As night turns to day, Lana embraces the warmth of the rising sun. The hug is hollow and one sided as it always is. Still she basks in the warmth, recharging her soul for the new day. She found that today she needed a little more love than the sun could give. It didn’t happen often and the cleric tried to push past the few occasions when it did occur. Today is one of those days. Today the weight of her tasks felt extra heavy — or, rather she did not feel powerful.
If she is being honest, Lana barely holds herself together. Sure she is managing. She more than manages. She keeps the sinking ship sailing, as she patches up the sails, repairs the stern, heals the wounded, and feeds the hungry. Today she needs a break — to feel not just the warmth of the sun but for the sun to hold her back. Maybe even pick up some of her pieces that she knows she’s losing. It wouldn’t be long. Just a few seconds to crumple in on another’s support, then her broken parts will mend back together. Her arms are getting so tired from holding on.
Lana didn’t chide herself for her moment of weakness. Through the years of trials and heart ache she learned it was ok to feel weak. It was ok to be weak and even broken. Her empty arms rest at her side, her face is still lifted toward the sun. With a deep breath she soaks in a little more love from the distant sun. She is so close to her soul’s desire. Her tired arms can hold on a little longer.
The light cleric pauses at the crumbled entrance to the town, takes another deep breath of perfect morning air, and walks through the gates. Today is a beautiful day. Unlike yesterday, when she had a sinking feeling all day, today is lively. Lana grins in anticipation of the new day, and the bonding experiences sure to come. Each step forward she feels a little bit stronger.
First on her list is amending damages with Gevevieve. The Lycan Queen doesn't trust her, and Lana is determined to resolve that issue. The wolf even went so far as to accuse her of betrayal and attack her. The turn of events was shocking but perhaps deserved. You can not live an unsuspicious life without falling under suspicion from the suspicious. That is a fundamental tenet in the Princess' Guidebook to Blending In.
Despite her efforts to keep a casual profile, not joining the dungeon was a surefire way to stand out. That act alone painted a massive target on her head. If it were not for Cru not signing up, she would have been in the solo spotlight.
Lana didn't miss the weary glances from Fury, the Synth Sisters, and the spiders when she didn't join in the binding. But Lana did not fault them for that. How could they know she is a much better ally than a partner. Besides, it's not that she didn't want to join. Due to other obligations, she didn't feel like she could. For one, it didn't feel proper to bind herself to another when she was still technically the heir to the throne of the Luminous Kingdom.
Her heart ached for home. Even though she had spent as much time away from her kingdom as she spent in it, she found herself reminiscing about home. The cold, misty air was always refreshing to breathe in. Swimming in the frozen seas could cool you off on even the hottest days. Nothing like the lakes here that practically boil you alive. Weekends spent slaying monsters on the Horn with the troops, despite Cliff's annoyed looks, were always a blast. Then, there were the monthly parties thrown across the kingdom. Everyone in the kingdom would celebrate. The celebrations epitomized extravagance and luxury, brimming with joyous abandon. She would always immerse in the revelry, basking in the sheer delight of it all. She and Katy...
Stumbling on her friend's name, Lana's thoughts and reminiscing snap to an end — just like the life she used to have. The friends… the family. She swallows the bitter pain. Her old home, her old life, is gone. Maybe it is time for her to accept it and move on.
Today is a beautiful day. She takes another deep breath, basking in the aroma of mana-shaping stone wood and trees. As the day of repairs kicks off, the princess plans how to do her own repairs. Luckily, Lana veiled her power just before the rest of the town returned. Besides the Matron, she should have a manageable amount of work ahead of her, and her first encounter is already in front of her.
"Morning, Lana!" Trixie shouts, taking a break from her earth casting. The ordinarily silent beast tamer surprises her with a greeting and that she's awake before noon and spending time on something that wasn't soft or scary.
"Good morning, Trixie!" Despite the odd behavior, Lana greets her back with equal or more excitement. "It is good to see you so early. And what's this you are working on?"
"Yeah. Who knew dying could be a real booster to jumpstart your life. You would not believe it. One moment, I am filled with immense pain and fear and swallowed by a dull darkness. Then, the next, I am alive and well and surrounded by all my friends. I died yesterday!" She is really excited about that part. Lana matches her joy with her expressions. "And now I get to start again with a new life and much less fear."
"I am so happy for you!" Lana says genuinely as she observes the tree structure taking shape.
