proofread by Daylius
“Brother why are you staring at the girl like that? Are you perhaps having some indecent thoughts?” Bella asked her brother slightly annoyed.
“Not at all Bella. Don’t you trust your brother?” Shiv retorted back, slightly hurt. Well he could not blame the girl for that. In front of the duo another girl was sleeping on the bed, her clothes revealed a little too much of her skin, white thighs and ample cleavage enough to make men drool.
“For some reason I cannot trust you on this matter. All men are the same when it comes to this kind of thing” replied Bella pouting.
“My god. Such cold words for your own brother, I am hurt” Shiv made a crying face.
The two were in such a heated conversation that they did not notice the girl in the bed waking up. The girl opened her eyes and looked around. The first thing she noticed was the long black hair of Shiv. They appeared soft and silky. When Shiv turned towards her, she saw his eyes, the beautiful golden brown color of his eyes made her gasp. She could not take her eyes away, the eyes had such power, yet they were warm and beautiful. Her heart skipped a beat when her eyes fell on his smiling face. While she was mesmerized by the sight in front of her, she did not realize the fact that the person in front of her was a stranger.
It took her some time to process the situation. Suddenly she jumped away from the duo, holding a small dagger.
“Is this how you show your gratitude to the people who saved you young lady?” Shiv asked the startled girl.
“Eh? Saved? Who are you? Why did you kidnap me? Are you bandits?”
“And you think bandits would feed you food and water and would take care of you till you woke up? Aren’t you a smart girl?” Shiv was little annoyed at the girl’s behavior. Bella gave a hit to Shiv’s head and then spoke to the girl.
“Sorry about my stupid brother. We are not bandits and we mean you no harm. One of the villagers found you in the forest and carried you here. We thought you were dead first. Suddenly you woke up and screamed for food. After eating you fell asleep again. So we shifted you to our house so that you could sleep safely”
The girl was not fully convinced but she withdrew the dagger and quietly stared at the two.
“My name is Bella and this is my brother Shiv, welcome to our village” Bella said with a smile.
“I am Kate” that is all she said. This annoyed Shiv again.
“You ungrateful brat. That is all you got to say?”
“Brother, she just woke up. The poor thing is confused. Let us leave her alone for now, we have work to do. Now come you lazy man” and Bella dragged Shiv with her.
Kate stared at them with amusement. She then observed the room she was in. ‘A wooden house. Not too big. Well kept. I am lucky to not have been caught up by bandits.’ She then slowly walked towards the door and exited the house. Outside the house the girl saw a torn down village. There were men working everywhere. Some were running here and there carrying things while others were discussing something. She then noticed Shiv and Bella talking to a group of people. The moment Shiv came to her view her heart skipped another beat.
‘No you must not Kate. This is a game. He must be a NPC. Don’t forget that’ with her mind and as her heart calmed down Kate walked towards the group. Somehow she felt that those two were the head. (A woman’s intuition is a really scary thing). She could hear the group talking.
“So you brought the blueprints of the building eh. Good. So first let us concentrate on the houses. Are you going to build them the way they were or are you going to modify them?”
“We think that the previous houses were too weak, being made of just wood. So we will be using stones as well as wooden planks this time.”
“That’s good. Have you gathered the materials required?”
“We have the wood but the stockpile of stones is running low”
“Then send the mining team to gather the stones. Wait! Do we even have a mining team? I did not come across a miner during yesterday’s meeting”
“That is the problem. All of the miners were killed by the goblins except for the son of the head miner. We cannot send that child alone and we do not have men to spare for to accompany the child either. Can you go with the child and help him with the mining?”
‘trrrng’
QUEST:STONE MINER
The village is under reconstruction. But the reconstruction to begin the masons require stones. Accompany the miner boy and collect enough stones.
Stone pieces required: 3000
Stone pieces gathered: 0/3000
Difficulty : F
Rewards
+30 intimacy with masons
+30 intimacy with miners
Mining faction will be created
Failure
The quest will fail
1. if you abandon the child
Failure will reset all intimacy with the villagers. Will be banned from entering the village
“You need just the two of us to gather 3000 stones?”
“There is no other way. We are sorry.”
“Can’t I even take the children with me?”
“The children? We are not sure. We don’t think anyone would come”
“Brother let me come. I will also asks the children too” Bella said to Shiv
“I can’t have you do such an arduous job. I would rather you stay here and manage the villagers. But I would like you to ask the children, preferably the older ones”
“Very well brother” with that Bella walked away. She smiled at Kate who was staring at the group.
