Chapter 36: Cladding 3

Elania leaned back in her chair, her eyes scanning the schematics scattered across her desk.

Shadow snoozed peacefully in the corner, his dark fur rising and falling with each breath while Yolani stood beside her, a pencil tucked behind her ear as she pointed to various designs.

“This one,” Elania said, tapping a large, oversized revolver. She wasn’t a gun nut, but her descriptions of the cowboy weapon seemed to have come through. “I want this one.”

“Somehow, I felt like that would be it.” Yolani traced her finger along the schematic, her eyes alight with excitement. “Are you sure you want this revolver mechanism? The magazine for the rifle seemed more efficient… but I guess this will allow for a larger projectile.”

Elania nodded. “I think we should go for stopping power over rate of fire. Machine guns are nice, but somehow, I feel like we’ll need to put down elephants, and we already have ways to deal with all the gnats.”

Yolani raised an eyebrow. “What’s an… elephant? What are… gnats?”

“Elephants are giant land creatures, and gnats are annoying bugs,” Elania explained easily.

Yolani nodded as if that was all the explanation she needed and shuffled the firearm papers into a neat stack to set them aside. She then gestured to the remaining designs: intricate swords and bracers, each one a sketch of a unique idea.

“For now, we need to focus on only two versions,” Yolani explained. “Making a base item for the [Regalia] is complicated enough already. Trying to incorporate too many elements will just make it harder to get right.”

Elania nodded and studied the designs, her eyes darting between the sword and bracer. The sword was a thing of beauty, its blade etched with intricate runes. But… really, she already had a weapon in the revolver, didn’t she? A lack of sword could be solved later…

“The bracer,” Elania decided at last. “The firearm is already offensive. Having a defensive option makes sense.”

Yolani grinned, her eyes sparkling with approval. “That’s a good point. And remember, the bracer is just the beginning. Eventually, we can work up to a full set of armor.”

Elania leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk as she studied the bracer schematic more closely. “What materials are you thinking of using?”

Yolani pulled up a chair, settling in beside Elania. “Well, the glow moss will definitely play a role. It’ll help channel the transformation ability, for sure.”

She tapped the schematic again, tracing the curve of the bracer itself. “But we’ll need to balance it with other materials to ensure it is flexible enough to morph while durable enough to protect your arm.”

Elania nodded. “We’ll need to inset more mana shards. Those have saved my life several times already.”

Yolani’s expression turned serious as she nodded. “It shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll see if we can work in more slots as well.”

A knock sounded at the door. Shadow’s head popped up, his ears twitching, but he quickly settled back into his nap.

“Come in,” Elania called.

The door swung open, revealing Darius. He strode into the room, a missive clutched in his hand. “My lady,” he said, bowing his head slightly. “I bring news from the refugee camp.”

Elania raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. “Oh? What’s happened?”

Darius held out the missive. “The refugees have finished forming a civil council. They’ve elected representatives.”

Elania took the message, her eyes scanning the names and titles listed. “This should help organize things,” she murmured. “They managed this quickly.”

Darius nodded. “They’re a resilient bunch.”

Darius reached into his satchel and pulled out another sheaf of papers. “I’ve also compiled profiles on each council member,” he said, setting the papers on the already cluttered desk. “Our informants promise the information is accurate.”

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Elania quickly scanned the profiles Darius had compiled while Yolani peered over her shoulder.

[Amara Steelheart (Female, 45) - Amara is a skilled blacksmith who has taken on a leadership role among the refugees. She has focused on ensuring everyone has access to necessities like food, water, and shelter. Amara is known for her pragmatic approach and ability to mediate conflicts within the refugee community.]

“A blacksmith, huh?” Elania mused, tapping the profile. “Could be useful. We’ll need someone who can oversee production by the craftsmen.”

Yolani nodded. “And it sounds like she’s got a level head on her shoulders. That’s important when dealing with a bunch of stressed-out people.”

Elania frowned, wondering how the election process worked.

It was likely just the most popular or social people who made their way to the top. Would it really be possible for actual honest leaders to climb the ladder without some scumbag sneaking in? Either way, they would need to meet these people and judge for themselves.

She put Amara’s profile down on the desk and moved to the second one.

