Chapter 2: Steel Valley
Upon entering the kitchen, one could find an adult woman preparing fresh ingredients such as vegetables and meat. In her hand, there was a knife cutting with precision and a speed that would make anyone question how all 10 fingers were still intact.
Amon's mother is a woman with hair as black as slate, reaching the middle of her back in a long braid. Through her rare emerald eyes, one could presume an ancestry from distant lands to the south, beyond the Kingdom of Nodora. Her tall and slender body further reinforces such thoughts. Her name is Sarah, and she doesn't appear to be much older than 30, with healthy skin and agile movements.
Amon greeted his mother and took an apple to eat while recounting the earlier events.
"I'm home with the fruits. Dad managed to convince Jonah to give a discount on the price of the milk bottle, so we brought extra apples today."
"Poor Jonah, that Gavin would fight a bear to save a single coin. Your bag is ready, just get prepared, and you'll be free to go meet Ada. I've made a sandwich for you to eat until lunchtime."
"I wouldn't be surprised if Dad actually fought a beast for money; it's not something outside his personality," Amon responded.
'Unfortunately, I am responsible for this habit of my father. He had to save large sums to hire doctors and all kinds of professionals to find a way to solve my problem. Blacksmithing brings in good money, but the prices of good doctors are exorbitant, with the best even reaching gold coins.'
Amon reflects, feeling a small guilt for being responsible for significant expenses and being unable to bear them.
The average income of a common worker is about 50 coppers per week, or 2 silvers per month. While Amon's family income is about 3 silvers per week, totaling 12 silvers per month. The currency in the continent of Zaetras is divided into 4 types, from lowest to highest: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Black Gold. Each coin has a value equivalent to 100 coins of the previous type. Thus, Amon's family has an income equivalent to 300 coppers per week or 1200 coppers per month.
"So, I'll go up to my room and get ready to leave, see you later!"
Amon climbs the stairs and finds 2 doors, one leading to his room and the other to his parents' room. Upon entering, he sees a low bed on the left wall with a nightstand beside it. Opposite the door is a wardrobe, and to the right, facing the bed, is a small desk with a window above. Amon goes to the wardrobe, takes a long coat with arm protection, and a small hat. As he exits, he grabs his bag hanging on the wall and heads towards the herbalist Ada.
While Amon walked through the streets of Okane, a medium-sized city in the Vale of Steel County, he overheard some indiscreet conversations about the local situation thanks to his excellent hearing.
According to rumors, the second son of the count fell ill suddenly, with small suspicions that it might have been caused by some poison. The Vale of Steel County has an abundance of metals due to the rich mines in its territory, making it the largest producer of iron and steel in the Kingdom of Nodora. Count Cameron has managed these resources grandly, enriching his entire territory. Inevitably, this has aroused envy and resentment from other nobles in the kingdom, becoming a target for schemes to suppress its growth. Thanks to the large quantities of metals, the production of tools, equipment, and even weapons such as swords and spears has naturally gained prominence in the local economy, worrying lords from other territories.
Gavin, Amon's father, took advantage of the county's rapid rise and became one of the kingdom's prominent blacksmiths. However, he ceased weapon production for some personal reasons and moved to the city of Okane.
After fruitless efforts and failed plans, the opposition to Count Cameron decided to change their approach and attack the Count directly. This has been going on for 6 years, leading orchestrators to desperate measures...
"It's hard to believe they attacked the youngest son of the richest and most influential count in the kingdom. If I were to bet, I'd say the situation isn't what it seems, maybe a common illness or infection... I guess."
"People tend to exaggerate when it comes to rumors about the kingdom's nobles, which is understandable. They're isolated in a different world, interacting little with the common folk. So whenever a rumor appears, people become highly interested, tending to amplify the scale of the original matter."
"Whatever, it really doesn't concern me. I need to focus on surviving before worrying about the son of a count I'll never see in my life... right?"
After a 15-minute walk, Amon arrives in front of an establishment with a wooden sign above the door—a carved pot with a plant inside and a pestle beside it. No text was written, as much of the lower class is illiterate.
Upon opening the door, the sound of a bell echoes through the place, while the pungent smell of various herbs assaults Amon's nose.
"Honestly, this is the toughest part of the job in this place. The smell of plants and herb blends made me dizzy at first, given my sensitive sense of smell. However, over time, I'm getting used to it."
Amon hastily pulls up a cloth mask from around his neck to cover his nose slightly. He walks toward the counter, where a woman can be seen writing quickly in a book.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Peagah
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