You have accepted the quest
“Bella! Get that ungrateful girl a decent piece of clothing. I don’t want her walking around wearing a torn out rag” Shiv shouted, mocking Kate.
Kate blushed red with embarrassment and stormed away cursing Shiv.
---***---
“Clint how far is the stone quarry?” Shiv asked the miner boy who was leading the way in front. A group of 5 had just exited the village and were heading towards the quarry to collect stones, each of them pulling a sledge with wheels.
“Not far. A 10 minutes walk. There is a small stone hill nearby with a cave. We had always used the cave to mine stones.”
“Just stones? No valuable items?”
“I do not know. It was said that there were only stones in there.”
“Hm. Clint how old are you?”
“I am fifteen big brother.”
“Fifteen and already a miner. Good boy. Agon what about you? Are you a mason?”
“No I am a farmer”
“I see. What about you two? What are your names and age?”
“I am Klier, I am a farmer too. And I am 15 ”
“My name is Dimon, a blacksmith. 15 years old”
“So are all the children in your village taught so early?”
“Yes. We are taught the family job by our parents at the age of 14.”
“That is some village. No wonder your village is a self-sufficient one” marveled Shiv.
“Big brother. We are here”
There a small hill with a cave came to the view of Shiv. The hill was much bigger than what he had imagined. The cave mouth too was big. At first it appeared just like a mud cave that Shiv had earlier seen but once they got inside the cave, the appearance changed. There were hard rocks around them and the tunnel was wide. The group kept walking, with Shiv in front protecting the cave from any sudden attacks while Clint gave directions. The five walked for a while, the tunnel was like a labyrinth with the paths dividing into many branches. Clint had directed the group and had explained that the other paths were unknown to him though the miners used to take those paths too. A couple of minutes of walking and the group came to a much wider tunnel. It was then that Clint asked the group to stop.
“Big brother. This is enough. We can get the stones from here. We mine the stones here and then carry it to the village. The masons will then take over the stones and shape them accordingly.”
“Then little Clint show us how it is done”
“My father used to knock at the wall to understand whether the stone was good or bad. I don’t know how he did but what I know is that the stones he mined were always the small color. It always had a grey color with a little white tint like this stone” saying so Clint picked up a small stone piece from the ground and passed it to Shiv. Shiv examined it carefully and then passed to the next.
“We don’t have any particular size. We just mine them and give them to the masons. Mining is hard. Hitting the rock with the pickaxe is really hard. Big brother let us begin”
Shiv and the others nodded. They went towards their wheeled sledge which had all the essentials needed for them like food, water and other things. The group picked up their pickaxes and headed to different directions, well, all of them were in the same tunnel but at different spots.
“Please be careful with the pickaxe and don’t play with it. That is what my father always says” Clint said repeating his father’s words.
‘Tick’ ‘Tick’ ‘Tick’ and so the hitting continued. After an hour or so Shiv heard the sound,
‘Trrrng’
Your efforts have borne fruit. You have become more skilled in the field of mining
New skill unlocked: Mining (Passive) Beginner Level 1 (0%)
+1 STR, STA and PER
You can now mine more in shorter time
You consume stamina at lower rates
‘Hihihi keep it coming’ Shiv grinned. His hard work was being rewarded. With new found vigor the boy kept mining. The group of five often took breaks to have their meals and catch their breath. Hours passed and they got bored of the continuous hitting. Their will to work began to drop except for Clint who was by now used to it.
“Clint how can you keep hitting the stones like this?” complained Agon.
“It is nothing big it’s just that you are lazy” retorted Clint.
Shiv too was exhausted. He had had enough of the mining so he checked how much stones they had acquired.
‘trrrng’
Stone pieces required: 3000
Stone pieces gathered:221/3000
Shiv’s eyes bulged out. They had been mining for more than four hours and this was all they could manage to gather. ‘At this rate it will take more than a week to mine 3000 stone pieces. Is there no way to increase the output? Wait! I can use a small scale explosion to gather stones.’
Shiv got up and looked around. He then checked the walls carefully. ‘These walls are strong. But a large scale explosion will lead to its collapse. 1meter? No that is too much. 500cm? no that too is not possible. 30cm would do. For a 30cm thick chamber I would need at least 1 full bag of flour or sugar’
“Agon I need your help”
“What is it big brother? I need you to run to the village with a sledge and fetch me at least 4 bags of flour. Take the others with you too.”
Agon was confused. He was thinking what the need for flour in a quarry was. It hit him fast and he smiled at Shiv.
“Big brother, has anyone told you that you are a cunning guy?”
