NOVEL FROG Chapter 35: The Council’s Decision
In the village Council, everyone sat around the oval table with thoughtful expressions. The older members seemed to have more wrinkles that morning, while the younger ones took deep breaths, as if engaged in an internal debate.
Jonn had just presented the situation regarding Arnald’s group, offering the village a chance to choose its own fate.
The Village Elder was undoubtedly a leader. There was no question about that. However, being the leader of the Eternal Village didn’t equate to absolute power. Except during particularly chaotic times, decisions had always been made collectively, even before Hewet’s time.
Elia glanced at Arber and Lance while her relatives looked back at her, awaiting her opinion. No one else seemed willing to express their feelings, so she spoke up, releasing the words that had been stuck in her throat.
“From the way you’ve presented the situation, Jonn, it seems you want them to stay in the village.” Elia looked at the tall, athletic man beside her.
“Yes, that’s my stance on the issue,” he replied candidly. “I don’t trust them, if that’s what you want to hear. I don’t even think it’s safe to have them around. We’d be better off alone if our circumstances were different.
But we must acknowledge we’re not in a comfortable position, folks. The future looks promising, but darkness could envelop us at any moment. There’s no way to predict when the next problem that could bring us down will arise.”
“Will they help us solve these future problems?” Urian, the village carpenter, asked, clearly highlighting the weakness in Jonn’s argument.
Elia agreed with old Urian. “I don’t see how five strangers are going to lead us from a vulnerable state to something more stable.”
“They won’t,” Jonn replied, echoing everyone’s thoughts. “But by accepting them into the village, we could alter our fate. And this wouldn’t stop with just this family.”
Petyr’s eyes narrowed as he contemplated the implications of Jonn’s words. “You’re suggesting we welcome not only this family but also other strangers who might come to us?”
“Yes. There are only 41 of us. We can’t thrive on our own. We need more hands to plant, more warriors to defend, more people to build walls.” Jonn turned to Tim and asked, “Old Tim, answer this: do we have enough people to maintain all the village’s current activities, manage a plantation ten times larger than our current one, and still construct defenses for these new lands?”
“No, certainly not. We only built this part of the village because we didn’t have as much to manage in the plantation area and with the animals,” Tim confirmed, supporting Jonn’s point.
“So, it’s clear we lack the manpower for a larger plantation, more animals, and even for the usual village services, including building new defensive structures. This means we must sacrifice something,” Jonn said, turning to Arber. “Can we forego expanding the plantation fields, Arber? Without expanding them, we wouldn’t need additional defenses and could manage the village well with our current numbers.”
She sighed, recognizing Jonn’s rhetorical strategy. But Arber couldn’t deny something so crucial. “No. If we don’t increase our planting area, we won’t have enough food for next winter.”
They knew that animals with mana cores consumed more food than regular animals did. Thus, even focusing on transforming the animals into beasts wouldn’t be beneficial without additional cultivated land.
Jonn addressed his companions, “As I mentioned, we don’t have a choice. If we remain inactive, we’ll be overwhelmed in another six months. Beyond that, we won’t be able to manage the village’s size and its demands.
And there’s more to consider.” Jonn turned to Elia and asked, “How many elderly people do we currently have?”
With some difficulty, she replied, “11.”
“Hmm.” Jonn refrained from adding further comments as he leaned back in his chair.
He left the Council members to ponder how they would deal with the village if 11 people could no longer perform their duties.
In the grave silence that followed Elia’s response, Petyr spoke. “Let’s say we accept new members as you propose. What happens if… No, what happens when one of them betrays us? I understand the benefits of having more people in the village. But they could literally destroy us.”
Everyone turned to Petyr, noting the concern etched on his face. Instantly, thoughts of the disadvantages and risks of accepting outsiders filled their minds.
‘All it would take is for one of them to feel wronged and flee with the knowledge that we can cultivate in the Barren Hills of Deepshadow, and we’d be headed for ruin.’ Elia considered the worst-case scenario.
Jonn had already considered the possibilities before he came to the Council this morning.
“If it’s risks you’re concerned about, I must say, folks, there’s no way to avoid them. We’re already taking risks by farming in the Barren Hills of Deepshadow. The fact that we have new weapons,” he gestured towards Petyr’s sword, “is a risk in itself.
But we can manage with strangers in our village. First, they won’t reside within our prime territory. Second, they won’t handle anything critical to the village until they earn our trust. Third, they will adhere to a different system of judgment than we do. Fourth, they will always work alongside a village member, and we’ll separate them whenever possible during village activities.
That’s essentially what we can do. Ultimately, if they’re wise, they’ll become trustworthy comrades. But if they’re ungrateful, treacherous scoundrels, they’ll face the wrath of those who gave them a second chance by welcoming them here.”
Jonn’s forceful tone in his last sentence caused even Petyr to narrow his eyes, feeling a subtle unease at the underlying menace.
