First Harvest And Experiments

Lucas POV:

Upon our return to the town hall, I noticed a new building that had appeared—the barracks. Curious about its function, I promptly asked the system to display its details.

[Barrack]

[Uncommon]

[Dwelling where sentinels are formed, it transforms normal civilians into sentinels through extensive training]

[20 sentinels can be formed each month for 100 gold each]

'I see, so it's not like in the game. The Haven's dwelling serves as a training camp for each soldier,' I thought, studying the barracks. This information wasn't what I had hoped for; I wanted a means to recruit troops swiftly, expanding my territory faster to amass more resources. Now, I don't even have civilians nor a means to provide food for any of them.

'I should concentrate on food production. With my earth magic, I could make the soil fertile and create food at a rapid rate.'

I promptly examined the ground, rendered fertile by the town's magical arrival, but it lacked seeds. Before nightfall, I decided we should plant seeds to kickstart our food production. However, there were other problems: there was no water for the crops, and we lacked utensils to plant the seeds.

As we gathered before the town hall, I commanded the troop to go and start to dig to start to plant the seeds and then sat down to communicate with the earth and the mysterious voice I heard before. After concentrating for a few minutes, I could hear the voice of the earth. Although I couldn't comprehend its words, I decided to test a hypothesis: What if I projected my desires to this voice? Perhaps it could help me.

I began to project my desires, starting with water—essential for life. Surprisingly, the earth responded. I hadn't expected it to, but I felt something beyond my mortal shell. It was as if boulders pressed against my skin, compressing me into the earth, Yet, I could hear the sound of water, so I tried to follow the sound. Initially, I couldn't reach it, but I sensed the boulders that were pressing me let me pass toward the sound of the waters. Finally, I reached the source, replacing the crushing sensation of the boulders with the cooling touch of water surrounding me. As I looked up, I saw the light above me, and as I tried to rush toward it, I heard exclamations near me. I awoke, expecting an attack, only to witness water gushing like a fountain near the city.

"It seems that my theory was right," I murmured, smiling. With this water, we could hydrate the soil to help the seeds grow.

"Plant the seeds!" I exclaimed as the water started to dwindle. I promptly reached for the earth and asked if she could create a structure resembling a well to help us. Once again, the earth responded in agreement as the ground below started to shift, creating a well to aid our efforts.

"This is absolutely astonishing!" George exclaimed upon seeing the well. His bewilderment was shared by the entire group, who, aside from the radiant light, were visibly shocked. The Light fixed her gaze on me, a smile playing on her lips, and just as I began to wonder about her intentions, her voice filled the air.

"It appears that you have a strong connection to the Earth elemental of this place, my lord," she remarked, glancing back at the well.

"It's because I rescued him from the corruption of the Fel Fountain," I explained gently to the group. "The elemental is grateful for being saved."

The light placed a hand beneath her chin, deep in thought. "I don't think that's all there is to it," she mused. After a moment of contemplation, she teleported right next to me, glaring hole in my head

"Indeed, you've chosen the mastery of Earth Magic. The elemental lifeform of this element will regard you more favorably as you continue on this path. This is why the shamans of the Orcs were so attuned to the elemental, and it's also the reason the demons had such a strong affiliation with fire elementals during the war. The blessing of Urgash granted them extreme fire attunement," she explained with a soft tone.

My eyes widened in realization. How could I have overlooked something so simple? The Sanctuary with the water elementals, Haven with the light elemental—each great faction possessed its own Lore of magic that held major significance for them. Every faction played a crucial role in the elemental plane, capable of influencing a specific element. In the case of Haven, it was light.

The light elementals bore a striking resemblance to the radiant light, except theirs emanated a 'white light' instead of the blue hue found in their Elrath's counterpart.

We soon started to resume our work, the seeds are not going to plant themselves, this work continued till the sun set down. An enormous part of the seeds were planted as I looked down at the fields, I was happy, never in my life I would've thought that I would be planting seeds.

The group began to leave the field, and as I readied myself to employ Earth magic to enhance plant growth, I knew it wouldn't happen instantly. The light had advised me that channeling all my mana into a potent regeneration spell would provide enough life force for the seeds to yield our first harvest of food. However, a new challenge arose: how to preserve the food.

"Light, could you do me a favor?" I inquired of the radiant light. She gazed at me, and before she could respond, I pressed on, "Could you carve a hole into the mountain where we can store our harvest to prevent it from decaying?"

"I can do that, my Lord," she replied. With that, she teleported to the nearest mountain, and I watched as she unleashed her intensely hot beam of light, carving into the mountain to create a suitable storage space for our harvest.

