Volume 2 Chapter 21 - Winds of Preparation
The sun was warm and calm above Aerith Vale, but the air felt different.
The breeze that once carried laughter now whispered of something distant — a faint heat in the west, a strange hum beneath the soil.
Cindy stood on the stone ramparts overlooking the valley, her long cloak fluttering behind her. Her gaze stretched toward the far horizon, where faint smoke trails blurred the blue sky.
Puff floated beside her, arms crossed. "You've been staring out there for an hour. You think something's coming?"
Cindy nodded slowly. "The wind carries warmth that doesn't belong here. The mountains are shifting — something is stirring."
She turned her eyes back toward the village below, where the newly trained soldiers sparred and patrolled. "We need to prepare. Aerith Vale won't be caught unguarded."
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A New Project Begins
That morning, Cindy called a meeting in the manor's hall. Her captains, builders, and mages gathered around a large map spread across the table.
Puff sat on her shoulder, tail flicking seriously — though the small helmet the blacksmith had made him made the soldiers smile.
"We're going to reinforce the outer walls," Cindy announced. "Not just with stone, but with magic. The Vale sits between two ley lines — we can draw mana from them to strengthen our barriers."
The steward blinked. "You mean... a living wall, my lady?"
Cindy nodded. "Exactly. A wall that breathes with the wind — that moves, heals, and shields when danger approaches."
Excitement rippled through the room. The mages bowed deeply. "We'll begin immediately."
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The Work of Wind and Will
The next days were filled with movement and energy.
Workers carried stones from the quarries, masons carved wind runes into each block, and the new Wind-Born Knights patrolled tirelessly.
Cindy herself walked the perimeter, pressing her palms to the cold stone. With each touch, threads of glowing light spread across the surface — lines of azure mana swirling like gentle gusts.
"Skill: Spirit Blessing – Breath of the Vale."
The wall pulsed faintly. The wind gathered and wrapped around it, forming a shimmering barrier of translucent air.
Children who watched from afar gasped as the once-dull stones began to hum softly, each one etched with glowing butterfly-shaped runes.
"Whoa," Puff said, hovering near a newly enchanted section. "So this is what a wind barrier feels like. Kinda tingly."
Cindy smiled. "Good. That means it's working."
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Training for Tomorrow
Meanwhile, Puff drilled the soldiers harder than ever.
"Your walls will hold, but that doesn't mean you can slack off!" he barked, pacing in front of them. "A true knight doesn't hide behind stone — he stands beside it!"
One recruit grumbled, "Commander Puff, we barely slept last night..."
Puff's ears twitched. "Then train faster so you can rest sooner!"
The men groaned but laughed as they resumed drills. Despite his strictness, they adored him — his bravery in the last battle had earned their complete loyalty.
That night, when the last stone was laid and the final runes sealed, the entire Vale shimmered under a faint blue glow. The walls stood proud and alive, humming softly with protective energy.
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Nightfall at the Vale
From her balcony, Cindy gazed upon her work.
The glowing barrier reflected in her eyes like gentle moonlight. She felt the mana flow through the stone, the air, and even through her — as if the Vale itself had accepted her fully as its guardian.
Puff landed beside her, carrying two cups of warm milk tea. "Not bad for a nurse-turned-viscountess."
She chuckled, taking one cup. "Not bad for a bunny-turned-commander."
They watched the valley together in silence. The night was calm — too calm.
The breeze that brushed past them carried a strange undertone of warmth.
"Something's coming," Cindy whispered.
Puff nodded, his expression serious. "Then let it come. Aerith Vale is ready this time."
The wind stirred the glowing runes along the walls, and for a brief moment, they flared brighter — as if the Vale itself agreed.