“I get that a lot” Shiv smile and winked. The other 3 did not understand anything. The last time too Shiv had made them carry sugar and flour but none of the three knew the purpose.
Agon urged the three to accompany him and the four left with a sledge. Shiv sat down.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
‘They are going to take at least 1 hour to return. May be I should log out for a few minutes. I have not talked to mother and Mia like forever’
“Log out”
---***---
Year 2040
Incheon
Feb 21, Tuesday, 4pm
Ryu exited his capsule and walked to the kitchen to have something to eat. While going to the kitchen he took his mobile phone with him. There were 15 missed calls. Some were from his mother while the rest were from an unknown number. ‘That is strange only my family and Kiro-san are supposed to know my number. Well whatever let me call mother’. Ryu was about to dial to his mother’s phone he got a call from the same unknown number. Perplexed, Ryu attended the call.
“Hello! Is this Mr. Ryu Yasahiro?”
“Yes it is? May I know who is speaking to me?”
“My name is Yuki Matsuda. I am the private secretary of Mr. Allen Perez, CEO of Phoenix Enterprises”
“And why is it that you have my private number Miss. Yuki” Ryu replied assuming the woman was unmarried.
“Mr. Allen wishes to have a meeting with you Mr. Ryu”
“With me? May I know the reason for such a request?”
“That is confidential and he desires to speak about the issue with you directly”
“Is that so? I am sorry but I have to refuse”
“Why Mr. Ryu? It is not every day that you may get to meet such a person! I wish you reconsider”
“My grandfather has asked me to not meet with anyone without his permission” Ryu lied. It was impossible to live in such a grand city without meeting with anyone as he now lived in a house by himself. He lied as he thought that the woman on the other side did not know his situation.
“I am afraid that you cannot deny this request. You do not want to offend Mr. Allen”
“I am denying the offer as I am busy with my game. So please excuse me” Ryu denied politely, not minding the threat from Yuki.
“Is that so? Then perhaps we should ban you from using the game. That might change your decision I presume”
“Are you threatening me lady?”
“I guess I am Mr. Ryu” there was sarcasm in that tone. Yuki did not consider the boy as someone who could do anything against her corporation. And to her surprise Ryu began laughing.
“Mr. Ryu why are you laughing?”
“I am sorry. That is the first time somebody has threatened me. I could not hold my laughter”
“Are you mocking me brat? I know that you are no longer in Japan under your grandfather’s protection. Don’t act so high and mighty.” Yuki’s tone changed. She was angry at the boy for mocking her.
“Yes I am. You think just because I am Korea that I am vulnerable?” Ryu’s voice was now cold.
“If you do not volunteer to come by yourself, we will use force to make you comply”
Hearing this Ryu once again laughed. “I accept your challenge woman. Don’t worry I will not be involving my grandfather. I will be waiting” with that Shiv disconnected the call. A normal boy would feel terror, but Ryu was amused. It was the first time that someone had threatened him. He smiled at the new experience he had. ‘Shit I forgot to call mother’. He dialed his mother’s number,
“Mother! How are you? I am sorry for not calling you”
“Ryu. I am fine son. How are you? Where you now. Your grandfather said you are at Korea. Why are you there?”
‘So she does not know about the kidnap problem’
“Nothing mother. I felt I wanted to come here and stay here for a while. That aside where is my little sister?”
“Oh that girl is busy with her new game”
“The capsule has been delivered? Good. Have you started playing mother?”
“A bit. I could not believe that it was a game. Everything is so real”
“I know. Mother are you and Mia in the same place in the game?”
“Of course. We are at some place called Wayville in the Northorn kingdom. Where are you son?”
“At Bredon Kingdom mother. I will come meet you after a while mother. What is your name in the game”
“I used my name itself. Mia say’s that I should have used some other name. She named herself as Tina. What about you?”
“I am called Shiv.”
“Shiv? You really do like that name. I remember the time when you cried asking us to change your name to Shiva. You were so cute back then”
“Mother. Don’t say such embarrassing things”
“Oh my son is all grown up. Mother misses that cute boy who would always follow me around”
“Mother! I have to go. Love you”
“Love you too Ryu. Take care of your health. Eat properly and sleep well too.”
“Yes mother. I will” Ryu disconnected the call and walked towards the capsule, smiling.
---***---
When Shiv opened his eyes the four had already arrived. He got up in a hurry.
“When did you guys get back?”
“We just got back now. Here are the flour sacks. It took us a while to convince the others”
“Agon shall we?” Shiv asked Agon. The boy nodded.