I was aware that many of the seeds included potatoes and carrots. One technique to preserve such food involved digging an underground hole to store the vegetables. These underground cellars provided cool and dark environments, allowing for a much longer preservation time for the vegetables. I couldn't recall the exact terminology—something like "cellars," I thought—but I did remember some of the essential steps needed to preserve the vegetables.

"Thank you, random TV show about medieval agriculture," I silently expressed gratitude in my heart as I harnessed the regeneration spell to its fullest. I felt my mana being transformed, a sensation akin to my blood being drained from me.

"Urghhh," I growled, the pain escalating to an excruciating level. The light atop my staff shifted from the familiar blue mana to the green that represented the lore of Earth Magic. When I sensed that my mana had reached its limit, I directed my staff toward the field. The light left my staff, enveloping the surroundings in its verdant glow.

Due to the drain that was the spell I fell to the ground, my legs losing their strength. I looked at the fields the verdant light continuing to envelop it

"My Lord!" George's voice echoed as he sprinted toward me. All around, my soldiers had shed their armor, save for the vigilant crossbowmen scanning the surroundings for potential surprise attacks.

"I'm fine, everyone. Don't worry," I assured them, my breaths coming in heavy gasps. I could sense my mana slowly returning, replenishing drop by drop.

Suddenly, a system notification jolted me, causing my heart to skip a beat.

[Congratulations! You've developed a prototype of a magical farm. These farms were a common sight in the cities of the Holy Griffin Empire, catering to the culinary needs of the wealthiest citizens.]

[These farms comprised an artifact infused with Earth Magic to hasten the growth of vegetables, along with peasants to handle the harvesting.]

[Reward: You now possess the map function, enabling you to track your own movements and those of your armies. It also highlights points of interest on the map like future mines or sawmills]

"Yes!" I celebrated internally. This was exactly what I needed – a map that would spare me from painstakingly recording every point of interest. The system would now handle that task for me.

The magic I had cast left me drained, signaling it was time for our group to find a place to rest for the night.

"Do you have a place to sleep?" I inquired of the group, and the Radiant Light reappeared before us.

"I've just carved a cave into the mountain. Since we haven't harvested the vegetables yet, you're welcome to use it for the night," she offered. "Though, be warned, the nights can be quite frosty."

"I'm aware," I replied, turning to face the group, now with the sentinels rearmored. "We must remain vigilant even at night. Two or three people per shift should suffice."

"No need for that, my Lord," the Radiant Light interjected, hovering above the ground. "I don't require sleep, so I can handle all your guard duties."

I nodded at the Light before turning back to the group. "Those who wish to rest, follow me. Tonight, we'll take shelter in our future cellar," I commanded, leading the way toward the small opening in the mountain.

Once inside, we each claimed a part of the cave for ourselves. I opted to keep my armor on, the cold air outside still seeping into my bones. From my vantage point, I observed the Radiant Light hovering above the town hall, keeping a watchful eye on the burgeoning city.

As everyone settled on the cavernous ground, my thoughts began to drift. 'Am I the sole reincarnated individual?' I mused. If I, with my system revolving around Might and Magic, could be reborn, were there others like me? And if they possessed their own systems, what factions might they align with?

I reminded myself that I wasn't originally from Ashan, so no faction inherently favored or opposed me. However, I acknowledged that certain factions, like Necropolis or Inferno, harbored dangerous tendencies.

It all hinged on whether the individuals here with me were inherently good or bad. Personally, I didn't view war as a necessity. Diplomacy and treaties could resolve many issues, and not everything needed to end in conflict or bloodshed. In fact, I considered war to be the recourse of fools who couldn't see beyond their own noses.

War should be a last resort, not a default solution. But I digressed. Tomorrow, I aimed to add a sawmill to my town and reap the rewards from a quest.

The paramount task at hand was to establish a stable population. While having a castle was impressive, without inhabitants, it would quickly turn into a disaster. However, the uncertainty lingered – what if I was alone in this world? What if there were no humans or intelligent life on this planet, leaving only radiant lights to assist me?

Initially, I entertained the idea that the barracks could continually generate troops without much hassle. However, my optimism waned as the barracks' description poured cold water on my expectations. I realized that I needed civilians willing to transition into sentinels. The only dwelling capable of spontaneously producing troops was the Fountain of Elrath, but its slow rate of one per week, albeit strong, would be insufficient for the swift expansion of my territory.

I sighed, grappling with the reality that it was far simpler in games than in the world I now found myself in. Moreover, I remained ignorant of the universe I inhabited. It couldn't be Warhammer 40,000; the use of magic would have likely resulted in my immediate explosion.

