Family system

With the Eastern Plains now under his influence, Jack wasted no time solidifying his control. The villages had pledged their loyalty, and the merchants had integrated into his growing trade network. But control was not enough—he needed to ensure the region would thrive, not just survive. Aetheria had become a beacon of his power, but now it was time to mold the Eastern Plains into something equally formidable.

Ela oversaw the region's economic transformation. Roads that had once been dirt paths were widened and reinforced with stone, ensuring that merchants could travel safely between settlements. Bridges were built over rivers that had once been natural barriers, allowing easier trade and communication.

"The easier we make it for them to move, the more they will rely on us," Ela explained to Jack during one of their strategy meetings. "Every step we take to improve their lives ensures they cannot function without our guidance."

Markets were established in key villages, each acting as a hub of commerce where goods from Aetheria, the Eastern Plains, and beyond could be traded. Farmers were provided with better tools and enchanted seeds that yielded greater harvests, a gift from the priestesses of the Eternal Flame. In return, they pledged a portion of their crops as tribute, ensuring the temples remained well-stocked and that Jack's influence continued to grow.

Amaterasu and her priestesses worked tirelessly to embed the faith deeper into the people's daily lives. The temples in each village were expanded, their halls filled with the voices of new converts. Women who had once been bound by the expectations of their fathers and husbands found solace and strength in the teachings of the Eternal Flame.

Public rituals were held under the moonlight, ceremonies where the newly initiated pledged their devotion, their voices rising in unison. The faith was no longer a whispered secret—it was the foundation of their society.

Even those who had once resisted found themselves drawn in—not through coercion but through necessity. The priestesses healed the sick, guided the lost, and ensured every village under their care flourished.

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Selene oversaw the formation of a new fighting force drawn from the people of the Eastern Plains. The warriors of Aetheria had secured the region, but now it was time for the people to defend themselves under Jack's banner.

The Iron Wardens were established—a force trained in martial and spiritual discipline, answering only to Jack's highest command. These warriors were handpicked from villages, trained rigorously, and indoctrinated in the faith. They were not just soldiers but symbols of protection, the first line of defense against any outside force.

At the same time, fortifications were built around the most critical trade hubs. Watchtowers lined the roads, their flames burning in the night as a reminder that Jack's influence was ever-present.

With the Eastern Plains secured, Jack turned his attention to the northern tribes. Unlike the villages of the east, the tribes were not bound by trade or economic reliance. They lived by strength and tradition; if Jack were to claim them, he would need to appeal to both.

The first step was gathering intelligence. More scouts were dispatched, each one tasked with observing the tribes, learning their ways, their weaknesses, and their rivalries. What they returned with was invaluable:

The Northern Tribes were not unified. They operated in clans, each one vying for dominance over the others. If Jack could turn their conflicts to his advantage, he could manipulate them into needing him.

They respected strength above all else. No amount of diplomacy or trade agreements would earn their loyalty. They had to be shown that Jack and his followers were stronger than them, beyond question.

They held ancient beliefs, gods of war and the hunt, primal and untamed. But these gods had no voice, no miracles. If Jack demonstrated divine power, many would begin to question their faith.

Jack called his council together, outlining their next steps.

"Kali," he began, his gaze meeting hers, "I want you to lead the first encounters. The tribes respect warriors, and you are one of the strongest among us. Show them that we are not outsiders seeking to rule them—we are conquerors who will make them stronger."

Kali smirked, rolling her shoulders. "I've been waiting for something exciting. Do you want me to break them quickly or let them struggle first?"

Jack chuckled. "Let them fight. Let them see that their strength is nothing compared to what we offer. When they kneel, it will be of their own choice."

Amaterasu spoke next. "And the faith?"

Jack leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. "We do not impose it on them at first. We show them power. When they ask where that power comes from, we introduce the Eternal Flame. Their gods are silent, but ours will speak through action."

Selene tapped her fingers on the table. "And if they resist?"

Jack's golden eyes gleamed. "Then we remind them why those who resist do not last long."

The preparations were swift. The Iron Wardens, now fully trained, would accompany the first diplomatic mission. Kali would lead the warriors in demonstrating their superiority through combat trials, proving that those who followed Jack were stronger than any tribe. Amaterasu would observe, waiting for the right moment to introduce the faith. Ela would ensure that those who accepted Jack's rule would benefit, securing trade agreements with clan leaders who saw the advantages of aligning with him.

As Jack stood upon the temple's balcony in Aetheria, watching his forces prepare for the march north, he knew that this was more than another conquest. The Eastern Plains had given him a foundation, but the North would give him warriors.

And once they were his, the rest of the world would follow.

He turned to Kali, who was fastening her weapons for the journey. "Are you ready to show them what true strength looks like?"

She grinned, her emerald eyes burning with excitement. "Always."

Jack smirked. "Then let's begin."

