Orin Webb reclined upon a divan, the luxurious cushions providing a soft and comfortable backrest. He adjusted his position slightly, and sighed, his thoughts drifting as he stared idly at a book that lay open across his chest. He turned the page, the rustle of paper echoing softly within the quiet confines of his tent.
The weather was favorable today. The morning sky was clear and free of clouds, and the air was cool and crisp. The wind rustled the branches of the surrounding trees, creating a melodic whispering sound, the scent of pine and wood wafting through the air.
A couple of weeks had passed since their arrival, and the construction of the Conduit Chamber had begun in earnest. Ebonheim, true to her promise, had provided a steady supply of stones and timber, and Orin and his companions spent their days organizing the transport and assembly of the necessary materials, as well as supervising the overall construction process.
They had begun constructing the outer walls, and the framework for the internal structure and ceiling had been set in place. It was a monumental undertaking, but progress was swift due to the goddess' frequent assistance.
Every day, Ebonheim would come to the construction site and spend a few hours aiding them with the various tasks. She'd use her divine powers to shape and reshape the rocks and other natural materials, turning them into solid shapes and objects, adding them to the existing structures and foundations, or using them to create new ones.
The result was a dramatic increase in the amount of work done each day, and the speed at which they could complete their projects. The goddess would often stay and chat with them afterward, talking about a wide range of topics, including their lives before arriving at the village.
Orin was a little amused at her efforts to befriend him, as if she felt obligated to be sociable with all the newcomers.
Not that he minded. Her company was tolerable. More than that, perhaps.
He found her presence to be intriguing. She possessed a charm that he found appealing, an odd mix of childish naiveté and sophisticated elegance, paired with a sense of empathy and understanding that he hadn't expected.
A gust of wind blew through the camp, sending ripples across the fabric of his tent. The flap opened, revealing Serelle, who stepped inside, holding a plate of food in her hands.
"Good morning, Orin. I brought breakfast for us," she announced with a cheerful smile. "Figured you'd be hungry."
"Much appreciated, thank you." Orin returned her greeting, giving her a lopsided smirk.
He placed his book aside and sat up, stretching his arms above his head. He took the plate, upon which were two large biscuits, topped with eggs and cheese.
Serelle took a seat on the blanket across from him, settling herself before the brazier in the center of the tent. "How are you feeling this morning? Sleep well?"
"Quite. The air here is rather fresh. Better than back in the city."
She giggled. "The air, or the company?"
"Both." He shrugged nonchalantly.
They enjoyed their meal, chatting as they ate. Their conversation flowed freely, covering a multitude of topics, from the events of the past day to the happenings in Ebonheim and beyond.
The two were childhood friends, having known each other for most of their lives. While he had been busy honing his craft as an Artificer, she pursued the more traditional Arcane Arts, and the two often discussed various concepts and theories of magic.
"You know, Orin," Serelle mused between bites, "even with the goddess' assistance, the Conduit Chamber would still take a few months to construct."
"Hmm. Indeed," Orin responded, eyeing her warily.
He already sensed a trap in her words, and wondered where she was going with this.
"Wouldn't it be better if we built homes for our people first? You know, so they can have a place to stay in the meantime? Somewhere other than their tents?"
Orin sighed, his suspicions confirmed. He took a sip from his tankard, swallowing a mouthful of ale. "Yes, I concur, but our priority must remain on the completion of the Chamber, not the housing situation."
"But that's silly. People need to have a proper shelter!" Serelle objected.
"And they will. Once the Chamber is completed, we'll begin work on the permanent facilities, and the houses." Orin glanced at her and arched a brow. "Didn't we already have this discussion prior to leaving Ebonheim?"
"We did. But," she paused, fixing her eyes on him. "We also agreed to reconsider things if the conditions changed, remember?"
"Ah, I do recall that, yes," Orin nodded thoughtfully, tapping his chin with a finger. "Unfortunately, the Chamber must remain the priority. It's imperative that we finish building it as quickly as possible."
Serelle rolled her eyes. "I'll bet it's because you don't want the Artisants of Spark to finish their Sanctum first, isn't it? You just can't stand the thought of your rival getting ahead of you."
"Pfft. Hardly," Orin scoffed. "It has nothing to do with that. My goal remains the same as before. We need the Chamber to be functional and fully operational as soon as possible. Then everything we do after that point will be exponentially easier. It's the only way we can maximize our efficiency. Priorities, Serelle."
