Steel and Mana

Chapter 305 – Life in Avalon

The soft jingle of the wind chime echoed faintly through the open window, mingling with the cheerful sounds of Avalon’s bustling streets. Olivia sat by the window of her cozy home, cradling her newborn son, Niko, in her arms. Both of them were listening to the soft sound, and she was unable to stop smiling since her son was born. The moment she could hold him in her hands, she knew it was something that she would remember forever. The house was modest, by Avalonian standards, but comfortable, with polished wooden floors that her husband had laid down, covered by woven rugs that warmed the space nicely. The faint scent of freshly baked bread from the kitchen lingered in the air, reminding her of the loaf cooling on the counter, something her husband brought to her before heading off to work, knowing she wasn't going to be able to just get up and go, not with her newborn.

Niko stirred, his tiny hand grasping at nothing, his delicate face peaceful, letting out a satisfied yawn. Olivia's heart swelled as she gently rocked him, humming a lullaby her mother used to sing to her and her sisters. Being the oldest of them, she now had her own home, her own husband, and her own life. It was more than she ever thought would be possible, yet she watched it rise up around her while growing up.

Outside, the city thrummed with life. She could hear the rhythmic clattering of hammers on an anvil as their home was close to the renowned blacksmith workshops, only a corner away. Then came the distant hiss of a steam engine, probably in one of these workshops, followed by the chatter of merchants and customers at the marketplace. Avalon was alive and colorful, and it was a city that cared about its people, and she was proud to call it home.

Although she could barely remember that it hadn’t always been this way, she knew it through her parent's constant reminders. Her mind drifted back to her childhood, a period when life was... less certain. She had grown up in a small farming village where her family barely scraped by, further out from Avalon but still within the region of the Sovereign. His rise to power brought about drastic changes: lands were reformed, and people who wanted to move into his new city had a chance to do so. Her parents didn't hesitate, taking on his offer and the opportunities for people like her family to start anew.

After that, her father worked on building the city, something that her husband, now a proper mason, also declared proudly every time it came up in a conversation. They both had helped build the city’s towering aqueducts and the magnificent bathhouse. They had moved to Avalon when it was finished, trading uncertainty for security. And it was worth it all.

“Olivia?” a young voice called. She turned to see her neighbor, Mara, standing in the doorway, her braid slightly askew and her dress smudged with dirt.

“Ah? Mara? Please, come in!” She stood with a smile, watching her enter, holding a basket filled with food in her hands.

“Can I help with dinner later? I know it is hard to do it alone, especially while Konrad is at work~!” Mara beamed with happiness, and Olivia chuckled softly, feeling warmth swelling up in her heart. She knew that she would offer the same if their roles were reserved. Mara's children were already older and attending school, and she was happy to help a new mother in raising her newborn. Olivia was delighted that, as people of Avalon, they were one big family, always helping each other.

“I would be eternally grateful for that, Mara. I am still learning, so seeing some tricks would help me a lot in taking care of my husband and my son!”

"Please, it is nothing!" she laughed, putting down the basket, looking at the sleeping newborn, and gently stroking his head. "What a strong little boy! He may be a hero when he grows. My son wants to be a Knight, while my daughter decided to become a painter, you know."

"A painter?" Olivia asked with surprise.

"Yeah. Lady Dia was in school, teaching an art class to students who were interested. Her paintings have been selling well; these Atuvian merchants were buying it all up... So my daughter took it upon herself to become the richest woman alive!"

"I am rooting for her~!" Olivia chuckled, making Mara smile, looking out of the open window.

"Me too. But for now, she can't even write a sentence without a mistake. So... She has a long way to go!"

"She has time," Olivia answered, looking down at her son, thinking about what he may grow up to be. But she knew that, whatever it was going to be, she would be proud of him.

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“Class dismissed!”

The clamor of chairs scraping against the floor filled the room as Theo hurriedly stuffed his notebook and pencil into his satchel. He was the first out the door, his head buzzing with the day’s lessons, learning about the history of Avalon and about their Sovereign's laws. The morning had been spent learning arithmetic and geography, which was not his strong suit, but in the afternoon, it was finally about time to study the most interesting part: The Sovereign!

His heart raced as he ran down the tree-lined streets from the school toward the main square. He always came visiting, watching the statue of the Sovereign and his wives. Theo's mind was filled with outrageous stories, even more colorful than what was written in their books. Today was no different, as he skidded to a stop in front of it, craning his neck to take in every detail.

“One day, I’ll serve you, Sovereign Leon,” he whispered, clenching his fists. “I’ll build machines for you or defend Avalon with a sword! Maybe even pilot a mech myself!”

It was not the first time making the bold declaration, but nobody who heard it would find it funny. There was already an example of this, the first Knight, Polo. Theo also pictured himself piloting a towering mech, its movements as fluid as his own, marching into battle to protect Avalon from its enemies. Or perhaps he’d become an engineer, designing the next generation of war machines for his Sovereign. Even if math was way too hard...

