hermitscave

Chapter 248 - Secret Operations

Thick clouds covered the night sky of Saniya, as they did on most days of the year. Even in the most lively city of the south, darkness ruled once the sun sank into the sea. It was a time when the city's unsavory elements came out to earn their keep. As usual, all of them were busy at work, when their bad deeds were interrupted by an intruder.   

Without warning, the clouds parted and let through a single sliver of silvery moonlight. The ray bounced off the surface of the ...

Chapter 247 - No Place Like Home

 As the ox trotted through the wide roads of Arguna at a leisurely pace, the crowds parted before it like the waters before a ship's bow. Within the crowd, a man with a green headband stared at the cart driver behind the ox. On any other day, the driver might have considered that it would be because of her looks. After all, Antaya di Pluritac's beauty would always garner attention from her surroundings. However, this time she traveled in a long cloak that covered her entire figure, and t...

Chapter 246 - Cold War

 On top of a small hill in central Medala's countryside, two delegations of nobles met in a meeting that would determine the fate of their countries. In the distance flowed the silver waters of the Argu River, right through the city of Odeana. Once, it had been one of many prosperous cities along the banks of the river. However, now it lay in ruins, its walls broken and turned to rubble in several spots and much of its outer city a smoldering pyre. In front of this city's gates stood an ...

Chapter 245 - Catching Up

 Unlike Balit, nothing much had changed about the city of Eniila in the two years of Atau's absence. Just as it had been before, the view from within the Aureus merchant guild's top floor, down onto the streets, exuded a lazy atmosphere of old-world charm. In the distance, Atau found his ships moored along the pier, exactly where he had left them. They had already been guests in the city for a week now. Today was the day they would finally leave for new waters, as happy as he may have be...

Chapter 244 - Still Searching

 A bang broke through the mess within the meeting room. Shocked faces from the officials stared through a cloud of smoke at the head of the table, where one of Brym's assistants had fired a pistol out of the open window.    

“I appreciate everyone calming down to consider the issue in a calm manner,” Brym joked, as the servant put away his pistol again. “Although your support of the crown is a great compliment and similarly appreciated, I would like to spea...

Chapter 243 - High Politics

 Just one more batch left to go.

In the end, Brym had gotten through his meeting with the bankers of Saniya in a smooth fashion. Although Sawo and his complaints got him off to a rough start, everything had been smooth sailing as soon as the former city lord had been convinced. From that point on, the commoner part of their plan had unfolded without further incidents. He had set the financial industry of Saniya on a good path to support their economy with solid growth...

Chapter 242 - Convincing the Holdovers

Are they trying to compete with us? Sawo thought, as he stared at Official Brym in the front of the meeting room. All around, the murmurs had started up again. The other merchants only sounded concerned, but Sawo was terrified. As ice-cold water spread throughout his veins, the former city lord stared at the calm smile before him in horror. He had seen the crown's work in the manufactories. He had seen the efficiency of their soldiers, and of their labor camps.   

Chapter 241 - Fight for Power

 Although the meeting hadn't even started yet, tensions within the large room were already running high as the tide. A constant hum from the merchants around him told Sawo that they were feeling the same way he did. Their visible dissatisfaction mirrored the passers-by on the street the previous day. At this point, the copper crisis had been brewing for quite a while already, and it had bred much discontent. Maybe now was the time to stand up and show this king that not everything would ...

Chapter 240 - Government Interference

 Although he seemed to be a bit suspicious of Sawo's plans, the old man stood up and motioned his followers to remain behind as he followed the former city lord. Unconcerned with their caution, Sawo led the old man behind the counter and into the back of their shop, towards a dark wooden door.

“This is our storage facility for precious metals,” he explained as he pulled out the heavy iron key. “The door itself is made from heavy oak, as thick as a clenched fist is wide, ...

Chapter 239 - New Business

 Autumn had always been the best time for merchants. In autumn, the farmers had their biggest harvest season. As a result, the villagers would stream into the cities and flood the markets with their sudden, new wealth, spreading it to the local population, who in turn would also look for ways to waste tjheir income. This was true everywhere in Medala, but it was even more true in Saniya. With the fertilizers and the growth of their fields, the farmers of the Chawir marches were richer th...

