Spellheart 10: Chapter 2 (Patreon)

I returned home after a long day of work and figured that as long as I was building for the rest of Deania, the Hearthwood deserved some attention as well. And where better to practice than on the grounds of my own castle complex?

There were a lot of buildings in that area now, with more cropping up all the time. I suppose it might even qualify as a palace these days, especially with all the extra buildings.

“Mac, I want to practice some architecture stuff. Bridges, columns, that sort of thing.” I announced to the empty air.

After a long stretch of silence, Mac answered me. Normally he was quicker than that, but with so much to monitor in the city and the dungeon below these days, his processors were at capacity.

[Understood. I will catch any shoddy attempts at masonry before they crumble on top of anyone’s head.]

Mac was not only my AI companion, he was also a dungeon core. His powers had grown all the greater after we gathered up more dungeon cores from the expansive tunnel network beneath the Hearthwood and gave them to him. He’d quickly subjugated their wills and integrated them into himself as additional processing units.

Now, those dungeon cores allowed him to make whatever he wanted, and in truth, he’d probably be even better than I was at constructing things while within the Hearthwood.

But his presence only extended so far, so I was going to use my time here to practice with him. With his help, I’d be able to push my earth magic to build things I wouldn’t dare attempt for the first time in the rest of Deania.

I flew over to an empty patch of ground and decided to start with a tower. Sometimes I got into a particularly wizard-ish mood, and that kind of thing would call for a tower.

[This tower is stable, but one big earthquake and it will crumble.] Mac replied when I finished a basic tower.

“Alright, I’ll stiffen the walls and make them a little deeper.” I waved my hands, making it wider and deeper. The top sloped, and now it looked more like a cone.

[Better, but the rooms aren’t going to be much use toward the top with so much of the walls sloped inward.]

I frowned. “Okay, how about a bunch of roofs like this?”

I vaguely remembered buildings from Earth with a bunch of circular roofs, and I tried my best to replicate the half-remembered image.

[That would be called a pagoda, and it works, though it doesn’t quite match the Renaissance-esque architectural style I’m transitioning the Hearthwood to...]

“I came here for engineering advice, not style criticism...” I grumbled, but as I did so, I waved my hand, and the roofs vanished and were replaced with something that matched the wood and bright white stone of the nearby structures.

[Appearances are important. They are everyone’s first impression of you and your settlement. A clean and orderly settlement will lighten the spirits of all those who live there.]

“Alright, alright. Say, you think I could go underground with this thing?” I asked curiously. I knew the castle went as far underground as it did above ground. It led directly into the underground half of the city, full to the brim with weapon crafters and adventurers.

[Certainly. Extending your foundations a little deeper will make your tower more stable as well. The exact structure you’ll need will depend on what you’re building though.]

“Hmm... how about a dungeon?” I muttered as I did as Mac said. Earth zeal flowed around me. This part of the build was a little harder because I couldn’t see what I was working with, but the earth zeal was still there for my senses so long as I reached out with my mind. It was a bit like building a sandcastle by feeling alone, but being underground, this part of the structure didn’t have to look quite as pretty as what could be seen.

[A dungeon, hmm... we have a few of those already. Some are filled with the soldiers of the Rakaren Queendom and a few other enemies we’ve fought. We even have a few members of the Corpse Collector Company in storage.]

“Ah, crap. I forgot about those people. Are they alright?” I asked, brows furrowed. I could have sworn this had come up a few times, but I’d never had time to deal with it.

[Of course. I believe your orders were to turn them into power sources, so that’s what they are being used for. You never gave the orders to let them go, so they’re still being fed and cared for.]

“Well, we should probably let them go now that the Corpse Collector Company is long destroyed.”

[That might not be the best idea. If we released them, we wouldn’t be able to power the street lamps, fountains, or the public cultivation chambers.]

“You mean to tell me we’re powering a good chunk of the city off prisoners I forgot about?” I shook my head. “Why hasn’t this made it to my desk?”