“Clint where do you think we will good quality stones”
The boy observed the surrounding and pointed to the area nearby. Shiv nodded then approached the area Clint showed. Using earth magic he created a thick wall which took him a while because of his low proficiency. Once the wall was created a wind wall parallel to the earth wall. Then taking a bag of flour he poured the content into the space between the walls. Once the contents were emptied Shiv made another earth wall overlapping the wind wall. The second earth wall had a small hole which was sealed with wind barrier. The hole was big enough to let Shiv’s head pass through. This hole was to provide the fire source from a safe distance. Shiv asked the others to get back a good 10metres. He then standing 5m from the wall used a fire ball and aimed it at the hole. Before the fire ball hit the area Shiv fled towards the group and asked them to run as fast as possible. This was a precaution to not get caught in case the cave started to fall apart. They were now 30metres or so and stopped there waiting for the sound of the explosion.
‘Boom’ the group heard the sound of the explosion. They were now cautious and were observing the cave for any signs of cracks. After the pass of 30min the group decided to check the area of explosion. Slowly they moved forward. When they reached the place all of them were astonished. There lay in the area of the explosion three times the amount of stones than they had mined. All of their jaws fell. They had been mining for four continuous hour and had got barely 200stones and in front of them lay a huge pile of stones. Shiv checked the amount of stones,
Stone pieces requited: 3000
Stone pieces gathered:1535/3000
“Jackpot. Let us go dump these stones at the village and come back. This will be over soon”
Thus the group of five filled their sledge with stones and went to the village. The group had to come and go five times to completely transport the stones they mined. By the time they had finished transporting it was getting dark.
“That is enough for today. We will finish this by tomorrow. Let us go” and so the group left to the village. The five were so tired that they slept like a log once they had their dinner. The next day the group left for the stone quarry. By the time the second day ended the group had gathered stones more than required.
Stone pieces requited: 3000
Stone pieces gathered:3319/3000
“With this it is over guys. You all did great. Now go have a good sleep”.
Once the four left Shiv then walked towards the head mason’s house. He then knocked the door.
“Who goes there?”
“It is Shiv. Can I come in?”
“Yes of course.”
When Shiv entered the house the mason asked. “What brings you at this time of the night. Well I have finished the task which you had given me”
The mason looked at Shiv with disbelief.
“Wait just a moment. I will be back” and the mason stormed out of the house. He returned after a short while, his face full of surprise.
“How did you get the job done so quickly?”
“I used a bit of creativity” Shiv smiled and explained to Ames what he had did. Ames was truly shocked. He laughed a hearty laugh and patted the boys shoulder.
“Aren’t you a smart one. I like you boy. Come meet me tomorrow in the morning here. Let me see how you will do with masonry”
‘trrrng‘
QUEST:STONE MINER(Completed)
You have not only collected the required the stones, you have gathered them in a short time
Stone pieces required: 3000
Stone pieces gathered: 3319/3000
Difficulty : F
Rewards
+30 intimacy with masons
+30 intimacy with miners
Mining faction will be created
QUEST:AN ARCHITECT’S LESSON
You have been invited by Ames, the head mason to join him in his work. He wishes to know how you will perform the masonry job.
Difficulty : Complete the quest STONE MINER
Exceed Ames’s expectation
Rewards
Unknown???
+10 intimacy with the villagers
Failure
The quest will fail
1. if you fail to satisfy Ames’s expectation
Failure will reset all intimacy with the villagers. Will be banned from entering the village
‘Wow another quest. Great’
“Very well. Then I shall meet you tomorrow.”
You have accepted the quest
Shiv then left the house and walked towards his house. When he entered the house he could hear the giggles of two girls. Shiv smiled, he was happy to hear Bella’s giggle. He was grateful to Kate for making his sister happy. He walked in with a serious face.
“Bella! Why is this girl who is wearing a torn rag still here? Kick her out. She smells” Shiv mocked the girl with a serious face holding his nose with his hand, but smiling inside. For some reason teasing the girl was fun for him.
“Brother! Don’t be rude to Kate” Bella glared at Shiv.
Kate was blushing lightly but was glaring at the boy too.
“Sister, you would side with her than with your brother? My heart aches. Have you abandoned me?” Shiv acted like crying.
“Yes now please sleep on the floor while I and Kate will be sleeping on the bed.” Bella said with a smile and the two girls jumped on the bed.
Shiv shrugged his shoulder and sighed.
“Why do I have such a troublesome sister?” saying so Shiv laid down on the ground.
“Goodnight brother”
“Goodnight Bella, Goodnight rag girl”
---***---
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