Dawn broke over the Eternal Village, where its diligent inhabitants were stirring to life. The morning sun quickly chased away the night’s lingering chill, bathing the land in the warm embrace of another spring day.
Unlike their familiar routines from days past, the villagers were now adapting to the sweeping changes brought forth by Jonn, Petyr, and Asher.
On the village’s eastern side, amid the construction zone between Sarre and Arnald’s residential quarters, a makeshift camp had sprung up. There, the newcomers were gradually rousing from their slumber, marking their third dawn in their newfound home.
Though seventy-two hours had elapsed since their arrival, the adjustment period was far from over—both for the newcomers and the established villagers alike. The integration was still a work in progress.
The morning after Jonn’s return, he had convened with the village Council to determine the fate of the twenty-four able-bodied individuals, each capable of contributing to various aspects of village life. Their deliberations had led to the deployment of seven people to the East Lake fishing station, while the remaining seventeen were assigned to various positions within the village proper.
Despite having clearly assigned roles from day one, integrating into the new community proved challenging. There was an undeniable awkwardness in the air. Villagers and newcomers alike found themselves treading carefully around each other, uncertain of how to bridge the social gap. During structured work hours, everything flowed smoothly—leaders gave directions, and newcomers followed them diligently. However, casual interactions remained strained, with both groups feeling like strangers in their own skin, fumbling through basic social exchanges.
The silver lining lay in the newcomers’ remarkable work ethic. Most were seasoned laborers, accustomed to pre-dawn rises and versatile enough to tackle any task thrown their way. Their competence and reliability meant they could seamlessly execute their duties without creating additional complications.
Their working-class background was evident as the sun barely peeked over the horizon, with most already emerging from their temporary shelters, ready to head to their assigned posts.
Among the seventeen individuals stationed in the village, fifteen were adults—split between seven women and eight men. The remaining two were boys on the cusp of adolescence.
The male newcomers were channeled into two essential roles: either bolstering the village’s construction efforts or joining the mining operations in the surrounding area.
The Eternal Village oversaw seven active mining operations, each serving a distinct purpose. These included the still-productive Limonite mine, three precious metal mines dedicated to crafting superior weaponry, a quarry for construction materials, and two coal mines.
For generations, coal had been the village’s primary energy source, abundantly available in the regions south of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow.
The female newcomers were distributed across various essential duties: maintaining village cleanliness, working the looms, cooking food, and tending to the livestock.
As dawn progressed, both men and women emerged from their makeshift dwellings, navigating through the maze-like construction site. They wove between towering piles of stone, carefully stacked iron beams destined for structural columns, and stepped around the freshly excavated foundation pits that would soon cradle new buildings.
While the village had experienced its share of food scarcity in recent times, construction materials had always been abundant. Though the region’s inhabitants weren’t renowned architects, they possessed the fundamental knowledge to construct sturdy foundations—ensuring their homes and walls would withstand both fierce storms and earth tremors.
“Morning!” called out one of the men heading toward the builders’ tent as he passed Sarre’s house, spotting the guard emerging in her crisp village uniform.
“Good morning,” she replied, pausing to survey the construction site.
Her eyes tracked the many figures weaving through the scattered building materials, and a smile tugged at her lips as her hand rested naturally on the sword swaying at her hip.
Sarre wasn’t blind to the risks these newcomers posed. Like Petyr, she remained vigilant, ready for any potential trouble. Yet she viewed their presence as a necessary gamble for the village’s progress.
‘Since these newcomers joined us, our project timelines have sped up dramatically,’ she mused while making her way toward the main walled area—the village’s fortified heart. ‘Their arrival has lightened the workload for our established villagers, allowing us to put the Village Elder’s recently acquired materials to immediate use.’
During her morning trek to begin her surveillance shift, Sarre observed the neat stacks of timber which were being processed into everything from structural beams to household furnishings. The recently acquired materials would keep the village’s craftsmen busy for weeks to come.
‘Even with our swelling numbers, food rationing might not be necessary,’ she thought, a satisfied smile crossing her face as she approached the bamboo gate, where Petyr and Eliot were completing their morning opening ritual.
Sarre exchanged greetings with her fellow guards while taking in the scene within the village core. Life was stirring everywhere—doors and windows thrown wide, villagers moving purposefully about their morning routines.
Wisps of white smoke curled from scattered chimneys, carrying an enticing aroma that set stomachs growling—the promise of morning porridge wafting through the air.
The village’s dairy production had reached impressive levels, thanks to Luna and Mimosa’s generous output. While it would be impractical for each villager to consume nearly a liter of milk daily, most of the dairy went into the communal porridge served at dawn and mid-afternoon. With eggs and bread still being precious commodities, porridge remained the village’s primary breakfast staple.
At last, Sarre reached the central flower bed in the village core, where she found Jonn in his element—crouched low, magnifying glass in hand, absorbed in his usual botanical observations when neither command duties nor travel demanded his attention.
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“Village Elder,” she announced her presence, but he merely nodded, engrossed in completing his morning examination.
“The plants are thriving,” he said contentedly, his face brightening. “Soon, the village interior will be alive with greenery!”
“That’s encouraging news,” Sarre responded with subtle emphasis. “I imagine we might see something similar taking shape on the east side.”
“Of course.” He turned his discerning gaze toward the warrior woman. “We can’t afford to waste any habitable space. Truth be told, if our residential quarters weren’t so compact, I’d establish a small kitchen garden for every household.”