[It has. Several times. Anyway, we can release them if you wish, but--]

I waved him away. “Just remind me again later. I won’t deprive my citizens of valuable public resources. When I think of a replacement, we can let them go.”

[Okay. When should I remind you?]

“Anyway--“ I began, promptly clearing my mind for more important subjects, “I’m building a dungeon, but not the kind of dungeon we already have. It needs to be comfortable, with good ventilation and able to hold a warm and steady temperature. Thick walls so it’s quiet and undisturbed. It needs to be able to fit plenty of furniture.”

[Ah, I see. You’re building a sex dungeon.]

“What? No... the thick walls are so the screams don’t get out. And the furniture could be torture equipment.”

[And the good ventilation? The warm temperature?] Mac asked.

I grumbled under my breath even as I extended the tower several more stories downward. The area under the tower would actually be considerably larger than the area below it, complete with room for a swimming pool and hot tub on the lower floors. I’d have to bend ley lines a bit and recruit Argona to make some enchantments for the temperature...

No, on second thought, this was the sort of thing that needed a personal touch. I’d have to craft those enchantments myself. I would have to hire out the odds and ends though.

“Please tell the Whitewood Clan I need more flooring. Stone just doesn’t feel right underfoot.”

[I want you to know that I won’t be responsible for cleaning your sex dungeon, Theo.]

“Don’t call it a sex dungeon!”

[Giant tower of Debauchery, then? What’s wrong with your sex dungeon in the castle? Why do you need another one?] Mac asked.

I sighed. “Don’t let me catch you sharing this with anyone, but the truth of the matter is that the castle and its surrounding grounds are getting a little crowded. I’ve got so many kids these days that it feels like a campus for women’s college. We’ve got daily classes for training up new members of the family, for crying out loud! We had a commencement ceremony for the latest birthday party! And worst of all--“ I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I overheard somebody asking if it was possible to book the room for a few hours. I don’t know who it was, and I don’t want to know, but it’s not a damn public facility! Nobody uses my sex dungeon but me!”

[...So it is a sex dungeon?]

I sagged in place. “Yes, Mac. It’s a sex dungeon. Don’t spoil the surprise.”

***

After building my sex dungeon, I went on to construct several more buildings throughout the Hearthwood. The chaos from before allowed the city to sprawl quite a bit compared to its original dimensions, but after all the battles, few dared build things as tall as they once had.

A considerable amount of budget-residences were going underground so they could avoid getting caught in the crossfire of the constant apocalyptic battles that plagued the city. It made the city lose some of its charm, but I couldn’t blame them.

If I owned real estate in the Hearthwood, I would also be nervous about random demigods showing up to flatten the place every couple of months. How many times did that make this? Two? Three? The fact that I’d lost count was a bad sign.

Since few others would be willing to risk building the city’s new landmarks, the burden fell to me.

I always wanted a nice clock tower, and I had plenty of practice from building my wizard’s tower just moments ago. I went to the center of town where everybody would be able to see and hear it and erected a tall and sturdy building. There were no bells or machinery inside it for now, but making some of my kids figure out how to build a mechanical clock seemed like a good test of their physics skills. Magic was all well and grand, but I credited many of my early accomplishments with magic to my understanding of science rather than cultivation.

With a clock tower built, I figured I might as well expand the train system too. Before, it had mainly been used for getting between settlements, but at this point the city was large enough it justified cheap and affordable transportation for getting around the settlement itself.

True, anyone using a flying sword would be able to get around faster on their own, but not everyone owned a flying sword. Unlike most rulers on this world, I planned to lend a helping hand to the newly manifested heartwielders. Touring Deania, their situation always seemed a bit sad to me.

Despite having by far the greatest numbers, they were often overlooked in terms of policy and public works. The higher-tiered members of society monopolized all the power and influence. Many of them were even alright with their lot, each content in the belief that someday they would rise in cultivation and gain access to all the privileges that entailed.

