Uplifted

Commander Dukeen Rodin.

25th of Trescia, 1492.

***

The last three or so months were hectic. And yet the most organized process I ever witnessed.

It all started with despair. Our budding hope and rising pride were usurped by the sudden rise of ambient mana, but it soon rose once more. With Amun's evolution came his blessings, reversing our priorities entirely. Everyone was found safe from the rise, after some time. Then, the machines came.

After nearly three months, they succeeded in excavating the mountain. The Marulean Tree of Life was dislodged, concentric rings were formed in the mountain base surrounding it, and the spaces between and above them were hollowed and claimed with wise rocks. Now, our lands were almost entirely subterranean and yet boasted enough open air to house the Epethian capital.

In the two or so tendays since, things have greatly improved. Many romances, marriages, and pregnancies had been announced, and more were coming by the day. Another trip into Epethia was planned. This time, aiming for the unknown and verboten places beyond the Epethian borders. And to top it off, more technology and even some citizens began to pour in from Odissi and Deapou. Moreover, the enchantments, blessings, and undead improved the quality of life in all aspects, further accelerating the work to a mind-boggling pace.

With the given changes, the empire had essentially grown pious overnight. Even I frequented the universities and workshops to learn and thus worship the ArcaTech. And yet, Amun insisted we still refer to him by name; and more, that we do not forget the other Marulean Gods, including the halfling and dwarven ones.

With the brief break between phases complete, Amun sent the final design for the superstructure over at the beginning of the month. And those instructions just happened to come with several thousand workers. Not in the form of undead, however. Not yet, at least. They were the ArcaTech's ants, termites, bees, wasps, spiders, moths, and beavers that not only designed the structure from top to bottom, they constructed it for us.

The ants, larger than mastiffs, ventured into the underground while the termites hollowed the mountain above, creating passageways, caverns, terraces, and breezeways alike while transforming the waste rock, excess lumber, and eventually the entire peak into a rugged but shapely spire, with many draws and spurs sitting leading up to the ringed peak.

The undead dwarves then gathered beneath Ken's umbrella and took to compacting, smoothing, and otherwise fortifying the spire and carving a torus-shaped basin into the peak to create a ringed lake around the Tree of Life. Meanwhile, the wasps and bees formed hives in strategic locations along the face from summit to base to act as multi-purpose districts.

The beavers, perhaps most miraculously of all, created dams atop that ringed peak. In doing so, they created great falls over various parts of the spire, providing water for the inhabitants and the food forest scattered around the base of the mountain, as well as an alternative route for the fish-ferries moving people around the ringed canals. Lastly, the spiders and moths used their silk to create everything from habitable 'bowls' and bridges and cable cars to zip-lines and elevators in and around the superstructure.

From their presence, the citizens' aim turned more toward improving leisure and decor. Nevertheless, we had an excess of so much material that it threatened to ruin the market, lest we use gold and platinum and jewels to decorate our chambers and craft our most mundane of items.

Of course, Amun let both happen, stating that we were a post-scarcity empire. We had an excess of food, wealth, power, knowledge, and entertainment, as well as the military might to protect it. Those things and any other one needed to survive, Amun provided in excess, freeing us from an obsession of gold and baubles and instead turning our eyes to our intangible desires. Our dreams. Our merit. For if gold and land were so abundant that it became virtually worthless, all we had left to pride ourselves on was our names and nation; our dreams and accomplishments.

Even if those dreams and accomplishments consisted of losing shreds of our humanity through battle and war. After all, that was the role of Eotrom's surface lands- struggle and hardships to keep us from becoming monsters of decadence.

But that was for the future. Now, after over a month of nonstop construction and decorating, the trunk had been excavated and more tunnels were carved away from the tree for 500 kilometers in each direction, where they were capped with blast doors to the north, east, west, south, and bottom. Even then, they didn't encroach on a single civilization. It seemed it was true when they said the closest town was Colis. At 5,000 kilometers away, however, it wasn't exactly close, leaving us with a lot of land.