As for anime, my limited knowledge left me uncertain if I was in an unknown one – hopefully not Berserk, was all I wished for. On the gaming front, there were numerous universes I had no desire to encounter. Worlds from Blizzard games, for instance, struck me as particularly grim. Path of Exile was another I hoped never to witness, and the list went on.

My eyes widened in shock as a realization struck me. 'The fountain of corruption back then was called Fel Fountain, and Fel is one of the primal energies of World of Warcraft that represents destruction, right?'

I attempted to quell my rising stress. Perhaps it was merely a coincidental similarity in names..

Examining the sky adorned with three moons, I concluded, "I'm definitely not in Azeroth; there are not two but three moons orbiting this planet."

The uncertainty overwhelmed me. "I am in a tough spot. I hope the Burning Legion or the Void doesn't launch an attack anytime soon. Heck, I don't even know if I'm in the Warcraft universe."

Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I acknowledged the futility of speculating at this moment. However, if I did find myself in the Warcraft universe, preparing for a formidable army and potent magic would be crucial to facing the Burning Legion. The Chaos from Wish also posed a significant threat. While possessing a space-faring civilization was deemed essential for countering the Legion, I doubted I had the plot armor of Azeroth. The Legion could potentially bombard them from orbit and then launch a ground assault, but their penchant for ground tactics, despite being seemingly ineffective, was a perplexing choice.

Following these thoughts, sleep eluded me, and the weight of stress bore heavily on my mind. I, just a regular person without any extraordinary knowledge, found myself unable to find solace in sleep. The cave's confines offered no comfort, prompting me to venture outside in search of serenity under the stars.

The night sky presented a breathtaking spectacle, unlike any I had witnessed before due to the absence of pollution. "How beautiful," I muttered, captivated by the celestial display. Lost in contemplation, I failed to notice the arrival of the Radiant Light behind me.

"My Lord, are you unable to find sleep?" she inquired, her luminous form a gentle presence.

"No, sleep eludes me," I replied, turning my gaze back to the sky. "How is your connection with Elrath?" I queried, settling onto a nearby rock.

"It is peculiar, but it endures," she responded, examining her hands. I noted that her radiant glow dimmed somewhat in the nocturnal ambiance.

"This is not Ashan," I mused, reflecting on her words. "If it were, Elrath's presence would be far more pronounced."

"I cannot sleep because I ponder our whereabouts, the nature of this world, and the potential dangers it harbors," I confided in the Light.

A contemplative silence enveloped us as we gazed at the starlit sky, the only sound being that of nature in the night. After a while, her voice broke the quietude.

"Do not burden yourself with such concerns, my Lord. With Elrath's Sight and his benediction upon you, you need not fear any adversaries," she reassured. With that, she began to float back toward the town hall.

"I will leave you here, my Lord. My watch is not yet complete," she announced before promptly teleporting back above the town hall, leaving me alone with my thoughts under the vast expanse of the night sky.

I continued to look at it as I sensed that my eyelid started to fall and soon sleep enveloped me in its gentle embrace.

Continuing to gaze at the night sky, I felt my eyelids grow heavy, and soon sleep embraced me in its gentle hold. I awoke to the sounds of birds chirping and the wind brushing through my hair, greeted by the sight of the sun in the sky.

"Another day," I murmured, rising from my less-than-ideal sleeping position. Observing the fields, I noted that the men had completed the harvest and were transporting the food to the cave. The yield was abundant, but the situation remained precarious. It was a temporary relief; future endeavors required improved food production.

Approaching the wood stockpile, I set about creating a makeshift bonfire. Finishing my task, I turned to the group, who had gathered nearby.

"Radiant and Thom will stay here to protect the town. The rest of you will accompany me to establish a sawmill and explore the surroundings," I declared.

"Yes, sir," came the unified response from the group.

"While we're away, could you create utensils for eating and cooking?" I asked Radiant and Thom.

"Yes, we can," the Radiant Light responded. "My knowledge includes such things."

Thom nodded in agreement. With that settled, we left the town, retracing the path from the previous day. Glancing at the map, I noticed potential spots for the sawmill that I hadn't explored yet. Unlike the mine, a sawmill didn't have yields; the only variation was the type of wood harvested. Perhaps someday, I could have a sawmill for magical trees, but for now, it was oak and fir.

We soon arrived at the nearest sawmill point that I saw, he was only five minutes from the city, an excellent first emplacement contrary to the mine that was thirty minutes away.

