Year 1, Winter, First Month, First Week

Winter arrived with a biting chill, wrapping the village in a blanket of cold silence. The village fields, once vibrant with life, now lay dormant under a frosty cover. Snowflakes danced in the chilly breeze, painting the ground in a pristine layer of white.

Diana, wrapped in her modest woolen shawl, eventually stirred from her slumber. The room, dimly lit by the early morning light, was cold but bearable. As she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her thoughts wandered to the village, to the people who depended on the hard-earned provisions they had gathered.

She found her grandpa, Chief Omero, already up and lost in thought, his breakfast almost untouched. Joining him, she greeted him with a heartfelt smile, warmth emanating from her voice. “Grandpa, Winter is already here but we still don’t have villagers dying from cold. Do you think is because of the meat?”

Chief Omero sighed softly. “Oh, Diana... Sadly the deaths will still come. Winter just started and the villagers are stronger because of the meat. But, they don’t have proper clothing and constant nutrition. I’m afraid that by the second month of Winter we'll see the deaths increasing again...”

Diana’s initial brightness dimmed as the sobering truth sank in. The shadows of past winters loomed in her mind. But, this year was different. They had made progress, however small, and it was a start.

Seeing the impact of his words, Chief Omero continued. “We have started a change, Diana. It’s a beginning. But we must continue, we must build on this. Our people need more than just food; they need hope, warmth, and a future. We must keep striving, keep fighting.”

Diana felt some determination returning to her. The success of the hunting expeditions had given her a taste of making a real difference. For the first time, she felt empowered, no longer a passive bystander to the suffering around her. She wanted to be part of the change, she wanted to lead them to change, and she wanted to be the sword that would make the Kingdom bleed.

However, at present, she was simply Diana. After overhearing her grandfather speak of impending deaths, she decided to find Karl and discuss their next steps. Hastily gulping down her soup and leaving her bread untouched, she excused herself with a brief "later" to Chief Omero. Watching her determined departure, Omero mused to himself:

"She turned up well; Sony would have been proud... She's like a wildfire; the more they try to suppress it, the more she will burn..."

The cold air nipped at Diana's cheeks as she raced through the snow-dusted village, her breath forming small clouds in the frigid atmosphere. The village was quiet, with most of its inhabitants huddled inside their huts, seeking refuge from the cold. Her feet crunched on the snow, the only sound in the otherwise silent world.

Upon reaching Grandma Marlen's hut, Diana's pace slowed, her eyes scanning the area. She found Karl and Grandma Marlen engaged in what looked like an intense discussion. Karl was animatedly sketching something on the ground.

Diana approached, her presence immediately catching Karl's attention. His face lit up with a mix of surprise and delight.

"Karl, what are you up to now?" Diana asked. She was always amazed by his relentless drive and creativity.

Karl looked up, excitement visible in his eyes. "Diana! Just who I wanted to see. I'm working on something to help us during the cold. It's still in the early stages, but I think we might be able to do something significant."

Diana's heart swelled. "That's great, Karl."

Karl's dedication to improving the village had not waned. Even when the cold made him want to stay in bed for the entire day, he forced himself out of his home to discuss how to prepare the remaining meat with Marlen.

Master Al had previously explained that as the quality of the meat improved from MQ and beyond, it required more complicated methods to extract and use its magic nutrients properly.

‘-- The key lies in understanding the elemental essence infused within the meat. Each element bestows distinct nutrients, demanding a unique approach to cooking. --’

He absorbed this information, picturing the different methods in his mind. For wind-infused meat, known to enhance reflexes and cognition, it was best to roast it in hot air. Earth meat, rich in nutrients that boost physical strength, required cooking in contact with stones or minerals. Fire meat, a source of energy and stamina, should be barbecued directly over flames. And water meat, beneficial for flexibility and vision, needed to be either boiled at low temperatures or prepared without heat.

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"We should cook only half of the salamander meat now," Karl suggested. "The rest we'll keep for next month. MQ meat shouldn't be consumed in large amounts."

Marlen's expression was still complicated. She knew the importance of conserving resources, especially in these dire times, but the image of villagers starting to get ill due to the cold weighed heavily on her mind.

Sensing her worry, he quickly added, "I understand your concern, Grandma Marlen. I'm actually working on something... a way to warm the village square. It might take a month to complete, but let's start with cooking half of the salamander's meat for now."

Diana, who had been silently observing the conversation, couldn't help but be intrigued by Karl's enthusiasm. In the end, they agreed with his suggestions and waited anxiously for a new tool.

