The soil is tilled and turned, the seeds are planted, and in a few weeks, the first sprouts should start shooting. Thick roots thread through the earth, quite unlike the farms I’m familiar with, but it’s these same roots that hold the ground together and there’s no way we can destroy them.

“We’re planting smaller plants mostly.” The head farmer says. He’s the one that the budding farmers guild has chosen as a representative, there are quite a few others who are unassociated with the guild, however. “There are all sorts of plants that thrive when grown beside larger trees like this, and some of them are worth quite a lot in the cities.”

“So, there’s been no problems?” Nel asks, “These plants aren’t going to harm the mangrove trees?”

“No, no.” the farmer denies thoroughly. “We know what we’re doing. The mangroves are important to this cavern, our plants won’t ever hurt them. They’ll hopefully help the trees thrive better, as a matter of fact. Though…”

“What is it?” Nel asks.

“There is one farmer in the guild that was interested in trying to get the mangroves fruiting. He grafts plants together, but he’s not done anything to them so far.”

“If they’re still interested, we’ll look into any proposal offered. If they can prove that it won’t damage the ecosystems within the cavern, then it might be an interesting project.” Nel says, nodding slowly to the man.

“I’ll send the message along.” The man says, smiling giddily as he looks out over the farmland. “Do you want a guide to the other farms, they weren’t interested in this guild thing, and they have their own issues.”

“That’s fine, I’ll let you get back to work.” Nel says, “Oh, and if you have the time, keep up with the acting. In that last show, you made for a really fun prince.”

“Oh, ah you saw that huh?” he asks nervously scratching at his chin. “I’ll think about it.”

“In any case, have a good day.” Nel says.

“And good work, both acting and farming.” I say feeling that I should probably add something. He nods, smiling happily as he leans on an old shovel that he’s been carrying around with him.

“Thank you very much, your highness.” He bows low with a deep and overdone flourish. “Mayhap, I will visit the stage again when I’ve tended to my land and ensured it’s prolonged growth.”

He speaks in a gentle cadence, reciting lines from one act or another, as he gets to work planting his fields, or whatever it is that farmers do. I’m really not an expert on xeno-agriculture, and I’m not particularly interested in learning. The farmers know what they’re doing, all they need is the land to work and a few tools and magics that they already have prepared.

It’s nice, however, to see a few spellcasting gremlins helping out. They’ve made a deal with the colonists to learn farming, in trade for some of the food produced at the end of the season. Some few farmers are trading in mana shards that we’ve been producing, but most still prefer simple trade.

“Next is the fungi farms…” Nel says tapping her fingers together in an uneasy pace.

“I wonder if it’s going to be dangerous to breath down there.” I say, as we walk down the dark tunnels towards the underground farms and the mousy farmers working down there.

“It’s perfectly safe.” Nel says. “It can be dangerous during their sporing period, but it should be perfectly safe right now.”

“Oh, that’s good then.” I say, nodding as I watch ahead through the eyes of the two farmers. Their sight is a little more limited than I’m used to, so I don’t get a very vivid picture ahead of time, which is why even I’m surprised when we step into the wide little cavern.

Colourful, glowing little mushroom sprouts burst to life out of the moist wooden debris bound together with twine knots. There’s an orderly chaos to the farm, the hardwood that much of the fungi grows from is taken from the debris of the fallen parts of the city, which is why there’s no reliable pattern to the constructs.

“Welcome!” The four pawed farmer crawls out from under another of the frames that she’s working on. The twine holding it together twisting a little, but she doesn’t really care. “You came!”

“We did.” Nel says. “I’m impressed. It’s much more colourful than I was expecting.”

“Yes, glowing fungi are very common. They’re used for lighting and food, most of the bright ones are especially spicy though so be mindful if cooking them.”

“I might have to buy some when they’re ready for market.” Nel says, “Are there any dishes that you’d recommend? I might have to take down a few recipes.”

“Oh, yes!” The farmer bounces up and down. “I’ll send you a few of my favourite, also we have some sprouts harvested already. I’d like for you to have them. A gift.”

Before either of us can reply she’s bound over to a little home that her and her husband have made. In moments she’s crawling back out again with a bundle of colourful, glowing mushrooms on a tray that she holds in her mouth.

“They’re spicy, and they can make you sick if you eat too many at once, but they really add a kick to your meal.” She says, lowering the tray. “Sorry about my husband, he’s still in bed resting. He’s worked himself down to the bone.”

