Reaching the farm, they've lent a hand right away. Getting dirty along with the Miners and Farmers while pushing Ignite Gems on the cave ceiling ranging from twelve to twenty feet above their head.
Although Mogranius could reach the farthest points single handedly through flying, Eric helping as well showed solitude with his people, a great King Figure.
Instead of just looking at hard workers as if they are peasants, the young King got dirty and tired along with them instead.
If anything he doesn't yet see himself as someone too important to not put in work. He too was a Farmer until a certain point and has a form of respect for hard work.
While they were working in the cave, over a period of time they've noticed that it has become easier to breathe here now.
With tens of holes on both sides of the cave, breathing in the fresh air is a bliss for everyone and will make the Farmer's work easier. This idea should be praised, Stefan's mind should be admired.
Luckily Commander Alia isn't stingy with complimenting allies. "If Gaster town is to be a strong domain, you should appoint him as the Count there or a Governor of some sort at least."
"Oh I will for sure. The little man showed Count worthy bravery this week as well." Mogranius teased, thinking Alia talked with him.
Stefan ignoring the world around him, lost in his thoughts and ideas, as usual started strongly tuning out whatever they both said even if they both meant to compliment him.
"Well it looks like he is on his own world for now." Eric being the most used to such behaviour coming from Stefan, he just wanted everyone else to go on with their lives.
Having a question about this farm, Eric quizzed. "At my farm, we usually harvested the crops in September of every year. It's been six days since that month started, how many months are there left for all of the crops to grow here?"
Trying to properly answer questions, Alia cited. "Harvesting month is about 20 days away. It's the longest month of the year for us, lasting 67 days while the rest are less than 50."
Stunned by how long the months are here no doubt, he didn't want to say anything about it in aims to not be disrespectful to this different culture.
He focused on the question he asked about the farm to begin with instead. "But from the looks of it, we will be lucky if even with all these improvements the crops grow in time."
...
About 4 hours have passed and with all the effort of the Farmers, Miners, the Gang and Alia have put in, they're finally done.
The Farm is shining in a purple manner, providing light for all the crops and the light each Ignite gem disposes is generally reaching around 50 meters far yet the glow is too gentle on the eyes.
It doesn't even force anyone to blink. The scene is amazing, it's always nice to see large fields of crops. But it's differently unique to see them with a purple glow everywhere, here deep underground.
Everyone took their time to gaze upon such beauty even after considering their lack of energy.
It's interesting how long people can stay awake when there is a big interesting goal to tackle. Big Goals can inspire most, but to see people putting in work to gain those goals is nothing less than wholesome.
The head Miner approached Commander Alia and informed her of the results.
With great manners and discipline he explained everything in detail, without carrying a parchment even. He seemed to have memorized everything he needs to report.
Taking a bit more time to slowly explain each detail in order to avoid any miscalculation, he finally finished and returned back to his duties.
Commander Alia approached the mudy tired Gang with a wide smile on her face and proclaimed. "Well things turned for the best at last."
"Do tell."
"At last?"
"We still have much to do."
These sentences were heard from the group one by one, obviously each have different thoughts and points of view.
To break confusions in between the Gang, she's swift to explain. "Well to start with, the Ignite Gem barricade in the Mine is no more and now cold hard Iron ores can be brought up to the Forge. We need all the ores we can get so getting rid of that Barricade proved as perfect timing!"
"So you are telling us bad news wrapped with good news. Perfection." Queried Mogranius in obvious sarcasm.
The nerve of this guy, he is dying for sleep but doesn't get detached from Sarcasm.
But of course in this case smarter, she replied with a smirk. "Well at least I have good news to tell. I still can't figure out how two all powerful Fire Wizards let that illustratio escape!"
Smoke coming out of his ears, he barked. "You try Fighting off a 1 ton beast!"
"You got attacked by a Source Bear? This is not your day." Added Stefan who managed to figure out what he is talking about.
Clapping her hands to get their attention, Alia interposed. "Alright now enough banter. Almost 300 Ignite Gems were used to light up the entire farm but only 100 are left over."
"More would have been left over if you didn't throw them down the Volcano. Miss perfect." Two can play the teasing game after all, Mogranius didn't want to leave any chance slip!
But he keeps forgetting that Commander Alia is less tolerant on such topics. "True. Miss perfect could also accidentally throw you down the Volcano as well oh dear wise one."
"We can buy a bucket of food for each person here and still have 30 Ignite gems left or we could go for wheat grain which is way cheaper." Added Stefan who seemed to have already done the calculations with a bit of help from Woldemir.
Taking her glare away from Mogranius, she replied softly. "My people can eat a lot at once, but one bucket of food keeps them well fed for a week plus we still have food from the last harvest. We may pass this without any losses."
Her enthusiasm arose as she counted the positive sides, it is wildly adorable to hear a sleepy lady get excited.
"Tough lady getting soft?" Mocked Mogranius.
A bad idea considering that she just started calming down thanks to Stefan changing the topic. It makes one feel that he really wants to see the bottom of this Volcano.
"I don't recall being soft." Of course she would never admit.
But this time she isn't mad, actually enjoyed this a little bit and got a little blush on her face.
"Getting to the case, carrying all that food is no easy task, we need more Horses. Not to forget more Wagons." Pointed out Stefan, trying to filter out possible miscalculations before they put this plan into action.
These people don't have any experience in handling such projects. Making a mistake here can shift a ton of food, literally.
Since Wagons started being mentioned, Woldemir had to chip in the Conversation. "A Cheap Wagon costs about 300 Gold Coins but we need two more at least to carry all of that food."
