Before noon there is already a disturbance on the farm. The animals are going about their daily lives while cold sweat made tracks on the farmer’s back.

“Bailey! Gather the Lion and send them to farthest look out. Then have the Scales meet up with Jack at the borders.” He shouted at scarecrow shoveling right next to the shed while still holding on to a piece of parchment.

The scarecrow immediately left when it heard his command.

Bob took his axe and machete with him, along with the bow already looped over his shoulders and then went straight to the cave on Atga’s back.

The letters have come and gone for the span of a month. The contents were longer to compensate for the duration that it would arrive. While Bob is very occupied with creating golem, Jack dutifully scouts the capitol.

The adventurers will return in one week. I will leave Amulis the day after tomorrow along with the other resources that you have requested.

Upon his arrival in the cave he dismounts right where the three golems are who just happens to finish off another wild golem and taking their core.

“Emi, Obi, Zuli prepare the cover and carry it to the entrance.” Bob said before heading straight deeper into the cave.

The cave’s lay out remains the same. Damp, mossy and illuminated with crystal rocks. But there have been improvements, more cleared path heading on the lower levels of the cave.

As Bob traverse deeper, the crystal’s light begins to shift to a darker hue. At the end of the path is a stash of used up cores. Bob delves into the pile and pulls out a core glowing a green light. He looks at it for a moment before placing it inside a pouch and strap it to his waist.

He then climbs back out of the cave where the golems are carrying muds and rocks at the entrance. Then began Bob’s work of covering the mouth of the cave with those materials. Fashioning it to look like the cliff. To his eyes it was good enough. But it fills him with uncertainty so he began to cover it with leaves and branches. With a satisfied look he left the cave and rode Atga to the farthest look out.

As he was on his way, he notices the temperature drop. The already cold wind is becoming is becoming sharp by the week.

‘Jack, please be safe.’

On his arrival at the farthest lookout, 9 golems are waiting for him. Their appearance is very different to the earlier ones. The new golems have a slightly taller than Bob like the rest. But they have long reaching fingers that appears more like a claw. They do not have faces and their bodies are entirely made up of the crystals, held up together by ropes that covers their entire body.

“Alright you’re all here. When Jack arrives with the Scales, I want you to observe the route they take and make sure no one follows them. Report to me and hinder them as much as possible.”

The golems stood still and a silent void filled them.

‘I really have no idea if they understand me.’ Bob thought while looking at all of them.

“That’s all.” He ended.

The golems then disperse to different direction leaving Bob alone on the lookout.

Night time came and there is still no sign of Jack on the horizon. The bright harvest moon lights up the entire place. The torches by the look out and the ones scattered across the place remains unlit.

Sitting atop the tree that serves as a watchtower on the lookout, he pulls a small luminous rock from a leather pouch hanging from one of the branches. Placing it on a small table then covers it with a hollowed crystal making the light scatter and bright enough to illuminate the spot.

Bob pulls out a piece of folded parchment from his back pocket and lays it in front of him. Reading the words from it over and over. Saying somethings out loud as if he’s trying to memorize it.

“Core… Memory…Life”

Slowly his consciousness drifted to a distant memory.

A prairie as far as the eye can see. Wind brushes along the tall grass but he couldn’t feel it. Then suddenly the scenery changed and the grass is replaced by lilies.

“Stargazer…” he whispered underneath his breath.

Then on the horizon a small house. Built with the same likeness as his house on the farm but with a different feel. Before he knew it tears had run down his face as he stretches forth his arms to reach for it.

When he came to, he found himself lying down on a wooden board that serves as the floor of the lookout. There were tears in his eyes and he remembers the dream he had.

Wiping his face, he looks back at the direction of the farm and saw a light that signals dawn. Realizing he had been waiting for the entire night he stored the luminous rock back to the pouch and climbs down from the lookout. Underneath the same tree is Atga that was alerted by his coming.

Just then, a howl echoed through the forest and Atga howled with the familiar sound.

In a short moment he notices the arrival of Jack and Agta that slowly being lighted up by the rising sun. Jack is still wearing the worn-out clothes that Bob gave him, with more holes and rips on it. Overjoyed, he jumps to Atga’s back and meet with them.

Jack leaps from the wolf’s back and bowed on his knees as he greeted Bob.

“Master, I have return.”

Bob rushes to Jack with a hug immediately after dismounting from his own ride. Words couldn’t form as he squeezes the scarecrow tightly. Right next to the is Agta, decorated with various ornaments and sack that contains different materials obtained from their expedition.

Jack took a necklace made from boar’s teeth and handed it to Bob.

“Pardon me for being late. I made a quick stop at Rootwing forest. The creatures will be joining us soon.”