The march north was not a mere expedition but a demonstration of power. Jack ensured that those traveling with him represented the best of what his rule had to offer.

Ever the warrior, Kali took point with a contingent of the Iron Wardens, her presence a challenge to any who would dare question their strength. She wore her battle armor, sleek yet durable, her emerald eyes burning with anticipation. This was her domain—combat, intimidation, raw power.@@novelbin@@

Ela followed closely, overseeing the logistical operations. While the warriors would prove their dominance through combat, Ela ensured that trade and economic leverage were never overlooked. The North was self-sufficient, but even the strongest warriors needed weapons, food, and resources—resources that Jack controlled.

Amaterasu and her priestesses trailed near the rear of the formation, observing, listening. They would not impose their faith on the northern tribes, but they would be ready when the first cracks of doubt formed in the hearts of their warriors. When the time was right, the Eternal Flame would spread like wildfire.

The road north was harsh and unyielding. Unlike the cultivated lands of the Eastern Plains, the northern terrain was wild—vast stretches of untamed wilderness, mountains that loomed like ancient guardians, and valleys carved by centuries of war and survival. It was beautiful in its brutality, much like the people who called it home.

Three days into their march, the first test came.

A group of wild clansmen, dressed in furs and leather and armed with axes and crude blades, appeared on the ridges above. They did not attack, but they watched, their eyes sharp with curiosity and suspicion. They had seen outsiders before—traders, travelers, and men who sought to tame the north. None had succeeded.

Jack did not order his forces to slow. He merely looked up at them and smirked as if daring them to act.

Kali, always eager for sport, tilted her head. "Do we take the initiative?" she asked, her fingers flexing over the hilt of her weapon.

Jack shook his head. "Not yet. They're testing us. Let them watch. We will make them submit on our terms when the time comes."

And so they marched on, leaving the clansmen behind. But Jack knew it was only the beginning.

By the fifth day, they reached the outer edges of the first major tribe's territory—The Skarn Tribes, known for their brutal warriors and iron discipline. They did not offer greetings or hospitality. Instead, they sent a single warrior, broad-shouldered and scarred, to speak on their behalf.

"We do not need weak men," the warrior spat, looking over Jack's forces with open disdain. "If you seek to trade words, go back. If you seek to fight, then step forward."

Kali grinned. "I like them already."

Jack, however, remained unfazed. He understood them better than they realized. He did not flinch at their insults nor let arrogance cloud his mind. Instead, he spoke with confidence.

"I do not come here to kneel," he said. "And I do not need your permission to be here. If your people are strong, then prove it."

The warrior narrowed his eyes before letting out a harsh laugh. "You challenge us? Fine. One of yours against one of ours. If you win, we listen. If you lose, you turn back."

Jack turned to Kali. "Shall we?"

She smirked. "Gladly."

The warriors of the Skarn gathered in a circle, watching with keen interest as their champion stepped forward—a brute of a man, easily over six and a half feet tall, muscles thick with years of battle. He wielded a massive great axe, the weight of it enough to cleave lesser men in two.

Kali, in contrast, was leaner and faster. She rolled her shoulders, stretching, her smirk never fading.

"Do you want to go easy on me?" she taunted, cracking her knuckles.

The warrior snarled and charged.

The duel was brutal. He swung his axe in wide, deadly arcs; each strike meant to end her in a single blow. But Kali was faster. She dodged, twisted, and countered. Each time he missed, her fists found their mark—ribs, jaw, stomach. She was a force of nature, relentless and unyielding.

Finally, after minutes of relentless attacks, she caught him off guard. With a sharp kick to the knee, she forced him down, and in the next breath, she was behind him, locking her arm around his throat.

He struggled, snarling, clawing at her grip, but it was useless. Kali held him like a predator holding its prey.

"Yield," she whispered into his ear.

With great reluctance, he gasped, growled… and then slammed his fist against the ground in surrender.

Silence fell over the gathered warriors. Then, slowly, the leader of the Skarn stepped forward.

"You have our attention. Speak."

Jack smiled. The first victory was always the hardest. With the Skarn's respect earned, negotiations could begin. Unlike the Eastern Plains, where trade and security had been the tools of conquest, dominance was the key. The northern tribes would never bow to a ruler they did not deem worthy.

And so, Jack played their game.

His warriors proved themselves through duels, trials, and displays of strength. Amaterasu observed, waiting for the moment to plant the first seeds of doubt in their old gods. Ela worked behind the scenes, introducing resources the tribes had never considered valuable—fine steel, enchanted weapons, and the promise of greater power.

With every challenge won, with every warrior converted, the grip of the Eternal Flame tightened.

The north would not fall in a day nor a week, but Jack was patient. The first clan had been brought into the fold, and the rest would follow.

As he stood beneath the cold northern sky, watching the fires of the Skarn tribe burn in the night, he knew.

This land would be his.