"You sure this is more important than figuring out how to get the power going?" Cassius asked sceptically.

The two of us stood where the asphalt road met the block's end, dropping off to the grassy hill some thirty feet below. The grass was still damp, and there was a wet sheen to the road, but the snow had since melted.

A cool breeze blew across the top of the hill, tugging at my sweater, and carrying the scent of wildflowers to me.

"Power is important, don't get me wrong. But unless you want to drag all our supplies up through that damn storm drain, we're going to need a better solution. And I have no idea how Regina's even going to leave until we figure out some sort of ramp."

"You sure?" he frowned, "She went right the hell up the side like it was no big deal."

"Sure, but she's a cat, not a squirrel. I worry that she'd fall if she tried climbing back down. Besides," I added with a dismissive wave, "we're going to be bringing in more and more supplies."

Cassius nodded, "And taking them through the storm drain sucks, yeah, okay. So what's the plan here then?"

"That's your job, buddy," I informed him, and he responded with a raised eyebrow, "You don't need to do it all on your own, and I'll make sure you have all the mana you need. I just need you to come up with a plan," I swept my arm, encompassing the whole of the hotel and the upraised land around it, "Imagine this as a castle. A draw bridge might be hard, but it's the sort of thing we'd need."

"I dunno man," Cassius mocked, "This RFP seems kinda scarce on the details."

I rolled my eyes and pointed down to the waiting truck, "I want to be able to drive that truck up here, and I want other people not to be able to drive their trucks up here. Or horses, or whatever. You've got a no-bid contract with an unlimited budget, figure it out."

Cassius spread his arms and gave me an unimpressed look, "That's it? Figure it out?"

"I'm trying not to be a dick about it, but yeah. Val brought back plenty of food, but that's only going to last so long. We've also only got so much water. Right now our only defence against intrusion is the hatchback we rolled onto the manhole cover, and yet there are no less than four different groups of assholes that want to take a crack at us for one reason or another. We also have no electricity, so most of the hotel doesn't work right now. Not to mention the host of other smaller issues we'll need to sort out. We've got more problems than we have people, especially since some of us will need to head over to Caniforma for another supply run. Maybe hire on some mercs if we can. If you're not into this, I get it," I said, trying to be diplomatic, "You can take my place with Temerity, or Amity can drop you off in Caniforma. You'd probably make a killing off your knowledge alone. But if you're going to stay, well, this needs to get done. You're not the only one getting a task like this. Everyone will be working on something. I do need to get Amity and Regina trained up on magic, but once that's done, the idea is that each of us comes up with the plan to solve our assigned task. Once one of us has a plan, they gather the others to help. But until then-"

"Figure it out," Cassius finished.

"Yeah."

Cassius shrugged, considering the landscape, "Alright. I'll see what I can do."

----------------------------------------

I found room 310 and tapped lightly on the door. From within I heard the sound of moving furniture cease, and a moment later, Phoebe opened the door.

She was a little blue in the face from exertion, and when she spoke, slightly out of breath, "Wallace, come in. I was just settling in."

She beckoned me in, and I ducked into the room, "Anything I can do to help?"

Four beds had been crammed into the suite, leaving little space to move, while the door to the adjoining room stood open.

She gestured to the beds, crowded against the wall opposite the connecting door, "I'm trying to make space in the other room so I can set up a place to work, but don't know where else to put these."

"There's a storeroom at the end of the hall. I'll find a place for them there until we can get the elevators powered," I offered.

"I suppose you won't need my help moving them," she observed, a slight smile on her face.

"I'll manage," I agreed.

I ducked through into the adjoining room. The flatscreen was still on the wall at what would have been the end of the bed, had Phoebe not shoved them into the other room. Only little divets in the carpet remained where they'd sat, though she'd yet to remove the nightstands or other furniture.

Stacked in an orderly pile, just inside the door to the hall, was a couple hundred pounds of what I judged to be candlemaking materials and equipment.

"If you're looking for something better than a nightstand to work from, there's some furniture down in the basement," I provided.

"Thank you, I'll speak with Felicity. I believe she's setting up her workspace just down the hall. I imagine she'll have similar needs."

I nodded, "I'll check in with her next."

"Inspecting your new vassals?" she asked cautiously.