I called the system promptly

[Would you want to install a sawmill here ? ]

[Yes]

[No]

I pressed [Yes], and a massive beam of light descended. After it cleared, we found ourselves in front of a sawmill with three robots, resembling the ones that helped us in the mine earlier.

[Congratulations! You've built your first sawmill.]

[Reward: 1000 gold, a significant location added to your map.]

Spotting the new mark on the map up North, I declared, "I received Elrath's wisdom. We should head north." With the group in tow, we made our way toward the marker, an uneventful journey until we noticed an eerie silence in the forest as we neared our destination.

"My lord, this is worrying," George muttered, spear at the ready.

"Indeed," I replied. "Everyone, be prepared for an ambush." I cautiously tapped into my mana, not wanting to be caught off guard. Today, I woke up with about one-third of my mana regenerated, a slow but welcome improvement.

As we approached the marker, the forest's usual sounds disappeared, leaving only the sounds of nature. We emerged from the trees to find a cave entrance.

"Another cave," I thought, noting the surroundings. Though I sensed no immediate threat, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Using my mana, I generated a small light on my staff to ward off the darkness.

"Let's go in," I said, positioning myself behind George. He led the way into the cave, the sentinel and crossbowman following suit.

Inside, we discovered a faint green light emanating from crystals.

[Superior Earth Crystal]

[Rare]

[A crystal that has absorbed a large quantity of Earth magic. These crystals are rare, even in mountainous areas where Earth magic is more abundant.]

[Do you wish to create a mine for this vein?]

"Yes," I whispered, and as before, a beam of light descended, revealing a dozen sentinel robots equipped with pickaxes, ready for work.

"These crystals will help supplement our resources," I informed the group, scanning the mine for additional treasures. The map marker persisted, indicating there was more to be found.

"So, the mine wasn't the only interesting thing promised," I thought, gesturing for the group to continue exploring the cave.

Closing my eyes, I allowed my magical senses to roam the cave. Despite scanning the entire area, something blocked me beyond a certain point. Signaling the group to follow, we reached an enormous door.

"System, any information on this door?" I queried mentally, but after ten seconds of suspense, the system remained silent.

"Well, it seems not," I chuckled nervously.

"My Lord, I don't sense anything from here," George reported as he approached the door.

"Don't touch anything!" I warned the group, feeling a profound magical blindness in front of the door. It was unsettling, and I began to feel uneasy.

"We're leaving this cave, now," I declared, my voice shaking. Once outside, the energy vacuum was still present, but in front of the door, it felt like my mana was being drained. We quickly exited the cave, observing the robots diligently mining and storing minerals on the outside.

"We should continue our exploration " I decided "I'll explore this door when we will be far more implemented in this region, for now,we'll concentrate on finding resources for the town"

The group nodded as we ventured further north in search of more resources, but we returned empty-handed. Neither the map provided by the system nor my enhanced senses revealed anything of note. Throughout the journey, I utilized the remaining mana to train in defensive spells, focusing on Earth Magic, crucial for the town's development. However, the Earth spirit I had conversed with yesterday seemed less responsive.

"Perhaps saving it from the fountain's corruption made a difference," I speculated as we headed back to town.

Suddenly, a sense of danger gripped me, and I swiftly took action. Molding my mana, I conjured a shield of solid earth just in time to deflect crudely made arrows.A group of monsters was charging at us, I counted three archers. We sprang into action, with Phillip launching a bolt that pierced one creature's head.

The two sentinels charged at the ape-like monsters armed with bows and clubs. Though strange, these creatures were about 1.2 meters tall. As I generated a blast of pure light magic, the beam pulverized two of the approaching beasts. George and the other sentinel dispatched several more with their weapons, and Phillip's crossbow claimed another victim.

Despite losing their brethren, five of the creatures persisted in attacking, their clubs proving ineffective against the sentinels' armor. Sensing a new threat behind us, I turned to see a spellcaster with a staff pointed at me, gathering energy. Reacting swiftly, I molded an Earth shield to protect the group. The shield withstood a lightning bolt, and I emerged just in time to counterattack.

Drawing mana, I unleashed a pillar of light that enveloped the enemy spellcaster. When the light faded, only his staff remained. With the threat eliminated, I didn't have time to loot as the group had already finished off the remaining creatures.

[Congratulations! You won the fight.]

[You won the battle, earning 120 XP.]

[Level 1: 136/1000]

"I could have died?" I started to hyperventilate, observing my trembling hands. The encounter had been terrifying, and without my mana-induced sense of danger, the outcome could have been fatal or, at the very least, heavily injurious.

