Chapter 155: A Name

Aria woke up to shouting.

Not screaming.

Not fighting.

Not the sound of soldiers charging into the settlement.

Just shouting.

Which, somehow, was worse.

She opened her eyes.

For several seconds, she stared at the ceiling of the cave.

Then she remembered.

The settlement.

The merchants.

Vincent.

Lord Valen.

The contracts.

The name.

She groaned.

"I should have named it yesterday."

Kelme’s voice came from somewhere nearby.

"You should have named it a week ago."

Aria sat up.

"You’re still here?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I live here."

"No, you don’t."

"I’ve been sleeping here for weeks."

"That doesn’t make it your house."

"It doesn’t make it your house either."

Aria stared at him.

He smiled.

"Good morning."

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

He caught it.

"Violence before breakfast?"

"You’re annoying before breakfast."

"I’m annoying after breakfast too."

"True."

Aria stood.

She walked toward the entrance.

The shouting became louder.

She stepped outside.

Immediately, someone ran toward her.

"Aria!"

"What?"

"We need your help."

"With what?"

"The name."

Aria stared.

"You woke me up for the name?"

"We’ve been waiting since yesterday."

"I said tomorrow."

"It is tomorrow."

Aria looked at the sky.

Unfortunately, they were correct.

She sighed.

"Fine."

She walked into the center of the settlement.

Nearly everyone had gathered.

People stood around unfinished buildings.

The soldiers had gathered nearby.

The Duke was there.

Martha had apparently returned early.

Even several merchants had stayed overnight.

Aria stared at all of them.

"This is ridiculous."

The potter raised her hand.

"We need a name."

"I know."

"The merchants need one."

"I know."

"The army needs one."

"I know."

"The people need one."

"I know!"

Everyone went quiet.

Aria rubbed her forehead.

"Fine."

She looked around.

"Give me suggestions."

Immediately, hands went up.

Aria pointed to a man.

"The Free Settlement."

"No."

He lowered his hand.

"Why?"

"Because it sounds like a political organization."

Another person raised their hand.

"New Hope."

Aria made a face.

"No."

"Why?"

"Too dramatic."

Kelme raised his hand.

Aria pointed at him.

"No."

"I didn’t say anything."

"I know you."

He lowered his hand.

Another woman suggested:

"New Dawn."

Aria stared at her.

"Too dramatic."

"Why is everything dramatic?"

"Because everyone here apparently names things like they’re starting a religion."

The Duke coughed.

"Perhaps something simpler."

Everyone looked at him.

He thought for a moment.

"Stonefield."

Aria considered it.

"Not terrible."

Kelme looked offended.

"Not terrible?"

"Yes."

"That’s your highest compliment?"

"Usually."

The potter raised her hand.

"What about Whitefield?"

Aria immediately shook her head.

"No."

Several people laughed.

Kelme looked at her.

"You really don’t like the word white anymore."

"It’s complicated."

"Fair."

Martha closed her ledger.

"You could name it after the land."

Aria looked around.

"What is this place called?"

The Duke answered.

"The land itself doesn’t have a formal name."

Aria frowned.

"That seems inconvenient."

"Most wilderness is."

"Then what do people call this area?"

"Nothing."

Aria stared at him.

"Nothing?"

"Yes."

She sighed.

"Wonderful."

She walked away from the crowd.

Kelme followed.

"You know what I think?"

"No."

"You should call it something personal."

Aria stopped.

"Like what?"

"Your name."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t want people calling it Aria."

"Why not?"

"Because then everyone will know I founded it."

Kelme looked at her.

"They already know."

Aria blinked.

"Oh."

She thought about it.

Then shook her head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I didn’t found it."

"You did."

"No."

"You literally gathered everyone here."

"They followed me."

"You gave them the land."

"I didn’t own the land."

"You organized them."

"I was trying to survive."

"You created the economy."

"I was trying to make money."

"You negotiated with Vincent."

"I was trying to avoid dying."

Kelme smiled.

"Still counts."

Aria crossed her arms.

"I don’t want my name on it."

"Then what?"

She looked toward the settlement.

Her eyes moved from one person to another.

The potter.

The farmers.

The builders.

The former slaves.

The soldiers.

The children.

They were all different.

They had different backgrounds.

Different skills.

Different stories.

But somehow they had ended up here.

Together.

Aria slowly smiled.

"What about Unity?"

Kelme nodded.

"Too obvious."

"Agreed."

She thought again.

"What do all these people have in common?"

Kelme looked around.

"They’re all here."

Aria stared at him.

"That is incredibly unhelpful."

"I’m doing my best."

She sighed.

Then something caught her eye.

A small wooden sign.

Someone had carved it overnight.

It read:

NEW BEGINNING

Aria stared.

