Me and Maxie arrive at the tree noting how much easier it is to see in the morning. Today I’m going to properly figure this out. See that I do! I need lots and lots of wood to build the structures I’m planning. Unless I have other materials? I feel like wood's the easiest but maybe I’m forgetting something.

I think I have to start smashing off those tube-like parts first. What do you think? Good as any yeah.

Stepping back I reach a distance and then start running towards the tree. In my head anime theme songs start playing as I pull back the axe and then try running it through the entire tree from bottom to top.

I make it maybe halfway before it starts to fail, but instead of letting that get to me, I pull the axe up and do a spin.

Hya!

A grove forms. I knew it would. I am a master woodcutter. You're learning from the best!

Over the next few minutes I continue to run up and down the length swinging wildly. In a pause between swings I notice a flash of colour.

Is that the gnome?

I stare – it looks like the gnome appeared on the chopped-up trunk while I wasn’t looking. When he’s not moving, I can almost imagine he’s not living. He’s just a little statue.

He turns his eyes to me and tilts his head as if asking what I’m planning on doing with my catch.

I don’t know little guy! Can’t you see that? You here to help me out?

I did promise him some sugar if he did. Not slavery. Nuh uh. Time for a hand off.

I walk over to my prospective farm hand and begin to talk describing what I want in as much detail as possible. He hangs on my other words but I’m not sure how much he’s actually following if you know what I mean? Little guy is going through withdrawal. I try and mime sawing and becoming a plank to show the tree becoming a plank.

Little guy nods repeatedly holding out his hands in a cup position.

Does he understand?

I hand him the axe and watch his eyes fall. You thought that would be sugar didn’t you? Going have to work for a hit my guy.

Mr gnome tries to heave the axe and struggles to raise it off the ground. Bit by bit he shifts his balance until like a fulcrum he is holding it up somewhere past the middle – he can barely hold it even now and the back end is hitting the ground before he can lift it up. This was definitely a bad idea.

“That’s way too big for you,” I laugh but that just seems to give him more energy.

With a herculean effort the little creature swings the wooden handle up completely above him and holds it steady squinting in concentration.

This is just making me laugh harder – I fall backwards and start rolling around just before he strikes. In one hilarious motion the blade fell down and embedded itself into the trunk with a thunk.

The gnome falls over and looks at me with a dejected sigh.

“Shuuuuuuuu” He flops several times in a mini tantrum.

…do I want to reward this behavior? He didn’t actually get anything done.

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…sure. I’ve already been corrupted – no point going back now.

I head back to my ipad and buy a bag of sugar cubes – these will be easier to hand out than my loose sugar powder.

I pull the bag up and carefully dump it back onto the inventory. If I do it like that it moves from “bag of sugar cubes” to “sugar cubes (134)” then I pull out a single cube and walk back to the crashed fairy.

“I’ll give you this for your effort” I say waving it in front of the floppy creature.

He jumps up grabbing the cube in a quick second and shoves the entire thing in his mouth.

It looks almost as big as his head – that’s huge! How can he fit it in there? His whole face has bulged forward as he struggles to close his mouth. “Shuuuuu...grrrrrrr” he mutters a determined choking sound ringing out.

Maybe I should have cut the cubes into smaller portions? He obviously doesn’t have self control. Like not that I’m one to talk but I feel like my will is steel in the face of this little guy.

Finally the gnome seems to melt enough of the cube with his frantically rolling tongue that he can finish swallowing it.

His pupils dilate before with a burst of speed he’s grabbed the axe once more.

I’m stupid. Why did I think giving him an axe was a good idea?

The gnome moves faster than I can properly focus, his spinning axe a whirl of energy. Chips of wood are flying out in every direction and I’m nearly positive he’s screaming “weeee” as he whacks the trunk dozens of times a second.

Owwww! One of the chips hit my arm – I close my eyes and spin then retreat to a better distance.

This is worse than before – I’m never giving him a full sugar cube again!

“Eheheheheheheheheheeeeeweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehehehehehehehehehheeweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee” the gnome is flying back and forth along the trunk.

“Wait a minute! I wanted planks for a human house not toothpicks for a gnome house!”

I just realized most of the gnomes “planks” were little more than lumpy lopsided rulers.

He suddenly pauses and stares at me giving a clumsy wobble and salute before continuing.

He certainly has a lot of energy – I think, at least when he’s on sugar he’s actually stronger than me despite going up to my shin! The problem is despite his enthusiasm he’s not making very nice boards. I mean sure. To be fair I don’t know how to make boards with an axe and mine weren't that much better... but the sugar isn’t improving his accuracy or focus. If anything those have gotten worse!

I should step away so I don't get hurt.

I’ll stop being mean. He’s helping.

Finally the initial sugar rush seems to run out and the tree is suitably ‘butchered’. Most of it is now spread about the entire section of forest but there’s some slightly straight looking mostly human sized planks.

One tree butchered.

All for the cheap price of one sugar cube.

His sugar rush is still going and I kind of want him to put down the axe so I direct Mr Gnome to bring all the logs towards the beach.

Next steps are important. I’m thinking I’ll try and make a frame first then fill it in afterwards – that’s what they always do in construction right? I should figure out how big I’m going to make my cabin…Multiple rooms seems a bit more than I can handle for my first project. No need to raise my expectations up that high – I just want a nice enclosed area.

I’m thinking right beside the water would be pretty? Like my very own beach house? Maybe right on the edge of that blue sand? It does look like it would be a great base. Nice and flat – I also have to figure out how big of a house I want to make. I kind of want a big ‘un – it’s always been a dream of mine to live in a castle. Is the princess fantasy lame? Don’t judge me too badly.

Grabbing a plank and waving to my helper to follow, I drag it towards the far beach. Nodding to my farmhand as he heads off for a second. I head towards the market to check for supplies once again – both markets this time.

Let’s see…No massive new sales or anything. It’s all the same as it was yesterday – I wonder if I can buy metal?

…no. I was imagining nice long and thick metal poles but there aren’t any. The store isn’t specialized enough. Just some tiny wooden poles like the ones I dug into the bed for my trellises. There's plenty of rope and that will definitely come in handy so I buy that. Twine too – I have an idea for it. I still have unused nails – I think I’m going to stick to Triboadhesion. It seems more reliable. There are raw planks as well and while they aren’t cheap at the quantity I want…It's tempting.

I think this is enough? I transport most of the supplies over to the lake then grab my shovel. “Time to put in some elbow grease. You got this, think of the prize. That sweet sweet prize.” I shake my shovel for emphasis.

I’ve already decided. If I put in enough work on this, I’m going to gain my next skill as a reward. It's something to look forward to and It’s motivating me more than anything else.

Time to get to work. Queue building theme song – someone remind me to ask the goddess to install a jukebox in my system.

And start.