"Is everyone alright?" I inquired, after calming myself looking at the group as they began looting the corpses.

"We are fine, my Lord. It was a sudden attack, but these creatures were weak," replied George on behalf of the group, who continued scavenging for any valuable items. Unfortunately, it seemed there was no noteworthy loot.

Approaching the staff of the fallen spellcaster, I used the system's analysis to find that it held no special properties, not even qualifying as an artifact. However, it was imbued with a blue crystal.

[Air Crystal]

[Uncommon]

[A crystal imbued with a bit of Air energy]

"I see," I murmured as I examined the crystal. "So this is how he drew his Air energy. It was strange that he used so much mana for such a weak spell, but it appears he was not a mage. Instead, he was channeling his mana into the crystal like a conduit to generate a lightning bolt."

Deciding to experiment, I considered replacing it with an Earth crystal from the mine to enhance my Earth spell. After showing the crystal to the group, I explained its properties and suggested a detour to the crystal mine to gather some for experimentation.

The journey to the crystal mine proceeded without complications. We collected eight Earth crystals and returned promptly to town, the entire excursion taking around five hours. Arriving past noon, we were greeted by the sight of utensils displayed around the town hall on wooden tables.

'They worked so fast,' I marveled at the progress. "Well, everyone, take a break. I'll prepare the meal," I announced, heading to the well to fetch water for cooking.

As the group dispersed, I lit a bonfire using a tiny flame conjured with the help of the Fire Lore.

With the bonfire crackling, I retrieved a sturdy pot that was created by the two and placed it over the flames. I poured some water from the well into the pot, letting it simmer over the fire. Meanwhile, I gathered some carrots and potatoes we had acquired thanks to our farm

As I peeled the carrots and potatoes with a small wooden knife, the enticing aroma of the crackling flames mingled with the earthy scent of the vegetables. The group gathered around, intrigued by the prospect of a hot meal after the day's adventure.

Once the vegetables were peeled and washed, I chopped them into hearty chunks and added them to the pot of simmering water. The flames danced beneath the pot, lending a warmth to the cooking process.

With no spices on hand to enhance the taste, I called out, "Meal's ready!" The group gathered around, each carrying bowls and spoons. We enjoyed the simple carrot and potato stew without any issues. The meal turned out well, satisfying everyone's hunger. The Radiant Light abstained from eating, claiming she didn't require mortal sustenance and subsisted on the natural light's magic present in the world.

After the meal, I headed toward the cellar and surveyed the stored food. It was clear we had just enough to last a week or two. Deciding to carve a passage near the cellar, I used Earth magic to create my workshop for magical experiments. The prospect excited me, reminiscent of my enjoyment during high school physics and chemistry experiments, but now, as the first Earthling to experiment with magic.

Amused by the thought of becoming a stereotypical mage, I inwardly chuckled as I conjured a crude rock table, showcasing my current level of control over Earth magic. Placing the eight crystals from the mine on the table, I created another table adjacent to it for the Air crystal.

Observing the Air crystal, I noticed it was significantly less luminescent than its Earth counterpart, perhaps indicating a lower reserve of energy. Intrigued, I hovered my hand above it and attempted to absorb the pure air energy within. The process proved challenging, and I managed to extract filaments of air energy, crackling in my hand like lightning.

"This energy is so violent," I mused, examining the crackling lightning. "So unlike the gentle Earth." Seeking balance, I focused my thoughts to calm the energy, isolating the most turbulent part. Eventually, I held crackling lightning in my right hand and a gentle gale in my left.

With the crackling lightning in one hand and the gentle gale in the other, I suddenly placed both hands back on the Air crystal, attempting to return the extracted energy. However, it proved impossible. Perplexed, I extended my magical senses, discovering that the energy in my hands, compared to the crystal's energy, was mixed with environmental energy, specifically Earth energy.

"So, when the energy leaves the crystal, it absorbs elemental energy from its surroundings," I observed the unusual phenomenon. "But what if I drain the environmental magic and try to put it back in?"

Testing the idea, I siphoned the Earth energy corrupting the Air energy. This proved to be remarkably easy, given my superior mastery over Earth magic compared to Air magic. With no more mixed energy, I attempted to store it back inside the crystal, and this time, it worked. The energy successfully returned to the Air crystal.

"The taken energy can be put back," I pondered. "If I use these crystals to enhance the soil, the energy can be replenished from the Earth. But first, I need to find a way to purify the energy before storing it back in the crystal."

"First things first, let's see if I can create something like a golem," I thought excitedly.

