The fresh shine of dawn seeped into the horizon, painting the village rooftops in hues of orange and gold. I felt the familiar sensation of energy in the air. As I stepped outside the inn, Moira's voice burst into my thoughts like a cascade of sunlight.
"Vessel! Oh, vessel! You were brilliant!" Her tone sparkled with excitement, practically bouncing from one word to the next.
I chuckled despite myself. "Good morning to you too, Moira."
"Morning? Morning? Robert, my darling, do you realize what you've just accomplished? The council! The villagers! The landowners! They all said yes! And that tree stunt?" She let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. "Pure magic."
"Wasn't that the point?" I teased, shaking my head.
"Yes, but you exceeded expectations! Which means…" Her voice trailed into a melodic hum before the familiar flicker of a translucent screen appeared in my vision.
System Notifications
Quest Complete: Secure the Highlands
Objective: Gain control of the dig site and surrounding land.
Reward: Settlement Control Shard
Bonus Objective Complete: Convince the landowners without monetary exchange.
Bonus Reward: Enhanced Settlement Features
I blinked as the screen lingered in the air, and then another set of notifications layered atop the first.
Skill Improvements
Earth manipulation improved from 4 to 5.
We achieved maximum precision and control for reshaping terrain and strategic combat.
Air manipulation improved from 1 to 3.
There has been an increased mastery over air currents, allowing precise gusts and deflection techniques.
Fire manipulation improved from 1 to 3.
Flames burn hotter and last longer, with defensive applications unlocked.
Water manipulation improved from 1 to 3.
It provides enhanced control over water, including minor healing properties when infused with Albion's essence.
Another notification flashed.
Skill Evolution:
Elemental manipulation was granted. Elemental Manipulation Rank 1 is unlocked.
This skill combines control over Earth, Fire, Water, and Air into a unified skill.
This feature allows seamless manipulation of elemental effects to enhance existing spells.
It allows for the imbuing of items with combined elemental properties.
It enhances elemental mana efficiency by 15%.
Moira's voice purred softly, her excitement giving way to something more reverent. "And because you're the clever, ambitious vessel I always knew you could be, the system has granted you a unique perk."
New Unique Perk Unlocked: Elemental Fusion
Description: Rewards mastery over the four basic elements and their unified potential.
Effects:
It increases synergy between elements by 25%.
This feature reduces the mana cost for multi-element combinations by 20%.
Grants the ability: Primal Convergence (temporarily amplifies all elemental effects for large-scale applications).
The rush of recognition rippled through me, the weight of these upgrades settling into my core like the steady thrum of a heartbeat. My hands tingled with latent power as I flexed my fingers, testing the limits of my new abilities.
"Looks like we've got a lot to work with," I murmured, half to myself, half to Moira. The idea of having a system is one thing, making one work for you conveniently is entirely another. I know at this point, I'm going to really put some thought into streamlining this 'service'.
"Oh, you have no idea," she said with a grin in her voice. "The Settlement Control Shard alone is going to make your life infinitely more interesting. Ready to claim your territory, my dear?"
"Always," I said, my gaze turning toward the dig site's distant silhouette on the horizon.
The shimmering shard pulsed in my palm, its smooth surface catching the light in a way that seemed almost alive. The Settlement Control Shard, a reward hard-earned, radiated a cool, steady energy. Moira's voice chimed in, soft and almost conspiratorial.
"Well, vessel, what are you waiting for? You've claimed the land. It's time to wake it up."
I turned the crystal over in my hand, its core swirling with traces of golden light. "And you're sure this works like the dungeon shard?"
"Sure as I am that Hamish snores louder than a kobold battle cry," she teased. "But you're going to find this one a touch…different."
Taking a steadying breath, I knelt on the uneven ground and pressed the shard into the soil. Its aura intensified, spreading outward in rippling waves. For a moment, everything was silent, and then the air hummed with power.
A voice, precise and formal, echoed directly in my thoughts.
