The great shovel robbery

We will need to work hard. Without delay, we began work. On the first day, our main focus was building the makeshift shelter to protect ourselves in the following days. We decided to go a little further up the stream, looking for a place far enough away to collect some wood without attracting too much attention. We chose a spot where trees were most abundant, but still far enough from our camp to minimize the risk of being discovered.

Carefully, we cut down some smaller trees, trying not to leave obvious traces of our presence. We used branches, leaves and vines to build the shelter, taking advantage of local vegetation and the terrain to camouflage our base. It was crucial to ensure that our camp was not visible from afar, as we didn't know who might pass by.

As we worked on building the shelter, we kept a close eye on our surroundings, watching for any sign of movement in the forest. With every unfamiliar noise or sound, our muscles instinctively contracted, ready to react to any potential danger.

At the end of the day, although our shelter was simple, it was functional. We were protected from the wind and rain, at least for now. As night approaches, we light a discreet fire to warm ourselves and prepare a modest meal. Our first day of work had been intense, and tiring for our young bodies.

Before the sun had completely set, we returned to the village. As we walked back, I mentally went over the items we needed to buy to ensure we could get through a few days without needing to return to civilization. The list was burned into my mind, including non-perishable foods and additional tools. Being self-sufficient will be crucial for our secret production of ceramic pieces.

When we arrived at the orphanage, I noticed that no one raised any questions about our absence or our activities. This lack of curiosity on the part of the other children at the orphanage began to intrigue me. Were they simply used to our comings and goings, or was there something more behind it? Sometimes I found myself wondering if it was all just some kind of simulation. Maybe it's just paranoia in my mind.

The next day, as soon as the first rays of sunlight began to illuminate the sky, my brother left with a clear mission in mind: to steal shovels or any other tool that would help us in the manufacture of ceramic pieces. I am aware of the importance of these tools for our survival project, I knew that finding the appropriate instruments would be crucial to the success of our venture. There is no such thing as a hardware store in this village, so the only way is to steal from whoever has one.

Finding two machetes is much more difficult than stealing two shovels. Usually this kind of thing stays indoors, and from what I've seen in the time I've spent here, it's not.

I waited a little longer, until people started moving around and starting their daily activities. I realized that hunting like an ordinary commoner was out of the question during this period. Local restrictions made this practice prohibitive, which meant we had to turn to other food sources.

Only one place in the village offered a viable solution: the same store where Carl and Teus had bought those tasteless breads the first day we arrived here, right before they were beaten up by passing nobles. Although it was not the most attractive option, it was the only resource available to guarantee our subsistence during this phase.

I headed to that same store following the memories of the former owner of this body, aware that I would have to deal with the fact that the bread here is shit.

I spent 4 copper coins on 40 loaves of dubious quality. Despite their inferiority, they were our only viable option to guarantee our food for the next few days. Fortunately, the store owner decided to give me a gift bag to make transporting the bread easier.

Without waiting for signs from my brother in the village, I headed towards our camp with bread in hand. We had agreed that he would get the necessary tools and meet us there. I have full confidence in my brother's ability to steal things. Even if something goes wrong, he still has a machete to defend himself.

With the bag of bread over my shoulders, I walked the path back to our forest hideout. The weight of the bread started to bother my shoulders at some point. As I moved forward, I kept my senses alert, watching for any sign of danger or suspicious movement in the trees around me.

As I approached the camp, my ears picked up the distinctive sound of stone scraping against metal, a sound that instantly put me on alert. That activity was happening inside the camp, but the elevation of the terrain provided by the stream prevented me from seeing what was happening.

I whistled in a specific way, a form of communication that only my brother and I shared. It was a sign of identification, a way of confirming our presence to each other in situations like this. For a few long seconds, the sound of stone scraping stopped, leaving me a little tense and anxious for the answer.

Then I heard a familiar whistle answering mine. It was my brother, he was there inside the camp. So I advanced towards the camp, now certain that there was no danger.

With quick steps, I crossed the stream and finally caught a glimpse of my brother, sharpening his bloody machete with a whetstone. I raised an eyebrow, but before I could question the origin of that blood he spoke, pointing to a corner. "I got two shovels and some ropes, I also got this whetstone." He said the last part as he held up the whetstone so I could see.

I decided not to question beyond that. What he did to achieve these things doesn't interest me at this point. He usually does a good job when there's blood involved.

I take one of the loaves and toss it to my brother, offering him a break to eat before continuing with our plans. As he picked up the bread, I shared with him the next steps I had planned.

"Let's eat before we start producing. We still need to make a wheel and a mechanism to make it turn. I'm thinking about creating a mechanical potter's wheel, something powered by a crank. In addition to being essential for the production of ceramics, it will also be a great way to strengthen our bodies," I explained, articulating the details of our plan.

My brother just nodded silently. As he finished chewing the bread.