11th day of Amberfall, 1369
[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: 100% Complete
Ebonheim grinned. It took some time, but she managed to finish another of the town-building quests assigned by the Akashic System.
There was a sense of accomplishment in knowing that she was contributing to the growth of the village, even if it was just by helping the craftsmen build their workshops. She felt proud to be able to contribute to the community's prosperity, in whatever small way.
According to the information displayed by the Akashic System, she received eleven Prosperity Points for completing the quest. She didn't question it at first, but these 'points' never came up when she viewed the status of her village before the arrival of new settlers, so she assumed they were simply decorative currency. Something purely ornamental to give her a sense of progress.
Oh well. They seem important, at any rate.
Now that she knew the system tracked her village's growth and progress, she resolved to keep an eye on these 'prosperity points' and other metrics in the future.
As the day continued, she made sure to check in on the other quests periodically. It wasn't strictly necessary, but she liked to do so nonetheless, to ensure everything remained on schedule and as planned.
Ebonheim surveyed the landscape. The view from atop the hill where the shrine was located never ceased to impress her. The scenery extended far beyond the borders of the village, encompassing the fertile fields and forests surrounding the settlement, as well as the distant mountains towering over the horizon.
From here, she could see the farmers toiling away in the fields, tending to their crops. In the distance, she spotted several hunters returning from a successful expedition, carrying the bodies of deer, rabbits, and wild boar on their backs. It made her feel happy to know that her people were safe and prospering.
It had been over two months since the first group of settlers arrived in the valley, and in that short span of time, they had accomplished a great deal of work.
The houses and structures around the central area were mostly completed, and construction on the new ones was well underway. Several buildings were also constructed outside the village perimeter, including a new grain mill and an orchard.
A couple of quest windows popped up in front of her:
[Quest] Waters of Life
Objective: Construct a series of aqueducts and canals, ensuring a steady supply of water to every part of the village.
Details: Source the water from the nearby river, ensuring its purity. Collaborate with the Ethervein Enclave to infuse the aqueducts with Magitech, allowing for efficient water flow and purification. Ensure the system reaches farms, ensuring irrigation, and households, providing potable water.
Rewards: +9 Prosperity Points, +18 Sustainability Achievements, Unlock the "Water Conservation" Achievement.
Progress: 0% Complete
[Quest] The Conduit's Rise
Objective: Collaborate with the Ethervein Enclaves to construct the Conduit Chamber, a marvel of Magitech architecture.
Description: The Ethervein Enclaves bring with them advanced Magitech knowledge. Constructing the Conduit Chamber will not only be a testament to Ebonheim's progress but also a hub for magical and technological innovation.
Rewards: +15 Prosperity Points, +3 Sustainability Achievement, Unlock the "Magitech Pioneer" title for Ebonheim.
Progress: 37% Complete
Hmm...Another pair of quests concerning the improvement of the infrastructure.
The 'Conduit's Rise' was expected. Orin was the first one to ask for her permission to construct the building, which she wholeheartedly obliged. After all, the chamber they proposed was going to be the focal point of magical innovation and advancement in her village, and she very much welcomed their contribution.
The other quest, 'Waters of Life', on the other hand, was a surprise. The village already had a couple of small canals flowing through the area, which was sufficient for its current needs. But perhaps the System detected her intention to expand the existing infrastructure and was accordingly updating the quests.
The quest mentioned a collaboration with the Ethervein Enclave. Did that mean that she needed to complete the construction of the chamber first before she could even begin the other quest? Well, it wouldn't hurt to consult Orin.
They had been speaking often lately, mostly about her ideas and suggestions for improving the village. Orin brought with him a wealth of knowledge, and he was always happy to discuss ways to apply the Magitech techniques his people invented.
A few days ago, he suggested installing Magitech lamps throughout the entire settlement, instead of relying solely on torches and braziers. Although the idea intrigued her, she decided to wait on it until everyone had fully settled in. Once the houses and buildings were all finished, then they could talk about putting Magitech lamps everywhere.
A pleasant breeze swept across the hilltop, ruffling her hair and dress. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, breathing in the scent of the grass and wildflowers. The sun shone warmly overhead, bathing her in its comforting light.
She only had an hour a day, during the early mornings, devoted to sitting at her shrine to commune with the villagers and listen to their prayers and wishes. Then, she could go on about her day.
The other half of the day was dedicated to work, whether it was assisting with construction, lending a hand with farming, or performing any other random chores around the village that needed doing.
Even though she understood the importance of the ritual, Ebonheim often felt guilty for not being able to devote more time to listening to her worshipers. It didn't feel right to ignore her people's prayers simply because she was busy working elsewhere.
Then again, perhaps the villagers appreciated being able to speak to her more casually during the day. It may not have been a formal conversation, but they did still get the opportunity to have some one-on-one time with her, and that probably made them happy.
A soft rustling sound caught her attention, drawing her out of her reverie. She opened her eyes and turned towards its source, spotting a lone figure approaching her shrine.
"Good morning, goddess Ebonheim," Orin said brightly as he approached the shrine.
