“Aron, this is Samuel, the chief. He can give you the rundown of how everything works here. When you’re introduced and get some housing, find Rosalia. She’ll teach you magic. Any questions?”

  “None,” Aron replied.

  “Good.”

  Dawn checked the time. It was around noon.

  I’ll begin reconnaissance on Plerith.

  Dawn took her food for the day and walked to Plerith, hiding in the woods as long on the path as possible. She cast [Shadow] and slipped into town unnoticed.

  Dawn traveled around, finding most of the town currently out, only a few people relaxing in the town center.

  Hunting maybe?

  She continued around the town, finding a building with what sounds like talking inside. Dawn slipped inside past the curtain, scanning the room.

  There was only a large, empty room with six people standing and having a discussion. Dawn hid in the corner and eavesdropped.

  “How are preparations coming along?”

  “After the ritual, Hannah managed to gain [Healing], so the survivors from our last attack are almost recovered.”

  “How has Foxshire been acting?” a third member chimed in.

  “Highly defensive,” a fourth member added. “They’ve been attacked by rats multiple times, though.”

  “Rats? Giant rats, from the forest depths?” the first person asked.

  “Yes. They’re acting strangely. No idea why. Should we watch for the next attack and follow up ourselves?”

  “First, let’s wait until everyone is healed,” the final member spoke. Dawn recognized them as the leader who attacked when Dawn first tried joining the town. “Now, any final comments?”

  No one responded.

  “This meeting is adjourned.”

  Dawn escaped the room before they even turned around.

  Dawn gathered leaves until the sun began to set. She altered the leaves into gags and pseudo-ropes, looping them on her shoulders and preventing them from slipping with manifested restraints.

  She watched the town’s only entrance until the sun fully set, using her night vision from mana enhancement to watch for anyone else entering town. Confirming no one else was coming in, Dawn set up mines at the town entrance before slinking through and hunting for the town chief. She broke into the conference hall, but found nothing. She left and began to break into every house. Every time she found someone, she’d gag them and tie them up. After continuing this for many hours, and night deepened, she found the leader. After tying him up, she dragged him and everyone else out to the town square.

  Dawn grabbed the leader, held him in the air before [detonating] a [Flame] to wake everyone up.

  “Do you surrender?”

  The leader struggled, but was unable to break Dawn’s grip.

  “Ah, I forgot,” Dawn threw the leader to the ground, ripped out the gag and arm bindings, and held a [flame] above him. “Do you surrender?”

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  The leader was frozen, fear obvious on his face.

  “It appears no one here believes in my power. How about a brief demonstration? Tell me who your 3 strongest combatants are.”

  The leader was still frozen, so Dawn stomped her foot right next to their head. They swiftly rose up and pointed out 3 people.

  Dawn dragged them out into the center and tore off their bindings and gags.

  “Now. Come at me.”

  They didn’t move, but their expressions showed their determination and fear.

  “Well. Then I’ll come to you,” Dawn dashed forward, stabbing her halberd through one of the combatants' shoulders. As she moved to retreat and strike again, the other two stepped forward and defended their colleague. Not that they stopped her, as she encased her halberd with flame and cut them, leaving them on fire. She then used [flame] as a flashbang and hid in the shadows, using the fact that the only light in town was her fire to hide in the shadows.

  She sliced the other two combatants' arms off before reigniting a light. “So, how about we take a vote. For those with arms, please raise them like this if you surrender. Keep them down if you would like to continue fighting.”

  Everyone raised their hands but the three bleeding out combatants.

  “Wonderful.”

  Dawn healed the disarmed enemies so they’d stop bleeding before running full speed to Foxshire. She made a nighttime visit to Rosalia, waking her up to request that she get Ryan, Jared, and Samuel to head to Plerith when morning came. With the message delivered, Dawn returned to keep her new subjects in line.

  “So, here are the new citizens of our great empire,” Dawn explained to Ryan, Jared, and Samuel.

  “Now, Jared and Ryan. You two will be here to keep Plerith under control until they discard all rebellious thoughts. Samuel, you’ll work with… what’s your name?” Dawn turned to the town leader of Plerith.

  “I’m Jackson.”

  “Samuel, Jackson. You two will work together to set up a road between our towns. Samuel, I have more tasks for you. Set up a new field by the river. Find me 3 or so people, a mixture of both Foxshire and Plerith, to become miners. And, when they fully assimilate, send some teachers over to get them magic lessons. Any questions?”

  “So am I keeping command of this town?” Jackson asked.

  “Unless something happens, yes. Jared, Ryan. Prevent anyone from Plerith from leaving town until you have more people to watch them when they leave. Got it?”

  “Yes, Commander,” they said in unison.

  “Samuel. Send the miners to my house tomorrow morning. Including the Plerith member, but send someone else to escort them. One of the other miners should work.”

  Samuel nodded in response.

  Dawn turned and headed into the forest. She hunted twice as much as usual, bringing a share to Plerith as well. With her duties resolved, she headed deep into the forest, seeking the rats.

  Dawn couldn’t check the time as the trees blocked the sun, but she knew many hours had passed as she delved into the forest.

  She came across an abnormal formation, a large ring of trees grown together to form a wall.

  Dawn inspected the wood and noticed traces of magic being cast on it.

  Something’s here. It might not be the rat commander, though.

  Dawn began to climb nearby trees before jumping over the wooden wall to investigate. She found many plants, but no animals or monsters.

  Something’s going on here.

  Dawn continued.

  And she found a humanoid creature. It had skin made of wood, with leaves and vines extending all across its surface.

  “Hello.”

  The creature noticed her, turning slowly to look at her. It took a while to process her, before howling. The trees, the grass, and the other plants all twisted and moved, grabbing her and throwing her out of the wooden ring.

  So it’s not hostile. Unlikely to be the rat commander. I’ll investigate them more later.

  Dawn continued through the woods.

  “Screech!” A rat's cry came from deeper in the woods. Dawn cloaked herself in [shadow] before rushing to where the noise came from.

  She saw a strange figure, cloaked in a leaf cloak, placing their human-looking hand on top of a rat. The rat was held in place by some animated skeletons.

  A necromancer? That magic… that’s our rat commander.