Atlas was thinking about the success of the auction, and planning better defensive measures for Fort Bone.

‘Let’s buy the pit traps tomorrow.‘

‘‘It’s a Trap System‘‘ - Cost: 18 Coins • A series of traps laid around the settlement to damage and slow down attackers. Perfect for a horde of skeletons. Just saying.

Atlas bought this trap system immediately.

‘The impromptu pits that they had made with bones earlier on were no longer looking as effective or deadly’

For now, though, there was more work to be done. The new gear was just the beginning. Atlas knew he’d have to stay one step ahead if he wanted to keep his people safe and his settlement thriving. But with each success, he felt more confident that they could not only survive in this new world but conquer it. His new empire was forming step by step.

There was one other idea that was bubbling in Atlas’s brain, though. And that idea kept poking into his brain, promising the idea of a badass set of very expensive but very useful armor.

‘‘‘‘‘

Later that night, Noi entered Atlas’s office with a bounce in her step, leading a small group of new arrivals. Among them was a tall, slender man with a wiry frame, his brown hair slightly dishevelled as if he had just stepped off a stage. Atlas looked up from the maps spread out on his desk, his interest piqued.

"Atlas, this is Will," Noi introduced, "He was a successful playwright back on Earth, with several Broadway hits under his belt."

"Nice to meet you, Atlas," Will said, extending a hand. His voice had a natural cadence to it, like someone used to performing, even in casual conversation.

"Broadway, huh?" Atlas replied, shaking Will's hand. "Quite the change from the Wasteland Apocalypse."

Will chuckled. "You could say that. But wherever there are people, there’s a need for stories. I noticed Fort Bone doesn’t have a theatre yet. I’d like to fill that gap. My first play is going to be about the heroic Portal Crushers saving the victims from the Sons of Valhalla."

Atlas’s eyebrows shot up. "Sounds like you know the story well."

"I should," Will said with a slight smile. "I was one of the victims you rescued."

Noi spoke up again, "Will and his group want to make a play about the Wasteland and the Portal Crushers. We thought it would be a great way to boost morale and maybe even help us out with propaganda."

Atlas leaned back in his chair, pondering the idea. "It’s a great idea, especially since people need something to rally around besides just fighting and surviving. And if it can serve a dual purpose, all the better."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“There’s a third use of the actors though, I want to run past you guys.” Atlas had a thought that had been forming in his brain for a while.

Noi tilted her head, curious. "What’s this other use?"

Atlas glanced around, making sure no one else was listening. "Remember the guns we brought from Earth?"

"Yes, but I haven’t seen you use them," Noi replied, her brow furrowed.

"That's because I didn’t trust them after seeing how other Earth weapons and armour performed here. Plus, we’ve plugged the barrels on those guns. If someone tries to use them now, the chances of them backfiring are about 100%."

Noi's eyes widened. "Why are you keeping them then?"

"As a trap," Atlas said with a sly smile. "We can use them as bait for anyone who might think about double-crossing us. But enough about that—let’s talk about this play. You think they could show me a run-through tonight?"

Will stepped forward eagerly. "We’ve been rehearsing in the outer areas of Fort Bone for the last few days. Now that we have your permission and a small loan for costumes, props and the playhouse, we can do a live rehearsal tonight. It’d be an honour to perform for you and the Portal Crushers."

"Perfect," Atlas said. "We’ll gather after the evening patrol."

During the afternoon rehearsals for the first upcoming play at Fort Bone, the mini fairies were proving to be a major headache for Will and his group of actors. Whenever a simulated battle took place on stage, the tiny guardians would zoom in, yelling, "Fight! Fight! Fight!" in their high-pitched voices, completely oblivious to the fact that it was just a performance. The actors found themselves constantly interrupted, unable to get through a scene without a swarm of mini fairies causing chaos.

After several failed attempts to explain the concept of a play to the fairies, Will and the other actors were at their wit's end. They needed a solution fast, if they were going to put on a successful show. That's when they decided to turn to the Coven Clique for help.

Mave was more than happy to assist, especially after getting some coins as payment. She had a particular fondness for the mischievous mini fairies and was confident she could help keep them under control during the performances.

"Alright, little ones," Mave said, gathering a group of mini fairies around her in the clearing they used as their makeshift daycare. "Do you know what a play is?"

One of the fairies, her tiny wings fluttering excitedly, chirped, "A play? Like playing with toys?"

"Not quite," Mave replied with a patient smile. "A play is a pretend fight. It's not real. The people on stage are just pretending to fight each other for fun, like a game."

The fairies seemed to consider this, their little heads tilting in unison. "But mom said to tell someone if there’s a fight," one of them insisted.

Mave nodded. "That’s true, but here's the deal. When you see a fight at this location," she pointed to a small map with a spot marked for the playhouse, "or at this location," she pointed to another spot marked for the brothel, "you don’t need to tell the guards. Instead, you come straight to us at the witches' forest."

The fairies looked at the map and then at Mave, their tiny faces scrunched up in concentration. After a moment, they nodded in agreement. "We can do that!"

"Good," Mave said, feeling a bit relieved. ‘Let’s hope this works,‘ she thought.

As the evening of the first rehearsal with an audience approached, Will and the actors were cautiously optimistic. With the witches of the Coven Clique babysitting the fairies far from the playhouse, they were hopeful that they could get through the performance without interruption.

Will gathered the actors and actresses in a quiet corner of the playhouse, his expression betraying the nerves that everyone shared. “All right, everyone,” he said, trying to sound reassuring, “we’ve rehearsed this over and over. Just stick to your lines, hit your marks, and everything will be fine.”

One of the actresses, a pretty young woman with dark curls, bit her lip nervously. “But what if Atlas doesn’t like the show? I mean, he’s kind of... intimidating.”

Another actress who had been a star on Broadway, a striking blonde, giggled, “I wouldn’t mind if he didn’t like it—maybe I could help him adjust his review afterwards.” Several others laughed softly, the tension easing slightly.

Will rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t help but grin. “Focus, ladies. This is about the performance, not... extracurricular activities.”

“But Will,” another actress chimed in, her cheeks flushing, “what if he doesn’t just dislike it—what if he’s furious? He’s the leader, after all. What if this whole play thing is a mistake?”

“Look,” Will said firmly, his voice steady, “Atlas gave us his approval. He’s not the type to hold back if he thinks something’s bad. If there’s an issue, we’ll fix it. But for now, trust in the work we’ve done. We’re telling his story, after all. He’s going to appreciate that.”

The group nodded, a mix of determination and lingering nerves in their eyes. Will clapped his hands. “Let’s get ready. We’re going to show them what we’re made of.”