[Theron Emberheart (Male, 38) - Theron is a former teacher who has stepped up to help organize educational activities for children and adults within the refugee camps. He believes that maintaining a sense of normalcy and providing learning opportunities is essential for the refugees’ mental well-being and future prospects.]

Darius pointed to Theron’s profile. “This one’s interesting. A teacher who’s trying to keep things as normal as possible for the kids.”

Elania’s lips quirked into a smile. “Smart. Keeping them busy and learning will help take their minds off the shit they’ve been through.”

Yolani nodded, taking the paper and laying it on top of the first two. Everyone looked at the next entry.

[Naia Silvermoon (Female, 52) - Naia is a healer who has been tending to the sick and injured among the refugees. She has worked tirelessly to ensure everyone receives the medical attention they need, often improvising treatments with limited resources. Naia has advocated for better sanitation and hygiene access for all refugees.]

“A healer,” Yolani murmured, her finger tracing Naia’s profile. “We’ll need to make sure she has the supplies she needs. Last thing we want is a disease outbreak.”

Elania grimaced. “Agreed. Hopefully, our little alchemy program will be able to help.”

They moved on to the next profile.

[Galen Stormforge (Male, 29) - Galen is a skilled craftsman who has been helping to construct temporary shelters and repair damaged infrastructure. He teaches other refugees valuable skills to help them contribute to the community. Galen believes that by working together, the refugees can rebuild their lives.]

Darius tapped Galen’s profile. “This man has been busy. He’s been teaching other refugees how to build and repair things. Gathered quite the following.”

“Good,” Elania said, nodding. “The more self-sufficient they are, the better.”

Yolani stacked the profiles, and Elania picked up the last one.

[Selia Brightstone (Female, 35) - Selia is a former innkeeper who has taken on the role of organizing communal meals and managing food supplies among the refugees. She has worked to ensure that everyone receives a fair share and that no one goes hungry. Selia has used her experience in hospitality to create a sense of community and support among the refugees.]

Yolani’s eyes widened as she read Selia’s profile. “An innkeeper? That’s perfect. She’ll know how to stretch supplies and keep everyone fed.”

Elania leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk. “Sounds like they’ve got a solid group here. Focused on the basics: survival, education, health, and reconstruction.”

Darius nodded. “My thoughts exactly. I think it would be wise for you and Yolani to meet with them. Get a sense of what they need and what their biggest concerns are.”

Elania glanced at Yolani. “We’ll set up a meeting,” she said. “The sooner we get a handle on the situation in the camps, the better.”

“At least this should reduce some of the workload on us for managing things,” Yolani added.

Elania leaned back in her chair and considered Yolani’s words. The idea of the refugees managing their own district was appealing, but a nagging worry tugged at the back of her mind. “We need to be careful. We can’t let the wrong type of people be in charge.”

Darius nodded, his expression serious. “My informants gathered the information, but being skeptical is a good idea.”

He paused, his fingers drumming on the desk. “It’s worth noting that a disproportionate amount of survivors are those who worked in the Magistry District or were related to them. With a second majority coming from the Artisan District.”

Elania frowned. “Because the Artisan District was around the Magistry.”

Darius nodded again, his gaze flickering to Yolani.

Yolani’s head tilted to the side. “I’m surprised there weren’t admin or clerical candidates, then.”

Darius shrugged. “It’s likely they weren’t popular enough.”

Elania’s eyes flickered to Shadow as he stood up, his dark fur rippling as he stretched. He turned, his eyes locking on Darius as a low growl rumbled in his throat.

Darius seemed prepared. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of dried meat. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed it to the darkwalker, who snapped it up with a quick movement of his jaws.

Elania and Yolani stared with mouths agape.

It took a second, but she found her voice. “Are you... training Shadow?” Elania asked.

Darius’s lips quirked into a smile. “I’m simply ensuring an equitable arrangement—snacks for good behavior.” His expression sobered. “The same might be required for the refugees.”

Elania’s frown deepened. “They aren’t pets.”

Darius met her gaze, his eyes serious. “No, they aren’t. They’re worse—hurt and afraid humans without a firm leader. You should interact with them more.”

Elania sighed.

There were dozens of things pulling at her at once, each one demanding her attention.

And Arlois’ warning to leave Contia was fresh in her mind, souring her mood.

Elania leaned her head on Yolani’s shoulder. “Let’s hope these people can help lighten the load.”