The trouble was the lack of care limited opportunities to make such advancements. A heartwielder could only work as far as they could walk from where they lived. And they were just as likely to die on their first dungeon dive as they were to use the dungeon to reach mage acolyte. Nobody bothered to train or transport them.

I planned to make the Hearthwood different. From the rumors I’d heard of the Elven Star Dominion, they’d been different. While arrogant and overconfident to a fault, they raised up their entire civilization so that reaching the wizard realm for them was like what reaching mage acolyte was for most of Deania. Just a stepping stone.

That all boiled down to trains running around the city at regular intervals, as well as lifts to reach the top of the towering trees or to take prospective dungeoneers to the dungeons in the undercity without the need for an hours-long hike down natural caves or a lengthy climb up a rickety rope ladder.

My previous projects were still bearing fruit as well. I’d built a small dam downriver for a constant water source and energy for the city, should anyone figure out how to use it. That was still a work in progress, but I got the turbine and walls back in order. Maybe some belts or pulleys could tug the new trolleys and elevators around. That’d be another assignment for my kids to figure out.

Maybe having an entire college campus’ worth of children on my property wasn’t so bad. By the time everything was settled, the Hearthwood was going to look positively steampunk.

That would be a day worth bragging about. Sam and Dean had been active for more than four hundred years and hadn’t managed to bring more than a few scarce parts of Deania out of the Middle Ages. And the Cult of the Unblinking Eye’s territories looked like they were from the classical period. Here in the Hearthwood, we had a space program and everything.

After finishing up with the city, I doubled back home. While I wasn’t about to do any dual cultivation in the castle, it was still a nice place to stay. Plus, it had most of my private entrances to The Wanderer. That magic ship was the only reason I was still around to this day.

“So, how’s The Wanderer doing, Mac?” I asked, hoping he hadn’t shared the news of my new dungeon with my women yet.

[She is doing wonderfully! Especially now that you’ve given her that special treat,] Mac replied.

I smiled. “Ah, the cellphone with the QCA on it. How could I forget? I hope she’s got something worthwhile for me from it.”

[She’s nearly done implementing the QCA’s features into her own systems. You should be able to access them now.]

I focused my mind on seeing my stats. Nothing happened.

“Status,” I said. Still nothing.

I waved my hands in front of me, but nothing happened.

[We’re still working out the kinks. For now, you can activate them with a simple command!]

“And that command is?”

[Mac, you devilishly handsome and incredibly clean robot, please bring up my status window.]

“Mac, bring up my status window.”

[Spoil sport...] Mac grumbled.

A moment later, a modified form of the screen I’d seen on the phone appeared before me.

Welcome to the Quantum Cultivation Assistant, user!

Cultivation Insights:

Body Cultivation: World Titan Fiendbody (Diamond Skin)

Progress to Diamond Muscle: 38%

Tip: Crossing the threshold to Diamond Muscle will require deepening the nodes of power dispersed throughout your body, which will require substantial Earth-aspect zeal and potentially the assistance of an exotic cultivation material to facilitate the process.

Spirit Cultivation, Earth Aspect: Early Demigod

Progress to Mid Demigod: 24%

Tip: Your Spirit and Body Cultivation are in resonance, and you possess several unique techniques to enhance this process. Consider using your spirit cultivation to fuel your body cultivation.

Spirit Cultivation, Mind Aspect: Mid Sorcerer

Progress to Late Sorcerer: 25%

Tip: Your body and comprehension have already reached the Demigod realm. The right items and a source of raw power are all you need to bring your mind cultivation up to par.

Elemental Symbiote Cultivation: Mid Socrerer

Progress to Late Sorcerer: 57%

Tip: Minerva, the Death-aspect spirit that dwells within you, can be enhanced by providing her with resources and assisted with additional insights provided by you. Bringing your connection to a higher level will facilitate the sharing of knowledge. Consider additional dual cultivation sessions with her included.

“Not bad. The QCA didn’t recognize Minerva last time,” I said as I inspected the screen before me. The tips were also quite handy. Sam and Dean had shared most of these ideas with me before, but having them all spelled out for me was nice. I had planned on doing a little dual cultivation sooner or later anyway, but now I had the perfect excuse.

