Galen and the group were quickly brought to a spacious room where they lay down, Eldric had no healers at present so he could only wash the wounds to stop infection. Galen then reassured him," Patriarch, its fine. Our wounds are not that deep. All of us would probably take a week to recover and we would be as good as new."
"Good, thank goodness" he sighed in relief. "You did well the lot of you."
"Get a good night's rest and we can talk tomorrow." he said to them and left them in peace. Eldric walked towards the Stoneback corpse. He examined it, from the number of wounds inflicted on it, he could imagine how long it took to kill it. After examining it he turned around and shouted to the nearest civilians," Quickly help me take the bear to the back, well skin it and was the meat. Then take it to storage. With this meat it would last as for a while"
And to say that it would take a while to eat it was no exaggeration, even if it was a rank 1 beast. Its size was huge, and due to its strength, the meat contained some of its essence which meant ordinary civilians would not be able to eat it otherwise they would explode from the energy.
He helped wash and skin the beast and after it was taken to the storage one civilian informed him that the storage space was getting full. After all the dire beast was humungous and the rest had also killed some wild beasts, roughly it was estimated that:
1 Stoneback Black Bear Dire Beast
2 Wild Iron boars
4 Mountain rabbits
5 Spotted fowls
4 Striped pheasants
It was by far the biggest haul they had ever made. 'Looks like we should put expanding the storage on the agenda' he thought. But after that thought he put it in the back of his head and the group went to eat. There was no real kitchen or chefs so they still roasted the few animals for food, but instead of doing it in the cavern Eldric had made sure to build a large camp area where their dinners could be held.
So, think if it is so, when one follows the route from the beautiful cavern along the river to the outside area, you would now come across a beautiful curtain of green vines creating a veil of mystery, and after walking through the vine door you would essentially be in the backyard of the House. So far it was not the most exquisite area, but Eldric envisioned that it would one day be filled with beautiful trees, flowers and some waterfalls, creating a beautiful back garden. For now, it only had a few small trees and wildflowers.
As one walked out the passage one would see the Knight House directly in front and walking toward it one would be able to see on your left the beautiful shimmering blue lake. The scenery would make one think they are dreaming. So, after walking through the House one would walk through the front door, Eldric envisioned that once they House grew strong and expanded that one-day cobble stones would litter the ground and a few beautifully designed gardens on both ways of the main pathway to the door. So, the main pathway would create a huge T-crossing. Following the paths, to the right, one would see a training ground full of soldiers training and following the one to the left, a wooded area could be seen a few hundred meters away. There was a camp area created for fires and leisure.
That is what Eldric envisioned it to be, but for now only wildflowers could be seen in the back garden, only dirt paths showed the way and no front gardens. The only things that were present now were the semi crude training grounds, camp area and the Knight House.
But nonetheless, back to reality. Eldric and the group of new people gathered. Galen and the group of five also gathered. "You should be resting, there is no need for this. I shall send you the food myself." he said worriedly but the reply he got was a few faces full smiles," And let you guys have all the fun out here. No way ain't happening chief." they laughed. Seeing them so stubborn Eldric could not stop them and could only reluctantly accept.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow across the land, they formed a circle around a crackling campfire, its dancing flames serving as a beacon of warmth and connection. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, mingling with the smoky aroma of burning wood. The crackling of the fire provided a comforting backdrop as the group settled onto logs and makeshift seats; their faces illuminated by the flickering light. Darkness enshrouded the surrounding forest, but the campfire's glow painted the scene with an enchanting radiance.
As the night went on, they began to sing. Their voices intertwined, rising and falling like a symphony of laughter and joy. Each person contributed their own unique tone, creating a tapestry of melodies that echoed through the night. Between songs, the crackling fire took on the role of storyteller, whispering ancient tales and legends. As the flames danced higher, so did the imaginations of those gathered. Stories of mythical creatures, daring adventures, and forgotten realms filled the air, captivating the listeners' minds and transporting them to distant lands.
Laughter erupted like a chorus of cascading bells, contagious and uncontainable. Jokes were exchanged, playful banter echoed, and inside jokes became the glue that bonded this diverse group together. The laughter carried on the gentle breeze, reaching out to the stars above, as if inviting them to join in the merriment.
As the night wore on, the flames of the campfire began to dwindle, but the memories forged that evening would forever burn brightly in their hearts. They would carry the laughter, the songs, and the stories with them, a reminder of a night filled with harmony and joy, forever etched in their souls.
And as they bid farewell to the flickering fire and the night sky, they departed the clearing, their spirits lifted, knowing that they would forever cherish the harmonious bond they had formed that magical night around the campfire.