“I-I see.” Mpole stuttered as she sat next to Heziyn in a tent that overlooked the construction of what would come to be called The Northward Path.

“Yes. Now you won’t have to trudge through treacherous terrain whenever Ua sends you down here.” Heziyn said making Mpole nod.

Mpole then turned to the road which was a wide stone path that was, at this point, only fifty kilometres long.

The builders would need to lay out one hundred and fifty more kilometres in order to reach Central Hatua.

This project also demanded a lot of stone so Ed opened two quarries to the east and west of Kimbilio.

Heziyn made sure to compensate him and the workers with Glass which he used in the further development of his city and the construction of more fishing ships.

It had been two months since Heziyn arrived in the south and her driven attitude brought a lot of forward momentum into the lives of the people of Kimbilio who were slowly coming to accept her.

Something that made Heziyn more appealing to many was her work policy, one which prioritized the safety of all workers.

This policy was so popular that even workers from Central Hatua, primarily of Chofumah descent, were walking all the way to Kimbilio.

Ua didn’t mind because it just meant that she’d be getting a stronger foothold in the south through Heziyn.

“Anyway, enough about work. How is Musa doing?” Heziyn smiled warmly making Mpole blush a little.

“He’s doing fine although it always looks like he wants to go somewhere with the way his eyes wander.”

“Can he even walk yet?” Heziyn giggled making Mpole shake her head.

“He has yet to take his first steps! I fear what will come should he finally gain proper control of his legs.”

“He may very well set foot on heights never before thought reachable… should Ua allow it. Speaking of, has she left the palace since my departure?”

Mpole shook her head.

“No and with my duty in mind, I don’t think she ever will.”

Heziyn nodded before letting out a sigh.

“And how is Thabiti doing?”

Mpole’s brows furrowed.

“Guilt and dread relentlessly gnaw at his mind and body. Whenever he sleeps in the palace by my side, he shakes as the dread seeps into his dreams. I… I asked him to hand his post over to someone else but he fears the possibility that whoever he gets may be… too similar to her.”

Heziyn nodded again before offering Mpole her hand.

Mpole accepted it and gasped as Heziyn gently squeezed her hand.

“How is Akili?”

“Still clinging to his father’s side like a newborn.” Mpole weakly laughed.

“Doesn’t he turn fifteen this year?” Heziyn frowned.

“Yes and thank you for reminding me of how old I am.” Mpole smiled making Heziyn scoff.

“Be grateful that our time in this world is reflected on our faces. Ua, on the other hand, looks about the same as she did when we first came to Hatua.”

Mpole sweetly chuckled at Heziyn’s disgruntlement before eventually joining her in silently gazing at the road as countless men moved equally sized rectangular slabs of pale rock onto the designated path. They were each half a meter squared in size and weighed about fifteen kilograms.

Watching over the working men were Heziyn’s Fire Breakers.

This was going to be the first major road and would undoubtedly have significant historical consequences.

But pondering on those consequences would have to wait.

I turned to the north and paused upon seeing a swarm of shrimp encircling the waters beyond Y’shuah's southern coast.

I peered into the swarm and witnessed a surprising amount of diversity among them.

The swarm consisted of hundreds of thousands of shrimp and I saw normal ones swimming alongside larger ones which, instead of having rounded, hardened fists, had long spears attached to their arms.

There were also smaller ones that had no weapons attached to their hands and instead had small brush-like hands which they used to siphon Life Energy from the surrounding plant life and feed it into something far below.

I made my way deeper into the ocean and beheld a most curious sight.

Sitting at about two meters tall, was an egg and housed within was a shrimp but this one was different in that it only had four legs and four arms. Two of which had fists with the other two having spears.

Its shell was also twice as thick as that of normal shrimp.

The smaller ones fed Life Energy into the egg before leaving to fetch more.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Whatever ended up hatching from the egg was going to be really powerful, I imagined.

I wondered how the Chofumah were going to handle this and so I turned to them.

Seated in the largest house in the Cavern were the Chofumah leaders although everyone bore stiff expressions while facing Kukiyah who had just awoken from his comatose state.

He stared at Emunah and Imani with trembling eyes all while Pele sat on a large wooden throne with crossed arms.

The room was illuminated by a few Horn Lights that allowed everyone to see Kukiyah’s distressed face.

“I see.” He muttered before lowering his head.

“W-well, I suppose it would be best if you held your position.”

“Yes, that would be for the best. Now, as for our defences… no barricade we erect will be strong enough to withstand their blows and so I want a second line of defence to be formed along the coast. A line of men will funnel them into the forest with the aid of a wall. I want a clearing to be made in the forest so that, after leading them to a designated point, we may use an old Fire Breaker tactic and use them as the kindling.” Pele detailed as Kukiyah walked up to Imani’s side.

Ayit opened his mouth as though he wanted to speak but he stopped himself before lowering his head.

Standing next to him was Pazia who gently placed his hand on the chief’s shoulder.

Ayit glanced at Pazia who nodded.

The chief nodded back before returning his gaze to Pele and clearing his throat.

“I would like to lead the shoreline defence!”

Everyone turned their eyes to Ayit who stood upright with a determined frown.

“Oh? Sure. I was about to ask if anyone wanted to handle that part of the plan but I’m glad to receive your support. And who would like to handle the clearing?” Pele asked while trying his hardest not to glance at the woman who stood behind him.

