Chapter 15 (Patreon)

By lunchtime, Flint was too exhausted to move his arms, and his knees felt like they were made of jelly. Due to the surplus of stones, he didn’t have to waste energy on [Shape] but moving stones to the top of the wall, placing them and then using [Bind] drained him considerably. The ability’s rank increase appeared to have increased its radius by half and giving him more control over what he could join within the ability’s range. It made life much easier.

The wall gained three feet in height, and the stairs leading up its size received some much-needed love too. Flint started on the ramparts but ran out of blocks and didn’t have the energy to create more. After facing the pucks, Flint designed the new wall to counter their climbing and jumping abilities. The platform at the top of the wall would jut out over the exterior by four feet and have holes in them for people at the top. As a result, climbers would have to face arrows or tar to their faces as they climbed before struggling with a large overhang.

To make life even harder, Flint planned on having triangle-shaped ramparts with rounded exterior corners and sides. He hoped it would function as an additional challenge for climbers and their grappling hooks. Hopefully, the Heartstone would consider it a sufficient deterrent and consider the objective completed.

Before heading down, Flint sat atop the walls, whistled and took a moment to take in the view. The Choking Cliffs—a local name for the cliffs on either side of the pass—perfectly framed the Verdant Plain’s green expanses beyond. When he dreamed of life after the Iron Army, he never imagined living with such a landscape at his doorstep.

Just as he was about to whistle again, Flint spotted movement in the green. The tall grass parted, and Maya appeared running much faster than she could day before. Her limbs left in a cloud of dust in her trail. If that weren’t enough, she was carrying a deer more than half her size in her mouth too. Which meant her top speed would be much faster than any ordinary dogs.

It took much longer for Flint to spot Bjorn. Maya was almost at the gates by the time he appeared, trotting at a relaxed pace. The dog dragged another deer next to him. Flint laughed. The pair must’ve had a ball while he toiled away. Given their take, he hoped they wouldn’t have to leave the fort’s grounds for a few days.

Once Bjorn caught up to Maya, Flint returned to ground level and let the pair in. His muscles and back protested as he worked the mechanism. When Adam joined him working the crank, Flint almost jumped out of his skin. He looked over his shoulder to find Twylip watching the pair with her hands on her hips. She nodded at him before turning her attention to the dogs as they entered. Both tails took off once they saw the new faces.

While Maya greeted the both of them, Bjorn went straight up to Twylip. He let her scratch his ear for a moment before heading towards camp. On the other hand, Maya waited until the gates were closed, and all of them started their journey uphill. Observing the difference between the two, he wondered whether there was more to Bjorn’s suspicions of him than he thought. It was likely the dog preferred men to women. Time would tell, and he firmly believed that it was a hurdle he’d eventually cross.

“I can help you with the gate, you know,” Twylip said as they walked uphill.

“I didn’t realise you had any strength-enhancing abilities,” Flint replied, trying his best not to show his exhaustion show. “Believe me, mine is at the fifth rank, and it’s still a struggle.”

“No, dum-dum.” She chuckled. “The mechanism is old, and whatever alchemical treatment the ancients used have faded. I don’t have the [Alchemy] skill stone, of course, but I could try whipping up oil to lubricate the mechanism.”

“That would be lovely, Twylip—”

“Call me, Twy,” she said, smiling at Flint. “Percy spent all of yesterday evening, you know. He’s been at the pub telling everyone how you have no respect for your elders and working for the Iron Army has inflated your ego.”

“I expected as much.” Flint sighed. “It wasn’t my best moment. He kept cutting me off and challenging my plans despite my recent experiences. I lost my anger and gave him an earful.” Flint massaged his neck, turning his eyes to the ground. “I bet that ruined my chances of getting more help.”

“Maybe among people of his age, but my friends and I think it’s about time someone put him in his place. We hate Percy. He’s rude, belligerent and only wants to hear himself talk. Believe me. It won’t be long before others come over to help you.”

Twylip stumbled on a crack in the ground, and Adam was immediately there to assist her. She thanked him before continuing.

“My generation has spent too long doing nothing. Lea’s Slumber is too far from other settlements for us to move, and there is nothing to do. We’re small and self-sufficient. The older folk have highly levelled skill stones, and there are only so many apprentices they’re willing to take on.” Twylip looked at Adam for reassurance, and the larger man shook his head. “There’s just no work. Most of them live with their families, drinking, smoking, and wasting away. Sooner or later, they’ll see there’s more to do here, and they’ll turn up at your doorstep.”

“I can’t imagine having nothing to do. Why would Lea’s Slumber cut itself off from the world?”

“Well, we’re too far away to maintain trade routes,” Twylip answered. “We used to mostly supply the Iron Army contingency just outside the pass and in the Verdant Plains. They’ve been pulling away from our edge of the disk for years. The surplus of product and manpower has just been growing. It’s depressing, really. I’m one of three practising apothecaries in Lea’s Slumber, and as a bastard, I mostly take care of people that can’t afford my father or half brother’s services. If it weren’t for my grandmother, I wouldn’t have [Apothecary] at all, and Miss Lya helped me out with [Herbalism]. If the army didn’t leave, I was hoping to join them and perhaps look into getting an [Alchemy] skill stone.”

“If one of my life or class quests offer me the stone, I’d be open to picking it for you,” Flint stated. “That’s given we get along and can set up a contract of sorts.”