"Designation acknowledged: Settlement Control System online. Administrator recognized: Robert McCallum. Query: What is the purpose of this settlement?"
I blinked, taken aback by the clipped tone of the crystal. "Purpose?" I asked aloud, exchanging a glance with Hamish and Snow, who both looked equally puzzled.
"Clarify: Settlements thrive when purpose is defined. Is the goal agricultural expansion? Defensive stronghold? Arcane research hub? Administrative core?"
Moira laughed softly in my mind. "Told you it had a personality."
"Let's start with survival," I replied, focusing on the shard. "The village needs housing and basic infrastructure first. We can work toward bigger goals later."
The shard pulsed, its tone unyielding. "Acknowledged: Survival parameters established. Initial tasking: Generating options for foundational development."
The crystal flared brighter, and an ethereal projection unfurled in front of me, resembling a blueprint suspended in midair.
As it began listing its proposed options for the settlement, I raised an eyebrow and muttered under my breath, "This thing reminds me of that American movie—what was it? RoboCop. Issuing its demands like it's here to clean up the streets."
Hamish barked out a laugh, crossing his arms. "Aye, except this one's not' threatening' criminals—it's after your timber and stones."
The shard, unfazed by our banter, continued its professional tone as it finalized the list of options.
More options. I did ask for this. Both fun, and a little overwhelming.
Settlement Options:
1. Housing: basic shelters for up to 20 people.
Cost: Automatically absorbed stone and timber.
Estimated construction time: 10 minutes (magical acceleration).
2. Market Stalls: Establishes a small marketplace for trade.
Cost: Timber, rare ore (enhancements optional).
Estimated construction time: 15 minutes (magical acceleration).
3. Defensive Palisades: Simple wooden walls for basic protection.
Cost: Timber.
Estimated construction time: 20 minutes (magical acceleration).
4. Arcane Nexus (Rare): A small magical tower that enhances ambient magic and boosts mages' abilities.
Cost: Rare ore, 50 mana (to be infused by the administrator).
Estimated construction time: 3 hours.
5. Community Garden (Unique): A magically enriched garden to grow Albion-enhanced crops. The garden consistently supplies both food and medicinal resources.
Cost: Fertile soil, enchanted seeds.
Estimated construction time: 2 hours.
Hamish leaned in, squinting at the glowing text. "Fancy list. But what happens if you don't have all the pieces it's asking' for?"
The shard answered before I could.
"Administrator inquiry acknowledged. The system automatically gathers all usable resources within the area of influence. Current area: One-half mile radius. Absorbed resources include timber, stone, straw, hay, and seeds. Reforestation tasks may require assigned mages to maintain ecological balance."
Snow's wide eyes flicked between me and the shard. "So it just… takes the resources?"
"Absorbs them," I corrected. "Puts them in some kind of pocket dimension for later use."
"Efficient," Hamish muttered. "Creepy, but efficient."
The crystal core pulsed again, its tone taking on a somewhat instructive edge. "Administrator reminder: Mage contributions can enhance progress. Voluntary mana offerings from residents are recommended. Clarification: This is commonly referred to as 'taxes.'"
I barked out a laugh despite myself, shaking my head. "It's got a sense of humor."
"Clarification: No humor detected. This is a statement of operational necessity."
Moira practically howled with laughter in my thoughts. "Oh, vessel, this one's going to be your favorite."
Settlement System Functionality Expanded
The shard's projection shifted to display a illuminated map of the dig site, the boundaries marked by lines that extended outward from the core.
Construction Times: Structures are built rapidly due to magical acceleration. Basic structures take no longer than 30 minutes, while legendary or unique buildings may take up to 6 hours. Extremely large projects may take extended time, to be determined upon request.
Resource Management: The system automatically absorbs and categorizes resources, including secondary materials like kindling, seeds, and straw, within its area of influence.
Border Expansion: Task completion and resource allocation gradually expand the area of influence. Ambient magic and leyline connections power the expansion.
Population Contributions: Efforts from the population, such as farming, crafting, or building, increase construction efficiency and system growth.
