abnabooks Chapter 458: Ivina: Creating Food out of Thin Air, Something Only Gods Can Do - (1)
Chapter 458: Ivina: Creating Food out of Thin Air, Something Only Gods Can Do - (1)
Chapter 458: Ivina: Creating Food out of Thin Air, Something Only Gods Can Do
Susan's sudden inquiry caught Ivina off guard.
Having spent two years in the northern territories, the most barbaric region of the empire, she had naturally witnessed famine and even participated in church-led relief efforts, but she had never experienced that feeling firsthand...
Without waiting for Ivina's response, Susan sighed and said, "Just eleven years ago, due to successive wars in the western border of the empire, there was a significant reduction in food production. Then those noble lords and wealthy merchants, just like today, began to purchase large quantities of grain. Although it wasn't as terrifying as this time, it was still something we couldn't afford..."
At that time, she and her husband relied on odd jobs in the slums to earn some meager income, barely making ends meet. After deducting the cuts from the guild, they couldn't even earn a single silver coin per month. With the soaring price of grain, even if they emptied their savings, they couldn't afford more than a few loaves of black bread.
"Didn't the church and the empire intervene or provide relief?" Ivina furrowed her brow, questioning, but soon realized the inadequacy of her words and quickly corrected herself.
"I mean, don't those bishops often talk about God's mercy to mankind?"
"How could those high and mighty bishops care about us..." a middle-aged man with dark skin self-deprecatingly shook his head.
Eleven years ago, the precious resource of fire oil hadn't been discovered, and this city wasn't as important as it is now. It was just an ordinary small city in the western territories, and they were the most inconspicuous among the poor within the city.
Indeed, the empire did distribute some relief food, but halfway through, it was all plundered by the local nobles and wealthy merchants, leaving barely anything for them.
Susan choked up as she spoke, recounting how one of her children, who had just been born at the time, starved to death because she was too weak to produce enough milk—she could only grind grass roots and tree bark into a soup to feed the baby...
And as a result... her child couldn't even survive for two days.
"Grass roots, tree bark... can they be eaten?" Ivina exclaimed in astonishment.
"Most of the grass roots can be eaten, but it depends on the type of tree bark..." the middle-aged man muttered.
Because of Ivina's identity as a wizard, which garnered considerable favor among the people, coupled with Susan's lamentations and complaints, the hundred or so townspeople gathered around the granary couldn't help but share their own experiences of surviving famine.
the purchase price was because the reserve funds were running out, so she took out another portion.
With limited ability, she could only do a little. Maybe their share of wheat was in the bread they ate at the workshop!
The other townspeople also spoke up about their experiences. Like Susan, they experienced being valued for the first time and realized that there were people who cared about them—the lowest class of peasants.
They praised the power of magic and the kindness of the wizards, and because of Ivina's identity as a wizard, many praises were directed at her.
Ivina fell silent, each word of praise piercing her heart like a sharp knife because no one knew better than her that the so-called grain war was Monroe's idea, and the rumor spreading throughout the kingdom was also their doing.
"If only those nobles weren't here, this place would be just like paradise!" Susan couldn't help but say.
"Paradise?" Ivina didn't know what expression to make, nor did she expect this term to be used in the territory ruled by the wizards.
Just as Ivina hesitated, the tightly closed granary doors finally opened, and Susan and the others immediately surrounded it, eagerly speaking up.
"Wizard, what's the price of wheat today?" "Is the council's grain reserve still sufficient?" "This is some wheat I've stored myself. It's not much, but please accept it."
The hundred or so townspeople gathered around the granary clamored, handing over the wheat they had wrapped in various pieces of cloth, and some even felt that the three meals provided by the council were too much—they could actually get by with just one meal a day, saving a lot of grain.
Amidst the eager anticipation of the crowd, Pearson did not accept the wheat but expressed his apologies. "Thank you for your help, but starting from today, the council has no plans to purchase wheat anymore!"
"Why? Wizard? Is it because the reserve funds are insufficient?" Susan hurriedly asked.
The other townspeople wore worried expressions.
"No, it's not as you think!" Pearson shook his head with a wry smile, then his face showed a hint of pride. "In fact, Dean Lynn has completely solved the problem of food shortages... From now on, no one needs to worry about famine anymore!"