A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1599: A Long Winter

Archer woke up the following morning as Sia appeared, picking up the sleeping Freya. The little girlʼs limbs hung limply, putting a smile on his face. ʼʼHello, my love,ʼʼ he greeted the older woman. ʼʼWhen did you bring my little darling in?ʼʼ

ʼʼLast night, Nefi sent us all a message saying you were babysitting,ʼʼ the dark-haired beauty answered.

Moments later, he looked around to see all his children lying in the bed. Amelia and Elise were on one side, while Kela and Neoma were on the other. Archer felt his heart thumping, but he calmed down. He quickly kissed each one before sending them back to their mothers, getting several thank yous through the tattoo.

Once that was finished, Sia giggled as she revealed. ʼʼIʼm going to take Frey to meet mother and some of the other Silverthorne Family, theyʼve been asking me to see her since her birth.ʼʼ

ʼʼBut youʼve been hiding in the palace or Domain, resting,ʼʼ he revealed, smirking at the Dragonkin woman.

Just then, Aishaʼs horrified voice echoed in his mind. ʼArch! The famine has begun; our outposts are being overwhelmed by refugees. Can you come to the government building?ʼʼ

Archer sighed in frustration before sending Alexa a message. ʼDo you mind coming here? I want to talk.ʼʼ

The navy-haired woman instantly replied. ʼThatʼs okay, Iʼve just got home. Iʼm ready when youʼre.ʼ

Without waiting, Archer clicked his fingers and his first love appeared in the room, shocking Sia, was was wrapping Freya in a blanket. When the light faded, Alexa appeared, looking older than he remembered, but it was the stress of Earth. He placed a hand on her arm, sending a stream of mana into her body.

The young woman let out a scream full of pain as shit popped out all over her skin, stinking out the room, but he crushed the smell using his mana. By the time everything calmed down, she looked at him, asking in a confused tone. ʼʼArch, what did you just do to me?ʼʼ

ʼʼHealed everything,ʼʼ he answered.

Alexaʼs green eyes opened, hidden behind a pair of glasses, but they went wide when seeing the little girl in Siaʼs arms. Freya had woken up and stared at the navy-haired woman, a curious expression crossing her face. Archer chuckled at this before introducing them. ʼʼLex, this is my eldest, Freya Wyldheart, the first princess of the Draconia Empire.ʼʼ

The baby clapped her hands, soon motioning for the newcomer to hold her as he continued. ʼʼFrey, this is Mama Alexa. We fell out a while ago, but sheʼll be around to see you more.ʼʼ

When the white-haired little girl got even more excited as Sia stepped forward, offering Alexa. ʼʼHere, would you like to hold her, Lex?ʼʼ

The young woman was shocked but quickly nodded. ʼʼYes, please.ʼʼ

Following that, the navy-haired woman took the baby, an amazed expression on her pretty face as she started pampering her. Sia grabbed Archerʼs hand, dragging him away, whispering. ʼʼGo see Aisha. The famine is bad. Frostwood, the northern continent, is suffering badly, but Verdantia is holding up better than the others. Pluoria was hit harder.ʼʼ

ʼʼWhat about the legions? Food weʼve stockpiled?ʼʼ

Sia sighed. ʼʼIt takes time to give food to every village, town, and city. We dispatched more legions with several ships full of supplies,ʼʼ she revealed.

Archer nodded. ʼʼThatʼs good, do you mind keeping Alexa occupied?ʼʼ he asked.

The older woman agreed with a warm smile. ʼʼOf course, now get going before the empress loses her temper.ʼʼ

Following that, he vanished and reappeared in Aishaʼs office at the top of the government building. The redheaded Dragonkin woman jumped out of her skin as he kissed her neck from behind. Her body tensed, but his hands kept her in place. ʼʼStay still, beautiful. Sorry I took long, had a few things to deal with,ʼʼ he explained.

The woman waved him away. ʼʼSit down, weʼve got several things to discuss about the empire that need to be settled.ʼʼ

Archer slumped down in the chair as Aisha went on to tell him about the famine that started, thanks to most continentsʼ crops failing thanks to the strange cold weather, shocking him to the core. Then there were the increasing Monster Hordes appearing all across Thrylos, wiping out many island nations and infesting most continents, including Draconia.