"Oh, good morning, Orin," Ebonheim answered, smiling in welcome. "What brings you here at this early hour?"
The young Artificer flashed a wide smile. "I wanted to discuss some details pertaining to the construction of the Conduit Chamber. Is this a good time?"
"Absolutely. Come, let us converse."
Orin bowed deeply, and then moved to stand next to her, joining her in gazing over the sprawling valley below.
"You have a truly splendid view from your shrine," he commented, taking in the sight of the rolling hills and forests stretching out in front of them. "I find it quite breathtaking."
"I'm glad you like it," Ebonheim replied, a hint of pride entering her voice. "This view never fails to inspire me."
"Indeed, I can see why."
"So, what did you wish to discuss with me?"
"Well, I was hoping you might permit me to allocate more work to the quarry. I would like to gather more limestone and granite for use in the construction," Orin explained.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"How much more do you require?"
"I estimate roughly three times as much as what we're currently producing. I'm afraid the Chamber won't be completed before winter arrives without an increased supply."
Ebonheim nodded slowly as she considered his request.
The quarry had been operating at capacity for the past few weeks. There was plenty of stone in the area, but even with the addition of new Arcanists and miners from the recent influx of settlers, they were already struggling to gather enough raw materials for the many projects underway.
Suddenly asking for triple the amount of quarrying wouldn't do anyone good if they didn't have the manpower to actually handle such a large increase in output.
"I don't suppose there's anything we could do to speed up the extraction process? Maybe using a more efficient mining technique?"
Orin frowned, shaking his head.
"Unfortunately, our current methods are the most efficient. There is little room for improvement, at least when it comes to gathering the raw materials themselves. The only thing we could change is increasing the number of people involved in the operation."
Ebonheim sighed. The logistics of the situation vexed her, but she wasn't exactly surprised. She understood the basic principles behind mining, having observed the Deep Miners at work. But she had no practical knowledge in the field, so the challenges facing their operations eluded her.
Maybe she could just ask the Akashic System if there was a divine ability that would help speed things up. Warp Wood and Smelter's Touch turned out to be useful, so there may be others that would be suitable.
But...then her attention would be further divided, and her energy would be spread thinner. The result of which was usually the same: her blunders. And with the rate at which her people needed the materials, it would be impractical to keep summoning her to the quarry for every new load of stone.
Perhaps the only real solution to the problem would be to increase the number of workers in the mine, regardless of her own personal involvement.
"Well, I certainly understand the need for additional manpower," Ebonheim finally responded. "And I have no issue with hiring more miners to increase productivity. However, I have a shortage of people to actually put on the job. Have you any candidates in mind?"
Orin stroked his chin, pondering the matter carefully. Then his lips parted into a grin. "As a matter of fact, I do. How would you like to take a walk with me to the Artisants of Spark's encampment? I'll need your help in convincing their director to loan us some of their Aetherframes."
Uh oh.
She could already tell where this was going to end up.
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Evelyne's eyes twitched as she stared across her desk at the pair of familiar faces standing in front of her. After listening to Orin's request, she suppressed a sigh. "Tell me again what you're intending to use our Aetherframes for."
"Mining," Orin stated, unfazed. "We need to improve our output, and having an Aetherframe or two would greatly assist with this endeavor. You already lent one of them to help with lumber, and I'm thankful that you sent one to help with my Conduit Chamber's construction, but there are still two in your inventory that remain unassigned. Might we borrow them for a time?"
She crossed her arms and narrowed her gaze into a cold glare. "No."
Her blunt rejection hung heavy in the air like a thick blanket of fog. She watched as both Ebonheim and Orin gawked at her.
Orin's expression, she couldn't care less about, but seeing the goddess' crestfallen face stirred a slight twinge of guilt within her.
Ebonheim's brows furrowed, her lower lip jutted out slightly as she stared at Evelyne with those big, golden eyes of hers, shining like liquid sunlight. Her cheeks flushed with color, giving Evelyne the urge to reach out and stroke them gently, perhaps even leaning forward to press their lips together in a soft kiss—
Evelyne shook herself free from her brief daze.
Ayez pitié de moi... She couldn't resist that pout.
She had to focus. This was about the Aetherframes, not the goddess' cute puppy-dog face.
"Why not?" Ebonheim tilted her head to one side and blinked, confused by Evelyne's curt response. Her hair fell over her shoulders, draping over her delicate frame, accentuating the graceful lines of her neck.
Evelyne swallowed hard and cleared her throat, shifting awkwardly in her chair.
She forced her eyes to fixate on Orin instead. "My remaining Aetherframes are specifically constructed for combat purposes, so they aren't designed to perform strenuous manual labor like mining. We made the modifications necessary for the others to function as lumberjacks, but that was an isolated task. Modifying the rest for a different purpose would require extensive rework on our part, and that isn't a wise investment with how many other projects we're already pursuing here. This is a non-starter. End of discussion."
"If I may interject—"
"I said no," Evelyne shot back flatly.
