The next morning, the smell of fresh bread from the tavern kitchen mingled with the rhythmic sound of Koram's hammer from his leather shop. However, the group of amazed hunters who had been reluctant to leave last night was still gathered at one of the tables, whispering feverishly among themselves. The eldest among them, a man wearing high-quality but battle-worn armor, stood up and walked directly toward Eliz and me behind the counter.
"Listen, Mayor," the man said, a determined glint in his eyes. "I've swung my sword on these roads for years. But I have never seen such warmth, these heated stone floors, or this kind of peace in any kingdom. This place, this tavern... I want to buy it."
Eliz nearly dropped the mug she was holding. Her eyes widened in shock. "What? Sell it? We built this place with our own hands, in the middle of the snow, carrying every stone on our backs! This is our home, the heart of Essence Haven!" she snapped. I jumped in immediately, "That's impossible. This place is not for sale. We are building a city, we aren't just common innkeepers."
Just then, Koram stepped out of his workshop and approached with heavy, deliberate strides. He tucked his needle into his leather apron and let his cold, strategic gaze wander over all of us.
"We accept," Koram said, his voice as sharp as a command.
Eliz and I turned to him at the same time. "Koram, what are you saying? Have you lost your mind?!" I shouted. Koram remained unfazed and stepped closer to the table. "Mayor, a leader acts with his resources, not his emotions. If you spend every day behind this counter serving soup, who will grow this village? Who will plan the defenses? Let this man run the tavern; we will build the city."
The man excitedly reached into his pouch. "I'll give you 50 Gold! Right now!"
50 Gold... That was exactly 500 Silver. A fortune that even the wealthy merchants of Aethelgard would struggle to see all at once. Eliz was still glaring with fury, but Koram gave me a subtle wink. In that moment, I understood; Koram had been calculating this all along. While we were busy dealing with copper coins by playing innkeeper, he was freeing us from that burden to open the way for us to build a real city with a massive budget.
"Fine," I said, trying to hide the tremor in my voice. "The management of the tavern is yours for 50 Gold. But the laws of Essence Haven still apply."
With trembling hands, the man placed a heavy leather pouch on the counter. The gold coins spilling out gleamed brilliantly in the light of the hearth. I was no longer just a tavern owner; I was a true Mayor, carrying the future of an entire city in my pocket.
ESSENCE HAVEN
CITY STATUS: COMMERCIAL EXPANSION
POPULATION: 6 PEOPLE (INCLUDING THE NEW INNKEEPER)