The Scholar's Rebirth

Eira wasted no time. As soon as training was dismissed, she headed straight for the farms.

Elandor had been waiting for her.

Mirela was there as well, tending to the crops with some of the other elves. Upon seeing Eira, she immediately walked over, concern etched across her face.

"You should rest," Mirela chided. "You just woke up. It's not good to push yourself too hard."

Eira waved a hand dismissively. "I'm fine. Tell me about the farms."

Mirela sighed but knew better than to argue.

Elandor cleared his throat. "As you can see, the farms are growing steadily, but it's been slow. The elves are still adjusting to labor work. Farming is not something they were accustomed to before."

Eira took a moment to assess the fields. The land had been tilled and planted, but progress was indeed slow.

Draco, who had followed along, observed as well. "No offense, but if you keep going at this pace, you're all going to starve before the next harvest."

Kael shot him an annoyed look. "Not helping."

Draco shrugged. "Just stating facts."

Eira rubbed her temple. He wasn't wrong.

"Then we need to increase efficiency," she muttered.

Kael furrowed his brows. "How do you propose we do that?"

Eira was in deep thought,they lacked animals or else she would have used their waste as fertilizer. Plus,she wasn't sure how their trade system worked yet. For now,she'll settle for a temporal way.

Eira turned to Mirela. "Are there any elves who have experience with growth magic?"

Mirela nodded. "A few. But their abilities are still weak."

"Then we'll train them." Eira's mind was already racing with plans. "We'll start magical enhancement for farming. If they can improve the soil quality and accelerate plant growth, we can cut down harvesting time."

Elandor nodded, impressed. "That could work."

Draco stretched his arms. "So, training in the morning, farming in the afternoon? You really don't believe in rest, do you?"

Eira smirked. "Not when there's work to do."

Mirela sighed again. "You're impossible."

Eira turned back to the fields. The next steps were clear.

Farmers with magic would be trained to enhance crops.

Non-magic users would be given proper tools to maximize efficiency.

Trade options needed to be explored.

###

The sun was at its peak when Eira found herself back in her home, surrounded by parchment, ink, and a mind full of plans.

Farming without proper tools was inefficient. She had seen the elves struggling—bare hands, rudimentary sticks, and whatever little magic they had. It wouldn't do.

With swift, practiced strokes, Eira began sketching.

Hoes for breaking and tilling the soil.

Rakes to clear debris and level the ground.

Sickles for easier harvesting.

Shovels to make irrigation more effective.

She worked meticulously, ensuring the designs were practical and easy to craft. If the elves were to thrive, they needed efficiency.

By the time she finished, the table was covered with blueprints.

Eira stepped out of her tent, rolling up the parchment. "Bring me the best craftsman we have," she ordered the nearest elf.

The elf bowed and ran off.

Not long after, a burly elf with calloused hands and a leather apron arrived. His hair was streaked with silver, and his eyes were sharp with experience.

"My lady," he greeted with a respectful nod. "I am Faelor, the blacksmith. I was told you needed tools?"

Eira handed him the sketches. "Can you make these?"

Faelor studied the parchment, his fingers tracing over the lines. "Hoes, rakes, sickles… this is more detailed than anything we've made before. It'll take time, but it's possible."

"How long?"

Faelor scratched his chin. "Depends on the materials. If we have enough iron, I can get a hundred tools ready in a week. If not, we'll have to find a way to smelt more."

Eira thought for a moment. "Do we have any mining sites on the island?"

Elandor, who had been standing nearby, answered, "Yes, but they haven't been used in decades."

"Then take me to them."

#####

Eira had not expected much when Elandor mentioned the mining sites. In fact, she had assumed they would be small, abandoned, and barely worth the effort.

But when she stood at the entrance of the largest mine, she was speechless.

The tunnels stretched deep into the mountain, their walls glistening with veins of ore, minerals, and raw power. Stalactites dripped with moisture, and the air smelled of earth, metal, and something unfamiliar.

Draco, standing beside her in his humanoid form, let out a low whistle. "Well, well. Looks like your elves were sitting on a goldmine—literally."

Eira turned to Elandor, her expression unreadable. "What exactly have you found here?"

Elandor hesitated before responding, "The mines were abandoned centuries ago. The elves preferred magic over metalwork, so we never fully explored them."