He has 10 years of experience with them after all, if anything he loves to help make this plan easier. "Meaning we need to spend 2,000 Gold Coins on better bigger Wagons plus Horses who can get the job done are surely not cheap. With luck it would be good if we get two for 1,000 Gold Coins in total."
How do you like the Novel so far? I've been doing a shiet ton of edits!
-MisterE05
"All of you have forgot that I am the most infamous person in Crutal town right now. We can't go there carrying 100 Ignite Gems without being shot at and looted." Pointed out Eric something that most have overseen.
He didn't say anything until now about this little project towards Crutal town since this topic started but with this he sealed the conversation.
This topic is fresh, meaning everyone overlooked the fact that you can't just freely go into Crutal town with one hundred Ignite Gems on your back.
Everyone has been left staggeted because of Eric noticing this flaw first, such level perception does not fit with the previous Eric who was mostly dumb but curious.
"How did we overlook a detail like that? The boy is right." Complimented Stefan the boy's claim while rubbing his temples.
But to leave everyone scratching their head, Eric managed to find a simpler way around this task rather fast. "There are Farms out of the town's protection. Since Crutal town's is our closest option that we can not use, we might as well just use the Farms near it."
Everyone got struck flustered on how this little boy would think of so many good ideas, basically filtering bad ideas from a plan that adults put together.
Mogranius however, he previewed this intense shift of overall insightfulness as something different. "Dear Source of Fire and everything Ignited. He got possessed by a Demon."
A second after everyone saw the crazy geezer tackle Eric down, using all of his physical strength to keep the golden blood still.
Afterwards proceeding to shout out his thoughts. "Eric can you hear me? Fight the Demon! Fight the Demon!"
While occasionally throwing a couple of slaps to enhance the anti-demon protocol.
Rather funny to watch but Mogranius got dragged away by Alia who grabbed his black robe around the neck collar and seemed to be lifting him above ground with one hand.
Holding him like a gold piece, she cited. "The boy isn't possessed by a Demon. How can I put this into words that even a moron would understand…?"
"Oh please doo." Spoke out Mogranius a second before he was dropped to the ground.
But stood up again in a blink of an eye as if nothing happened and sat above dirt near the rest of the group.
Well informed in this topic although she barely explained anything earlier, she yapped. "First, this Crown is heavily magically enchanted. Apart from the true golden blood, no one can wear it and no one including Eric can remove the Crown from his head."
With the crowd standing silent for once, using the golden opportunity she butchers. "Second, whatever weakness Eric had in his little brain, the Crown greatly improved it. In this case, I'm guessing being insightful."
After finishing her sentence she saw everyone either scratching their head, counting with their fingers or at Mograniuses case, looking at Commander Alia with love and saying. "She is so smart."
Only Stefan seemed to have understood everything and is appreciating the mental power. Imagine someone being powerful and smart, Stefan feels abliss. Glad to see things finally work out for this kid.
"Wonderful explanation." Gave out Stefan a genuine compliment and now with these new ideas he cut to the case. "Eric's idea is our best option. There are several farms out of the town's protection and I'm guessing they won't snitch for the sake of profit."
At this point Stefan is practically arguing with himself. "But one more issue, Could we possibly carry 100 Ignite Gems alone? It isn't exactly a short walk."
"Yes we can. Because I'm coming with you." Acknowledged Commander Alia with a firm assuring tone then in aims to tease these men she joked. "Someone has to look after you kids."
"Kids?"
"Pardon?"
"Do you see the Beard?"
"I'm actually a kid."
Obviously the group spoke all at once, overwhelming her drowsy sight with unnecessary banter.
"Would that be a good idea? All we need is four people really, we have Black Wind too." Chipped in Eric with his concern.
But in a way he just stated that he too will join this little restocking project.
Insisting, Alia debated Eric's point. "I will come! Woldemir promised to solve this food shortage but we need him to train the Guards. I can't be told apart from an Ignite as long as I cover my head with a hood."
Pulling out a Dagger which was sheathed over her hip, she defended her points. "I have my ways of bargaining."
Seeing that physical strength is the topic right now, Stefan bluffed. "Brains make up for my lack of muscles. If it wasn't for my brain you would be punching your way to death."
But finally talking about a topic everyone wanted to hear, Commander Alia urged. "I'm sure most of you need to fall asleep now, it was a long day. Let me escort you to your rooms and we will talk plans later."
The Gang was sent down a cave not too deep and Eric was sent to his Throne Room which wasn't too far away either.
The Throne Room includes a bedroom too but the bed is made from rocks, so Commander Alia ordered for some animal fur to be sent to his room.
Undoubtedly the rough skinned Calidum Lutum don't need soft beds to sleep in, some sleep on animal fur while most prefer rough stone.
A bit bizarre but the Calidum Lutum has far different features from the Ignites, illustratios or any race for that matter. Making their different choices acceptable.
But due to that, there is no such thing as a lack of animal fur to sleep on. Meaning none of the Gang has to sleep on hard rock.
As good sleep sounds at the moment, Eric experienced countless nightmares.
First he saw his father being beheaded by an illustratio in front of his eyes. After that he saw what he knows as his mother, burning down in ashes and flames.
Soon after he saw the Calidum Lutum Guard being shot down again. Dream after dream each one got worse, clearly bashing many fears or insecurities.
But the last dream that woke him up from the rough nightmare was a scene where Woldemir, Mogranius, Stefan and Commander Alia were looking at Eric.
Each of them expecting him to act like the hero he is supposed to be and shortly after Fire burning all four of them as Eric cowarded out.
King Xakro illustratio lll appearing to finish him off.
AAAAA AAAA AAAA AAAAAAAAAAA
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