“It’s fine. Are you sure about this?” Nel asks, receiving the glowing bundle of mushrooms.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.” She says, firmly pushing Nel’s hand closed. “We have so many that we don’t really know what to do with them.”

“Thank you.” I say, kneeling down and nodding my head towards her. “Is there anything that’s been causing trouble, or anything you need?”

“Everything is good.” She says. “Too good really, we’re still figuring out how to sell our goods, but that’s the biggest trouble we have.”

“I have a number of connections with markets that might be interested.” Nel says, “I’m trying to expand into the other dungeons in this cavern as well. If you need assistance contact me, and I’ll get you connected to someone who could help.”

“We might do that.” She says, happily prancing about and showing off all that she’s built.

We visit more farms and homes, looking through everything my people want to show us, and confirming that everything is progressing well. The guild crafters prove a little tight lipped with us as Khet, their guild leader, tries to stone wall us, but it’s not a problem. Not yet, at least.

A quick check in with the crafters unassociated with the guild lasts a little longer than expected, however.

“We came out here to get away from that sort of politics!” The large man says, waving his arms about widely as he sits in his workshop surrounded by tools and unfinished projects. An interested blend of wood and stone that’s only possible because of his magic.

“Politics?” I ask, stepping ahead while Nel sighs in exasperation.

“Guilds taking over!” He grunts. “They tell us what we can make, how we make it, and whether or not we can even sell anything. They’re the reason I couldn’t start my shop up back in my home, and they’re going to ruin things here too.”

“They won’t.” I say confidently. “I won’t let them. We’ll make sure that they don’t interfere outside of providing fair competition.”

“Sure, until they start paying you under the table.” He grumbles. “It’s how it always is.”

I can’t hold down a chuckle, at his words, though I do try.

“What? You think you can ignore it when they lay on your table a pile of glowing gemstones filled with mana?” He asks, taking a long draught from whatever alcohol he’s managed to acquire. Considering the quality of his goods, I’m sure it’s something nicer than common swill.

“There’s one thing that you’re mistaking.” I say, leaning to the side. “It’s all mine already.”

“Huh?” He asks, turning to face me properly.

“It’s all already mine.” I say. “The guild, and everything they’ve gathered together, you and your workshop; this city is mine. If they try to bribe me it’ll be like a kid trying to pay off their parent with their pocket money.”

“You…” He starts, his eyes leering at me with a grumpy expression deepening on his froglike face.

“I’m not going to take anything from you.” I say firmly as I see that he misunderstands my intentions. I stand by a table that he’s made and slap a hand down on it. “What am I going to do with this? I’m not going to micromanage everything to the point where I find which living room this belongs in.”

“Dining room.” Nel corrects me.

“Whatever.” I shrug. “This whole city is mine, but I don’t want to be running around taking things. Unless you mess up so badly that I’m forced to come and take this workshop from you, I’m not interested in getting involved in the minutia. It is still mine, however, so are you, and I’ll make certain that you’re protected and able to achieve your best life here.

“If the guild gets in the way of that, then they’re interfering with what’s mine, and that’s unacceptable.” I say.

“I… think I get what you’re saying.” He grumbles throwing back his drink. “I don’t like how you say it one bit, but… I like the sentiment at least. And yeah, someone like you won’t bend to the guild. I’ll acknowledge that.”

“Good.” I say, “Now is there anything else troubling you?”

“Yeah,” He says, nodding towards me. “You’re in the way. I’m getting back to work, need to show those guild idiots how it’s done.”

“That’s a good spirit. I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, maybe.” He grumbles.

“Before that,” Nel interrupts my exit. “I think this table would do nicely in our bedroom, I’d like a nice table to have tea at. We always end up returning to our bedroom, so perhaps it’s best to just lean into it and get proper furniture.”

“What are you trading?” The large man asks, looking towards me suspiciously.

“Mana shards.” Nel says, showing him a few. “They have a considerable measure of mana, if you look closely, and if you empty them they still have value if you return them to us. I think thirty would be fair for a table of this size and mana density.”

“If you’re buying a beaten piece of junk from a dead man’s estate, maybe.” The man replies. “Fifty-six would be fair.”

The two whittle down the number bit by bit until settling at forty-four shards. I have no clue if that’s a good price or not.

“You unnerved him with that speech.” Nel says as we leave, promising to return to retrieve the table. “Be more careful with what you say.”