Eira narrowed her eyes. "Then let's explore them now."

As they ventured deeper, Eira noticed yellowish deposits along the walls. She crouched down, rubbing some between her fingers.

"Sulfur," she murmured.

Kael, walking behind her, gave a confused look. "Is that important?"

Eira smirked. "If I combine this with the right materials, I can make gunpowder."

Elandor frowned. "Gunpowder?"

"Explosives," Draco answered, grinning. "Big booms. Lots of fire. You'll love it."

A little further, they found saltpeter deposits—the second key ingredient. With charcoal, she could create black powder.

Not long after, they entered another section of the mine, where the walls shimmered with metal.

Iron was the most abundant—perfect for forging weapons, armor, and even the farming tools she needed.

Copper could be used for crafting wiring, coins, and alloys like bronze.

Lead—something she hadn't expected—was present in significant amounts.

"Lead is useful for making bullets," Eira thought. If she could create guns and cannons, she wouldn't need to rely solely on swords and magic.

She turned to Elandor. "Why did you never use these?"

Elandor sighed. "Elves always preferred using nature and magic. Metalwork was… neglected."

Eira clenched her fists. "That changes now."

Further into the mine, they stumbled upon white and grayish deposits.

Eira ran a hand over the smooth surface. "Chalk… and slate."

Kael scratched his head. "What would we use that for?"

Eira smiled. "Education."

With chalk and slate, she could teach the elves—math, strategy, engineering. If they were to build a civilization, they needed more than just soldiers.

By the time they left the mines, Eira's mind was spinning with plans.

She turned to Elandor. "I want miners working immediately. Prioritize iron, copper, and lead. Set aside sulfur and saltpeter for special use. And start collecting chalk and slate—I have plans for those too."

Elandor bowed. "Understood, my lady."

Next was the matter of currency.

The very next day,after training.

Eira called for the village treasurer. They gathered in the main hall, sitting around a wooden table.

The village treasurer, an older elf named Veer Thorne, sat with an accounting ledger spread before him. He had graying silver hair and sharp, calculating eyes that missed nothing.

"We're implementing a payment system," Eira announced, "but before that, we need a clear currency structure."

She took a blank parchment and began writing:

100 copper coins = 1 silver coin

100 silver coins = 1 gold coin

10,000 copper coins = 1 gold coin

"Farmers will be paid 5 gold coins a month. Soldiers will have varying wages based on their ranks."

As the discussion deepened, Eira leaned forward, her fingers steepled. "Before we panic about funds, let's not forget the raiders' hidden base we cleared out."

Vaelen's sharp eyes flickered with interest. "Ah, yes. The gold, silver, and jewelry we recovered. I have already begun tallying the total wealth, and I must admit…" He adjusted his glasses, his expression betraying a rare hint of excitement. "It is… substantial."

Elandor folded his arms. "Just how much are we talking about?"

Vaelen opened his ledger, flipping through the pages. "From our estimates:

Approximately 5,000 gold coins

Over 20,000 silver coins

Countless copper coins that will take weeks to sort properly

An abundance of jewelry, gemstones, and artifacts—some of which could be sold or melted down for raw materials."

Eira exhaled, impressed. That was more than enough to kickstart her plans. "That means we don't need to worry about paying soldiers or farmers for now."

Elandor nodded. "For now. But wealth won't last forever unless we have a sustainable system in place."

Eira tapped her fingers on the table. "That brings us to the next issue—our population. We don't have enough laborers, builders, or miners."

Vaelen sighed. "Even if we train elves to fight, we still need skilled workers for other tasks. Farmers, blacksmiths, builders…"

Eira considered this. "Then we need more people. But how do we get them?"

Elandor frowned. "Elves have lived in isolation for centuries. Convincing outsiders to join us will not be easy."

Draco chuckled. "You're thinking too small. This isn't just about elves."

Eira's eyes gleamed. "You mean… we recruit more than just elves?"

Draco shrugged. "Why not? There are wandering mercenaries, displaced refugees, and skilled outcasts out there looking for a home. If you offer safety, shelter, and pay, people will come."

Elandor hesitated. "Bringing outsiders into our land… It could be dangerous."

Eira smirked. "It's also necessary. If we remain isolated, we'll die out. I'll personally handle the recruitment. But first, we need infrastructure."