I began crafting the shell of a golem, opting for a crude test subject—a cube of stone with arms and legs. Creating a hole the size of one of the crystals, I prepared to insert it for experimentation.

"Well, let's see how this go" I murmured as I inserted the crystal, at first nothing happened but in an instant the golem started to glow with green energy

"Not good!" I exclaimed inwardly as I witnessed the glow around the golem increase uncontrollably. Reacting swiftly, I created an earth shield to protect myself and the crystals. However, I felt the shield weakening, and an explosion ensued. After a brief pause, I lowered the shield, only to find the golem's remains scattered on the ground, the crystal shattered into smaller shards.

"So, this was too much?" I mused, surveying the pieces on the ground. "But what if I use these little shards?"

Undeterred, I restarted the process with a smaller crystal, ensuring the golem was of a matching size for a more controlled test. The workshop echoed with constant explosions as I experimented with various sizes and shapes for the golem. Concerned, George came to check if I was injured, but I reassured him, emerging unscathed from the workshop.

Despite the setbacks, I persevered in creating a golem. After six hours of trial and error, I finally succeeded in crafting a golem that didn't explode on the spot.

[Crude Golem]

[Uncommon]

[A golem made of stone by someone lacking skills in the profession. It can only execute very simple commands.]

'Let's go!' I cheered inwardly, looking at the golem with starry eyes. Despite the system's comment, I felt a sense of pride. We all start somewhere, and golems could greatly benefit our town.

Examining the crystal on the golem's torso, I estimated its size.

[New Talent Unlocked]

[Novice Golemancer]

Intrigued, I pondered the newfound ability to acquire talents in this peculiar manner. The system window materialized before me, displaying the new function it had unlocked: the Character Sheet.

[Character Sheet]

Lucas Aldaric

[Cleric]

Attributes:

Might Power: 0

Might Defense: 2

Magic Power: 2

Magic Defense: 2

Leadership: 2

Destiny: 1

Talents:

[Novice Golemancer]

Skills:

Urgash's Blessing

Earth Magic I

Spells:

Regeneration

Earth Shield

Fire Mastery

Artifacts :

Pendant of Holiness

'Might power at 0, I knew that I was not that strong physically but this weak ? Well that was better to be a Cleric than a Knight' I thought as I continued to look at the screen for a while before closing it.

'The shape of these crystals can be quite ineffective, what I try to create some shape using the crystals, perhaps some cube or orbs' i thought as I started to manipulate the crystal and shape them using utensils that I created

Long hours of work didn't pay off, despite my craftsmanship starting to be better, I couldn't shape the crystals into what I wanted. I stopped my experiments because I didn't have any earth crystals anymore.

"Well, I'll wait until tomorrow to gather more crystals for further experimentation," I thought eagerly as I left my workshop. In the dead of night, Radiant Light hovered above the bonfire, where the group enjoyed the stew I had made earlier.

"My Lord!" exclaimed Philip. "We were about to bring you your meal!"

"No need, Philip. I would have come out; my stomach would have told me," I replied with a smile, grabbing a bowl and a spoon to join the group.

"How was your research, my Lord?" inquired George as he spooned some stew.

I began eating and shared the outcome of my experiments. "I successfully made a golem, but the rest were failures," I said.

The group's gaze bore into me as I spoke. "Tomorrow, I will stay in my workshop to advance my knowledge and magic. You should form a team and explore uncharted territories. Radiant Light will be the leader," I instructed.

"But, my Lord!" protested George. "We can't let you alone in the town. What if something attacks you during your experiments?"

"Don't worry. I will seal the entry to my workshop and post two or three golems outside to protect me," I reassured them.

George persisted, "This is a wise decision, my Lord, but promise me that if there is danger, don't confront it, just hide."

"I promise," I replied, and a smile appeared on Radiant Light's lips.

"But don't forget," I added, looking at the group. "We are not to attack people or beasts. Be peaceful."

"Of course, my Lord," Thom replied, lowering his head.

"But if people or beasts attack us first, we should retaliate, like this morning, right?" asked George, standing up, his armor illuminated by the flame.

After a moment of contemplation, I nodded. "Yes, we allow mercy, but mercy is a weakness on the battlefield."

As I finished my meal, I addressed the group, "Rest well, everyone, as tomorrow will be a hard day."

Dark thoughts crept in as I departed toward my workshop. "I know that war is inevitable. I can try to stop it, but there will always be someone dumb enough to start a conflict," I mused, looking at my gloved hand concealing Urgash's blessing.

"If I had become a demon, should my vision be different?" I wondered aloud, gazing at the three moons orbiting this world.

