[SYSTEM ALERT: Dimensional Shard Enhancement]

Greetings, Gavrin, Guardian of the Dimensional Shard.

Your stewardship has been recognized. To unlock the full potential of your Dimensional Shard and support enhanced magical growth within, specific actions are required. The balance of elements and the infusion of mana are crucial to its development.

Requirements:

Channel Elemental Magic: Infuse the shard with balanced elemental magic. Each element - Earth, Water, Air, and Fire - must be represented equally to harmonize their energies. This will create an environment where magic can flourish and support diverse life forms and magical constructs.

Provide Material for Growth: The shard requires physical materials to support the growth of flora and fauna. Organic materials, minerals, and water sources are essential for sustaining life. Introduce varied resources to simulate natural ecosystems.

Instructions:

To channel elemental magic, meditate at the heart of the shard, focusing on each element in turn. Visualize the energies intertwining and permeating the shard's fabric.

Introduce materials for growth by physically bringing them into the shard or using transmutation spells to convert existing elements within the shard.

Benefits:

Enhanced magic potency within the shard.

Increased growth rate and vitality of plants and creatures.

Unlocking of new magical abilities tied to the balanced ecosystem.

Potential to discover or create unique magical species.

Warning: Imbalance in elemental magic or insufficient resources can lead to unpredictable effects, including but not limited to, unstable magic zones, aggressive wildlife, or barren areas.

Your journey with the Dimensional Shard is a testament to your growth as a guardian and mage. Balance, wisdom, and courage will guide you to reveal its true potential.

[End of System Prompt]

I realized I hadn’t been paying attention to my system in awhile. I don’t know why I started ignoring it, but it was something that just happened. So there was something I could do to make using magic inside the shard easier for me or was it just for whatever happened with that apple tree.

I looked at the apple I had plucked from the tree. It was luscious and seemed to glow with an inner light. It shifted color as I looked at it. It was a wonderful apple. I put it in my bag for later. I wasn’t sure what I needed.

This was about the time that Thor and Loki managed to get my attention. I thought they would have been out patrolling around the town but they weren’t. In fact, they looked a little mussed.

“What’s up you guys?” I asked them with concern in my voice.

Thor whined and Loki whuffled at me.

“What?” I exclaimed. “Why would they do that?”

Loki barked a short series of yips.

“That makes sense. They deserved it right?” I confirmed with Loki.

Loki nodded.

“Well, you guys stay here and I’ll head in to town to see what they say.” I told my two friends. “If they don’t want our help or protection, I can hardly make them take it. Well, in all honesty, it sounds like I could, but I don’t wanna. That just sounds exhausting.”

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It seems while I had been out of it, a group of people had attempted to attack the town again. I was more than a little impressed by their persistence. Thor and Loki had intercepted the group and pushed them back. Some of the group had gotten away and went into town and told them they were attacked by two huge dogs. Carlos then took the opportunity to claim I was using Thor and Loki to keep them prisoner inside the walls I had made. Man, I seriously disliked that guy.

Since, I wasn’t there to translate, Thor and Loki couldn’t tell them the group had hostile intentions. Enough people sided with Carlos that Thor and Loki just hung around my house for the last couple of days.

I slowly made my way to the school. As I got closer I realized I smelled smoke on the air. I sadly shook my head. That didn’t smell like a normal cooking fire. I continued on my way and found just what I imagined. There was another hole in the wall and half the school looked burnt out.

As soon as I was inside, I was immediately accosted by Carlos. His hair was disheveled and he had a burn mark on his face.

“Look at who it is.” He called snidely. “Did you come here to finish us off.”

“You’re such a dick.” I told him. “I just got here. And why would I need to finish it off? I don’t leave my jobs half done. Who’s in charge?”

“I am.” Carlos declared.

I narrowed my eyes. “I see. Do you all require assistance?” I politely asked.

“Not from the likes of you.” Carlos sneered.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Alright the, peace out brother.” I turned to leave.

Another voice cut into the conversation. “Wait.” A woman called out. It was Kim. She looked just as bad if not worse than Carlos. “Carlos, you can’t send him away. We need him to get the others back.”

“No, we don’t.” Carlos rejoined. “He is the reason this happened.”

