"Is this normal?"

Stillwater says "No, this is new. It is because word about her having levels has spread."

Silverstream says "It is also because she went out on a scouting mission alone. That is normally not allowed."

"She seems to be enjoying the attention."

Stillwater says "Yes, but she is wise enough not to let it go to her head, I hope."

Silverstream says "It will be fine, don't worry. With how long she is taking we probably could have taken a look at the ship first."

Stillwater says "It will be fine. We will hear her report and then take her along to tour the ship."

Eventually, Brightfire frees herself from the crowd and comes over to join us. She sits between Nala and Albion to pet them as she begs me for food with her eyes. I just laugh and give her some breakfast, along with Stillwater and Silverstream.

Brightfire says "I have missed this food the most!"

Stillwater says "You have never said you missed my food!"

Silverstream laughs and says "Why would she? Even I can cook better than you can!"

"So, besides missing the food, how was your trip?"

Brightfire says "Well, for one thing I reached level ten!"

"That's great! Congratulations!"

Brightfire says "The orcs are not a threat. They are not even sending scouts to the eastern side of the island."

Stillwater says "Well, that is certainly good news!"

"What about the humans?"

Brightfire says "That is where things get weird. The humans are building a huge structure in the middle of their new town. I also saw a huge human, he was around twelve feet tall!"

"Can you describe this building?"

Brightfire immediately starts drawing a crude picture of the building, but it is enough. Even with the crude picture it is obviously a church, not a doubt about it. Which would most likely make the huge human she saw an avatar of a god.

If that is the case, then things just got a lot more complicated, it is time to leave. Luckily, the ship is mostly complete and we can leave pretty quickly if we have to. However, I want to take a look at the avatar and see if I can learn anything.

Maybe if I can get a look at him I can get some information from the goddesses. Even if not, I really want to know what the humans are up to and why the avatar is here. It is most likely because of me and what I did in the human capital, but I want to be sure.

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However, I am not going to foolishly rush over there without a plan, this time. At least not until the ship is ready to leave, that way I can keep the elves safe. Once the elves are safe, then I can do something reckless and have some fun!

Brightfire says "Ash, what's with that grin?"

"If I am right, that building is a church and that huge human is an avatar."

Stillwater says "An avatar? Meaning a god?"

Silverstream says "I thought there were just the two goddesses?"

"The goddesses I serve are based on the peninsula. This god should be from the mainland."

Stillwater says "If that is the case, we should leave as soon as possible!"

"That was already the plan. Oh, Brightfire, I need your armor so I can upgrade it. Also, Stillwater, get me the twenty best suits of armor the crafters have made and the twenty best sets of weapons."

Brightfire says "Okay!"

Stillwater says "I can do that, but what for?"

"I am going to enchant them! Also pick out the twenty best warriors who were not selected as sailors. Have them start training on the ship so they can get used to the movement. They are going to be our main fighting force while on the ship and Brightfire will command them."

Brightfire says "What? I am a scout not a warrior!"

"You are currently the strongest elf and besides, with the equipment I made for you, you are stronger than most warriors."

Silverstream says "Ash is right, your strength has grown by a lot!"

"Do you really plan to sit on the ship and miss out on all the fun?"

Brightfire says "Of course not! I will lead them!"

Stillwater says "All this time I have been trying to get you to take some responsibility and all it takes is a few words from Ash?!"

Silverstream laughs and says "Children never listen to their parents!"

Stillwater says "Don't I know it!"

Brightfire says "I listen! It is just that Ash makes more sense! I don't want responsibility, I want to fight and get stronger!"

Stillwater says "But why? Why is strength so important to you?"

Brightfire says "I want to be strong enough to protect our people! We shouldn't have to rely on Ash!"

Silverstream says "You can't really argue with that."

Stillwater says "Let's discuss this later. Brightfire go get changed and give your armor to Ash. I will go inform the crafters and meet you back here."

It is a good thing they decided to hold off, I am having a hard time not laughing. Stillwater comes back first, but Brightfire doesn't take too much longer. She hands me her armor and then the three of them head out to the ship in a rowboat.

Watching them I realize I should probably make some rowboats for the ship. That is something else I didn't think of, but at least there are some branches left still. I will make some boats and then some chests with whatever is left.

Even with doing that, there are probably still other things I didn't think of. After all, I am not a boat expert and all I have to go on is pirate movies. However, considering that I feel that the ship has turned out really well.

Finally a couple of crafters come over carrying the armor and weapons. Before they leave I also ask them to bring me any broken or unusable scales. While I am waiting for those I go through the weapons, all of the swords are pretty basic.

These are the ones I got from the human ship, the elves don't craft many swords. Since they can only handle basic enchantments it doesn't take me long to deal with them. I don't plan to spend the time to reforge them, that was just for Brightfire.

The bows are a different story, while not as good as Brightfire's, they are still decent. The worst of them can hold one decent enchantment at least, the best can hold three. While I am working on the bows, a couple of elves come over to deliver the scales I asked for.

Just as I am finishing the bows I see Stillwater, Silverstream, and Brightfire returning. However, when they see me busy enchanting they wait patiently for me to finish. Once I finish and set aside the last bow they sit down around the fire.

"So, what do you think?"