Year 1, Sumr, Third Month, First Week.
Yeahh... Thats much better... It saves so much ti... I wish I could help the team gather the crystals...
Nera sighted and moved to water the next patch. Although her life was as miserable as any other villager, she wasnt the one to complain about it. But since Karls group started to go out hunting, she couldnt help but envy them.
She wanted to go hunting too. Caring for the fields was too boring and now she was feeling restless about it. Before, she didnt dare to think about doing anything else, but now...
She finished watering another patch and checked her sister. Anna was still watering the first section. Nera gave a helpless sigh, her sister was too slow. But in truth, Anna was working at the sa pace as most of the other kids, is just that Nera was stronger and could easily carry the bucket all around.
Of course, Nera used this opportunity to tease her sister. Anna was, as usual, furious, but soon her face displayed a refreshing smile. Seeing her sister move to the well, Anna knew that she would get more water to help. She was willing to accept the teasing in exchange for help.
Hey! Why isnt it working? Has soone broken it? It wasnt ! Why are you looking at like this? I didnt do anything, I just put the crystal here...
Nera ran towards the Chiefs hut direction yelling that it wasnt her.
.........
Girl! Stop repeating that it wasnt you and tell us, what happened? Old Bill asked impatiently.
Im sorry! Im sorry... Ah... the well didnt work when I placed the crystal... The... The WET, yes! The WET isnt working. But it wasnt , I just happen to be the one using it when it stopped working.
.........
I just want to say thank you again, young Karl. Since we start using the WET we managed to free a lot of youngsters to help at the magic fields. Your contribution cant be put into words. Im sure its just a simple problem, youll fix it in no ti! Chief Oro said it trying to find clues about the severity of the problem in Karls expression.
After introducing the WET, the number of teens working in the village fields dropped to 400 while 300 youngsters moved to help in the magic fields. Also, they installed WETs in the two other village wells, reducing their available resources to one water crystal.
The energy crystals were all used up because the team now had six fighting mbers. Plus the three WETs, the nine LQ energy crystals were all used.
First, Karl looked at his drawing, certifying that it didnt fade like when he first crafted the WET. He wasnt surprised to see it in a good state, because he would redraw all magic tools Arrays every couple of weeks, so it would be strange for it to be damaged. This used a lot of Karls ti, but due to the magic ink quality, he didnt have another option.
When Karl finished looking at the water related part of the Array, he realized what was wrong. The water crystal was dim like it had lost too much power.
Master, you told that if the WET was used hundreds of tis a day it would still last up to a year because its energy was used only as a reference. Why is it that the crystal is mostly used up? Karl knew that sothing was wrong, but couldnt quite grasp it.
--You are correct. However, if the magic tool is used thousands of tis instead of hundreds, how much ti do you think it would last? Think carefully of how are you powering the Arrays. --
Karl didnt need to answer Master AIs rhetorical question. After considering it for so minutes, he finally ca to a conclusion.
Everyone was silently looking at Karls behavior. Once he reacted like he found sothing out, they breathed in relief.
I understand... The problem is that the Arrays are also being powered by environntal energy. Its not strong enough to push the water through the bamboo tube, but its causing the water crystal to work continuously, so it ended up wasted sooner. But Master, how can I stop it from using environntal energy?
-- The easiest way is to block the environntal energy. You can do it by physically covering it with poor conducting material or coating it. For now, you dont have any isolating material, so just think about covering it. --
After explaining to the others, Karl exchanged the wasted water crystal for a new one. They tested in each well different covering materials. Straws end up being the best cover, but they would have to find another solution later since the straws would rot or disintegrate from humidity.
If the villagers wanted to keep using the WET, they would soon need to get more crystals.
.....
If we want to keep their hopes high, we need another feast...
Oro! You shouldnt let your ambitions push them... Theyre just kids, give them ti to mature from their last experience... Marlen was a little distressed, she didnt want to admit that she sowhat agreed with him.
It has been a month...
Marlen, I have to agree with Oro. The kids decided to follow this path. We also decided... Look, Marlen, if youre uncertain we can give them so help...
Absolutely not! Bill, if youre talking about the map, howre you planning to explain it?