“What about the other features The Wanderer promised me?” I asked. “Like that Merit shop? And sharing these tips with my women?”

[Access to missions and cultivation tips will both have to happen from your throne room. You’ll find your follower limitations have dramatically increased, even though you haven’t improved the room. As for the merit shop, I’ll bring that up in a moment.]

Welcome to the Merit Shop!

You have 2.5 million points to spend!

There are over 4000 unique items available for purchase in the Merit Shop. The four most suitable items for you have been sorted for ease of viewing.

Apple of the Celestial Titan [200,000 points]

This fruit is a legendary item on the orcish home world and is famous for its amazing effects on body cultivators. It is said to be able to raise a normal orc all the way to Bronze Skin with a single bite and can even improve the cultivation of Diamond Skin cultivators.

Essence of Gaia’s Touch [175,000 points]

This Earth aspect treasure comes from the recently destroyed remains of a nature-aspect world. It has a strong affinity for both life and Earth and can be consumed to enhance the probability of Earth-aspect concept insights.

Ashes of an Immortal [300,000 points]

These ashes contain a small fraction of the remains of an Immortal Ascendant. They emit enormous quantities of death zeal and contain insights into death itself, creating dramatic improvements for all Sorcerer-realm death aspect cultivators.

Will-Tempering Crown [125,000 points]

This crown contains a hostile spirit of the mind aspect that will constantly attack the wearer. The constant mental struggle will hone the user’s mental defenses over time.

“Not a bad haul. I’ll take them all.” I quickly swiped through some menus. Each of these items seemed perfectly suited for continuing my cultivation. This was perfect. I had that Demigod party coming up, and I didn’t want to look like a mediocre Demigod.

I was already pretty strong as far as Demigods went, with many victories as proof. But it was one thing to know I could fight. It would be another for the other Demigods to feel it in my aura. I read over the description of Essence of Gaia’s Touch again, curious.

“Hey, do you think this thing came from the World of Woods and Wilds? You know, the planet we just blew up?”

[Do you really want to know the answer to that?] Mac asked.

I frowned. “No, I guess not. It would just make me feel bad when using it. I’ll take it anyway, though.]

[The items have been moved to the Dimensional Storage. You can inspect and utilize them at your convenience,] Mac announced. [You’ll notice you have quite a few points.]

“Yeah, it’s nice to be rich. Hey, I remember one of the other upgrades The Wanderer proposed was the ability to assign quests to followers, generating more points for me. We should set that up. Brainstorm some quests I can send my matriarchs out on. As for the points, I want us to take our defenses for the city as high as The Wanderer can support.”

[We are currently at maximum capacity for Level-Reducing Sentry Towers, but we may gain more capacity by upgrading the Mana Generator several times, as well as the walls.]

“Then we shall do so,” I replied. “Every time I think the Hearthwood is more than strong enough to ward off any foe, some far greater challenger beyond my comprehension shows up to threaten it. No more. We’re going to extend the Hearthwood’s protection as much as we can.”

[Very well. I will continue the upgrades until we reach some natural limit.]

“Let me know if we run out of points. I can get more fairly quickly now. As can my matriarchs once they start completing those quests.”

Mac made a throat-clearing sound, though he had no throat to clear, being an AI. [I’ll do it. But there is a chance we will have more points than we need. What I wanted to talk about was that there was a very, very nice car wash in The Wanderer’s schematics. I’m sure you remember me pointing it out to you way back when. It was very expensive for us at the time, I know that, but now..."

I chuckled. “Fine, Mac. You can build the car wash, assuming you first max out our defenses. I’m not sure what we’re going to do with it, though. The best we can send through it is wagons.”

[That won’t be a problem!] Mac said, fighting to keep his excitement down. [And I’ve notified all of your matriarchs that they’ve been assigned a series of quests! Now... I’ll be back later. Bye!]