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Nestled as close to the south entrance as she can get is a four-story building as tall as the new walls being built, a simple build of stone and wood. As an earth cultivator, Trixie favors natural builds, as in she grows a massive tree, adds stone for support and authenticity, and then hollows out the tree to complete her shop.
As the building takes shape, Lana adds runes enforcing the integrity and durability of the building. She fuses more mana into the home, pushing past the bounds of an ordinary building and closer to one of sentient. Not that the tree stable is alive or ever hopes to be alive. It is just a building. Her mana and runes allow the house to adapt to the resident's needs, even providing some protection.
As the stable is finished, Tracy, Apper, McGrady, and Nico arrive at the gate. The cultivators, three attuned to earth and one light, have been repairing the walls. The north and west sections of the wall have been fixed and greatly improved. The tall, thick walls have been carefully raised and reinforced. The fortification is now twice as high as the old wall and three times thicker, all built with dragon stone. The dense marble is closer to a metal than an actual stone. Enhanced with runes placed by Tracy, the only way into the fortress will be through the gates.
"Anything I can help with?"
"Just builders building," McGrady grumbles. Lana is pretty sure that is the mountaineer's way of saying no. The refusal is expected. She has little to no building experience. Even her rune work pales compared to Tracy's.
"It's Good to see you, Lana," says Apper. The arachnoid seems overjoyed to be one of the builders. The spider has only recently begun cultivating. She should be proud that the orc is keeping her on crew. It speaks highly of her talent.
"I will ensure food is sent to you all when it arrives." Food is always a great way to help builders with their mana-intensive jobs. "Where do you plan to be around noon?"
"Hopefully, we will be finished with the new walls and gates. That would mean we are working on the guild hall."
"Oh, faster than expected." Lana figured they would be working on the walls until the next day. Wolvsden isn't a large fortress town. Small to medium is where she places it compared to other places she has visited. The quality of the defenses is what she expected to slow down the process. High-tier stones and defensive runes take time to summon and create.
"The abundance of mana here, more than anything, aids our work. We also have a dedicated force of workers who help us with setbacks and other delays," says Nico.
Since the four are busy at work, Lana says farewell and renews their stamina and strength with a minor light enchantment. It's a casual casting, and the group might only notice the renewal once she is gone.
The petite orc, Corrin, is getting started on her blacksmith not far from the stable. Her Great Pa watches her efforts but ensures he doesn't step on his 'precious gem's toes.' It's an endearing relationship, though not the most effective when getting stuff done. While the two argue about the building's layout, Lana places a part of her internal flame in the furnace. Her red fire never dies and burns hotter than anything she knows of. Her lively flame can help create legendary equipment in a skilled blacksmith's furnace.
Life is quiet in town without the dungeon boss or self-appointed king around. Not that the town isn't busy—quite the opposite. The latest demon attack and a renewal of life have filled the former Anvileers with passion. Everyone is putting in extra effort. Of course, it helps that the children are still in a state of holding, so more resources and focus can be spent on building rather than tending.
However, the more Lana thinks about it, the more it seems that people are more rushing to get the children to return than fear of invaders.
Without the kids, the town feels empty even though the spider population has more than tripled the town's numbers. Without Bones and Jim, the town was quiet. The two are probably arguing over Jim's new name somewhere in the mountains. That or creating nicknames or butchering given names of the town's people. Smokehands, Tidecaller, and Hammerbelly are just a few names the savage duo created on the fly for some of the new citizens. Lana even heard the name Goldi flying around and is sure it is her new name. At least, she hopes so.
How's my golden girl? Kip would ask her when she entered his store. At first, the name was given because of her deep pockets. Later, it became a silly form of endearment. Brighter because I found you, she would say back.
Lana clears her mind of the sweet memory, tones down her smile to an acceptable level, and continues her rounds through town. Her meeting with Gavin is brief, the captain needed validation and that was about all. She will have similar conversations with Colby and Emma. The two are basically shaking under the weight of their new responsibility.
Lana isn't sure if she is disappointed or impressed by the recent ruling shift. On the one hand, she was never one to shirk responsibility. She loves having a role and being able to deliver. However, politically removing themselves from the immediate role of leadership allowed the dungeon boss and self-appointed king to wander off while keeping the town functioning—probably functioning better than if they were calling the shots.
Funny enough, that was typically Kip's leadership style. He hated the spotlight and hated calling the shots. Yet somehow, he seemed to always be the guide, and people would follow him. Colby and Emma… both were young and unfit for their roles, yet Lana could not pick a better two to lead herself. That isn't her thought alone; the old guard also agrees.