While the undead got to work building infrastructure and connecting the main thoroughfares with concentric rings and vertical chutes, the citizens got settled in the various districts carved out by the divine creatures, leaving what was once the Inner Yard a desolate place ready to be infused with a wise rock.

Using a gravity crane, the plot of land the Transport Bureau and the clock tower sat on was relocated to the inner yard's entrance to serve as the gate. Branching roads extended from it like the Yard before, leading to the tunnels that ventured out to the various districts. With that, there was another meeting called with Amun. One I was as thankful as ever. For even with this technology, it was far too much land for us to handle.

Not with an unevolved force.

***

King Johann Silas.

1st of Sextrand, 1492.

***

I knew it would come to this. And yet, I did not.

I knew our humble Hill Base would grow to encompass the mountain. I knew it would have a large hollow at the center and would one day take root in the sky. But I knew not what was hidden beneath it. I knew not that we would receive divine beasts on top of undead workers and these living machines. I knew not that I would claim a well of diamond mana, and then arcana. Or that I would be blessed tremendously.

But all was not sunshine and rainbows. What was a cause of concern for all other Maruleans remained in the backs of our minds, growing by the day. Mana was on the rise. And more and more people began to believe someone was responsible. Thus, training increased for all. And more, many new enchantments were emplaced, more constructions were complete, and yet more creations arrived by the day. Creations that blew our minds increasingly.

With all these changes, however, one thing remained the same- our unevolved soldiers. And so, with great relief to Rodin, we assembled for another talk with Amun. Not through our doppelgangers, however. But through devices that allowed us to see his face and the many changes that he'd undergone.

Naturally, we first talked about the most concerning issue- the beam of divine energy headed straight for Maru. And with that came the revelation of the project's ultimate goal: the resurrection of the Marulean Tree of Life.

Though we knew not what that entailed, we knew it would at least result in Amun's divine essence flooding the entirety of Maru should he succeed. The realm would be his, filled with his creatures, perhaps even of his design. Or anything else.

All things considered, the consensus was to proceed as normal and wait and see. Thus, the talks moved to resource allocation and tasks to take on beyond our borders. We were to build roads, canals, or if not that, airways to nearby settlements, not to mention open up our borders to our allies in Odissi and Deapou. In truth, I was more than nervous about the prospect of meeting the Necro King or Amun's father.

With that came discussions of training, and with it, a quite daunting prospect: that we of the council could undergo the ritual in the so-called Darkroom to evolve if we wished. In truth, it was something I rarely thought about. Class Evolution was for the adventurous types. And while it was common for many societies to believe sorcerers to be rightful rulers, the same wasn't true for the other classes.

Even then, though, Amun was right in the sense that it would be of significant benefit to us, the rulers of this land. How better to lead and protect our people than to be as capable as possible, as our Eternal Emperor decreed, after all? And so, it was something I decided I would do.

With mentions of what type of empire we were building and what to expect from our citizens from now on, the meeting was adjourned. Almost subconsciously, we all agreed to relocate to the summit and turn our eyes south in an attempt to spot this great beam.

Whether the others saw it or not, they did not say, but I saw only the bright spot of Mani peering at me from high in the sky, as always.

As always, that sight motivated me and many others to work all the harder. With our vehicles, more expeditions went out, and at frequent paces and further distances. Contact with Deapou and Odissi was made. More recruits went into the military. And more, more business sprouted up across the lands.

Time flew by like an owl on the hunt. Each passing day brought more to the summit, hoping that the silver point of light would pierce the southern clouds. Eventually, they saw it, and the work continued with fervent pace. With each passing day, each passing week, it grew brighter. We grew more enthralled, more excited, more anxious. Until finally, the time everyone was looking forward to the most was upon us.

And so, while our doppelgangers stood behind, I led the Council and Rodin marched his soldiers to the Darkroom like a line of heroes.