Darius leaned in closer. “MagicBeasts, you say? Tell me everything. What are their strengths? Their weaknesses?”
Granny shook her head slowly. “They are not meant to be fought, young master. These creatures are pure instinct. Raw power.” Her voice was quiet but firm, cutting through the air like a knife. “Going into their territory is asking for trouble. It’s certain doom.”
Zane sighed, shoulders slumping. “This is crazy! Not only are we stuck in this... this... dump, but now we’re surrounded by super-powered creatures? Why even bother? Let’s just give up and make things easy.”
Lyra bounced, eyes shining. “Are you kidding me? We’re talking about controlling nature’s raw power! The possibilities, Zane! They’re endless!”
Zane rolled his eyes. “Yeah, sure. Until we get eaten. Can’t we just build a big wall and call it a day?”
Lyra laughed. “A wall? Where’s your sense of adventure? We could build an army of MagicBeasts under our command!” She threw her arms wide. “We’d be legends!”
A small smile crossed Granny’s lips. Was it amusement or pity? No one could tell. “Many have tried. But none succeeded. If you insist, you’ll need caution... and humility.”
The young boy shuffled forward, looking nervous.
Granny gestured to him. “This is Finn. He’s been really excited to meet you.”
Finn looked up, eyes wide with wonder. “Are you really going to stay? Here? In Drudgery?”
Lyra flashed a grin. “That’s the plan, little man! Though we might need to change the name. ‘Drudgery’ doesn’t scream fresh start, does it? We need something hopeful.”
For once, Zane nodded. “Yeah, it sounds like ‘we’ve given up.’ Something like ‘Horizon’ or ‘Brightfield’ would be better. At least then it wouldn’t sound like we’re all waiting to die.”
Darius crouched to Finn’s level, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Tell me, young one. What do you know about these MagicBeasts?”
Finn’s chest puffed up. “There’s this one beast! Huge! Covered in scales! Breathes fire so hot it could melt your boots right off!” He threw his arms wide, almost losing balance. “Old Man Tibbit swore it took a whole cow from the field! Just like that!”
Lyra’s eyes lit up. “A fire-breathing, cow-stealing giant? We HAVE to see this! Imagine the power! It’s begging to be studied!”
Zane threw his hands up. “This is insane! We need an escape plan, not a monster-hunting mission!”
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
But Darius saw a chance. “Finn, you said these MagicBeasts have unique abilities. Tell us more.”
Finn launched into wild stories. Birds with feathers sharp enough to cut wood. Wolves disappearing into shadows. Finn was like a nature documentary with hand gestures and sound effects.
Lyra scribbled in her notebook. She imagined a guide. Something to tame the beasts. “Perfect! Zane, defense duty. Anti-fire, anti-feather charms, you know the drill. Darius, offensive magic. Think you can stun them? We’ll have an army in no time!”
Zane glared at her. “And what’s your role, fearless leader? Knitting them sweaters while Darius and I become their snack?”
Lyra waved him off. “Details, details. I need to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Besides, what’s an adventure without danger? You want a story worth telling, right?”
Darius looked at the sky, checking the sun’s position. “Before we fight, we need a base. We can’t go hunting MagicBeasts when we barely have enough to survive.”
Zane sighed, giving in. “As much as I hate to say it, Darius is right. Basics first. Food, shelter, supplies. This village is barely hanging on. If it’s our base, we need to fix it.”
Lyra groaned. “Fine, fine. But let’s make it quick. The sooner we’re ready, the sooner we start the real fun. Taming those MagicBeasts!”
Granny nodded approvingly. “This village may be small, but it has survived. Together, we might just stand a chance.”
Lyra turned to her, determination in her eyes. “Where do we start?”
Granny gestured around them. “The land needs tending. The hills need mining. The forests need woodcutting.” She paused, letting the words sink in. “Only then can you face the challenges out there. Work with this place. Build it up, and it will support you.”
She pointed to a tall, muscular man approaching from a hut. “This is Garrick, our blacksmith. He’ll give you the few tools we have left.”
Garrick nodded in greeting, his sharp eyes studying the three newcomers. “The tools we have are basic. Stone, wood, nothing fancy.”
Darius stepped forward. “We’ll make do. Show me the tools, and I’ll start on woodcutting.”
With a nod, Garrick led them to his forge. Inside, rough tools lay waiting, showing years of use.
Zane picked up a stone pickaxe, testing its weight with a look of despair. “This is going to be awful. My poor hands! My back! Why didn’t I just stay in bed?”
Lyra grabbed a stone hoe, spinning it with a flourish. “We’ll manage. Everyone loves a good underdog story!”
Darius picked up a stone axe, testing its balance. “This will do.”
“The tools aren’t much,” Garrick admitted. “But with the right technique and patience, they may work. If you need advice or repairs, come see me. I’ll help where I can.”
Lyra, buzzing with ideas, flashed Garrick a smile. “Thanks for the tools. We’ll figure it out. And maybe, once things are under control, we can start upgrading. Bronze. Iron. Let’s dream big!”
Garrick watched her, something like admiration in his eyes. Then he turned back to his forge. “Bronze will come. First, survive. Build. Then, think of more.”
Darius turned to the group. “I’m heading to the forest. We need wood for everything. Houses, tools, defenses. Zane, gather ore. Lyra, see what you can do about the fields. We’re starting from scratch. It won’t be easy.”
With their tasks set, the trio split up. Each went in a different direction, ready to face the challenges ahead. Determination. A spark of hope. They would turn Drudgery—no, their new home—into a fortress. A base. Strong enough to stand against whatever lay ahead.
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Chapter 6 Video/Audio version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Am4Dn9VssEo