Chapter 92: Foundations

Darius plucked twigs from his hair and wrenched his foot free from entangled roots. Stepping onto the mass of new growth, he gazed up, a broad smile spreading across his face. "Next time, I'll make sure to stand back a bit further."

Surveying the scene, the area now dense with massive roots and fallen trees, "Amazing. Innate abilities sure are something else. I can only imagine what their powerhouses are capable of."

Towering above Darius, a nine-story pagoda soared, its structure an intricate mesh of intertwined oak trees. Branches arched into the eaves, weaving a canopy that rustled softly with the breeze for each level. Sunlight filtered through, dappling the ground with shifting patterns of light and shadow. A fresh, earthy scent hung in the air.

To his right, an enormous lodge, its back merging far into the dense woods. The structure's sloped roof was distinctive, each corner dramatically lifted and capped by roots artfully shaped into howling wolves. Shadows played along the lodge's wooden facade, and the air carried a hint of pine, lending a wild, primeval touch to the scene.

To Darius's left, an expansive open pavilion unfolded like a tiered mountain crafted entirely from thick, twisting colorful trees. Intricate wooden bridges arched gracefully, connecting the various levels, each ascending higher and higher. The pavilion rose majestically, its natural architecture giving the impression of an ancient forest shrine, with a rich, sweet scent of blossoms mixing in the air.

Excitement bubbling within him, Darius manipulated his wind mana and vanished from his spot. Materializing next to the control stone, he placed his hand upon it.

Within his mind's eye, the three new structures arrayed themselves across the farm's landscape. With a mere thought, the surrounding area began to tidy itself; trees and overgrown roots receded neatly into the ground as winds swept away the debris and broken branches.

Opening his eyes and gazing towards the nine-tiered pagoda, he couldn't help but smile, "It’s almost too perfect. They have their towers, and now, I have mine." His laughter echoed softly, hands clasped serenely behind his back as he walked towards the Hatchery.

"After the wedding and I break through, I'll need some time to set the formation arrays for each building. I'll also start writing down cultivation and martial techniques. I won't include the Arcane Talisman Technique just yet, but I'll make sure to include crafting and apothecary—"

"Master! What's happening?! Glabe said you were the one doing that, are you really powerful?!" Tem's voice, brimming with excitement, cut through his planning.

"Tem!" Lint snapped, his whiskers bristling as he fixed a stern gaze on her. "Do not question master."

"It's fine, Lint. You can all speak freely. There's no need to hold back," Darius reassured Tem, his voice calm. "And yes, I am partly responsible for this, but Glabe helped me. One of them will be a home for you all. Soon, I'll have an important discussion with everyone, but for now, come with me, and I'll show you where you'll be living from now on."

Glabe hurried to catch up, his expression one of wonder as he looked around. "Master, you made them grow instantly! And their size...this should take hundreds of years! Your magic is incredible!"

Darius glanced back, a hint of a challenge in his smile. "Would you like to learn?"

Glabe's eyebrows drew together, curiosity sparked. "Learn what, Master?"

Laughing, Darius gestured towards the towering pagoda. "Would you like to learn my magic, Glabe? And you as well, children—how would you all like to learn my magic?"

As he slowly began to distance himself from the group, his face lighting up with a smile as he took in the view. Glabe and all the children stood frozen, their expressions mingling confusion and awe.

----

Darius instructed Glabe on operating the All-room for their immediate food needs and to compile a list of necessary supplies before leaving the children to select their rooms.

Wandering back through the farm, he extended his Arcane Gaze towards the artificial sky, peering into the layers beyond. "There has to be a massive power source for all this," noting the ever-moving, intricate overlap of thousands of ever-changing array formations. "The runic language is unlike anything I've ever seen; it's almost as if the root is another dialect entirely."

Recalling his previous attempts to decipher this complex language, Darius shook his head and withdrew his gaze, remembering the pain that he had felt. "Once I've fully deciphered the runic language on my skeleton, I might advance enough to tackle the Vaults. Maybe then, I can find a way to actually control it." He pondered the mysteries of the Vault, suspecting there was more to uncover. "Given there's no written history about its origin, there has to be something more."

In the heart of the All-room, Darius surveyed the stone surroundings, "so much to do. Exit."