“Bullshit.” Kim and I said almost instantly.

Then just as quickly. “Jinx,” followed by a “double jinx.”

“I’m curious, Carlos. Just why do you think I had something to do with this?” I asked.

“You and your dogs have been patrolling the woods for months. And come to find out, you’ve been killing people in the woods to keep us here.” Carlos crowed.

“That is not entirely accurate.” I replied.

Kim seemed taken aback. “Is what he says true?” She asked me.

“I have been killing people in the woods who come here with ill intent.” I answered. “But anyone who doesn’t express a desire to hurt the camp or just isn’t generally a dick gets a pass.”

“What makes you judge, jury and executioner?” Carlos asked. “Last I looked this was still America.”

I thought about what to say. “What gives me the right?” I asked out loud as I looked up into the sky. “I suppose, my strong right hand gives me the right. What would you have me do? Let them come in? Only act after they are inside the walls and attacking? Every single group I have attacked expressed a desire to attack this place. Some of them even described the place, and I am certain I had not seen them before. Maybe we should be asking you about that, hmm, Carlos? This isn’t the first time you had knowledge of something you had no right to know.”

This seemed to shut up Carlos for the moment. I turned towards Kim. “So what happened? And what do you need me for?”

It was Kim’s turn to be hesitant. “I’m not sure now. I thought Carlos was just being a blowhard but you’ve really been hurting people.”

“Yeah, but they all deserved it.” I answered. “Pretty sure.” I added.

Carlos was back in it. “Pretty sure?”

I looked at him with disdain. “Pretty sure I haven’t killed you yet, want me to fix that?”

I played right into Carlos’ hands. He got really loud and called out to the group that surrounded us. “See, he threatens me. I told you he wasn’t a good person. Does a good person secretly kill in the night?” He asked.

This time I laughed. “I’m a veteran, dipshit. You are barking up the wrong tree with that one. It’s safer at night for one.”

There was a low murmuring from the crowd. This time I opened up my question to everyone. “So, anyone want to tell me what happened? If not, I’ll just take my leave and be gone.”

The crowd parted, and Scott emerged from the back, his face etched with concern and fatigue. “Gavrin,” he began, his tone earnest, “it’s not as simple as Carlos makes it out to be. Yes, we were attacked, and yes, Thor and Loki repelled the attackers. But during the chaos, Jillian, Evelyn, Emily, Oliver, and Sophie were taken. We think the raiders are holding them as leverage or worse.”

The news hit me like a punch to the gut. Despite my conflicts with some members of the community, these were people I knew, people who had nothing to do with the disputes and power plays.

“I wasn’t aware.” I admitted, my frustration with Carlos momentarily set aside. “Why didn’t you start with that?”

Carlos scoffed, but Scott silenced him with a look. “Because, Gavrin, despite our differences, you’re the one with the skills and the friends,” he glanced around as if looking for my doggos, when he didn’t see them he continued, “to potentially get them back. We need your help.”

Kim nodded in agreement, her earlier hesitance gone. “He’s right. This isn’t about Carlos or any disagreements. It’s about saving them.”

I considered their words, my anger at Carlos falling to a low simmer. “Alright, I’m putting a pin in this.” I gestured with my hands, vaguely including Carlos. “Tell me everything you know about the raiders; their numbers, where they might have taken our people, anything.”

Scott detailed the attack, describing the raiders’ symbols and the direction they fled. I listened intently, already formulating a plan.

I took a deep breathe and let out a whistle. I didn’t mean too, but it felt like some wind magic flowed into the whistle and helped carry my call.

Thor and Loki bounded up in a few minutes. “Where you guys listening?” I asked. They responded with determined growls. “We’re going to need Fernando and the others. We’re going a rescue mission.”

As I rallied the group, Carlos remained silent, his earlier bravado gone. It didn’t matter. Right now, the priority was clear; rescue our people and bring them home safely.

I turned back to Scott. “I’ll need supplies, and anything else you can offer to help. Also, you know these people better than I, who were can keep up with?”

Scott nodded. “I’ll get right on it.” He said as he hurried off to organize everything. As I watched the community rally around the rescue effort, I felt a renewed sense of purpose.

“We move out at first light,” I declared. “Get a good night’s rest and let’s get our people back.”