“I volunteer myself,” Mashouah said. He had since grown small and weary, a far cry from the man who led the Chofumah across the Kifo Valley.

“I have sat by the wayside for too long. I will personally see to it that those huge ass trees are felled!” He grinned, deepening his wrinkles.

Pele nodded before waving his right hand once.

“Good. If that is all, you may all leave now-“ He stopped as a series of coughs interrupted him.

Vah rushed to his side but he forced himself to sit upright and with a grunt he dismissed everyone.

The Chofumah leaders then left but Vah remained.

It was no secret that Pele was dying.

Such was the fate of all those who absorbed more Life Energy than their bodies needed.

His heart furiously beat away, desperately trying to send blood into his every part of his large frame but it was losing strength with each passing second. His lungs were also starting to fail under his weight.

“Fuck.” Pele sighed.

He had since begun to curse but only in private.

Something he had picked up from Vah who insisted on sticking to his side.

“Get up. You need to get back into bed.” She instructed but Pele winced.

“But I only just awoke.”

Vah glared at Pele making him groan.

He then stood up and followed her into his room. His every step shook the entire house.

He eventually made his way to bed where he rested his head.

Vah brought him some water and she intently watched as he drank it.

It would be even more harmful to give him any more Life Energy and since no one knew how to cure his condition, it was decided that he spend his remaining days in as much comfort as possible.

The problem was that Pele wanted to be involved with everything.

He oversaw the education of new Blessed Sisters and watched as they taught children.

He oversaw the training of warriors and, along with the others, led the Chofumah in establishing themselves in Y’shuah for that was his duty.

“Idiot.” Vah scoffed but Pele didn’t respond.

Instead, he closed his eyes and sighed again.

“Just pick someone already. Aviyv knows no one likes seeing you slouch on that chair as everyone looks away with pity.” Vah said with a twisted expression but, again, Pele didn’t respond.

Vah bit her teeth.

“Look at me.”

Pele opened his eyes and did as he was told.

“Why won’t you pick someone?” She asked as tears welled in her eyes.

“I… was chosen.”

“I know but you- ugh! Why must you be so stubborn? Your death won’t be any less painful just because you played hero!” Vah yelled before suddenly looking away as tears began falling from her eyes.

She then stood up and left the room while hurriedly wiping her eyes.

She left the house, walking past the many guards who protected the man who held the title of Chief among the Chofumah.

She made her way to the second largest building in the Cavern, the library in which Blessed Sisters studied and lived in.

By sticking closely to Pele’s side, she had gained a large amount of influence among the other sisters and in just two months she had become a Shangazi.

Her status was signified by her purple head wrap.

Her rapid rise was, unfortunately, met with disdain by the other Blessed Sisters who thought that she wouldn’t be where she was without Pele.

They weren’t wrong but Vah had also made sure to diligently care for the Chief of the Chofumah even when everyone else accepted that he was a dead man walking.

A fate that awaited all Fire Breakers.

Vah made her way to her office where she grabbed a tablet which had information covering Life Magic and its effects on the bodies of the humanoids.

She bit her thumb while using the Glass in her hair to activate a nearby Horn Light.

“Let me guess, his stance has not changed.”

A startled Vah looked up to see Emunah standing by the doorway with two cups of tea in hand.

“I… don’t know what to say to him anymore at this point.” Vah sighed while placing her tablet down.

Emunah entered the office and sat next to Vah before offering her one of the cups.

Vah accepted it while Emunah warmly smiled.

“What?” Vah asked as she sipped the hot brew made from tea leaves found only in the Forest Afor.

“It is clear that he wants his hands to be the ones that guide us all forward and although I agree that it would help keep our people united… I can’t help but wonder just how far those trembling hands will take us-“

“Far enough.” Vah snapped.

“Of course but I think there is a way for him to lead us, albeit indirectly.” Emunah said with narrowed eyes.

“Mmm… Go on.”

“In what other way do we allow our wills to carry on once we’re gone?”

Vah’s eyes widened.

“My eldest daughter will make a most suitable vessel for his will. All I ask is that you suggest the idea to him. You and him share quite the friendship, what with having faced death together and whatnot.” Emunah smiled.

“Ah… yes, of course. That makes sense. Having an heir would most likely take care of any doubts which could arise from the alternative. I will speak to him about this as soon as I return-“

“Yes, that would really be for the best. Also, try not to mention my name when you speak with him. The last thing we want is for him to think that we are all plotting against him or anything.” Emunah chuckled as she stood up.

“Of course.” Vah winced slightly as Emunah left the room.

Vah wanted to let out a deep sigh but a few minutes after Emunah left, Mashouah entered the room and he asked for the same thing that Emunah did only he offered his youngest daughter.

Vah told him that she would speak to Pele about everything and like that the old chief left.

Vah finally got a chance to sigh but it came out more as a wheeze.

She eventually left the library and returned home, to the chief’s house and although she had her own room, she entered Pele’s room as he slept.

She then quietly sat by his side, waking him in the process.

“Hey.” He whispered and Vah found herself smiling upon hearing his words.

“Hey, you big idiot.”

“What do you need?” Pele yawned, his deep voice shook the walls of the room.

“Do I only ever come to you when I want something?” Vah asked with a pained smile.

“Yes,” Pele said in a curt manner making Vah’s shoulders droop.

She let out a sigh and undid her head wrap before removing most of her clothes and laying her head on Pele’s chest.

“Well, I’m here tonight to give you something.” She whispered.

“What?”

“A warning.”