“That would be great!” She exclaimed. Twylip’s eyes widened, and an ear-to-ear smile spread across her face. Flint noted how she had exceptionally straight teeth like Miss Lya. He didn’t know about Adam since he hadn’t opened his mouth, let alone cracked a smile since they met. As he thought about it, Flint realised the two women had eyes carrying the same hazel shade. “I’d happily sign a twelve-year employment contract if it got me [Alchemy].”

Flint stopped himself before telling her six years would be sufficient. The Iron Army handed out second-tier skill stones for six-year terms, but it was mostly high-performers that received them for their third or fourth terms. He guessed twelve years was the standard outside the army. It didn’t matter either way. He’d need to find additional skill stones first and then need to find someone capable of putting together a binding contract.

“Where will you be sleeping?” Flint asked as they approached his camp. “If you give me a couple of hours, I can make you a small cottage or add an extension to my structure.”

“I’d rather not.” Twylip looked Flint directly in the eye. “That’s how my father ended up with a bastard.” Her statement got a laugh out of Adam. It was a loud guffawing cry much too high-pitched for someone with Adam’s build or beard. Twylip chuckled in response, and Flint couldn’t help but join in. “Anyway. The fort has plenty of empty rooms, and bribed Percy to empty a couple of them for me. It’ll be easier for me to manage the gardens from there.”

“What about you, Adam?”

The bigger man grunted and pointed at a monstrous wagon standing by the [Totem of Healing]. Wood, stone, and unfamiliar tools sat piled high atop it.

“Looks like he brought materials for his own home,” Twylip said. She lowered her voice and leaned closer to Flint. “Keep an eye on his forge. Adam’s Pa kicked him out of their workshop and had him work in the ruins of their old one. I don’t know what he did, but the rumour says that he makes the strangest of contraptions that often gets people hurt.”

Flint didn’t know what to make of her statement. He wasn’t one to give rumours much attention, but Twylip and Miss Lya didn’t give him a particularly positive impression of Lea’s Slumber. The more he heard about the village, the more he wondered whether the Heartstone was pulling his leg.

Can a settlement of petal smokers and drunks birth a champion?

Flint shook the doubts off his head. His new helpers probably had a rough start in life, but he did too. The Iron Army and Maya had helped him find a purpose and a fresh start. Perhaps Twylip and Adam needed the same. Flint hoped he could give them the opportunity they needed, and together they’d inspire Lea’s Slumber.

Adam had brought sandwiches for the trio. They sat down to eat together, and Flint told the pair about his life quest and how he hoped to improve the fort. It still felt too early to divulge the bit about the champion, so he stayed away from the topic. When Bjorn started whining for food, Flint gave the dogs half the leftover stew from the night before. There was still enough left over for one meal for them, and he believed the vegetables would be good for the pair. If not for Twylip, he would’ve given them one of the deer.

“I’ll skin them for you,” she had said. “I grew up with my maternal grandparents after my father refused to house me. He’s a tanner and will make quick work of them.”

Flint guessed Twylip was trying to please him. Even though his empathic sense didn’t work on humans, he could feel her desperation. Twylip wanted to make something for herself and become more than just the village apothecary’s bastard. Flint was her ticket out of his shadow, and he respected her drive. As long as she proved herself trustworthy, he was happy to help her on her journey.

After the meal and a short rest, Flint felt restored. However, the [Totem of Healing]’s light was now barely glowing. It wasn’t a permanent skill, as he had initially guessed. The structure was invaluable, though, and he now had more people that could benefit from it, so he created a new one. Instead of using the pillar again, he used the ability on the new hut.

This time, the ability cut off before he ran out of energy. The vines and leaves shone brighter as they spread over the walls and wrapped around the structure. Emerald light pulsed from it, washing over the camp. Everyone looked refreshed, but Flint still felt worn out. He had plenty of energy left, so he didn’t call it a day yet. Instead, he helped Adam sort through the untidy load on his cart.

Adam’s silence put him at ease. The man managed to express himself without facial expressions and body language, getting across his thoughts with gestures instead of words. It was like spending time with Maya or Bjorn. It turned out, Adam had brought an entire smithy with him. Flint guessed Adam had used his monstrous strength to dismantle the old workshop. After taking inventory of everything he had and what needed building, Flint put together a quick plan and had Adam ignite the firepit in his hut.

“We’re not making a permanent base here,” he told Adam. “Unless the Heartstone instructs otherwise, I hope to make the fort my home and base of operations. Why don’t you join Twylip up there and help me during the day? It will let you stay close to the village and find a decent spot for the smithy.”

Adam nodded and set about pulling the heavy cart uphill. Flint felt terrible about making him drag the vehicle back uphill and offered to help, but Adam shook his head.

“Join me after sunrise, then? I’ll need your help finishing the wall. Then we can build a proper smithy for you.”

Adam grunted, shook his hand, and disappeared into the ruins.

When Twylip finished butchering the meat, she advised Flint to cure and then smoke it to make it last a while. Since he didn’t know how, she directed him in the construction of a smokehouse. Twylip washed and dried the meat before rubbing it with an odd pink mixture out of her belt pouch and had Flint hang it in the smokehouse. They left the fires unlit since the meat needed a while to hang, and they didn’t have the right wood. Twylip promised to gather some for him before departing towards the fort.

Even though Flint hadn’t met his progress goals, he finished the day satisfied with the work he had done. Adam and Twylip lacked experience, but they were much better company than Percy. It would take a while, but he was confident they’d eventually do great things together.