Stepping through the starry portal, Darius was immediately met with an impatient voice, "What took so long? I was starting to get bored."

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Brushing off the question, Darius touched his brooch, transforming into Feng. "Any problems with Crelos?"

Puffing out his chest proudly, his companion grinned. "It was simple, in and out. He whined a bit, but I made sure he knew what to do."

"I'm sure he did," Darius nodded. "So, how were the defenses? Was the runic language complicated?"

"Not a thing compared to yours. After you showed me what to look for, it feels like every other language I've studied or seen is somehow flawed."

Laughing, Darius prepared to open the door. "Let's go find Percy; I'm sure he's probably irritated with me by now."

Shifting to his Ghost-form, Haku frowned. "Why do you care so much about that human? He's weak, and he's only using you."

Walking into the hall, Darius switched to his thoughts, 'Are we getting jealous, little brother?'

"No! I just don't like him, has nothing to do with being jealous." Haku’s tail bristled with indignation as he trotted along.

Nodding at a passing maid, Sir Feng smiled warmly. 'He has a lot of growing to do, I'll admit, but you need to find a way to accept him. He's going to play a big part in our plans moving forward, so think of it this way: we are the ones using him.'

Pausing and tilting his head, Haku suddenly grinned as he caught up. 'That does make me feel better.'

Rolling his eyes, Darius descended the main staircase and was surprised to find Percy waiting at the bottom.

"I was just looking for you, how has the training been going?"

"Training?" Percy stared at Darius, his slicked blonde hair messy, his green tunic torn and dirty, and his trousers in a similar state. "Where have you been? You told me we were starting my training two days ago! I've been punching rocks and running around the manor like a maniac! Was I even supposed to do that? I don't know! My—OW!"

Darting back to Darius's side, Haku growled at Percy, his voice low, "don't talk to my brother like that."

'That's enough, Haku.' Darius reprimanded as he turned to Percy. "I'm sorry alright, I got tied up in some things, and I'll explain everything to you shortly, but for now, let's go find your father...actually, why don't you go bathe first?" Scrunching his nose, Darius took a few steps back.

Squinting at Darius, Percy rubbed his ankle for a moment longer before saying flatly, "He's in the parlor," and walked past Darius, his face sullen.

'For an adult human, he's really childish.' Haku snorted as Percy disappeared from their sight.

'He may be in his twenties, but he's still young. Maturity comes from experience, not age. Remembering that might make you more sympathetic towards him.'

The two walked silently through the manor towards the parlor, Haku deep in thought. Entering, Darius was surprised to find Marcus standing beneath a portrait of him and his wife, looking unwell. His usually meticulous hair was unkempt, and he clutched a drink in his hand.

'He doesn't look good. I've been demanding too much from him lately.' With a soft sigh, Darius cleared his throat to catch Marcus's attention. "I just met Percy on the stairs; he's off to bathe before joining us. I wanted to discuss the plan further... Are you alright, Marcus? You look pale."

His gaze lingered on the portrait, a brief smile crossing Marcus's face as he took a sip from his drink before turning to Darius. "I've been married for over sixty years, and I've never once lied to my wife. Today, I had to lie to get her to delay her return... Tell me Darius, is your drive purely out of obligation, or is it because of the diamond?"

Darius noted the weight of desperation in Marcus's eyes, realizing the immense pressure he had inadvertently placed on him. Meeting Marcus's gaze squarely, his response was resolute, "Both."

As Marcus seemed to expect more, Darius approached and stood before the portrait, his tone sincere. "It's clear your family defines you. Everything you do is for them—I've seen that in your interactions with Percy. I'm convinced you'd sacrifice everything for him without a second thought."

Darius's expression darkened as he sighed, "I was never close with my parents. I loved them, strangely enough, more than I thought possible..."

Marcus's brow furrowed, puzzled by the phrase 'strangely enough.'

"What would you do, Marcus, if you were in my shoes? Would you sit back and hope that things work out? Or would you seize every opportunity, stepping on whatever necks necessary to reclaim a fraction of what made you whole... What would you do?"

Marcus's aura surged, his mana flickering like a flame caught in a breeze as he glanced between the portrait of his wife and Darius. "I would do everything within my power to exact revenge."

