Chapter 36: Forges And Maids
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POV: Astaros
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After the incident with the necromancer we returned to the edge of the crater and rested for the night while we took turns on watch.
As the grey sky turned white and morning came we began our return trip, leaving behind the frozen crater waste.
I definitely won't miss the hostile environment that Mt. Rakui offered and hoped I wouldn't have to deal with it for a while.
…
As we returned to the temperate climates of the Elden forest I rejoiced the return of the liht f Telos's bright sun, which flickered and flitted through the branches and leaves to touch upon my armor. I never really realized how much I enjoyed natural light until I was stuck in a place where there was only a small amount of reflecting ambience.
Dryis chatted with Katia about the new house and how good it would feel to sleep in a bed after resting in the obsidian crags. The howling winds had offered us not a single moment of reprieve and thus I spent a lot of energy simply redirecting so the others could get some sleep.
Finally we returned to the town by midday, the beautiful gracious sun offering us its light in the near empty sky, as though to apologize for abandoning us.
We exited the forest and walked up to the gate, paying and entering the bustling town as midday barters and trades were just beginning, with a large set of merchants setting up along the main streets.
People waved and smiled at our return, excited to see a hero walking the streets. I received hails from the merchants and quick salutes from the town guard. Children began to crowd and talk in loud whispers about rumors of my adventures. It seems my fame hasn't faded one bit. I watched women whisper in hushed voices as I passed them and blush when my gaze passed over them. It seems it's actually increasing.
We entered the guild and the hubbub of the conversing adventurers increased tenfold while we walked up to the front desk.
"I wonder what kind of crazy stuff were going to see today." {Adventurer 11}
"Woah isn't that the Frost Wraith Katia?" {Adventurer 46}
"Hah that bet is all mine, I told you these promising newbies were all connected!" {Adventurer 47}
Dryis handed the request form to the receptionist as she greeted us and I began to charge up the damage core to expel the tusks.
She then turned and looked at each of us looking for the proof of extermination.
"Umm not to doubt you but we do need pro-"
A hundred and eighty tusks spilt out onto the reception desk, some hitting the floor as they were expelled from the damage core.
The room quieted as the last two tusks clinked out and hit the pile, the receptionist's jaw almost hitting the pile as well as it dropped. I then pointed a the door as I prepared to barter.
"If you want to talk meat and bones, let's go outside." {Astaros}
The receptionist looked up at me in shock and awe before slowly standing up and following me out of the building.
Several other guild workers motioned over Katia and Dryis so they could receive the reward for the request.
In the end we got one platinum coin and four hundred gold for the extermination of ten Rakui Krakoths.
The platinum was for the pre-dissected corpses that we brought back, which the guild was quite happy to buy from me.
As we prepared to leave, Kali came strolling up to us, eyeing the now bustling guild as members of the material and processing staff ran up and down trying to deal with the near sixty tons of spoils I had brought them.
"I see you haven't dulled Astaros. That's good, very good in fact because the situation with Aurora has changed" {Kali}
Though I was slightly concerned by the advent of such a development as I had long considered that she may be flippant about certain things such a person of power would consider menial.
"She wishes for you to escort her from the beginning of the Elden forest to the city two days from now." {Kali}
I nodded now understanding the situation. This honestly was a fairly tame change of plans and I was thus willing to comply. Freedom required sacrifices and occasionally time was one of them.
"Alright then I'll be prepared for an escort mission, is there anything special I'll need for the mission or is there nothing else." {Astaros}
At this she pulled a small letter from her pocket and opened it reading from the bottom of the page. While handing me a piece of paper with the escort route.
"We'll give you a set of badges that will identify you as the guards. Other then that theres really nothing else to consider." {Kali}
Knowing this I nodded again and turned to leave but Kali wasn't done.
"By the way I was serious about not falling for her looks. Be very careful." {Kali}
I barked out a laugh as I heard this.
"HA! for a second you almost sounded like you cared." {Astaros}
Katia looked at me with a deadpan face as she responded to my short mockery.
"I do, your my prey alone and losing before either I give up or you submit would be unacceptable." {Kali}
I laughed again as I heard this before putting away the small paper with the route in it and leaving to catch up with Katia and Dryis who were already returning home.
…
Upon our return to the mansion we were greeted by Nikky and Oadry, who had cheered up considerably since returning to their original jobs. I was greeted by the cheerful Oadry as Nikky and I still weren't on the best of terms.
I had replaced the crude thin stone bridge with a solid stone road wide enough to have a carriage pass over it and with walls to prevent any accidents. So it was here that Oadry came up to me and filled me in on what had happened recently.
"We finished fully furnishing the shelves in the storage room with the items you requested while both the planning room and armory have been organized." {Oadry}
Before I reached the door Oadry informed me of one last thing.
"While you and the miss's were away we completed decorating the interior and furnishing all the unfinished areas." {Oadry}
I smile at this before pushing the door open.
"Ever the productive one aren't you." {Astaros}
I pushed open the massive wooden doors to the sight of the fully decorated entrance hall.
A red and gold carpet was laid out down the hall towards the core room entrance while also going all the way up to both walkways.
The light filtered down upon me through the massive glass windows that lined the walls.
Several unlit lamps were in rows on the wall for the loaded with some of my store of light crystals.