“Is that something you’re considering for the future?”
“Perhaps. Once the Mana Reflectors are up on the village walls, we can grow more crops in the residential area. Growing stuff underground could also be a good idea.”
“Those are impressive plans…” said Elia, her voice drifted from behind them, prompting both to turn as she approached with measured steps. “You seem particularly spirited today, Jonn.”
“Good morning, Elia,” he said with a slight nod. “I suppose I am.”
Indeed, Jonn’s elevated mood was well-founded. The recent population influx had ushered in a cascade of positive developments. His village-saving mission had finally broken through its stubborn plateau of six progress points, advancing to seven out of twenty. Additionally, more of the village’s livestock had evolved into beasts, and combined with his strict dietary regimen and meditation practice, he stood mere steps away from reaching level 3—less than ten mana points from his goal.
These developments, coupled with the additional workforce, allowed him to envision broader possibilities for his community.
“In a book I acquired in Littlewood, I discovered an intriguing concept about utilizing mushrooms as a meat alternative,” he said as he shared with the two women. “One of our newcomers detailed the food production methods employed at the Yeoman Ferry estate for their servant quarters. If we can secure these particular mushrooms, we could establish a hidden cultivation system—providing sustenance while remaining concealed from unwanted attention.”
“That sounds interesting,” Elia said, looking thoughtful. “I can incorporate it into the construction zone plans, if you’d like.”
“Yeah, go ahead with that. But don’t worry too much about the specifics, we have awhile to go. Just make sure the underground space is set for when I get the crystals and mushrooms.”
“Understood.”
“Now, regarding vegetation on village grounds,” he turned to Sarre. “While it’s not feasible for individual homes at present, we could implement it in our communal buildings. However, there’s one initiative I’d like to prioritize.” His attention shifted back to Elia.
“Oh?” she asked with an intrigued smile.
Jonn had grown increasingly innovative lately, influenced by both his recent reading materials and conversations with the newcomers. Elia appreciated this evolution, particularly as she delved into the books he’d made accessible to the village community.
“One of our new farmers from the Ferry Estate—Lizbeth, I believe—shared an interesting system they employed there. They used banana trees as natural water filtration systems for their waste pits. This dual-purpose approach both recycled wastewater and yielded nutritious produce for the estate. I acquired some seeds from that merchant, and I’m eager to implement a similar system here.”
“Is that… sanitary?” Sarre interjected, her face betraying skepticism. “We are discussing waste management, after all.”
“Consider how our current crops are fertilized,” Elia responded with a knowing chuckle. “Besides, banana plants are remarkable natural filters. They excel at converting organic matter while producing clean water as an aftereffect.”
“Well… I still find it rather unsettling,” Sarre conceded with a grimace.
Jonn chuckled, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat as he rose to his feet. “It’s a long-term project, anyway. The banana filtration system requires a different setup from our current plantations. I’ll need to conduct thorough testing before implementation. But I promise you, Sarre—I’ll ensure it’s completely safe for consumption.”
Elia steered the conversation in a new direction. “How are our new sheep and silkworms faring?”
“The sheep have adapted well. I provided them with some spare mana crystals I had on hand,” he fabricated smoothly. “As for the silkworms, their potential for enhancement remains uncertain… That’s a challenge for another day. Currently, with just one mulberry tree, our silk production capabilities are limited.
“At this stage, our priorities lie in animal breeding and expanding our mulberry tree grove."
“Speaking of breeding,” Sarre’s expression brightened, previous discomfort forgotten, “when are we expecting Annabelle’s chicks?”
Both Sarre and Elia couldn’t help but show keen interest in the potential offspring of such a remarkable hen—Annabelle’s intelligence had made quite an impression on them both.
“Just a matter of days now,” Jonn replied with a knowing smile. His internal calculations were clear: wait for Annabelle’s successful hatching, allow more animals to reach level 2, and achieve his own level 3 advancement before tackling the [Exotic Animals] quest.
“Roulf and Mimosa have already successfully mated, and she’s showing signs of pregnancy. I’ve been attempting to encourage the sheep on breeding, but they’ll need more time. Nevertheless, I anticipate a substantial increase in our livestock numbers within the coming months,” Jonn said, adding depth to their discussion.
“That’s auspicious news,” Elia remarked as two young villagers—a boy and a girl—approached bearing a steaming pot and an assortment of bowls and spoons.
“Village Elder, Miss Elia, Guard Sarre,” they announced in unison, presenting the freshly prepared porridge with practiced courtesy.
The three accepted their portions and settled into a comfortable breakfast routine there in the village center, mirroring the scene of guards receiving their morning rations—whether porridge or eggs with milk and bread—from other village children.
Jonn savored the peaceful moment, using the quiet of his meal to survey his domain. What had begun as a modest settlement was steadily evolving into something far more substantial—the embryonic stages of a proper city.
Things are progressing better than expected, he mused. We might surpass 100 inhabitants by next spring—a milestone we haven’t achieved in decades.
His gaze drifted toward the village gate, scanning the southern horizon thoughtfully.
I’ll reach level 3 by tomorrow evening... Perhaps it’s time to consider elevating the village’s status to a proper city, and actively seeking new residents rather than merely welcoming passing travelers.
+1 progress point on the [Save the Eternal Village] quest!
[Quests] [Progress] [Save the Eternal Village] 8/20
His eyes widened at the long-awaited notification—months of effort finally yielding another {Skill}!