Darius's gaze softened slightly. "You need to decide, Marcus. If this feels too risky for your family, I'll understand. I can return later, once I've found a way to help Percy. I owe you at least that much."

Taking a long sip from his drink, Marcus turned to look at his wife's portrait, a bitter smile on his face. "Must be my age. I was never this indecisive in my youth." With a hearty laugh, he slammed his drink down on a table and met Darius's gaze. "Let's head to my study. I'll have someone fetch Percy once he's cleaned up." Clapping Darius on the shoulder, he ushered him forward. "Come on! We have plans to discuss."

Darius joined in the laughter, while Haku, trailing behind, shook his head, 'Humans always doubt big brother... they're all foolish.'

Soon after, a refreshed Percy joined them in the study. The discussion was swift, outlining their straightforward plan. Once confident in their understanding, Darius asked them to assist in moving some bedding and supplies to the Vault, hinting at something he wanted to show them.

Now, in Darius's room, with each of them burdened by large sacks, Percy burst out, "And what's with the portal in the wall?! Where are we going? Stop with the secrets already!"

Smiling, both Marcus and Darius remained silent as the portal quietly opened. Darius turned to Percy, "I'll explain everything once we're inside."

Laughing, Marcus stepped into the Vault, his voice echoing back, "Come on, son, where's your sense of adventure?" His figure and the large bag vanished into the starry void.

Percy, still grumbling, approached the portal cautiously, inspecting its edges when suddenly he was pushed from behind, causing him to tumble through the portal with his bag, yelling as he went.

"That wasn't very nice."

Haku, approaching the portal with an indifferent expression, shrugging slightly, "He was taking too long." With a slight smile, he followed them through the portal.

Rolling his eyes, Darius stepped through the portal last, and was immediately greeted by a chaotic scene, laughter and screaming filling the All-room.

"Let him go!"

Haku was currently dragging Percy around by his leg, with Percy shouting in protest while Marcus was doubled over. Releasing Percy’s pants from his mouth, Haku defended himself, "He tried to kick me!"

"You pushed me in, you little skeeter! I know it was you, don't even try to deny it!" Percy retorted, trying to regain his footing.

"Both of you cut it out, you're acting like children," Darius scolded, his tone sharp. A fleeting thought of the new, more disciplined residents of the farm crossed his mind, "Actually, worse than children."

Before they could retort, Darius stomped his foot, sending a tremor through the floor, "Enough! Now follow me before you two embarrass yourselves further."

Percy and Haku trudged behind Marcus and Darius, exchanging glares as they walked. Their silent confrontation was abruptly interrupted by Marcus’s sudden halt in laughter, drawing their attention.

Stepping into the farm, Percy initially marveled at the expansive greenery unfolding before them. Eagerly moving past his father, who stood rooted to the spot, Percy’s excitement turned to shock, "You brought us to a Tower?!"

"Darius, what is all this? How did a Tower end up inside the beast-farm?" Haku's voice echoed, filled with awe and confusion.

Marcus's aura erupted, flames flickering in his eyes as his breath quickened, "Is this it? The sect you mentioned?"

Haku, unable to contain his excitement, transformed into his beast-form, bounding into the air, "A sect?! We're starting a sect?! Can I be an elder?!"

Darius laughed at their reactions and strolled toward the Pagoda, "just the beginning Marcus, but yes. We'll expand as necessary, but these buildings will be the foundations for my plan. After the wedding, once I break through, that's when our real work begins."

Haku bounced energetically, his heavy steps sending vibrations across the farm, "What will we call it? Ling Xu? How about the Fire Fox Sect?"

Percy, hoisting the cumbersome bag back onto his shoulder, chuckled. "Ling Xu? I have no clue what's happening right now, but I can tell you both those names suck."

Darius raised his hand, stopping Haku's retaliatory swipe at Percy, his azure eyes alight with an intense glow, "We can decide on the name later. First, let's get these supplies to the children."

"Children?" Percy echoed, confused.

Marcus, his tone somber, turned to his son. "Come on, son, we have a lot to catch up on. A lot has changed in just a few days."

The group moved towards the Pagoda, Darius's thoughts racing ahead of his casual steps. His heart thumped with anticipation, 'After tomorrow, it all truly begins. It won’t be much longer now, Rainslif.'