Information between minds is dispersed efficiently and effectively inside Nette's mind domain. Words are matched with images, so it isn't just words explaining the situation but images shared from memories. I feel even more updated on all the events, and I've been present for most of them. In fact, Nette borrows some of my memories to fill in the gaps. I'm not proud of the horde massacre I caused, but I'm not going to hide from it either. Everyone here has the right to know who they are potentially allying with.
No question is left unanswered, and we explain every detail of our plans, including expanding our dungeon, creating portals linking significant places on the island together, linking our island with the mainlands, and protecting the children. Parents of the new crowd are especially interested in the academy and help us round out the plans for them. None of us are ready to answer when a few parents ask if their children can be integrated into packs.
Remny is the first to speak up, inviting all children into their packs. Some packs are split in half and then mixed with human children. Some older human children are even given the role of pack leader, though they have yet to be extended the sub-boss dungeon ranking. We end up with **fifty regular packs and ten mixed packs. Four of which have human pack leaders. Teams are each given an additional member, raising every pack size by two.
It takes a lot of communication and trust for the new packs to be established. One significant concern is that the mixed packs will be different because the pure packs have no family to turn to. This causes some of the pack leaders to question the whole idea of integrating packs and leads to questions about the sustainability of the pack system.
The concern is valid, but Remny and the other mixed-pack leaders seem to think it will be fine. "Family makes us stronger," is the sentiment shared, quelling most of the doubt. As for the sustainability of the pack system, we have all decide to deal with the problem in the future.
The next hot topic of discussion, and the one that catches the humans off guard, is the dungeon discussion and the possibility of them all joining the dungeon, including their kids. Hundreds of questions are sparked, each answered instantly by Bones or Nette. More images are shared to convey the idea and our plan to keep the dungeon safe. Fury opens up about his dying experience and what it felt like while he waited in the core.
More concerns are raised about our weak dungeon and the multiple enemies already trying to conquer us. The idea of having to fight puts a few people on edge, though they are quick to admit that their desire to stay out of conflict is a lofty dream.
With all of the thoughts and information being so perfectly shared, I can't help but imagine the toll Nette is paying to keep us in her domain. When I try to link just a few minds together, it takes a concentrated effort, and that is just creating the link. Handling information and questions like she is doing is beyond amazing. Nette looks like she is in complete control inside her domain, almost like a god. As I look around, I notice that Glimmer, Bloom, and even Lana seem to be channeling their mana. I trace the faint tendrils of light and life and find that their mana is being diverted to Nette.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
We run through our whole plan several times, dissecting the weakest parts. People volunteer to help us establish a more secure stronghold, and ideas are shared about how we can come up with all the portals we need to connect the coasts and academy. All in all, I'm shocked by the complete buy-in of these newcomers. Much like Becky the night before, they can't hold back their excitement once they catch the vision of what we are trying to create.
It helps that the center of our cause is creating a better life for the children. About half of the humans have kids of their own. We sort through multiple variations of our original plan until it is fine-tuned and worked out to the best of our abilities.
All that is left is the binding to the dungeon core. For that, Nette lets us out of her domain. Bones starts accepting everyone into the dungeon as he shakes hands with each of the new members. Though we were only in the mind domain for a short while I already feel like I know these people so much more.
Most of the Anvileers, as they like to refer to themselves, just want to return to their former lives. The Grants used to run an armory and wish to do so again. The Julliens are keenly interested in the academy and expanding its library. Coleman, one of the older vets who sat in the back row with me, wants to help in the barracks. Faces have names. Names have desires and goals. In one morning, we've transformed from an auditorium of strangers into a community with a common purpose.
Everyone joins the dungeon except Cru and his spiders and Lana, who expresses her deepest regrets that she cannot join. However, she doubles down on her oaths and promises that she'll only work for the good of our town. Cru quickly rushed out of the room after failing to bind to Bones' core. We have yet to be able to track him down.
Gene expresses her utmost gratitude to the people who willingly bear her burden. It's a tender moment; if anyone isn't already committed to the cause, they are now.
One of the first projects will be rebuilding our kitchen. Until then, food is conveniently waiting for us in the great hall of the academy. I'm still full, so I skip the early lunch and head to the barracks training grounds. I'm exhausted from all the talking and could use fresh air and a good stretch.
Though the barracks survived the demon invasion, it didn't survive the wrath of Fury. The building is in burnt rubble, and even the open yard of the training ground sports burn marks. Exercise is exercise, so I dust my hands, stretch my arms and back, and clear up the large stones that crowd the grounds. I allow myself to start practicing sword forms only when a large section of the ground is cleared off.
I'm absorbed in the movements of my blades and feel at peace as the swords sing through the air. My heart is beating at an increased speed. My breathing is labored, and sweat is beading. I feel good. My body loosens, and my movements increase. I practice form after form, transitioning into each as naturally as one blinks. In this trance, I almost feel like I'm resting. That is, until large rocks are split on the edges of my sword.
"You cut those with your eyes closed," Fury says, his voice rumbling with laughter. "I'm impressed. This will be a good fight."