"You would," came a voice from behind. Startled, I turned to see Radiant Light looking at me with a smile on her beautiful face

"Demons, by their nature, are creatures devoid of self-control, succumbing to their primal instincts," she explained, lowering herself to touch the grass.

"Having lived for an extended period, I've never encountered a demon that managed to resist their instincts," she continued, fixing her gaze upon me. In her words, the image of a familiar character crossed my mind.

"Yet, what about Kiril, son of Slava? Was he not able to restrain his impulses?" I inquired, mentioning Kiril, a beloved character from the sixth opus of the games.

"He was not a pure demon; he was a human transformed into a demon," she clarified, a furrow forming on her brow as if recalling an unpleasant memory.

"If you say so," I responded as I began to make my way toward the cave. Her voice reached out to me, calling my name.

"Lucas," she said. I turned to look at her. "Promise me that you will not be tempted by Chaos nor Darkness."

I took a moment to ponder, gazing at the graceful form of the light before offering my reply. "I am no prophet; how could I promise something as significant as that?" I scoffed. "I am neither a god nor omniscient; I am susceptible to change, and my decisions may shift based on the environment I find myself in."

Entering one of the caves, I continued, "But for now, as I am, I harbor no interest in seeking more power nor damning my own soul," concluding with a smile on my face.

"I see," responded the Light, nodding. "You will always be my Lord, and I, along with the others, will guide you in your endeavors in this new world."

"Thank you," I expressed earnestly. All of them held immense significance to me; they weren't mere mindless soldiers I could order to their deaths—they were living, breathing, and thinking individuals.

"You too," I responded, even though she couldn't hear me. In my workshop, I set up a stone slab for sleep but couldn't resist the urge to continue my research.

I thought about something during the meal, how can I order a golem to do something. So I tried for a while with vocal commands but that didn't work, so I tried with a bit of magic, I tried to connect with the crystal on his torso, when I sensed that the connection was made I ordonned the golem to jump.

And jump it did, the tiny legs of the golem were extremely strong despite their size and the golem was launched like a missile toward the ceiling where it encased himself, all that I could see from below were the little legs of the golem moving as his head and torso were partially in the stone ceiling.

"It seems that the crystal enhanced his resistance too, interesting " I said as I noted it in my head

'Come down' I ordonned the golem and he fell from the ceiling.

'Teleport there ' I ordonned it, trying to see how much it could do, without any surprise the golem did nothing after hearing my command.

I tried to order it in different manner but I came to a conclusion relatively easily

"A golem made this way can only do extremely simple command" I murmured as the golem came to a stop

"These golem can be extremely great to gather resources and manual labor, they could in the near future replace people" I said as I wanted to research even more but I stopped myself, continuing will have a detrimental nature as it would impede my sleeping schedule.

I put myself on the slab not before grunting due to the bad bed I was sleeping on

'It might be a while before I sleep on a true bed' I sighed before closing my eyes and drifting instantly to sleep

"-rd" I heard something sensing someone tugging at me, I opened my eyes only to be blinded by a beautiful blue face

"My Lord ! " I heard the Light "I hope that you had a good night, I woke you up to say to you that we are going to depart for the exploration,"

"Hello," I said sleepily, my voice weak from a long rest. "I hope you'll stay safe throughout the entire exploration. Be careful and avoid unnecessary fights."

"Of course, my Lord. And do take care of yourself," she replied before teleporting out of my workshop. I stood up from my makeshift bed, my bones cracking due to the less-than-ideal sleeping position.

'I have a full day ahead of me—golem creation and advancement in earth magic are necessities,' I thought as I began crafting the bodies of ten golems.

"I must go and gather some crystals from the mine," I decided, directing the golem I had created the previous day to follow me. Before leaving the town, I used earth magic to seal the cave entrance from my workshop.

"Let's go," I said, and the golem and I departed from the town toward the crystal cave. After a brisk thirty-minute walk, we reached the cave and collected fifteen crystals before returning.

Once back in town, I was eager to use the crystals to create golems for initiating the construction of essential infrastructures.

I re-opened the entrance to the workshop and swiftly entered the piece with the golem behind me, his arms full of earth crystal.

I put them on the table, and I started to cut them into smaller pieces to fit the hole that I made in the golem's body.

In less than an hour, I transformed ten crystals into fifty pieces that had the output to put into the golems.

I animated the ten golems and told them to start to move the resources that were still outside.

"Well, " I started as I looked at the five remaining crystals. "Let's experiments with you "

I took a crystal in my hand then looked at my staff. I wanted to put a pure crystal inside, it was something that was extremely beneficial and would enhance my mastery of Earth magic.