Chapter 238 - Paper, Also Worthless

 “Have a seat, please.”

Swept up in the foreigner's pace, Sawo and Tawo sat down while their host took the copper sheets back to his own spot at the table.   

“These new ones are heavy, aren't they? The copper prices have really become ridiculous.” As he placed the copper plates on a large scale atop the table, the official grunted from the exertion.

“You are in luck,” he continued while he sat down. “We only set up our exchange a s...

Chapter 237 - Looking Around

 After they had left the manufactory with their newest burden, the two cousins walked along the roads of Sillu Island, towards the castle in the distance.

“Are they heavy, brother?” Tawo asked and pointed at the copper plates in Sawo's arms.

“I do not require any assistance,” a defiant Sawo answered. Even though his arms were tired already, his old illness – his stubbornness – had reared its head again. He didn't care how sore his arms would feel tomorro...

Chapter 236 - Worthless

Just like Sawo had said, they sold all of their cloth the same day they returned to Saniya. However, in the process they didn't have much more luck with currency than in Kapra. Once again, they failed to get any silver or gold for their efforts. They were only left with more worthless copper coins, which did nothing but weigh them down.

Though of course, commoners would not spend valuable gold or silver coins on a meter of cloth on the market, even less since they were only worth a...

Chapter 235 - In Search of a Future

 With a bang, Sawo threw the large bag of metal back onto the table before him. The now released copper coins escaped their confinement and danced around on the polished wood.

“There is no way we will give up all our product for that little.” He pointed out of the small shop's open backdoor, where Tawo was unloading boxes of soap from the back of their donkey wagon. Of course, the boxes were covered completely and there were no indications of their contents. Products from ...

Chapter 234 - Shadows

As soon as Brym stepped out of Corco's study, he was confronted by one of the old Fastgrade accountants he had been acquainted with back in Arcavia.

Alyn, he matched name to face. Somehow, they're all called Alyn.

“Young Master Brymstock, welcome to Saniya,” the accountant said with a bow.

“Thank you, Alyn. I'm glad to be finally here, reunited with everyone once more. I hope you've done a good job preparing my room for me.” With a wi...

Yes, hello. I'm back.

Hello everyone, hermit here.

Honestly, I'm not quite sure what to write here... since I'm pretty certain everything I write will sound like excuses, what with my spotty record on updates over the past couple months. So I'll just put a TLDR first:

Yes, I'm still alive. I'll be catching up with all 15 chapters I owe (already finished). I'll be posting them today if I can, but I'm exhausted and sleep is important (so there will prob be a couple hours' break after the chapters I just ...

Chapter 233 - New Weaponry

 Inside the foundry, the air was always heavy from heat. Corco felt as if everything inside these halls was being compressed, melted down into its proper shape by the atmosphere. As expected of Saniya's greatest workshop, even the air was on the side of progress. For once, he didn't linger to bask in the glory of the foundry's efficiency. Instead, he led his guards towards the back of the building, past the largest furnace.   

Although everyone around them was hard at...

Chapter 232 - Union

 “I really should have seen this one coming,” Corco muttered to himself. All the while, he watched Egidius and Ella, the clock maker's new bride, step down the pier and into the decorated wooden boat together. Now that he thought about it, it had been strange that the adventurous and curious clock maker had decided to stay in Saniya rather than follow Atau on his journey around the world. He even remembered the girl's portrait, hanging in the clock maker's workshop during his frequen...

Chapter 231 - Back Again

 With restless steps, Atau marched past homes made of wood, built in the blocky, huddled style of Arcavia's south. He walked down the pier along the coastline until he could see the place where the buildings were rudely cut off by the uneven walls that enclosed the city. When he turned, Atau could see the local ruler's large keepschurch in the distance, as it crowned the center of the horrible maze that was the city. Without a word, he went back to his paces.   

Altho...

Chapter 230 - Hidden Smile

 “Looks like they've just about got things under control,” Dedrick mumbled to himself as he sat back down on the new favorite spot he had created for himself. A bit off from the battle and somewhat behind the front line, he had the soldiers construct a small mound for himself to rest his weary bones. Fitted with a comfortable chair, it was the perfect spot to enjoy the mild spring breeze while his new student Paec and his soldiers were fighting for their lives within eyesight.  ...