“Sorry, I got worked up.” I reply, turning aside and hiding the blush growing on my cheeks.

“It’s fine. It did help settle his worries with the guild, and after our purchase of the table I think he understands better what our intentions are.” She says, slowing and taking my hand. “Perhaps I should tell Arduelle about your words, I’m sure she’d be interested in seeing your progress.”

I shiver, recalling the classes that I’ve had with that ancient dungeon, trying to perfect my expressions and words. She would not be happy about my rather ineffective communication at the workshop.

Nel smiles happily at my suffering, pulling me along to the next stop. Adler is off meditating on something, while Eshya and Vii are exploring the cavern with the Slayers. Apparently, the reduction in beasts is worrying them, even if there’s still things to hunt at the moment.

Their spirits are still high, but it’s clear that they’re worried.

Nel and I stop at the melted section of wall where the mage self-destructed and nearly killed Eshya and Vii. Nel’s hand tightens around my own as we get closer, her concerned eyes turning towards me more than a few times.

“I’m fine.” I say, standing up straighter and focusing on Giant and his swarm of little grey labourers. They’re moving and carving chunks of stone, though they are rather lax about it. Many of the groups are stopping to chat with one another quite often, though it’s because of that I can see the few who, alongside Giant, are working with much more dedication.

For some it’s a focus derived from dedication, working hard to pile up large stones at a comfortable pace. Others are caught up chiselling out shapes into the stone, making something more than just a wall. The beginnings of a mural, already forming before my eyes.

Giant is practicing some sort of magic on the images, but I can’t quite figure it out from what I can see of it.

“How goes it?” I ask, getting his attention. The gremlins give way to us and while a few lower their hands for knives they don’t have anymore, none go further than that.

“Good.” Giant replies easily. “We’ll need more stone.”

“We’re still arranging for it.” Nel says, “Have you run through the supplies I’ve found for you already?”

“No, but we have plans.” He says, waving a hand at a set of stone tablets that a few of the gremlins are looking over, or working on.

A closer look through my Skill shows me a set of plans for more than just the wall they’re working on now, but also a large theatre, and a few large homes with scribbled gremlins filling the rooms.

“A young woman came asking about this building.” Giant says, poking at the theatre. “We don’t have anything like it, so we’re looking at making one. That’s not a problem?”

“What’s it for?” Nel asks, looking it over with a raised brow.

“It’s for the plays, isn’t it?” I ask, leaning over the image beside Nel and one nervous gremlin who was working on scratching new designs onto the draft plans.

“I think so.” Giant says, shrugging.

“Oh, I think I get it now.” Nel says, looking it over. “This is the stage where the actors will perform and then there’s… a lot of seats. Will that many people be interested?”

“Our showrunners better get good, and quick.” I say, “Because I think our builders are skilled enough to put their stage together rather quickly.”

“I’ll give them warning, then.” Nel says, smirking at some thought.

It turns out that one of Giants other greatest issues, even if he doesn’t say it, is the number of gremlins that simply aren’t interested in construction. Considering that most of them have the mental maturity of a child, there’s already a good reason to get an academy started.

There are people here who want the chance to be something more, I don’t see the point in letting them waste away.

Nel and I discuss a few people who might make for a good teacher or headmaster as we make our way back home, but she suddenly comes to a pause, her expression souring quick.

“What is it?” I ask, my senses travelling out through my empire, seeking what it is that’s made her unhappy.

“Our neighbours have decided to close down all trade with us, and are attempting to deny us hunting rights to all nearby caverns. I’m not certain they can even do the latter.”

“I thought things were developing well?” I ask, relaxing a little as I hear it’s nothing too awful.

“They were.” She says, her voice firm. “It seems we might need to give our neighbours a formal visit.”

“This isn’t a war, right?” I ask.

“No, not war.” She says, thoughtfully. “Or not yet, at least. It doesn’t hurt to be ready, however.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Skills & Stats

~Mana Form:

Current mana density: 19231 units

~Mana distribution:

Category Current Max. Defence 20% 100% Offense 20% 100% Mana Sense 20% 100% Recovery 20% 100% Gluttony 10% 100% Misc. 10% 100% Efficiency 100% 100%

~Favourited Skills:

-Tag and Film

-Trapping

-Stealth

-Mana surge movement

-Annihilation defence

-Annihilation flame burst

-Annihilation net

-Eyes of an Empire

Adaptions:

-Quick perception mind

-Annihilation Heart

-Clean bowels