"I don't know what Val told you, but you're not vassals," I assured her, "Humans aren't big on the whole feudalism thing. At least not humans from my era."

Phoebe nodded slowly, "Valentine didn't tell me much of anything when she barged into my store, having not seen her in ages, and told me to pack my things. Only that you have a remarkable talent with magic, and that there were certain luxuries to look forward to here. And I will admit," she went on, gesturing at her room with an upturned palm, "I am impressed with the living arrangements, but I have little notion of what's expected of me here. Particularly in the matter of how I'm meant to pay my respects."

"What, to me?" I asked incredulously.

"From what little Valentine said, I gathered this was your domain," she explained carefully.

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"It's not like that," I assured her, "It's more like our domain."

She quirked an eyebrow, "I only just arrived."

"Look, maybe elves are still all into the whole liege lord thing, but I'm not. You're part of the team now, which means you get a say in how we run things. There's no bowing or kneeling or whatever else it is Temerity, or the Baroness expects."

"So your position here would be," she trailed off, searching for the words.

"First among equals?" I guessed, "I don't know. It's honestly not a big deal to me."

Phoebe looked at me askance, "So, we are equals?" she asked slowly.

"Yeah. I'm just the idiot who kinda knows how the building works."

She let out a breath, and I saw her visibly relax as her shoulders and back became less stiff, and she held herself more naturally. Her posture still gave the impression of someone of high breeding, but it came off as less forced than it had when I'd entered.

"You okay?"

She brushed a lock of hair behind one pointed ear, "Yes, thank you. I was just worried this was a different sort of meeting."

I took a step back, "Phoebe, I'm really sorry. Sometimes I forget how I look. If I gave you the impression-"

"No no, you have nothing to be sorry for," she insisted, "I should not have been prejudiced against you."

"If there's anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable here, just let me know."

"One matter does come to mind, ah," she gestured to a small couch, "might we sit?"

I took the offered seat, and she sat across from me. A small hotel dining table between us.

She folded her hands on the table before her, and regarded me seriously, "In human society, how might one begin a courtship?"

I could already feel my ears burning, "Um," I grimaced, "Just to be clear, which human are we talking about here?"

She smirked, "Cassius. Val has, in her way, made it clear she's not open to sharing."

"She has?"

"Typically, Val is unable to keep her mouth shut about new lovers. She's often very explicit," Phoebe explained, and I couldn't help but nod in agreement, "But all she's told me about you is how clever you are, and of your talent for magic. Gods, the way you blush is so precious."

I covered my face with both hands, "I think I liked it better when you thought I was a big scary giant."

She leaned back in the armchair and crossed one leg over the other, "I promise not to tell a soul," she assured me, "Now, the matter of Cassius?"

"Right. I'll be honest. There isn't any process to it. And if there were, I'm not sure I'd be the best guy to explain it. But the guy just spent two years with no one to talk to. The villagers hardly count. Just talk to him, hell, you're awesome at magic, teach him some. He won't be able to get enough of you. Actually, now that I think of it, I've got him working on a drawbridge for the hotel. I bet he'd be happy for your help."

"Aw, now you're playing matchmaker, how sweet. Are you sure you don't need me for anything else?"

I shook my head, "The whole point of me going around to everyone is handing out tasks to help with the base. I do have two questions, though."

"By all means."

I withdrew Val's torch and showed it to Phoebe, "Do you know what type of wood this is?"

"I'd guess oak, but I honestly don't know," she admitted, "Why does it matter?"

"Whatever type of wood it is, there's Creation mana in it, and we need a source. Which is my second question, do you know anything else that might contain it?"

She shook her head, "I'm sorry. I've only figured out a few materials that aren't public knowledge, and none contain Creation mana," I took out my notebook as she continued, "Beeswax contains minimal Healing and Protection mana," she related, tapping a finger against her chin, "Tallow contains Lesser Animal and Food mana, though I can't say either of those have been terribly useful to me so far."

"Candlemaking materials?" I guessed.

"Quite," she agreed, "There's also honey, which contains Healing, Strengthen, and Body mana. Though I can't claim to have learned that on my own, I puzzled it out by the way healing ointment smells. And the Blushing Maiden does this thing where they cover you in honey and the girls-"

"Okay, good chat. See you later!"

