I arrived back at the school where the survivors had taken refuge, my appearance now markedly different due to my recent transformation and newfound powers. I noticed a bunch of familiar faces and a few new faces in the crowd. I assumed we had some travelers.

The survivors initially reacted with a mixture of surprise and fear upon seeing my earthen exoskeleton and the peculiar, fern-covered squirrel perched on my head. My presence was now very commanding.

The adults hung back but some of the kids moved forward when they saw Thor, Loki and Fernando. Fernando in particular was a huge hit. He jumped and scampered from person to person. He chittered as he ran up and down legs.

As I entered the school auditorium, which had been converted into a makeshift meeting hall for the survivors, the group gathered around, their expressions a mix of curiosity, awe and relief.

“Gavrin. We heard about what you did at the cemetery. Incredible stuff.” Scott said, adjusting his green apron as he stepped forward. “But what’s with the… moving hat?” He asked.

I gave Scott a weird look. “How did you hear about?” I asked. “Were there cameras out there?”

Before Scott could answer, Tina chimed in. She was standing with a laptop under her arm. I thought this was odd because electronics weren’t supposed to be working.

“Yeah, and tell us more about these powers of yours. Can you really rebuild with them?” Her green eyes sparkled with curiosity.

I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I suddenly recalled why I lived in a small town. I didn’t like people.

Brad, pushing up his glasses, added thoughtfully, “It’s like something out of the history books… or myths really. The way you’re using magic to help, it’s inspiring.”

From the back, Jillian, her pastel-colored hair catching the light, spoke up softly but clearly, “Is there any way we can help with the restoration, Gavrin? Maybe with art of design?”

Daniel, the architect chimed in, “Yes, and about the rebuilding process. Do you think this Industree could be used in construction? It sounds fascinating.”

I held up my hands. “How the eff do you guys know about that?” I asked gruffly. I was starting to feel a little exposed.

Finally, it was Isaac who explained. He looked sheepish as he explained. “You left your profile on public. We’ve been viewing all your prompts. It was really interesting seeing how you fought and won.”

I narrowed my eyes. “My profile is public?” I sighed and started looking for the settings. “OK, that was an oversight. It won’t happen again. I feel like my privacy has been violated.”

Isaac put his hand beside his head. “Yeah, we thought it was weird.”

“I really need to start reading the manual.” I muttered to myself. I found the setting and put my profile to private. “That is so frustrating.”

“Yes, I can probably rebuild.” I said. “But I ain’t doing it for free.”

Scott answered. “What are we going to pay you with? You take cash?”

“hmm.” I rubbed my chin. “I’ll take payment in metals and other materials. If I am going to be making stuff for you guys, I am not using my own materials for that.”

“That doesn’t sound very nice.” Tina said. “If you can help, you should help.”

A couple of other people nodded. I knew where this was going.

“Welp.” I said as I started to move towards the door. “You can’t make me do shit and I’d rather take my chances out there by myself than be dictated to by a mob.” I waved.

Scott hastily called out. “Let’s not make any rash decisions. We aren’t dictating anything. Everyone here is just scared and grabbing hold of any lifelines.”

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I sighed. “I’ll stay and help. What sort of plans do you guys got?”

Scott clapped his hands. “Alright. We have drawn out some sort of plans. We want to fortify the area around here and try to make a safe space here.”

I nodded my head. “That makes sense. So a wall around the area?” I asked.

“For starters.” Scott said. He pointed to a map they had spread out on a table. “We figure a wall around this area. We definitely want the field inside the wall. I was thinking we could follow the streets along this way and make a big square.”

“That probably works.” I said. “But why don’t we make it bigger. We need room to move about. Some area to grow food and stuff. We should probably have a training ground. We can put up some buildings around here in the center.”

“We thought of that, but there are too many buildings in the way.” Scott answered.

“No worries, mate.” I said. “I have a way to clear the area fairly quickly. Just leave it to me.”

