The Dreamer's POV

I had a dream.

It was like plunging into a forgotten world, a forest so vast that it seemed infinite.

The trees stretched out forever, each one different from the next. Some stood tall, while others were gnarled and twisted, giving the impression that they had grown from the nightmares of the world.

There, in the midst of the wilderness, stood a young man, lost and driven nearly mad by the myriads of sounds surrounding him.

Sounds echoed from every direction. I could hear the whispers of the wind in the leaves, the rustle of unseen creatures scurrying through the underbrush, the far-off howl of something inexplicable, and the beating of his own heart, wild with panic.

His eyes darted around, flitting from tree to tree as if seeking answers from them. He stumbled forward, his movements unsteady and desperate.

Days must have gone by, and yet he couldn't find a way out. I felt his confusion, his despair, and his utter exhaustion as if they were my own.

His feet were heavy, and his mind was burdened with a terror that was palpable.

As he wandered, an enormous tree seemed to beckon him.

It was unlike the others, older, wiser, and somehow sinister. Its branches reached out like the gnarled fingers of a giant, its bark cracked and dark, as if it had secrets to tell.

He stumbled towards it, no longer able to fight the lure. He crumbled under its shade, his body giving way to exhaustion, his mind consumed by fear and confusion.

His breathing was ragged, and his eyes glazed over with an emptiness that only those who have lost hope could know.

Then, something extraordinary happened.

The tree seemed to come alive. The branches began to move, wrapping themselves around the young man, encircling him, constricting him.

He didn't scream; he didn't fight.

It was as if he had accepted his fate, resigned to this strange, surreal end.

I watched, horrified and fascinated, as the tree devoured him whole. It was slow, deliberate, and impossible, but it was happening.

The bark opened up like a gaping mouth, and the young man disappeared inside, consumed by the very thing that had offered him shade.

Suddenly, my heart jolted, and I was violently pulled back into the waking world.

… I woke up, once more realizing that it was nothing but a dream.

********

[00 Months: 30 Days: 02 Hours]

"Looks like we've made some more progress…"

It had been almost two weeks since the incident, and the morning sun cast a golden glow over the landscape as I hovered in the sky, overseeing the ongoing construction of the Lyma Capital.

From this vantage point, the devastation still appeared raw and chaotic, but the signs of progress were unmistakable.

I watched as the paid laborers, a mixture of adventurers and mercenaries, worked diligently to rebuild what had been lost.

The sound of hammers, the clinking of tools, and the voices of the workers filled the air, a symphony of creation rising from the ashes.

Buildings that were once glorious were now mere skeletons, but the flesh was being added, slowly but surely.

Descending from my aerial view, I touched down on a street that was once bustling with life, now filled with dust and determination.

The workers paused to nod in my direction, their eyes filled with a shared understanding. We all knew what had been lost, and we were all part of the effort to reclaim it.

Walking through the city, I couldn't help but feel a surreal sense of both familiarity and strangeness.

Places I had known were now transformed, either by the destruction or the rebuilding.

The architecture was rising, but the soul of the place was still healing. I knew it would take a couple more months—maybe even a year—before everything was restored, but the commitment of the people around me was a testament to resilience and hope.

'A large city like this whose only inhabitants are the workers…' A wry smile formed on my face.

I stopped by a partially rebuilt square, where a statue of the Duke had once stood.

Its absence was a poignant reminder of the lives lost, the dreams shattered.

But around me, the sound of progress continued. Bricks were being laid, beams were being lifted, and the heartbeat of the city was slowly returning.

I spoke with a few of the laborers, thanking them for their efforts and assuring them that their hard work was not in vain.

Their faces, worn and tired but determined, were the embodiment of the spirit of Lyma. At least, that was what I liked to purport.

'Some of them were compulsorily drafted here by the Adventurers Guild. Others are commoners who would rather work to rebuild the city and gain the benefits than pay the taxes required for its reconstruction…;

So yes. We were all connected by the tragedy, but also by the shared goal of renewal.

As I continued my walk, I reflected on the journey ahead. The physical rebuilding was only one part of the process.

The emotional healing, the return of trust and joy, would take even longer.

"Would you look at that…" I smiled, taking in everything around me with a strange sense of exhilaration. Discover more stories at empire

We had been brought to our knees, but we were standing once again, rebuilding and renewing, a symbol of endurance and hope.

"It looks beautiful."

********

I teleported to the Lyma Estate, the familiar sensation of transition pulling me from the city's hustle to the serene grounds of what was once a magnificent home.

Compared to the city, the Estate's construction had progressed further, the scars of destruction now mostly hidden behind new forms and structures.

Where the grand mansion had once stood, there was now a makeshift building. The architecture was different from the previous one, less grandiose, much smaller, but I considered it more than a good enough replacement for now.

I walked toward the building, my footsteps echoing in the emptiness of what had once been a lively hub of life and tradition.

The Estate had been a symbol of the Lyma Family's prestige and history, and seeing it in this new form was both reassuring and disconcerting.

The structure before me was elegantly designed, though humbler than its predecessor. The lines were clean, the materials chosen with care.

I had spared no expense in restoring the Estate, knowing that it would serve as Theo's residence. The young heir needed a grand place to call home.

As I explored the grounds, I noticed the areas that still needed attention. A couple more buildings had to be built within the massive compound, places that would serve various functions in the daily life of the Estate.

The garden, once a paradise of blossoms and greenery, was still a work in progress. I envisioned the flowers that needed to be added, the colors and fragrances that would breathe life back into this place.

My summoned minions, two massive wyverns, were currently acting as load bearers, their great wings folded as they carefully carried materials to the right spots.

Overseeing the ongoing construction within the Estate was my Elite Shadow, ensuring that everything went smoothly.

"Heh. I guess it's because it was a human before death, but it's pretty capable…"

I couldn't help but smile at the sight. Everything was progressing as planned, perhaps even faster.

The workers in the city, mostly adventurers and mercenaries, had been motivated by the promise of money and a chance for themselves and their families to live in the big city.

As a result, construction was proceeding faster than ever.

As I looked above, I noticed a slight tint in the sky, a subtle shimmer that represented the barrier surrounding the entire Lyma Capital.

I had employed the best defenses I could muster using the magic of this world. While the barrier wasn't foolproof, it was definitely worth something, a layer of protection that gave me peace of mind.

The Lyma Estate itself was surrounded by an even more powerful barrier, a fortress within a fortress.

'I just improved the means they used for the last one they had. It won't be able to stop powerful Survivors, but… it's a start.'

The scene before me was surreal in its beauty and complexity. New structures were rising from the ruins, life was returning, and hope was being rekindled.

The sound of hammers and the shouts of workers blended with the roars of the wyverns, creating a constant sign of progress.

I felt a warmth spreading through me, a satisfaction that went beyond mere contentment.

This was my project, my vision, and it was coming to life. The wounds of the past were healing, and a new future was taking shape.

'Haha… I'm getting sentimental, aren't I?'

I stood there for a while, letting the silence and the beauty of the place wash over me.

"Well then…" With a final glance at the bustling activity, I turned and headed toward the most luxurious house in the compound.

"... Time to get to work."

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[A/N]

<Welcome to Arc 3: The First Trial Arc>

The last Arc had a lot of ups and downs, so I hope this Arc meets your satisfaction, maybe even surpasses it.

A lot of twists await you here as well…

So buckle up tight and enjoy the ride!

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!