Mage Contributions: Resident mages can voluntarily provide mana to boost settlement progress.
The shard pulsed once more, insistent. "Administrator, further delay will result in inefficiencies. Select the primary task."
I studied the options again, my gaze lingering on the glowing projection. Each choice carried weight—this wasn't just about building a settlement. It laid the groundwork for a bigger project that could change this village and beyond.
I reached out, selecting Housing with a tap of my finger.
The shard swelled brighter, its tone turning almost satisfied. "Acknowledged: Housing task initiated. Task progress will update in real time. Secondary upgrades are available upon task completion."
The glittering screen faded, and pulses of golden energy shot from the crystal, radiating outward toward the northern curve of the claimed territory. The energy spread methodically, flattening uneven ground and shaping the earth into a natural bulwark. The raised terrain formed a shelter against the freezing northern winds, cradling the cleared land in its protective embrace.
Within moments, a pale, shimmering fog enveloped five flattened zones, obscuring them entirely. A magnetic curiosity drew us closer, our feet crunching against the freshly smoothed ground. As we neared the misty zones, we heard the sounds of wood creaking, hammers striking, and indistinct voices, akin to a bustling construction crew hard at work within.
The voices, though unintelligible, were growing louder as we neared the edge of the fog. It was as if the mist itself was sending a clear message: something was happening here, and we were not to interfere. Awestruck, we stood still, watching the strange activity unfold, the rhythmic noises almost hypnotic in their cadence.
Then, a playful brass fanfare sounded, light and whimsical, signaling completion. Hamish and I glanced at each other, bewildered. With a sharp whoosh, the mist rippled once before disappearing into the ground, leaving five fully built cottages in its wake.
Each cottage was a picture of rustic charm, with sturdy wooden doors, latticed windows adorned with flower boxes, and a circular stone path leading to each threshold. The interiors, we discovered, were remarkably modern, cozy living spaces, private bedrooms, and even bathrooms equipped with plumbing.
"Plumbing?" I murmured aloud, voicing the question forming in my mind.
Moira's voice chimed in with a hint of amusement. "Recycled and absorbed, of course. Nothing wasted, vessel."
"Fascinating," I muttered, shaking my head in amazement. Nobody likes dealing with shit.
We stood together in silent awe before deciding to claim the central cottage as our own. Inside, we found enough space for each of us to have private, lockable rooms, with a single spare room left for a potential guest. This left four other cottages vacant, each ready to house up to four people, a total capacity for 17 more settlers.
As I leaned against the doorframe, my gaze swept across the land. The cottages were just the start; the settlement's future stretched before me, as vast and promising as the territory itself.
"We'll need more," I said, more to myself than to anyone else. "Housing, defenses… but first, an Albion food source."
My thoughts drifted to the apples from earlier, vivid, impossibly perfect fruits brimming with potential. "If we're to build an economy," I said, a small smile playing on my lips, "those apples will make an impressive start."
Gazing out the window of my new room, thinking about how much information I had to swim through today, Moira's voice spoke up once again, from out of nowhere, so it caused me to jump slightly and duck at nothing:
REPORT, NEW PERK, MY DARLING:
Pioneer of Foundations, Legendary Perk
As the first mage to establish a settlement using a magical settlement crystal, your vision of growth and prosperity resonates throughout the land.
Effect: All contributions to your settlement are increased by 10%.
Example: A wizard donating 100 mana grants the settlement 110 mana instead.
In return, the contributor receives 1 silver coin for every 100 mana donated.
Caps: To maintain balance and sustainability, we limit rewards to 100 silver per person per week.
Scope: Applies to all contributions, including mana, material resources, and labor efforts by settlers, encouraging active participation in the settlement's development.
I couldn't be happier with your progress. It's only been a couple of days! But where is snow? We should work on her tomorrow. I feel like her quiet mind has a lot to share.
"She does?" I asked. I could feel Moira nodding. "Yes. Let's see how far her ice can go in one day."