After the discussion, Karl returned to his hut. On the way, he spoke to Master AI, pondering over the logistics of the ambitious project.

"Master AI, I guess the MQ fire crystal should suffice. But how can I create something large enough to cover the entire square? Can I even draw it on the ground? And what if the snow covers it?"

‘-- You can imprint Arrays on many surfaces, but drawing on the ground would be impractical. Consider using Alchemy modules. They are separate Arrays that can be joined later to execute a task. You just need to ensure they are perfectly aligned for the magic energy to flow. --’

Karl's mind buzzed with possibilities, his expressions shifting between smiles and looks of sudden realization. He finally asked, "So, I can draw one Array in separate modules? And then connect them?"

‘-- Correct. The entire Array must be drawn in one go, and then it can be divided into modules. --’

Emboldened, he set to work on what would be his grandest invention.

***

Lew and his comrades stood in the dense forest, their senses heightened to the slightest sound or movement. The underbrush was thick, making visibility poor, and the towering trees cast long shadows. The Fighter's voice broke the silence.

“You’re sure they'll meet us here? This feels like the perfect spot for an ambush.”

“Quiet, and stay alert,” the leading Fighter responded tersely, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

Before Lew could voice another concern, the air whistled sharply as a spear hurtled towards them. The leading Fighter parried the spear with his sword, causing it to narrowly graze his companion.

A volley of spears followed, descending upon them like a sudden storm. The wind Mage, reacting urgently, channeled wind energy from his ring. He conjured a hurried Wind Shield creating a swirling barrier that deflected the incoming spears with minimal efficiency.

The other Fighters adeptly maneuvered to evade or block the onslaught. Tragically, one was less fortunate; a spear pierced his chest, claiming his life in an instant.

Lew focused on locating their hidden assailants. Enhancing his vision with magic energy, he scanned the treeline, discerning slight movements among the foliage.

"Cover me!" he called out to the Mage group, already moving. Without hesitation, he sprinted forward, magic energy coursing through his legs, boosting him with unnatural speed.

The wind Mage responded quickly, conjuring a Wind Tunnel that enveloped Lew, diverting the barrage of spears aimed at him. The spiraling winds, while primarily protecting his sides, inadvertently aided his advance, thrusting him even faster towards the tree where he had spotted movement.

Approaching the tree, Lew harnessed the energy in his calves for a powerful leap. He soared through the air, using a nearby tree as a springboard to reach a higher branch.

The Beastman attacker, stunned by Lew's unexpected countermove, scrambled to escape, leaping frantically from branch to branch. But Lew was relentless. With another forceful leap aided by the tree's branch, he closed the distance and, with a swift, decisive strike of his sword, confronted the Beastman head-on.

The cold steel of Lew's sword sliced through the air, landing a grievous blow on the Beastman's back. The Beastman tumbled from the branch. Lew followed swiftly, his descent cushioned by the magical energy in his legs.

The fallen Squirrel Beastman’s face had mixed traits of human and squirrel, and despite his small, childlike stature, his muscles rippled with unexpected strength. His body was covered in thick hair, and his fingers were unusually long and nimble.

In his agony, the Beastman lashed out verbally, his voice filled with hatred. “Cursed humans... Kill them... Destroy them all...” he bellowed.

Meanwhile, Lew had rejoined the group, and the fire Mage was already in action. A blazing aura encircled them, her eyes glowing red as she intensified the flames, scorching the surrounding trees.

The other Squirrel Beastmen, ready to continue the assault, found themselves caught off-guard. Some scrambled to the ground, others sought refuge in distant trees, and a few were ensnared by the merciless fire. Their rage flared, but their tactical advantage had been lost; they faced a choice between a hasty retreat and open confrontation.

As the Mages, particularly the fire Mage, braced for an escalated offensive, the leading Fighter intervened, signaling a pause. He stepped forward to engage a new group of Beastmen that had emerged.

“Greetings, friend,” The Beastman began diplomatically. “Could we perhaps allow the Squirrel Tribe to withdraw? Their methods may be questionable, and their taste for thievery well-known, but they do play a crucial role in safeguarding the Tribal Lands from scouts. We regret this unfortunate encounter.”

The leading Fighter turned briefly towards the fire Mage, seeking a tacit consensus to de-escalate the situation.

The fire Mage, visibly annoyed but recognizing the need for restraint, let out a scornful huff. Reluctantly, she doused the flames that encircled them, signaling an end to the immediate hostility.