----------------------------------------

I rounded up Felicity and headed back down to the lobby, where we found Regina and Amity fooling around like a couple of high schoolers.

The phrase 'heavy petting' came to mind, but I kept that hilarious bit of insight to myself.

"Gods, you two," Felicity giggled, "There's no shortage of rooms if you'd prefer some privacy."

Regina maintained an unperturbed and regal expression, as she lifted one massive paw and let Amity up. The gynoid straightened her clothes and sat up, leaning against Regina with an arm around the sphinx's massive shoulders.

"This room was very private before you two arrived," Amity protested, in good humour.

I found it hard to fault her, smiling faintly as I recalled my adventures with Val in front of the fireplace. We'd taken the penthouse as our quarters, but perhaps we could arrange something similar to the lobby in the presidential suite, or better yet, by the private bar up on the ninth floor.

The more people we brought in, the less private the restaurant and lobby would feel, and it would be nice to have somewhere to ourselves.

I'd need to check out the bar again and make sure to set it up with the same spells to keep the fridge, freezer, and if possible, oven, operating. Maybe move some furniture up there, and we could have a little clubhouse.

My to-do list was already pretty long, but I scribbled in two new entries.

- Water Purification, Pumping, and Collection.

- Get some Create Mana, figure out what type of wood Val's torches are made of.

- Power generation, probably needs Create Mana.

- Replace storm drain as a way into the base, then seal it up.

- Herb garden, for yarrow, etc.

- Tree farm? It works in Minecraft.

- Amity needs to be taught magic. Also Regina, particularly Movement magic.

- More communication books.

- Oven enchantment.

- Private hang out upstairs.

"Taking notes?" Amity teased, "Need some advice on how to keep Val happy?"

"Actually, no. Just adding to the giant list of things that we need to do if this place is going to last."

Amity raised her eyebrows, "Oh."

Regina lifted her paws, "I will serve however I can," she offered, "But I fear that what assistance I can render will be limited."

I took a seat on the nearest free couch, and slid my list across the coffee table, "That's why teaching both of you magic is on the list. Almost all of it is some version of 'do some magic'," I nodded towards Regina, "And learning how to use Movement magic should make your life easier besides."

Felicity knelt on the carpet and leaned over to peer at the list, "It works in Minecraft," she recited, "What's Minecraft?"

"Uh, don't worry about it," I insisted, "Here," I set the torch next to my list, "Can any of you tell me what type of wood this is?"

Amity picked it up, holding it so that Regina could closer inspect it, "Is this some manner of test?" the sphinx asked.

"Oh, no," I hastened to add, "I don't know what it is either. You'll pick up on the details as you learn from Felicity, but there's a particular type of mana, Creation mana, and we need a source. Without it, we can't create anything with magic.

Regina tapped her claw against the wood, "And this wood contains the required type of mana?"

"Yeah, and I don't know what it is. Phoebe guessed oak, but the colour is wrong. There's too much red."

"Mahogany, maybe?" Felicity guessed.

Regina's mane swayed as she shook her head, "It lacks the richness of mahogany's colouring," she lowered her head and inhaled deeply, "And lacks the scent of cedar. Might you use magic to determine the type of tree this comes from?"

"I gave it a shot with Sense Plant, but the word didn't suddenly pop into my mind," I explained, "The spell did show me a lot about the structure of the material though, and I should be able to match it against anything I find while wandering around."

"That's your plan?" Amity giggled, "Wander around aimlessly and look at trees?"

I spread my hands, "We need Create Mana, and wandering around looking at trees is the best I've got. If you come up with something better, let me know. But for now, focus on Felicity's lessons."

Amity spun the list around so she could better read it, "What then?"

"Water. The water tower situation is better than I was expecting, but the stockpile will run out eventually. So I want to get all the water in the pool purified and pumped up to the roof. I dunno what we'll do with the pool once it's empty, but it's not a big deal. From there, maybe we dig a well or something and hook that into the plumbing. Again, if you come up with a better way to do it, go for it. We need water, and it doesn't matter how you do it."

"We shall do all we can," Regina promised.

"Awesome. You guys have fun, I'm gonna wander around and look at trees."