Chapter 229 - Two Types of Battle

 This was already his fourth true battle, but Alcer still wasn't used to it. He wondered if he ever would be. Despite his reservations, the decorated soldier had learned a thing or two about combat in his time with Saniya's army. As far as he was concerned, there were two types of battle the southern soldiers could face. The first type was the kind he had lived through in his first skirmish, as well as his first major engagement against Lord Rupilo's forces.   

In tho...

Chapter 228 - Real Power

 Deep within the Immortal Palace, through unused halls and behind unopened doors, was hidden a special room. Only a select few knew of its location, even among the high-ranking officials of the Immortal Capital. On most days, the room would be left abandoned. Yet today, seven figures had met around the ancient stone table for a meeting as secret as the spot they had met in.

“Brother Acalan, you have arrived late.” Prime Minister Zyaton sat at the head of the table, with fi...

Chapter 227 - Beasts of War

 Although Dedrick hadn't expected much at first, the sight before him was incredible. Several thousand cultivators from various sects, clans and factions had come together to face their nominal ruler, all of them desperate to hang on to the meager power they could exert in their little part of the world.   

Their 'army' was an abstract collection of colors and clothes, with no organization or cohesion that Dedrick could discern. They walked in small groups, anywhere f...

Chapter 226 - Honorable Battle

 “I really don't like these types of tricks, you know?”

Dedrick's eyes flew past the nasty bog all around them. Although most of the land around Huetalan was arid, this small area a few hours north-west of the city sat in a basin near the largest river in the county. As a result, it collected the groundwater and turned the surroundings into a mess of muddy earth. Since the Chutwa in this area grew a lot of rice, it was a perfect environment for farming, so the whole basin ...

Chapter 225 - Servility

 Three steps to the left, turn, three steps back, then a bow.   

Although Chatra Huemac was just a small official from the rural and uncultured east, his etiquette seemed well-practiced. At least for now, it was good enough to satisfy one of the most powerful men in the Immortal City, second only to the emperor.

“The Ignorant greet Great Scholar and Prime Minister Zyaton.”

Prime Minister Zyaton examined the young man's posture for a ...

My First Published Novel!!

Normally, I'm not one to be hyperbolic. But today, I feel like the multiple exlamation marks are appropriate. I mean, you don't publish your first novel every day.

That's right! After many revisions and lots of additional obstacles, I finally managed to finish The Last Utopia! Honestly, the support I got from everyone on here played a huge part in my perseverance through all the boring parts of writing, especially the final polish I added over the past few months in between work and my ...

Chapter 224 - Change in Fortune

 After Wacoca and his father had decided their future directions, they had spent the afternoon on schemes. After much deliberation, Rasacopa would continue its cooperation with the southern kingdom. Rather than share all the spoils with others, they would keep more for themselves, and strengthen themselves for all the other colored kings to see. 

Thus, once the progress was apparent and the other kings became aware of what they had lost, they would be much easier to convince o...

Chapter 223 - Strengthening the Alliance

 Nostalgia-filled, Wacoca's nostrils breathed in the humid air of his home. Finally, he had returned to Rasacopa, the greatest of the Verdant Isles. While he walked through the halls of his family's palace, the green council, The verdant prince took in the old-familiar sights and sounds as if it was the first time.   

Corco's 'best men' had been left on his ships for now. Not only did Wacoca expect to continue on towards Chutwa right after he met with his father, he a...

Chapter 222 - Please Stay Behind After Class

 Like grains of sand in an hourglass, Corco's students piled up in a chaotic mess around his classroom door as they trickled out one by one. After another long day of classes, everyone was exhausted and eager to return home for rest and revision. However, the king couldn't share in the luxury of free time. Once more, he would have to handle the kingly duties he had neglected throughout the day. At least today, he could handle a big portion of them right here.

“Prince Wacoca,...

Chapter 221 - Freedom and Burden

 For several exhausting weeks, Corco tried to catch up with all the work in Saniya. All day, he would teach his students and all night, he would try to keep up with his actual responsibilities as a king.   

Only long after midnight did he have a little bit of time to himself. Exhausted, he would fall into his bed and sleep for a few precious hours, before he would get ready for the next day again. All throughout these weeks, he wouldn't even find time for his music in...