"A perfect entrance." {Astaros}
Oadry did a quick curtsey while bowing slightly.
"Of course Master Astaros, your kindness is well received." {Astaros}
I blinked in surprise as my helm retracted.
"Oadry?" {Astaros}
She instantly straightened and placed a hand over her lips, her chest bouncing at the sudden movement.
"Ara, I apologize Astaros, it was a habit. Do you dislike it?" {Oadry}
I waved my hand in disinterest and returned my focus to entering the core room.
"It is of no concern to me. Do as you wish." {Astaros}
She smiled and curtseys again, her black and white dress flowing as I entered the next room.
"Then I shall do that." {Oadry}
She followed me as I left the entrance behind and surveyed the core room.
The large round table in the middle now had a red carpet beneath it which ran up and round the room up to the spectators area of the training room and the bedroom hallways.
Again lining the walls were numerous lamps, although these looked to be firelit and not the light crystal versions of the original hall.
"This was well done as well. Remember to give Nikky my thanks for the clean installations." {Astaros}
She smiled again and bowed just her head this time.
"Understood." {Oadry}
It seems different things caused different reactions. I'll look into this later.
I walked up the stairs, Oadry still shadowing my every move. I walked past the rooms peeking into the open rooms to see them one by one.
They each had beds, personal desks and the required day to day necessities.
Though my room was the largest that was simply because of the size of the bed which by the way now had a mattress.
I sighed with relief.
"The basics are now fully done. Is the kitchen and bath's to everyone's liking?" {Astaros}
Oadry placed a finger to her chin as she thought for a second.
"I haven't had the chance to ask everyone as both lady Dryis and miss Katia retired to their chambers for the moment." {Oadry}
I nodded at this.
"And what of Christine and Fillia?" {Astaros}
She looked out the door and pointed down the hall to the room of Christine which was both locked and shut.
"Miss Christine is attempting to regain her mana Master Astaros, she said that she may need a new wand soon. Lady Fillia is out shooting targets in the forest. She should return by nightfall." {Oadry}
I walked out and began thinking ahead for what I am to do for the next couple days until we need to escort the priestess.
"Oadry I am heading to the planning room. Tell the others to only disturb me if necessary. Thank you for your hard work these past couple days." {Astaros}
She bowed her head in acknowledgement as I passed and headed to the planning room. As I passed through the core room I looked at the changes made to the west wing entrance, which now boasted a staircase instead of ladder for ease of accessibility.
No wonder Christine was tired.
I took the chance to pass through the storage room whose shelves were now filled some objects, tools and materials.
I then passed through the armoury which beside some auxiliary weapons like Dryis's longsword and Katia's rapier was fairly empty.
The planning room was now fully stocked with maps and books. The dark rooms' only light source being the white glow of the underlit table. I pulled out a map which detailed the eighth province of Alvaria and placed it over the table as I looked down upon it.
Alvaria was separated into eight provinces and a capital which controlled them all. Each province was controlled by a duke with the Artize province being the location of Elden. Each province has a guild branch leader which leads their provincial guild branch while the true guildmaster is in the capital as one of the king's advisors. While the guild branch leaders were the feet of the guilds the dukes were the kingdom's arms. Artize was the one who likely reached his way to the church to pull them to heed the king's wishes and send Aurora my way.
Nuisance.
In any case I need to oversee her safe arrival and return.
I looked over the route that she would be taking to arrive and marked it with a set of black disks. Then I took out a bestiary and looked for anything that may cause me or the others problems. Both goblins and their genetic cousin the hobgoblin are in high numbers in this area of the forest, but local C ranks have recently been on top of the situation. Still given their tendencies and the density of the forest I'm going to enlist both Dryis and Fillia.
They are great at arboreal combat and unlike Katia or Christine who do have some anti horde specialties, are good at dealing with surprising overwhelming force.
Alright.
I finished wrapping up the details and put away the materials I used. This room was going to be essential to my future missions so it's state may directly influence my tactical knowledge.
Now that I had that done I would had a new project for the next couple days.
I am going to build a forge.
In better terms a place where I can build weapons to my hearts content.
To be honest it was quite the simple task given my abilities.
I headed outside and went between the west and north wings of the mansion, before heading further out in between it and the remaining forest.
I then cleared the area I wanted of greenery which was about twenty square meters with fire element before heading back inside and taking up some of the log materials from the back of the storage room.
It might be enough to make the pillars which I would require. I guess I would just have to cut down some more trees. Before I build that I am going to clean up the dust and dirt of the planned area.
I then returned outside with the materials and placed them down in the nearby grasses. I then raised some stone with earth element from the sandy and dust filled area.
I was planning to build an open air forge with a roof to keep rain and weather from soiling the area I worked in.
I then crossed the river and cut down some timber to use in the forges construction. I then spent some time cutting the material I collected before building a wall less tent like structure, the roof pointing up towards the cloudless sky.
It was a simple structure that I would decorate properly later. For now it was functional and that's what matters.
I have two things I want to do right now.
Make Fillia a new Rapier and give Christine a new wand. I guess I'll start with Christine since she's already here.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Blue_Robin
Blue_Robin Another chapter done, with a little bit of an introduction to Oadry.
Also I am once again asking for Reviews. CUSTOM COVER COMING SOON!!
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