Wizard: Starting as a Lord Marrying a Wife

Inside the cabin, Cynthia sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, focusing intently on her newfound power.

Her mental energy surged in her spiritual world, and with a thought, the fox ears atop her head vanished, and her fluffy tail shrank back into her body. When she opened her eyes, she had returned to the appearance of a petite, human girl.

Standing just over 150 centimeters tall, with soft, tawny hair and delicate features, she appeared youthful and innocent—almost childlike.

David caught himself thinking, Legal loli. The term popped into his mind unbidden before he quickly dismissed it, shaking his head with a wry smile.

"Congratulations, Cynthia!" Amy exclaimed, running up to her in excitement.

As a fellow witch, Amy was genuinely thrilled by Cynthia's progress. Being able to revert to her human form meant Cynthia wouldn't have to live in constant fear of exposure.

"How do you feel?" David asked with a gentle smile.

Cynthia took a moment to assess herself. "I think I can freely control this power now, switching between my human and beast forms."

She demonstrated by letting her fox ears and tail emerge again. Her strength surged back with the transformation, and she could feel other latent abilities awakening within her.

Awoo!

Snow Wolf, who had been observing nearby, tilted its head curiously as it noticed the changes in Cynthia.

When she turned to the wolf and made eye contact, it suddenly heard a voice in its mind—a voice it understood.

Awoo!

The Snow Wolf responded instinctively in its own language, exchanging a few simple words with Cynthia.

"I think I can communicate with animals," Cynthia said, her eyes wide with surprise as she realized her new ability.

David and the others were equally astonished. Beast speech was evidently a secondary ability of her Beastification power, allowing her to communicate and even bond with animals.

"Beastification and beast speech... quite the combination," David remarked, his gaze lingering on Cynthia.

Beyond her innocent appearance, Cynthia's abilities as a witch made her incredibly valuable. He felt a surge of admiration—and a hint of temptation—but quickly quelled the latter.

Cynthia had suffered greatly, and her wounds were still fresh. He refused to take advantage of her gratitude or vulnerability, knowing it could create lasting harm. David was patient; he valued mutual respect and trust over impulsive actions.

"For now, I'll leave these gray wolves under your care," David said, his tone lighthearted.

Although his Frost Wolf Pact allowed him to communicate with the Gray Wolf King, Cynthia's ability to speak directly with the entire pack was far more practical.

"Understood. Thank you, Lord David," Cynthia replied, her voice tinged with newfound confidence. With her Beastification and beast speech, she could now protect herself and assist the territory.

"Rena, let's spar again!" Cynthia declared, her fox tail swishing eagerly as she turned to the knightess.

Rena raised an eyebrow but smirked. "Fine, let's see what you've got this time."

The two stepped onto a cleared patch of ground outside the cabin.

Rena's Snow Sprite breathing technique emphasized speed, while Cynthia's fox form naturally enhanced her agility. The two darted around the field in a blur, their movements swift and precise.

While Rena still had the upper hand due to her experience, it was clear Cynthia had improved significantly. She no longer fought like an untrained novice; her natural combat instincts were starting to shine.

David watched with satisfaction. I'll need to gather the materials for the Snow Sprite Elixir soon, he thought.

Rena was on the verge of breaking through her bottleneck as a first-tier knight. With the right elixir, her advancement to the second tier would be much smoother.

With the thaw of winter, trade routes would reopen, and the wealth brought back from Eagle Wing Keep would make purchasing the necessary materials feasible.

But as the territory became more accessible, new threats would also emerge. The Ice Bear family and the Ice Crown Duke would undoubtedly make their moves. Even with his strength as a Grand Knight, David couldn't afford to be careless.

Strengthening Rena, Leah, and Amy was essential—not just for their sake but to enhance the effectiveness of their dual cultivation and accelerate his own growth.

---

The End of Winter

Time flowed steadily, marked by diligent training and quiet progress.

As winter gave way to spring, the snow began to melt, and the air grew warmer.

In the refugee camp, the villagers looked at the thawing landscape with tears of relief. They had survived the bitter winter.

The integration of the refugees into Frost Wolf Ridge began in earnest. Those who had proven themselves as militia were absorbed into the settlement's defense forces, while the rest were each given a small plot of land.

David issued a generous decree, waiving rent and requiring only half of their harvest as tax.

For refugees who had braced themselves for the harsh reality of serfdom—or worse—this was an unimaginable blessing. Even barren land, when tilled, could yield enough food to sustain them.

Motivated by gratitude, the refugees threw themselves into their work, clearing plots and preparing to sow seeds.

The municipal office distributed knowledge on composting techniques, including methods David had developed for creating organic fertilizers. The success of these methods during the last harvest had left a deep impression on the officials, who now shared the techniques widely.

With these efforts, the once-impoverished refugees began to establish roots, contributing to the growth of Frost Wolf Ridge.

However, David knew long-term prosperity required more than agricultural development.

The recovery of the surrounding territories—and the taxation of those lands—remained his primary strategy for ensuring rapid economic growth and expansion.

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