"Who made that?"

A young man raised his hand.

"I did."

She walked over.

"You made this?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

He shrugged.

"Because that’s what this place is."

Aria ran her fingers over the rough carving.

New beginning.

She looked at the people around her.

Then at the settlement.

It wasn’t perfect.

It wasn’t even close.

But it was something.

A beginning.

She turned around.

"New Beginning."

The crowd went quiet.

Kelme nodded.

"I like it."

Martha smiled.

The Duke considered it.

"Simple."

The potter smiled.

"Easy to remember."

Someone shouted,

"I like it!"

Another:

"Me too!"

Then the crowd began repeating it.

"New Beginning."

"New Beginning."

Aria smiled.

Then she pointed at the sign.

"That."

The young man looked surprised.

"That’s the name."

Everyone cheered.

Aria stood there.

For a moment, she simply watched.

Then Kelme leaned toward her.

"You realize what you just did?"

"What?"

"You officially named the settlement."

Aria nodded.

"Yes."

"You’re the founder."

"No."

"You are."

"No."

"Founder Aria."

"Stop."

"Lady Aria."

"Stop."

"Madam Founder."

Aria turned.

"Kelme."

He smiled.

"Yeah?"

"Run."

He immediately ran.

Aria chased him.

The entire settlement burst into laughter.

Even the Duke smiled.

For several minutes, the settlement felt almost normal.

Then Martha approached.

"Aria."

Aria stopped chasing Kelme.

"What?"

Martha held out a small wooden box.

"Your first payment."

Aria blinked.

"For what?"

"Nothing yet."

"What?"

Martha smiled.

"A deposit."

Aria opened the box.

Inside were several silver coins.

Her eyes widened.

"What’s this?"

"Investment."

"Investment in what?"

"The settlement."

Aria stared.

Martha continued.

"You need money to buy materials."

"But we haven’t sold anything."

"Not yet."

"Then why?"

"Because I believe you can."

Aria looked uncomfortable.

"Why?"

Martha shrugged.

"You negotiated honestly."

Aria laughed.

"That’s a low standard."

"It’s still rare."

She closed the box.

"How much?"

Martha told her.

Aria stared.

"That is too much."

"Then don’t waste it."

Martha walked away.

Aria looked at the coins.

Kelme appeared beside her.

"You’re rich again."

"No."

"Silver is money."

"I know."

"So you’re rich."

"No."

"How much is it?"

Aria told him.

Kelme whistled.

"That is definitely money."

Aria closed the box.

"We use it for the settlement."

"Obviously."

"Food first."

"Tools."

"Medicine."

"Building supplies."

"Seeds."

Kelme nodded.

"Then clothing."

Aria frowned.

"We need a proper workshop."

"And a school."

Aria looked at him.

"Yes."

Kelme smiled.

"You’re getting good at this."

"Don’t say that."

"Why?"

"Because then I’ll start believing you."

He smiled.

"That wouldn’t be so bad."

Before Aria could answer, a young boy ran toward them.

"Aria!"

"What?"

"The potter needs you!"

"Why?"

"The new kiln is smoking."

Aria closed her eyes.

"Of course it is."

She followed him.

The potter was standing beside the new kiln.

Smoke poured from the top.

Aria stared.

"What’s wrong?"

"I don’t know."

"Did you follow the instructions?"

"Yes."

"Exactly?"

"Yes."

Aria crouched.

She examined the kiln.

Kelme crouched beside her.

"Do you know what you’re doing?"

"No."

"Good."

"Why?"

"Because I was worried you’d say yes."

Aria ignored him.

She looked at the fuel.

The vents.

The stones.

The clay.

Then she noticed something.

"These stones are wrong."

The potter frowned.

"What?"

"These retain too much heat."

"How do you know?"

"I don’t."

Kelme smiled.

"There she is."

Aria glared.

"But I can test it."

She pointed toward the stones.

"Replace them."

"With what?"

"Something that can withstand heat without cracking."

The potter thought.

"We don’t have enough."

Aria looked toward the forest.

"What about the black stones near the river?"

The woman shook her head.

"Those are heavy."

"Good."

"Why?"

"Because we’re not moving the entire river."

Kelme laughed.

Aria smiled.

"Bring them here."

Several people went to work.

Hours later, the kiln was functioning.

The potter produced the first batch of bowls.

They weren’t beautiful.

They weren’t perfect.

But they worked.

Aria picked one up.

She smiled.

"That’s good."

The potter beamed.

"Really?"

"Really."

She held it up.

"This is our first product."

Everyone gathered around.

Someone started clapping.

Then another.

Soon the entire settlement was applauding.

Aria looked at the bowl.

Something about it felt strange.

Not because it was valuable.

It wasn’t.