I started to leave. I was suddenly feeling overwhelmed being inside. “I’ll just go get started and I’ll be done in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

As I made to leave one of the kids interrupted me. “Hey, mister. Can we play with your dogs?”

I couldn’t remember her name. But to be honest, all kids looked the same to me. I looked back at Thor and Loki. “Either of you want to stay and play?”

Loki barked in the affirmative. I turned back to the kids. “Sure thing kid. Loki here will play with you. Just be gentle with her okay? And if she needs to leave and help me, don’t try to hold her back okay?”

The little girl nodded and Loki split off from our group and wagged her tail as she approached the group of kids.

I shook my head. Loki was always a big softie. Thor on the other hand was a little antisocial like me. He didn’t like strangers either.

I quickly went back outside and looked around. I could see a section where someone tried to heap up a barricade but they hadn’t gotten very far.

I decided to make an inner and outer wall. The area immediately surrounding the school would be easy to wall in, but outside of that there was too much debris to go very fast.

I took a deep breath, feeling the ground beneath my feet. I took my shoes off because I wanted to be closer to the earth and I reached out with my senses. I felt the layers of soil, the dense clay below, and the network of roots and small creatures that called it home. It was like feeling the pulse of a living, breathing entity.

Opening my palms towards the earth, I began to channel my magic, focusing on the energy coursing through my veins. I visualized the energy as a glowing light, spreading from my core to my extremities, and then into the ground.

The magic felt warm, a comforting presence that filled me with confidence and strength. It was an extension of myself, a bridge between my will and the earth.

Concentrating on what I wanted the earth to do, I slowly lifted my hands. As I did, the earth responded. The ground rumbled softly at first, then more vigorously as a wall of earth began to rise.

The soil churned and shifted, compacting and forming into a solid structure. Roots and rocks intertwined within the wall, adding strength and stability. The wall grew in height and thickness, encircling the school like a protective embrace.

With careful movements, I sculpted the wall, ensuring it was even and formidable. I paid attention to every detail, making sure there were no weak points.

Once I was satisfied with the structure, I solidified it with a final surge of magic, feeling the energy flow out of me and into the wall, binding the earth into a permanent unyielding form.

As the wall completed, I lowered my hands, feeling a sense of accomplishment mixed with exhaustion. The magic had drained some of my energy, but the satisfaction of seeing the sturdy wall made it worthwhile.

I felt a lingering connection to the wall I had just created. I knew I could repair the wall if I was close enough to it.

Seeking solitude and a personal space away from the main group at the school, I decided to create a small, hidden dwelling for myself. I chose a quiet spot in the woods, not too far away from the school but secluded enough to offer privacy and peace.

I walked through the forest, my connection to the earth guiding me to a perfect spot. It was a small clearing, surrounded by dense foliage and trees, offering both openness and concealment.

I began by using earth magic to gently manipulate the soil. I visualized the structure of my dwelling, a simple yet comfortable dugout that would serve as my temporary home.

With precise magical control, I excavated a portion of the earth, forming the basic structure of the dugout. I took care not to disturb the surrounding nature more than necessary, maintaining a harmony with the environment.

Once the basic shape was formed, I reinforced the interior with compacted earth, ensuring stability and durability. I crafted a simple entrance that blended with the surrounding terrain. Inside, I shaped a small sleeping area, a place for my belongs, and even a little nook that could serve as a workspace. The walls were smooth, and the floor was slightly raised to prevent dampness.

After the structure was complete, I turned my attention to concealment. Using my magic, I encouraged the growth of vines, moss and flowers over the dugout, effectively camouflaging it with the natural surroundings.

I carefully selected plants that would be aesthetically pleasing and blend well with the environment. Bright flowers added splashes of color, while thick moss and creeping vines provided an extra layer of cover.

As a final touch, I infused the plants with a bit of my magic, ensuring they would thrive and maintain the concealment of my home. I also set up subtle magical wards around the dugout, alerting me to any approaching visitors while keeping the location hidden from prying eyes.

I really wasn’t planning on spending all that much time in the dugout. I just wanted a hidden place to enter and exit my dimensional shard.