ʼʼHow did they get here?ʼʼ

The brown-skinned beauty shrugged. ʼʼThey burrow from the tunnels below the worldʼs surface. Iʼve deployed triple the amount of legions on the homeland, and itʼs saved several villages from destruction.ʼʼ

He sighed in relief as Aisha continued. ʼʼThen thereʼs the weather, the scholars believe it will be a Long Winter, one that may last years.ʼʼ

Archerʼs eyes widened in shock, but despite this, he responded. ʼʼHow is that possible? Some god playing games again?ʼʼ

ʼʼNo, itʼs the world itself,ʼʼ she answered. ʼʼMaybe responding to the Terravians trying to corrupt it.ʼʼ

His hands paused for a moment as he straightened slightly, a sly grin tugging at his lips. ʼʼAnd thatʼs not all,ʼʼ he murmured. ʼʼIʼve been thinking about the Domain, it will sustain Draconia and its growing empire. Iʼll create crops, fields of plenty, so no one here will ever want for food.ʼʼ

Aishaʼs eyes widened in surprise at Archerʼs revelation, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. She opened her mouth, ready to respond, but before she could speak, a young woman suddenly appeared, rushing through the doorway. She leaned close and whispered urgently into Aishaʼs ear, her words causing the older womanʼs brow to furrow.

After a moment, she straightened. ʼʼCan you wait here, Arch?ʼʼ she asked softly. ʼʼI have some matters I need to attend to. Iʼll explain everything once I return.ʼʼ

Archer tilted his head slightly, his eyes lingering on her for a moment, reading the unspoken weight behind her words. Then, with a faint smile, he stepped back and nodded. ʼʼGo ahead,ʼʼ he said.

Turning toward the window, he gazed out over Dragonheart City. The sun glinted off the rooftops, streets teeming with life, and the distant hum of activity reaching even the heights of their vantage point. Archerʼs mind drifted briefly, considering the vastness of the city below, the people depending on him, and the changes he planned to bring.

Yet even as he focused outward, a small part of him remained tethered to Aisha, anticipating her return and the explanation she had promised. The room felt larger in her absence, quieter, the soft echo of their earlier conversation lingering in the air. Archer let out a low sigh, shifting his attention to the city once more.

It stretched far beyond the horizon, its borders constantly pushing outward as new districts and markets sprang up seemingly overnight. Smoke from chimneys curled into the sky, mingling with the soft haze of the afternoon sun, while the distant clatter of carts and the murmur of voices created a steady rhythm that spoke of life, growth, and ambition.

He let a small smile tug at his lips, a rare moment of quiet pride settling over him. Every brick laid, every street widened, every structure raised, it was all part of something larger, proof of what he had built. And every day, the city grew stronger, grander, more alive. Archerʼs eyes traced the sprawl, noticing the newcomers arriving at the gates, merchants setting up their stalls, and children darting through the alleys.

The thought that all of this, every soul, every plot of land, every corner of the city, depended, in some way, on the choices he made filled him with pride. The wind carried the faint scent of the river that wound through the city, glittering in the sunlight like a ribbon of silver. Archer inhaled deeply, savoring the mixture of life, ambition, and opportunity that seemed to hum in every corner.

Dragonheart City was more than just a city; it was a living, breathing entity, growing larger, stronger, and more vibrant with each passing day—and he was its unseen architect, guiding its growth from the shadows. For a moment, he simply stood there, letting the enormity of it all sink in. And as the sun dipped lower, casting long golden shadows over the sprawling streets, Archer felt a quiet thrill. This city, his city, was only just beginning, and he had plans to see it reach heights that no one could imagine.

The soft creak of the door drew Archerʼs attention. He turned slightly, and there she was, Aisha, carrying a delicate tray with steaming cups of tea. Her expression had softened, though her eyes still held a spark of excitement from whatever business had called her away.

Archerʼs lips curved into a small, approving smile. ”Youʼre back,” he said, his voice low and warm.

Aisha stepped closer, setting the tray down on the polished table beside the window. ”I promised Iʼd explain everything once I returned,” she said, her fingers brushing lightly over the rim of a cup as she handed it to him. ʼʼAnd now, I can.ʼʼ

ʼʼGo for it, my love,ʼʼ he answered, giving her a charming smile.