“Theo!” A shout rang out from behind him. Following it to its source, he turned to see his best friend, Corin, jogging toward him, his own satchel slung carelessly over his shoulder. “What are you doing, staring at the statue again?” He teased, knowing the answer well, “Come on! We’re going to be late for training.”

Instead of answering, Theo simply grinned and began racing his friend to their goal. They had signed up for the Youth Militia program, which taught boys and girls the basics of discipline and teamwork. It wasn’t mandatory, but for Theo, it was a step closer to his dream. As they ran toward the training grounds, his heart surged with determination, speeding up his short legs and making him win their little race. Their teachers always told them that Avalon was a city of possibilities, and he was ready to seize them all.

He would make his parents proud, he would make himself proud, and most importantly, he would make his Sovereign proud!

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Sergeant Garren stood atop the city walls, his posture straight, his gaze sweeping over Avalon, holding onto his massive halberd with one hand. He was assigned guard duty this week, knowing full well that soon, he would stand atop the wall in the Pass, facing monsters as winter was creeping up on them, leading his own group of soldiers.

"Let them come..." He told himself, filled with zeal to protect the city he was looking over with a proud pair of eyes.

From his vantage point, he could see its orderly streets stirring with life, belonging to Avalonians and the now-visiting Atuvians. Smoke rose from the chimneys of workshops, and children’s laughter echoed from the parks, music to his ears and the reason he became a soldier. This city was everything he wanted, and nobody should be allowed to take it away, not from him or from his family.

He tightened his grip on his halberd, his sense of duty unwavering. The Sovereign’s vision had built Avalon, and Garren would protect it with his life. He had joined the Sovereign’s army a decade ago, back when Avalon was little more than a blueprint and a promise. A nameless project. He remembered those early days—the long hours, the sweat and blood as he helped build it and then defend it in the winter.

“Anything to report?” he asked a younger guard who was assigned to him. His name was Rynn, and he was slowly approaching his sergeant, his helmet hanging on his waist. His newly issued black armor gleamed in the setting sun while Rynn's face hid the nervousness of his first actual day of duty. It reminded Garren of his younger self and how nervous he was when joining his Sovereign's army.

“All quiet,” Rynn replied. “But I am keeping my eyes sharp. Complacency invites trouble, and we have Atuvians coming and going every day.”

Garren nodded, stepping up to the parapet, satisfied with his report. He allowed himself a brief moment to savor the view, slowly moving his eyes towards the ground. Down below them, a caravan was leaving the city, so lowering his helmet's visor, he activated its newest function, communicating with the soldiers down below. Luckily, this one also didn't try to smuggle anything out. There were a few who tried before, but when they were asked why their manifest didn't match their cargo, they very quickly realized their mistake by leaving the city empty-handed and banned forever from returning.

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“Fresh produce! Get your apples here, straight from the orchards!”

Karla’s voice rang out over the market square as she arranged the gleaming red apples in neat rows. The market was alive with activity, and she was wearing a happy little apron decorated with images of smiling children. Around her, bakers hawked their bread, butchers displayed their cuts, and artisans showcased their wares, never getting into real arguments with each other, working in harmony. The air was filled with the mingling aromas of roasted nuts and spices coming from faraway land as the Atuvians opened their own stalls, joining in on the fun. The smells were sometimes mixed with the occasional whiff of coal smoke from the nearby forges when it escaped through another opening, not purified by magic. It made the city to be even more alive.

Karla had been running her stall for three years now, and business had never been better. Avalon’s growth meant more mouths to feed, and the Sovereign’s reforms ensured bountiful harvests, even here, in the old Frontier.

“How much for a dozen?” a young man asked, snapping her attention back to her stall.

“A silver piece,” she replied with a smile while he handed over the coins, and she wrapped the apples in a cloth sack.

As the man walked away, Karla took a moment to soak in the scene. The marketplace wasn’t just a place of commerce; it was a hub for Avalonians, where neighbors met, gossip was exchanged, and the pulse of the city could be felt directly. This city had given her and her family a purpose, something more than just living and surviving. Because of that, she was proud to contribute to its thriving community, even if she did nothing more than sell the apples her family grew outside of Avalon, in one of the five villages, away from this bustling city.

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In his cluttered workshop, lit by the strong light of an Edmund Lamp, Krel adjusted the valve on his latest creation. The hiss of steam and the whir of gears filled the room as the small automaton came to life, its brass limbs moving jerkily but steadily.

“Another step closer,” he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. Krel had been an inventor for the past year after finishing school, but he wasn't like the others—like the one he looked up to, Edmund. He wanted to do something else—he wanted to entertain the children. That is why he was designing a toy, one that looked like the Lion and was capable of moving by itself, at least, as long as steam was flowing through its veins.

Krel’s eyes flicked to the schematic pinned to the wall—the design for his miniaturized mech, a dream of many children. After working day and night for a whole year, finally, a working prototype was close to finish.

The toy on his desk kept walking, its gears whirring as it completed its test run without falling over once. Krel couldn't help but laugh loudly, imagining a future where such toys were commonplace, children playing with them, holding their own future and dreams in their hands.

If Avalon could make their dreams come true, he would give them the first taste of it so they would never lose the will to fight for them!