Not because it was beautiful.

It wasn’t.

But because it was the first thing they had made together.

She carefully placed it on the table.

"Don’t break it."

Kelme nodded.

"Obviously."

Then he accidentally knocked it over.

CRASH.

Silence.

Kelme froze.

Aria stared at him.

He stared at the broken bowl.

Then slowly looked at her.

"...That was unfortunate."

Aria’s eye twitched.

"Run."

Kelme ran.

Again.

The settlement laughed.

Aria chased him.

Again.

And for a few minutes, everything was fine.

Until a horse arrived.

A soldier rode into the settlement.

He dismounted quickly.

"Duke."

The Duke turned.

"What happened?"

The soldier handed him a letter.

"From the capital."

The Duke read it.

His expression changed.

Aria noticed immediately.

"What?"

The Duke folded the letter.

"We have a problem."

Aria walked toward him.

"What kind?"

"The government has officially recognized New Beginning."

Aria blinked.

"That sounds good."

"It would be."

He handed her the letter.

She read it.

Then her expression changed.

"What?"

Kelme walked closer.

"What does it say?"

Aria handed him the letter.

He read.

Then slowly looked up.

"They’re taxing us."

Aria stared.

"What?"

The Duke nodded.

"Because New Beginning is now considered a registered settlement."

Aria’s face went blank.

"How much?"

The Duke gave her the figure.

Aria stared.

"That is more than we have."

"Yes."

She looked at the silver Martha had given them.

Then at the unfinished buildings.

Then at the people.

Then at the broken kiln.

Then at Kelme.

"We just became legal."

Kelme nodded.

"Yes."

Aria’s expression darkened.

"And immediately became poor."

"Yes."

She looked toward the sky.

"Why?"

Nobody answered.

Then a voice came from behind them.

"Because that’s how civilization works."

Aria turned.

Milo wasn’t there.

It was the Duke.

He had spoken.

Aria stared at him.

"You’re becoming more like Milo."

The Duke frowned.

"I don’t know if that’s an insult."

"It is."

Kelme nodded.

"Definitely."

The Duke sighed.

"So."

He looked at the settlement.

"What will you do?"

Aria looked at the people.

At New Beginning.

At the first bowl.

At the fields.

At the workshops.

Then she smiled.

A familiar, dangerous smile.

"We make money."

Kelme’s expression immediately changed.

"Oh no."

Aria turned toward him.

"What?"

"I know that look."

"What look?"

"The look you had before the sugar."

Aria’s smile disappeared.

"Don’t compare this to the sugar."

"I’m just saying."

"This time we’re doing it legally."

Kelme paused.

"That’s new."

Aria nodded.

"Very."

She turned toward the settlement.

"Everyone!"

The crowd looked at her.

"We have a problem."

Everyone went silent.

"We owe taxes."

Groans spread through the settlement.

Aria raised her voice.

"So we’re going to make enough money to pay them."

The people looked uncertain.

"How?"

Aria held up the first bowl.

"By selling everything we can make."

The potter smiled.

The farmers nodded.

The leatherworkers raised their hands.

The herbalists exchanged looks.

Aria continued.

"No sugar."

Kelme sighed with relief.

"No crime."

The Duke nodded.

"No slavery."

The former slaves smiled.

"No cheating."

Martha smiled.

Aria looked around.

"We’re going to build something that doesn’t need to hide."

She held the bowl higher.

"Welcome to New Beginning."

The settlement erupted into cheers.

And for the first time, Aria didn’t feel like she was running away from something.

She felt like she was building toward something.

Then Kelme quietly leaned toward her.

"Aria."

"What?"

"You forgot one thing."

"What?"

He pointed toward the first bowl.

"We need to sell it."

Aria looked at the bowl.

Then at Martha.

Then at the merchants waiting nearby.

She smiled.

"Right."

She walked toward them.

"Who wants to buy our first product?"

Martha raised her hand.

"I do."

Aria blinked.

"You?"

Martha smiled.

"How much?"

Aria looked at the bowl.

She thought about it.

Then she named a price.

Martha didn’t negotiate.

She paid.

Aria stared at the coins in her hand.

Her first legal sale.

One bowl.

A few coins.

Nothing impressive.

Nothing that would make anyone rich.

But it was theirs.

Earned honestly.

Aria smiled.

Then Martha looked at the bowl again.

"Actually."

Aria looked up.

"Yes?"

"I’ll take twenty."

Aria’s eyes widened.

Kelme’s jaw dropped.

The potter nearly screamed.

Martha smiled.

"Can you make them?"

Aria slowly looked toward the potter.

The potter looked back.

Then both smiled.

"Oh," Aria said.

"We can make twenty."

And just like that—

New Beginning had its first customer.