I manipulated the crystal in my hand, attempting to embed it into the staff. Through my extensive research, I learned that wood wasn't an optimal material for weapons with an earth crystal. However, stone proved highly effective for crafting utensils or weapons.

Though my staff wasn't crafted from stone, I sensed its superiority, surpassing even the strength of typical stone. It wasn't steel but likely a mineral native to Ashan, offering unparalleled magical conductivity.

For over an hour, I persisted in trying to insert the crystal, facing an odd resistance each time. Then, almost serendipitously, the crystal seamlessly fit into the staff, which immediately emitted an earthy green glow, pulsating with power.

[Congratulations! You've created your first Artifact.]

Upon the system prompt, I eagerly examined the staff.

[Enhanced Cleric Staff of the Earth]

[Rare]

[A weapon bestowed upon any Cleric of Elrath, enhanced with a stone containing a significant amount of earth magic.]

Effects:

Mastery of Earth Magic increased by 50%

Minerals Detection II

Magic Power: +2

Magic Defense: +1

"Wow," I marveled at the staff's statistics. As my hand touched it, I felt an intoxicating power, as if I could command the entire mountain at my whim.

"Let's put this to the test," I thought excitedly as I swiftly left my workshop. Outside, the golems were diligently collecting minerals and wood, depositing them near a cave entrance crafted by Radiant Light for resource stockpiling.

"What we need are roads to transport our resources to the city. With these roads, I can deploy golems to efficiently gather and bring them back here," I mused, contemplating the potential of my newfound artifact.

I brought the staff above my head, almost religiously, I used my magical sense to start to shape the earth accordingly, then suddenly I tapped the staff upon the ground.

The stone beneath my feet trembled with the magical energy coursing through it. The golems, sensing the magical shift, paused in their work and turned their attention toward the developing road.

With each sweep of the staff, the road extended, weaving through the terrain with precision. The crystal embedded within the staff pulsed with the rhythm of my magic, amplifying the earth-shaping abilities. It was as if the very essence of the land acknowledged my command.

'Arrrgh' I grunted in my head, the power was enormous as was my mana consumption. I saw the counter of my mana going down at an alarming rate, but I still held the power for a while before I stopped, looking at my work I smiled, where there was stone and earth before, there was an enormous trenches, now we just needed to consider the drainage if it started to rain.

The road from our two cave were created in an instant, and in retrospect, what cost the most mana in what I just did was the compaction of the Earth to make a compact bloc of Earth to allow people to walk upon

I sat down on a nearby rock, looking at what I just did. It was a good start, but now I needed to take the mana from the staff to start to create houses for my people, but for now we will live inside caves, I didn't had this much mana for now

[Congratulation, you won a battle, you received 360 XP]

[LV 1 : 496/1000]

'What ?' I was shocked, I could win XP without being present, but I had didn't have the time to rejoice as I started

[You defeated your first true magic user]

[You received design X3]

[Design for basic houses]

[Design for basic cellar]

[Design for uncommon magical workshop]

'This, this is so good' I exhaled, this was for now the best reward that I've seen, I promptly looked at each design

[Basic House]

[1 units of wood, 1 units of stone 6 workers for 1 hour]

[Basic cellar]

[6 units of wood, 4 units of stone ]

[9 workers for 6 hours]

[Uncommon Magical Workshop]

[15 units of wood, 15 units of stone, 100 crystals of an element or a core of one element and 1 unit of crystal]

[A mage and 20 workers for 12 hours]

"Well," I muttered to myself, "this is perfect. Let's see." Clicking on the cellar building icon, I found myself instantly transported to a bird's-eye view of the city.

'This is just like a city builder!' I exclaimed inwardly.

Surveying the area below me, I clicked on the ground to designate the placement of the cellar near the Town Hall for optimal convenience.

Clicking on the ground, I saw the golem going for the pile of wood and they started to take the materials to start building the cellar

'This is incredible,' I marveled as I beheld the cityscape from above. However, another thought soon crept into my mind.

"Are they safe?" I pondered with anxiety. Having just faced a battle, the thought of losing any of them weighed heavily on my mind. If one were to die, I genuinely didn't know how I would react. The responsibility rested on my shoulders, as I was the sole individual in the army with healing spells. I found myself more inclined to tinker with golems and magic, choosing to stay behind rather than join them and aid them in their battle.

'Well I just have to wait for their return' I thought as I looked at my workshop for a bit before starting to walk towards it

'I just have some ideas to test' were my last thoughts before I entered and sealed the entry of the cave.