military outposts.

2. The Inner Ring—within the forest itself. All streams were to be diverted and merged, forming a circular moat around the city. Fortified towers would line the banks, and only four roads—each connecting to one outer town—would pierce the ring.

3. The Core—the valley of Elohir. The capital would rise around its central lake. Kaen's royal palace would be built upon a hill at the lake's edge, overlooking the city below.

This vast, breathtaking endeavor would take six years and cost over a million gold coins.

To discuss this monumental project, Kaen convened his council.

Soon, a royal edict was issued.

From the 28,000 citizens of Elariel, 20,000 were selected and dispatched:

- 5,000 to the north, to found Thalorien Town,meaning Shield of The North, garrisoned by the heavy cavalry under Caden.

- 5,000 to the west, to build Virelmar Town, meaning Fortress of The Setting Sun,defended by another heavy cavalry division.

- 5,000 to the east, to raise Aurienel Town,meaning Grace of The Sunrise , protected by Cathril and her mounted archers.

- The remaining 8,000 stayed in Elariel Town under Norman, guarded by Reger's foot archers.

Three new town governors were appointed from among Kaen's civil officials: Morgen, Hawson, and Gatel.

As for Kaen himself, he led the rest of the kingdom's leadership, his soldiers, and 5,000 Dúnedain into the forest's heart. Their destination—Elohir, the heart of the realm.

But without roads, the march through Ashenwood was slow.

Last time, it had taken Kaen two days with 500 soldiers to reach the central valley. Now, with six to seven thousand men, women, and children in tow, it took eight full days to arrive at the gates of their future capital.

At the southern entrance of the valley, ten Dúnedain Rangers stood guard. When they saw the approaching procession, they rushed forward in greeting.

"Hail, my lord!"

"At ease," Kaen said, lifting them to their feet. "This shall be the seat of our kingdom. This fortress will be known as the Obsidian Gate. Open it, and let my people pass—for this shall be their home."

The great black gates creaked open.

Kaen stepped forward, the first to enter the valley.

A collective gasp rose from the people behind him.

"Is this... paradise?"

"Merciful stars, how can such beauty exist inside this forest?"

"This was once the Troll-woods?"

"I never want to leave."

"Praise Eowenríel—for he has led us to a land of wonder!"

What they beheld was nothing short of miraculous.

The valley once charred by fire now thrived with life. Lush green grasses blanketed the soil that had once been blackened with ash. Trees that had survived the blaze sprouted fresh shoots from blackened branches.

In the center, the lake shimmered beneath rising mists. Around its edge stood the hill of mithril—the secret silver veined deep within the stone. Under the sunlight, the mist turned iridescent, casting shimmering hues that danced like the lights of a dream.

Natural. Pure. Beautiful. Serene.

Such was the soul of Elohir now.

Kaen turned to the thousands gathered behind him and raised his voice.

"This is Elohir, the seat of our kingdom—and your future home!"

"Here, we shall raise a mighty city—grand, beautiful, and unyielding! One that shall stand as a beacon across the entire western continent!"

"Henceforth, this city shall bear the name Elarothiel—maiden of the woods and child of the stars."

"This is our glory. This is your kingdom!"

"For Eowenría!"

"Long live King Kaen!"

The cheer began as a single voice, then multiplied—rolling across the valley like thunder, echoing from cliff and tree, unending.

That night, six to seven thousand souls camped outside the Obsidian Gate. Bonfires blazed as they sang and played music beneath the stars, pouring their hearts into celebration of their newfound homeland.

Later that evening, Kaen summoned his inner council.

His tone was clear and firm.

"Starting tomorrow," he said, "Joanna will serve as Chief Architect of the Capital. Everyone is to offer her full support in all matters of construction."

"Our first priority: build the residential quarters. The people must have a place to rest their heads."

"Next, we construct the central ministries around the hill—administration, treasury, diplomacy, and the courts."

"We must also establish the Royal Medical Academy under Ameliah, and the Royal Institute of Architecture for the engineers."

"Our connection to the outside world begins with one road—linking us south to Elariel. It will serve as our first artery of transport."

"As for my palace... it can wait. It will not rise in a day. But these foundations—these institutions—must be raised without delay."

Joanna bowed solemnly. "As you command, my lord. I shall complete these tasks with all possible haste."

The others nodded. "We will give our full support."

Kaen then turned to other matters.

He assigned Zakri and his archer-infantry Division:

– 500 would assist in construction.

– 500 would garrison the Obsidian Gate.

The Rangers were tasked with maintaining communication between the capital and the outside world.

The Royal Guard, loyal only to Kaen, were assigned to keep order within the valley itself.

And finally—Kaen revealed the secret hidden beneath the central hill.

The mithril.

The council's faces lit with astonishment.

They knew what it meant.

The future of the kingdom was not just secure—it would be prosperous beyond imagining.

In every heart, expectation flared. They longed to see the gleaming silver unearthed, to witness the moment when Eowenría would rise not just as a beacon of hope—but as a symbol of wealth and wonder.

….

That night, in the royal tent, Tifa lay beside Kaen, a faint pout on her face.

"You never told me," she said softly, "about the mithril. I've been by your side this whole time, and you kept it from me."

Kaen pulled her into his arms. "I never meant to hide it. But this secret concerns the kingdom's future. In truth, only I and my generals knew."

"I don't care," she whispered. "You have to make it up to me."

"And how should I do that?" he asked with a grin.

"You tell me," she murmured.

Outside the tent, Ameliah had just approached, intending to speak with Kaen.

Hearing the hushed sounds within, she paused.

She leaned in closer—then blushed fiercely, her expression falling into quiet sorrow.

Without a word, she turned... and walked away into the night.