Damn! Whats the use to have it and not... Maybe we shouldnt use it for now...
Actually, theres a way.
They look at Marlen surprised.
Do you rember the stone caves located at the other side of the stream by the mountains that separate the First and Second Sections? Seeing that she got their attention, Marlen continued:
Grey wolves live in caves near a water source. They live in packs but arent much stronger than hyenas. Actually, their attack power is lower than the hyenas. Theyre considered stronger only because theyre faster.
The caves are close enough to the village and they could go through the stones. If they ambush the wolves from above, they would be covered. Also, the wolves speed wouldnt be a problem...
Bills personality was so practical that he would go into the details without considering the rit of the idea:
Humm... They would need a lot of arrows to attack safely from distance...
.........
Lew looked calm and confident while he walked through the dark alley. But his security was only for appearances. In truth, he was paying attention to all details around him.
To be sure, he carefully conducted the energy flowing inside of his body to his ears. He got the useful habit of always absorbing the environntal energy from his father, which ant that he could use it at any mont.
The energy amplified his hearing sense and he could distinguish low sounds coming from four hidden places. He guessed that the sounds ca from people hidden preparing to ambush him.
The first attack ca from a shadow that jumped from behind a barrel at Lews right side. Instead of using his long sword, Lew slightly shifted right and used his hand to block the attack.
He held the attackers hand and broke it with ease by pushing the flowing energy to his hand. The attacker cried in pain and dropped the rusted dagger. Lew didnt dwell on him. He kicked the first attacker strongly at the guts and moved to intercept the second attacker that ca from behind while the first crashed into a barrel.
The next attacker didnt do much better. He was disard by Lews left hand and punched by his right fist before fainting.
The other two attackers learned sothing and decided to attack him together. One aid the dagger at Lews side while the other went for his neck.
Instead of blocking the attacks, Lew ducked left bending and missing the neck attack by less than a finger distance. The attackers miscalculated the approach and bumped at each other. Lew capitalized on their confusion and neutralized them from behind with an energy-powered strike at the neck.
Lew didnt kill the attackers. He left the alley after making a clear disdainful sound.
Soon, he stopped at the entrance of a normal looking store, which had a sign of a carriage filled with wheat. He knocked five tis, making a pause between the third e fourth knock.
The door was opened by a big muscular and fierce-looking guy. A middle-aged, short, slightly fat man who was sitting behind the counter, spoke:
How can I help you?
Ill have to reevaluate that. My father told that youre the most resourceful rchant in Winds region... But after eting those four amateurs in the alley, Im disappointed... Oh, and you should get them cleaned. I roughed them a little, but didnt let any permanent damage...
Hahahaha... Sure!
Lew was surprised. He expected the man to be offended but he rather seed pleased.
Now... Captain Lew... Or should I say ex-Captain Lew, how can I be of service?
Lew stepped back in surprise and his lips twitched a little. Seeing that nobody moved and he was free to leave, he relaxed and gave a bitter smile.
The thing is...
.........
So... What do you kids think?
Chief Oro told them about the grey wolves. He explained that the grey wolves were weak beasts that relied on their numbers to attack. As for how to find the wolves, grandma Marlen said that the wolves would stay close to small streams and caves.
Initially, Karl and Tael were against the plan. To hunt a pack of beasts was too risky and a big jump from fighting two beasts. However, Diana convinced them by insisting that they would ambush the wolves and make a surprise attack from a higher and safe place.
Karl wasnt very discrete in hiding his suspicions while Marlen talked. But after the whole magic book story, he wasnt in a position to question others.
After agreeing, they started discussing the specifics of the plan.
Karl took the opportunity to present so ideas and get other perspectives on them. He was currently trying to learn a new Rune that could help a lot in carrying the collected materials.
The discussion was very helpful, even so other problems and ideas ca up from it.
Since it could take seven hours to get to the caves and another seven to get back, it would be difficult to co back before nightfall. Should we stay the night at the caves and co back to the village at dawn?
The group was shocked by Taels idea, they never considered spending the night outside the village.
Before you say that Im crazy, rember how tired we were after fighting the hyenas. Also, the cave might be a good place to sleep. The wolves are living there, so it shouldnt be dangerous inside it.
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