Reincarnate as Prince: Change Magical World with Industry

52 School

"So Pazua, how goes our food? Is every group accounted for?"

"Ahh yes your highness. Our hustle during the last weeks of autumn had garnered us enough stocks of dried fish, meat, nuts and fruit to last for more than three months. The ice fishing methods on the book you gave me have been providing us with fresh produce as well. So not all of us are running the same old dried meat stews. My tribe most of all has been very happy with the fresh fish catch. The Ramstead underground farms are also going strong and we are getting crates of dried mushrooms and root crops from their dwellings."

"Are we still exchanging those with coal and wine?"

"Yes sire, but we are also trading them with extra baskets of fish."

"Perfect, how about you Dessa? How are the trades within the separate tribes going?"

"We have normalized prices across the region while monitoring fluctuations for supply and demand. Right now there are still problems with provisions for the Mairobians. The cold weather isn't something they are used to, so we had to provide them with more furs and their fireplaces needed more burning during the night. They will compensate by providing livestock and building wagons for the merchants and supply deliveries."

"Thanks, that's good. And how goes your Father's trade plans with Gaddi?"

Dessa looked up from her desk. "The whole family is right there now. They left before the cold hit. Father said he'll be trading the village's crafts for seeds and animals. They never liked the winter, and they say Gaddi isn't as cold as other places. They've left the trading post to some members of the Merrimen as a temporary base."

"Wait, they left you all alone? Where are you staying?"

"Pricess Yvaine has given me a room in the chapel dormitories. I've also been spending some time helping Father Galvan in his healing sessions. The reagents for his healing spell is complicated, and he has asked for my assistance in making precise measurements."

"Right, but why didn't you tell me your family was going away? I would have allowed you to go with them you know."

"Father gets too overbearing. Besides, I don't like to travel much. I like it here." She said before hurriedly looking down at her work.

The door opened and three of his other assistants came in. A wagon of Mairobian design was stationed outside, one of the newer inventions that used sleds instead of wheels. The carriage was being pulled by a reindeer that was tamed by one of the I'reen. The ironwork was made by dwarven craftsmanship, with intricate designs around the metal frames. It reminded Janus of Santa Claus, except in place of gifts they delivered supplies and ferried people.

"Good morning dear prince." The newly arrived dwarf said. The production of wagons are getting faster now that some of the Mairobi carpenters have gone to live near the forge. The I'reen have also ferried a few reindeer and oxen to the station. Soon we'll have more to ferry people over for your plans. We already have ten circulating around the territories. Around two weeks more and they should all be operational. Come take a look at this right here, the latest design."

Janus came and inspected it, hurriedly taking out his coat.

"See here, we fabricated a piece of metal and attached it to the sides of the sled to cut through the thick snow. The sled will now serve another purpose aside from ferrying goods and people. It will level the snow and clear up the roads for easier transport. As long as we don't get heavy snowstorms everyday, we should be able to maintain transportation routes all throughout the village."

"Sheldi this is perfect! Make sure to send the engineers my thanks. I'll send over another barrel of ale, remind me later."

"Aye prince, you have given us adequate shelter and food. It is in our best interest to serve."

Sheldi was a small and stout dwarf with her hair braided in three different ways and coiled around her head. She was the most chatty of all Janus' assistants --- well, along with one other.

"Princey! Central building now has heating system installed." A goblin called out as soon as Janus came back inside. "Chief Engineer Adduk says to inform you that it is ready for use."

"Perfect Bazzad! Please extend my thanks to Adduk and Kazzuk when you meet them." Bazzad was the scribe sent by the goblin tribe leaders. He was now the main adviser for Janus whenever he thought about new technologies and systems to implement, and had been right hand man to Adduk ever since they were established in Gracewood.

"Anything for you Princey!"

The goblin bowed and waddled into his chair.

"Master Ulim, I suppose you have a report for me as well?"

"Yes your highness." Master Ulim was a Mairobian scholar who had extensive knowledge on languages, sciences and astrologies. He had been chief librarian in their city before the rebellion and had extensive knowledge in organizing and cataloging Janus' newest plan.

"The books you have given me were an excellent resource. I have organized the lessons in chunks to last the whole winter. All categorized from the basics to advanced. I have also asked my scribes to make copies of these books for mass production. Which reminds me. Was there a plan to make a printing press somewhere? Do we have any details on that Bazzad?"

"Ahh yes Ulim, Princey. The schematics are currently being studied right now. Adduk has proposed some improvements for efficiency and we are prototyping them for tests soon. We don't have the ink to run them however."

"Ahh yes, the ink can wait till springtime. We'll have to trade for those, Roban should be bringing us some from Gaddi when he comes back."

Excellent. Now for the last thing that we need.

There was a knock on the door. Yvaine came in, shoving out snow from her coat.

"Good morning dear sister. I hope you had a good week." Janus smiled.

Yvaine studied the room. "What did you call me here for? Is anything the matter?"

"How's diplomacy work going for you right now?"

Yvaine stared at him intently. "You know I'm not doing anything at all, right? Everyone is cooped up in their homes. There are hardly any disputes at all, and none but Roban is currently able to work on foreign affairs."

"Well it's great that you aren't too busy." Janus said with a huge smile. "How about we re-start the school?"

#

They started three days later.

With central heating applied to the great halls near Lakeside, Janus and Yvaine could now conduct lessons everyday for the masses. At first it was only available to those who were closest to Lakeside, as the reindeer ferries only had limited trips available.

Soon however, the snowstorms calmed and the roads were cleared of snow as soon as the sleds were operational. Those who are within walking distance to the hall could now attend by foot. While the outer settlers were coming in droves by the Reindeer sleds.

Everyone of the folk were invited to teach and learn if they were free. Janus held lessons on Mathematics, while Dessa would substitute and assist him for a few hours. Same thing for Yvaine but with Languages. Ulim would teach in the afternoon.

Those who were illiterate were provided separate sessions as well which was held by Master Ringo and his assistants. This class was mostly attended by children, but adults came in droves as well.

Janus' curriculum was designed using books taken from the Golden Library. Last autumn's progress had netted him a great amount of Contribution Points. It got to a point that his store room was filling up, and his assistants were getting suspicious at how he was getting all of these books for himself.

Not wanting his points to go to waste on fiction and story books alone, he started collecting volumes on education, industry and agriculture.

In between lessons, Janus would also speak of the stories of each tribe and how it characterized the decisions that would create the Laws of their land. He preached equality among all races, and everyone would be allowed to rise above their station provided that they worked hard enough for it. He also mentioned how they should keep working and stay on their feet, as they were living in hostile territory. There was no space for them to be complacent.

In the dwarven workshops, similar apprenticeship programs were being held. The goblins also held engineering crafts with Adduk. Yashiek held studies on potions and poultices, which her assistants started writing with the help of Mairobi scribes under Ulim.

Sir Arthan also conducted training sessions for members of the Mystic Flames who were off-duty. They mixed and matched each fighting style with each other in an in-house sparring tournament which entertained the whole village every night -- well, those who could fit into the Flames barracks.

The harsh and cold winter was soon bustling with activities indoors. People who were restless during the winter cold now had things to learn to keep themselves on their feet.

This went on until the remainder of the season.

The wind's howling subsided, and around them, the grass started to grow.