Touring Around The Island

"This...." There was amazement on Ayina's face as she saw the developments on the island. The recruits were kept in isolation, cutting them from everything that happened while they were under training. "My mom never told me anything about this." 

"I guess, the elders have tight lips. Don't they?" Ayina and her fellows laughed at the joke.

The soldiers traveled from their camp to the residential area, finding several housings, a small market, and a lot of residents. "When did the number rise to this extent?"

"That is not important. I am awed by the speed with so much is done. How and when did this happen?" 

The soldiers were awed, surprised, and happy about the developments. They skimmed through the residential area, checking every nook and cranny. Once they toured all over the place, they came back to regroup at a location.

"Kaito," Ayina called from a distance while navigating through her fellows, " can you inform us on what is happening here? We, just, can't process what is happening."

"Sure!" Leila stepped in, giving Kaito a smile, " Over the period, the Chief and Elders relocated our most loyal members and supporters to the island to ensure our safety and prosperity in these troubling times." She paused, "You will get everything when the tour ends, so just enjoy your weekend for the time being." She winked at them as she concluded.

Their second destination was the newly built port in the west, far from the old port. The port was bustling with activities. Several carts were loaded with all sorts of plants and animals as they were transported to the north of the island, and many carts were returning from the same location.

"It is...," the soldier searched for the right word.

"Pretty active. Right?"

"Yes!"

"This port is connected to a port in the forest to the east of our village." Malik began to explain. "Our activities are to be kept secret for the time being. You might have questions regarding what is being transported to and fro, right?" 

"Sure, what is it?"

"You will find out once you visit the last destination point." Malik smiled at the huge crowd.

Fresh and cool air and wonderful scent assaulted everyone as they marched to the north of the island. As they progressed, they found out that the island was way more populated compared to what they had previously thought.

Two large Fields came into their vision as they walked on the road to the north. A large number of farmers with flails in their hands harvested the fields. Another group collected the harvest and packed it, setting them in an organized manner. Similarly, some people loaded them onto the carts and transported them to a nearby storehouse or the port. There were seven very large storehouses close to the fields. 

"The outside world does not know anything about any of this. This is one of our core secrets." Malik explained as they got closer to the fields.

"These are no ordinary fields, as you will notice once you see the magic, they are supported by two magical formations that nourish it at an irregular rate," Leila added as they finally stopped to watch the fields.

"What is... so irregular here," spoke one of the soldiers.

"Wait and watch."

"Okay!" responded the man to Leila.

Thirty minutes and the fields were cleared off. A group of farmers, holding a sack of seeds in their hands, came and began spreading the seeds in the fields.

"What? Did not they just clear the fields?"

"Exactly. This is not how it works." 

Something was irregular here thought everyone, because this was not how the farming was done. 

"Just twenty minutes and you witness the life-changing thing in your lives," Malik added as he watched everyone observing the fields before them.

"This...." Everyone gasped at the sight that beheld in front of their eyes. The seeds sprouted from the soft soil, which they noticed never got hard even after the last harvest. 

"How is it possible?" blurted one of the more enthusiastic soldiers.

"Wait and watch," responded Leila, wearing a smile 

Four hours after sowing the seeds, the crops were in full bloom, fluttering along with the wind, some even bore flowers that were on the way to become fruits and seeds.

"Amazing!" Astonished, Ayina cheered. "How is this happening, Leila." 

"Like I said two magical formations support these two fields."

"You mean for real?"

"Yep. Otherwise, how else can it be explained."

Finding the soldiers in a state of confusion Leila smiled and signaled Malik to channel the formation. Soon, a large number of trees and plant life were put in one of the formations. Everyone watched as Malik stepped for word and began to wave his hands in the air. Before their eyes, a dim white patterned design appeared hovering in the air in front of his hands. With a little motion, Malik pointed towards the pile of trees and plants and a large crimson formation appeared, casting a red glow over them, as it began to consume all the life forms in front of them into nothingness, leaving behind a little dust and ash.

"This...," gasped Ayina and all the formers and workers even if they had seen it many times before. 

"Trust me when I say it is magic."

After taking a tour around the village and seeing all the activities on the island, the newly officially declared army got some gist of the situation. They toured around some more on the island, some went to the marketplace others to their homes, finally meeting their families.

The next day, the base was again bustling with activities as everyone returned for further training. It was early in the morning, the sun was above the mountains lighting the harvest-bane month morning. The sun cast its golden glow on the first bloom of the spring, creating a symphony of delight as the flowers and fresh green leaves danced in the ocean breeze. The fragrance from the flowers wafted in the air, intoxicating the atmosphere.

A long while later, their newly appointed mentors finally appeared before the platoon. Everyone stood attentive in an organized manner as Malik, Kaito, and Leila took to the stage.

Malik began his speech, he began from the very first day of the wolf attack, telling them about their encounter with Lili and how they secretly managed all the affairs of the village. He finally ended with the most recent developments on the deal with the Brookside town.

Everyone listened attentively, gasping from time to time, and feeling chills when they were told about the fight in the forest with the Sylvan bears and Two-Tailed foxes. 

"With what is happening in the empire, soon there will be a clash or clashes and we will not be spared from it. Which is why there is a need for a strong army not only to defend our borders but our trade as well." Leila began to explain after she took the stage. " After a lot of deliberations, we have finally decided to impart to you the art of magic, so starting today, for a long time you people will be studying the magical language Ruhelom and then we will impart to you the Aliph, the one true connection with the divine one."