"Fine, fine. I'm just teasing you, Orin," Serelle confessed, feigning exasperation. "I know how important the Chamber is to you, and I understand the reason why. However, I also believe that our people should have a more comfortable living environment."
Orin couldn't help but laugh at the pleading expression on her face. "All right, I'll consider it. If there's spare time, we can build a few houses. However, they should be temporary ones, just a small, basic structure. We shouldn't waste time on anything fancy. Agreed?"
"Deal." She beamed happily. "Thanks, Orin. I appreciate your willingness to compromise."
"I know, I know," he shook his head and chuckled. "You always had a way of wearing me down, didn't you?"
"You make that sound like a bad thing, and I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that."
After they finished their meal, Serelle rose to her feet, gathering the plates and utensils. "I'm going to head back to the village, then. See if there's anything I can do to help there."
"Very well. Stay safe."
"I will. Don't stay cooped up here reading that whole day, Orin," she cautioned him, shaking a finger.
"I make no promises." He grinned. "Besides, there are more interesting books than your boring magical tomes to read."
"Whatever you say. See you later." With that, Serelle exited his tent, disappearing through the flap.
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He pondered her suggestion. It made sense for them to have a better, more permanent accommodation than the tents. But he wasn't going to prioritize that. He needed the Chamber. That was the key. Without a viable Conduit, there could be no meaningful, practical applications for many of his inventions, and he intended to prove that he was more than capable of surpassing the legendary Artisans of Spark and their Aetherframes.
Besides, they still had plenty of time to build homes for everyone. At the rate things were progressing, he was certain the Chamber would be finished before the fall season.
They were still in the middle of summer, and the weather was mild and fair. He planned to capitalize on the favorable climate, maximizing their productivity so that the construction could proceed smoothly.
He reclined against his pillows, returning to his book, determined to distract himself from any lingering doubts.
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14th day of Lustertide, 1369
[Quintessence] 15182/64000
[Quest] Crafting Cornerstones
Objective: Establish workshops for craftsmen, enabling them to produce essential goods and tools for the village.
Details: Workshops should cater to blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers, and other artisans. Ensure they have access to necessary raw materials.
Rewards: +11 Prosperity Points, Unlock new trade goods
Progress: 38% Complete
For the past month, Ebonheim had been running around helping wherever she could. Today was no exception, as she had spent the better part of the day rushing from site to site to help out with various tasks.
The Akashic System kept track of the various quests and their progress, and she couldn't help but check in every once in a while to make sure things were still proceeding smoothly.
The quest to establish new workshops was currently sitting at 38%, which wasn't bad, given the number of projects underway.
Most of the resources required for the constructions had already been acquired from the quarry and surrounding forest, and the carpentry tools were being supplied by the Artisants of Spark and the Ethervein Enclave. The only bottleneck in the process appeared to be the lack of iron nails and rivets to keep up with the demand, which meant that the carpenters were forced to wait for the metal workers to supply the materials.
In the meantime, the carpenters used wooden pegs and dowels to fasten the frames of the buildings together, hoping that they would last until the metalworkers could deliver the needed materials.
As Ebonheim approached the construction site, with Thorsten following behind her, her mind wandered back to the conversation she had with him a few days ago.
Thorsten had commented that the newly arrived Hrafnsteinn warriors were starting to become restless and bored. He urged her to let them help with the construction effort, saying that idle hands make mischief.
Of course, Ebonheim agreed immediately. The more workers they had, the faster the job would get done. The fact that the Hrafnsteinn warriors were seeking something to do made her happy.
"Looks like the weather's cooperating today. Good, good," Thorsten mused aloud as they marched past rows of houses. "Those clouds over the mountains aren't gonna last, but for now, that's fine by me. Wouldn't want them to have to work in the rain."
Ebonheim glanced at the sky; it was bright blue, and the air was crisp and clean. It was perfect weather for outdoor work, and she hoped the conditions would continue.
The two eventually reached the construction site and made their way through the busy area, passing groups of workers and builders bustling about as they went. The air rang with the sounds of hammering and sawing, along with the occasional shout and curse as someone hit their fingers.
Ebonheim stepped into a blacksmith's shop, a small stone house with a forge attached to its rear, where four burly Hrafnsteinn smiths toiled tirelessly in front of blazing furnaces.
A wall of smoke and steam enveloped the room, emanating from the cauldrons and kilns. The crackle and hiss of molten metal resounded, and the air smelled acrid and burnt. The roar of the bellows drowned out the din of the forges, while sparks and embers danced through the chamber.