The boy with the long white hair seemed to have shed the last remnants of his youth, transforming into a genuine leader, capable of making tough decisions. To the Council members, he now resembled a younger version of Hewet, but in a more direct and blunt manner.
Hewet had always been persuasive when he took the time to discuss how things should be, especially in dealing with adversaries. While the old elder was kind to those who fulfilled their duties, showing loyalty and respect, he was a decisive opponent who didn’t hesitate regarding troubles.
Petyr had never been close to Jonn before Hewet’s passing. He even felt that the old Elder had too much faith in the boy. Nowadays, he respected Jonn for all the boy’s actions on behalf of the village, but until this moment, he hadn’t sensed the ‘firmness’ he always felt in Hewet.
Hewet seemed like a solid, reliable rock that wouldn’t waver, no matter the storm. He was a safe haven, someone who, when he said something would happen, always ensured it did.
‘This boy…‘ Petyr felt a chill before his tense muscles relaxed.
“All right. I trust you, Jonn,” Arber said, being the first to voice her decision. “I vote to accept this family and any group that shows interest in following our customs and rules.”
Lance took a deep breath and agreed with his wife. “Me too.”
Urian was also in favor, convinced by Jonn’s earlier argument.
Elia, looking at Jonn, said, “I’ll take the opposite side today. I understand your position, and if this goes wrong, I honestly won’t blame you. But I can’t agree with this.”
Everyone voiced their opinions until Petyr stood up to cast the final vote of the deliberation. The matter was deadlocked, with half agreeing with Jonn and half disagreeing.
Petyr’s vote would decide the outcome.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and took the plunge. “I will side with our Elder today. I believe the risks will be significant, and there will be times when we regret it. But there seem to be more positive aspects in following our Elder’s idea than in opposing it.”
Jonn smiled and stood up as well. “Very well. It is decided that Arnald’s group will stay. I will handle their situation together with Petyr and Elia. I hope today’s decision isn’t as negative as some here think. Have a good day.”
The Council members began to speak as they rose, now without the orderly conversation of a few moments ago. Some were distressed, but others wanted to focus on the positive aspects they might gain immediately.
If they were fortunate, they wouldn’t have to worry about the downside. There was a chance the newcomers wouldn’t let them down and would only bring positive things to the village.
As Jonn walked alongside Elia and Petyr, his gaze suddenly became more serious.
{Ding!}
{-1 progress point in the quest [Save the Eternal Village].}
...
[Save the Eternal Village]
[Progress: 4/20]
Fuck! Am I wrong?!
Jonn almost lost control of his thoughts. The system had so readily shown him this loss of points as soon as he had decided the matter, that there was no doubt that, somehow, accepting Arnald’s group had been a mistake.
Will one of them betray us? Why should accept this group take me away from saving the village?
He tried to understand as he walked alongside his fellow villagers, heading outside the walled area.
“Is there a problem, Jonn?” Elia asked, noticing how upset he seemed just after gaining the village’s support. “Don’t tell me you already regret it?”
He looked into his ‘competitor’s’ eyes, wondering if this was the famous female intuition. But he calmed down and said after a moment of walking in silence, “Not at all. As I said, Arnald’s group will face consequences if they let me down. I’ll give them a chance. But at the first sign that they might harm us, I will act on my promise.”
She didn’t comment on her leader’s determination and soon spotted Arnald’s group’s carriage, horse, and temporary tent.
Arnald’s family was awake, each sitting around their carriage, waiting for a village member to approach them.
Arnald had wisely kept his son and brother-in-law from exploring the surroundings while monitoring the walled area that hadn’t existed in his day.
He could tell that this it was not old. It certainly hadn’t been there until a year or two ago.
‘This must have been built around the same time as old Hewet’s death… This Jonn has different ideas for the village’s future than the old man did. Most importantly, he’s respected.’ His eyes narrowed as he stood up to greet Jonn. ‘I have to get on his good side. This is the way for me to guarantee my family’s future in the village!’
Jonn stopped next to the group’s horse, which accepted his friendship while appearing content.
As the five newcomers to the village looked curiously at the animal, usually docile only to Arnald, Jonn said to them, “The village has accepted you, with a few conditions and in accordance with what I told you earlier.”
Each member of the group broke into happy smiles on their faces. It wasn’t their dream to live in the Eternal Village, but it was exactly what they needed now.
Jonn didn’t hesitate to outline the rules they would have to follow, including how they would serve the village, where they would live, and the areas they couldn’t access.
Jonn would assign them various activities over the coming days to determine where they could best contribute, and he also promised them enough food to prevent starvation.
“… Your carriage and horse will now become part of the village. If you decide to leave in the future, know that you won’t be able to claim them. On the other hand, as long as you remain loyal and obedient to the village, you will have a place to call home and friends to protect you.”
Thus began the story of the Eternal Village with Arnald’s complicated family…
Soon it would be time for a new harvest, and the increase in inhabitants would not negatively impact the village’s food supply!
////Novaro////
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