"Just hear me out," Orin pressed on. "Since Aetherframes are meant to be modular and customizable, we can adjust the specs of the frames you have available for the requisite task, which will not compromise their combat utility in the slightest."
"We can do that?" Ebonheim perked up, clearly fascinated by the notion.
"Of course," Orin nodded, his confidence growing with each word. "I may not be a specialist in Aetherframes, but I did learn the basics from our masters back home."
Evelyne pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "I already said that modifying them would require significant resources on our part. To retool them in this way would significantly increase the amount of time and effort required, which will ultimately lead to delays in completing our other goals. It's not feasible. My decision stands."
"Can't we just use them to help carry the loads from the mines back to the village?" Ebonheim asked hopefully.
Oui, ma déesse.
Technically, it wouldn't burden the frames too badly if they were just acting as beasts of burden, which is why she allowed one of them to help with the Chamber's construction in the first place.
But the concept of Aetherframes being used for manual labor—especially by their intended purpose—struck Evelyne as improper and inappropriate.
"We don't have enough spare parts on hand to replace worn components," Evelyne explained. "Aetherframe maintenance is a lengthy, cumbersome, and costly affair. There aren't enough hours in a day to repair one if it sustains too many wear and tear while hauling stone and dirt around. You need to understand that if one breaks, I lose several specialists for the duration of its repairs. One damaged Aetherframe is one less team available to do anything else, leaving all those idle hands and minds sitting uselessly in camp."
"Hmm," Orin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I never realized that the Aetherframes produced by the famed Les Artisants d'Éclair would be so fragile."
"Excusez-moi?!" Evelyne retorted, the vein on her forehead threatening to pop out as she glared daggers at Orin. "Do not dare make such insulting allegations! Les Artisants d'Éclair construct the finest Magitech known to exist! Our Aetherframes can endure immense punishment, and still, retain functionality!"
"Then surely you have nothing to worry about, madam," Orin countered smoothly, flashing a smug smirk. "After all, your Aetherframe is supposedly capable of enduring the rigors of combat while functioning effectively, and I don't recall them being exempt from the dangers of carrying rocks. Isn't that right?"
Evelyne clenched her jaw as she fought to maintain her composure. She had no retort to that argument.
Ebonheim walked closer, closing the distance between her and Evelyne, her face centimeters away from Evelyne's own as she leaned in to grasp her hand with both of hers.
"Please, lady Evelyne. I implore you to reconsider. I promise that your Aetherframes will receive all the best care and attention. If they ever sustain damage, we shall provide whatever compensation or aid is needed to restore them to working order."
Evelyne's breath caught in her throat as she peered into the goddess' brilliant gold-colored irises. The goddess' hands were soft and smooth, their warmth radiating through Evelyne's skin as their fingers intertwined. She bit her lip to stifle a gasp.
What the hell is wrong with me? She shouldn't be reacting like this, yet she couldn't help it. Just seeing Ebonheim's radiant face made her heart flutter and her cheeks flush. Her resolve crumbled under that hopeful, imploring gaze.
"V-very well," Evelyne conceded, unable to bear staring into Ebonheim's eyes a second longer without succumbing to temptation. "But we'll only give you one! And t-the other one that was helping with construction will be repurposed for mining. That's all I will allow! Agreed?"
Ebonheim's entire demeanor immediately changed from pleading to excited and cheerful. "Yes! Thank you so much, Lady Evelyne!"
Before Evelyne could utter a single syllable, the goddess embraced her in a tight hug, lifting her from her chair with ease. She froze stiff as she found herself wrapped in the divine being's arms.
Warmth blossomed inside her chest as Ebonheim's lithe body pressed against her own, soft curves fitting perfectly into the contours of her figure. The sensation of the goddess' breath tickled her ears as Ebonheim giggled happily, causing a shiver to run down Evelyne's spine.
Blood rushed to Evelyne's face. She wanted to push Ebonheim away, but her traitorous limbs refused to cooperate. Instead, she remained completely still, unsure of what else to do, her arms hanging limply by her sides.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the embrace ended, and Ebonheim released her grip, setting Evelyne back on her feet. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Evelyne coughed awkwardly and brushed a few errant strands of hair out of her face while adjusting her glasses, trying her hardest not to appear rattled. She avoided making eye contact with the beaming goddess in front of her, choosing to glare at Orin instead.
His amused expression, however, made her want to slap him. Hard.
"Now, now. All is well in the end, yes?" Orin smiled.
"Don't test your luck," Evelyne scowled.
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[Quest] Quarry Conundrum
Objective: Secure a steady supply of stone from the nearby quarry.
Description: With the influx of new settlers and the need for more infrastructure, the demand for stone and minerals has skyrocketed. The mountains hold a bounty of stone, essential for many of Ebonheim's construction projects. Collaborate with the Deep Miners of Gorgandale to set up efficient mining operations. Ensure the safety of the miners and establish a routine supply chain.
Rewards: +12 Sustainability Achievements. Unlock the "Stone Mason's Guild" Achievement, allowing for advanced stone constructions.
Progress: 5% Complete