Making salt had taken more than an hour. Just as the process wrapped up, Khumba spoke in a loud, expectant tone, "Lord Aaron, when will you meet the people from our village?"
Aaron turned toward him and replied without hesitation,
"Let’s go. But do you have enough houses to accommodate all of us?"
Khumba puffed his chest slightly, "Of course, Lord Aaron. We once had a population of over two thousand. But over the years, monster attacks have reduced us to just five hundred."
His voice faltered at the end, and a bitter expression crossed his face.
Aaron nodded solemnly, "I won’t offer empty comfort. But I will do everything I can to improve your living conditions, and train your people to defend themselves."
He turned to his group, "Torvald, Kelly, Captain Monga, you’re coming with m