The four men labored in the haze, their faces slick with sweat and soot, as they stoked the flames and poured molten steel into casts. The nearest one, a stout, bearded fellow wearing a leather apron, greeted Ebonheim and Thorsten as they entered.
"Morning to ye. I've set the iron ingots out back. They're ready for your divine magic, goddess," he declared, gesturing to a pile of metallic bars stacked neatly near the side entrance.
"Ah, wonderful! Thank you for your diligence. I'll do my best," she replied.
Ebonheim exited the building and approached the stack of iron.
She had asked the smiths to smelt the ore for her so that she could turn them into nails and rivets using the other Divine Ability she acquired along with 'Warp Wood'.
The Divine Ability, called 'Smelter's Touch', was similar to Warp Wood in that she could use her Essence to manipulate metals, shaping and reforming them. She couldn't craft complex objects, but she could easily mold the ingots and transform them into basic items.
Ebonheim channeled her energy into the piles of ingots, enveloping them with a silvery glow. She focused on the image of a nail in her mind, visualizing its shape, size, and texture, until she could almost feel the sharp tip pressing against the tips of her fingers.
After a few minutes, she completed her work, transforming the mass of iron into a mound of thousands of perfect iron nails and rivets. They weren't fancy, but they should be more than enough to tide the carpenters over until the next batch of ores could be processed.
With the help of Thorsten, Ebonheim began gathering the creations, transporting them into a nearby wheelbarrow before bringing them to the carpenter's workshop.
One task was done, but she had so much left to do.
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"Time for a break, then." Thorsten yawned widely, stretching his arms above his head and arching his back.
They had completed their deliveries to the carpenters and returned to the blacksmiths. It was nearing midday, and the heat and humidity had become oppressive, making it difficult to concentrate on work. The workers in the workshop had all stripped down to their waists, and even that did little to alleviate the discomfort.
The four men in the back, however, still persisted with their efforts, seemingly unaffected by the temperature.
"Let's go grab us something to eat. I could eat a horse right now. Probably even the saddle and all." Without waiting for an answer, Thorsten started walking, heading away from the construction zone and deeper into the village. Ebonheim followed behind him, keeping pace with the large man as they strolled casually down the street.
Ebonheim didn't want to interrupt the other workers, since she figured they might appreciate a few moments to cool down and relax. Plus, her stomach growled incessantly, and she hadn't eaten anything since early morning.
So, she followed him to the feast hall where food and refreshment awaited.
"Mm, roast rabbit again? This tastes so delicious!" Thorsten remarked between mouthfuls of food.
He devoured the meal with gusto, shoveling one spoonful after another into his mouth, barely pausing to chew before swallowing.
It amazed Ebonheim how Thorsten managed to stay so well-fed despite spending most of the day working under the summer sun. His appetite never seemed to flag, and he always ate at least twice as much as anyone else during mealtimes.
She took a small bite of the roasted haunch and chewed thoughtfully, savoring the flavor and aroma of the meat. While eating, she glanced at the Akashic screen floating before her eyes, checking to make sure that she wasn't missing any messages, or updates, regarding her quests.
So far, there wasn't anything new, save for the update about the progress of the Crafting Cornerstones quest.
[Quest] Crafting Cornerstones
Progress: 41% Complete
At least she alleviated the bottleneck with the lack of nails. That allowed the carpenters to resume their work without delay.
After lunch, she would have to return to the construction sites and use her power to shape the lumber into planks, beams, and boards. The task was simple enough, but time consuming, especially since she had already failed to shape the wood into its proper form on numerous occasions, and ended up with unusable timber.
The carpenters had given her an earful, despite her status as their goddess—much to the surprise of the newcomers who had yet to experience her klutziness. But that was fine. She appreciated their candor, as well as their patience with her imperfections. It was better for them to be honest with her than to hide their dissatisfaction.
"Alright, I'm finished," Thorsten announced abruptly. He stood from the bench and wiped his mouth with a rag. "Best get back to work, before the sun sets, eh?"
"Yes. Let's." Ebonheim nodded, rising to her feet as well.
Together, they returned to the construction site and resumed their respective duties.
By the time the evening rolled in, Ebonheim finished processing the lumber needed by the carpenters, and they had started framing the houses with the wood she shaped until work stopped for the day.
She returned to her cabin and crashed on her bed, exhausted after a long, strenuous day of labor.
But even so, she still felt fulfilled. She checked on the progress of her quest:
[Quest] Crafting Cornerstones
Progress: 44% Complete
Ah, progress.