The Greatest City Developer

Chapter 45 - Beneath the Stars Beyond the Sand


Excited, Athan reached into his pouch and pulled out the first flake he had found earlier. With care, he dropped it into the wooden cup. The tiny piece made a soft tap as it landed against the side. Then he held it out for Wade to see, his eyes bright with focus.

"These are copper ore," he said, voice low but energized. "We need to find more of them—hidden in the sand."

He reached for his knife, flipping it in his hand. "If you think you've found one, use your blade and scrape it a little. If the mark turns shiny orange—like this—it's copper."

Wade took the cup, studying the flake, then gave a short nod.

"It's heavier than most sand or stone," Athan continued. "That's why this works." He gestured to the wooden box beside them. "The water pulls the lighter sand forward, but the heavier pieces—like copper—they get stuck behind the ridges."

He picked up another scoop of riverbed sediment and poured it slowly into the top of the sluice, letting it wash through again.

"We'll need a lot," he said, watching as another small flake settled in the groove. "So if you find any more, drop them in the cup."

Wade crouched beside the box, silent for a moment, then reached into the silt with a weathered hand. He scooped, searched, and began helping.

Side by side, they worked quietly.

Athan continued feeding scoops of riverbed sediment into the sluice, letting the water carry the lighter grains forward while his eyes tracked the heavier bits that caught behind the wooden ridges. Carefully, he checked each groove. Some were empty. Others held promise.

Bit by bit, he found them.

Athan found more flakes as the day stretched on—some small and pale, others darker, with a reddish gleam. A few were dense and heavy, barely larger than a grain of sand, while others had rough edges that caught the light. Each time he retrieved one, he examined it carefully, scraping the surface with his blade. If the mark glowed orange beneath the scratch, he dropped it into the cup beside him without hesitation.

Wade moved up and down the stony bank, the crunch of gravel underfoot mixing with the calls of birds in the trees overhead. The canopy wasn't dense here—just enough to cast scattered shadows across the pebbled ground. Now and then, a leaf would float down, land silently in the river, and drift along its lazy path.

At one point, the man straightened, a small object resting in his palm.

He walked over and opened his hand to show Athan.

The boy's eyes dropped to the stone—and instantly froze.

It wasn't reddish-brown. It wasn't copper.

It shimmered faintly, catching the late morning light with a soft, unmistakable hue.

Gold.

Athan stared at it, eyes wide.

"That's not copper," he whispered, almost afraid to say it out loud. "That's gold."

Wade looked at the piece again, then at his son, eyebrows raised but saying nothing—ready to drop it back into the river.

Athan grinned, a spark of joy breaking through his calm. "If you find more like that—flakes that shine like this—put them in the cup too."

Wade nodded once, then gently placed the golden flake beside the others.

It wasn't much.

But it was something.

And now, they were searching for more than just one type of ore.

They were chasing two.

They continued like that for hours—quiet, methodical, side by side.

The river whispered constantly beside them, its clear water weaving around smooth stones and sunken roots. Along the edge, reeds swayed gently in the breeze, their tips nodding toward the current. Dragonflies skimmed just above the surface, their wings catching flashes of light as they darted between patches of tall grass and overhanging branches.

Athan remained near the sluice box, hunched beside the gently sloped wooden channel as he scooped sand, silt, and gravel into it. The water running through it trickled in soft, rhythmic streams, washing lighter particles away while heavier grains caught behind the wooden ridges.

From time to time, they paused. Athan would crouch at the edge, scoop the cool water into his hands, and splash it over his face and neck. The chill bit into his skin, refreshing and sharp, making the warmth of the sun on his back feel more distant. Wade did the same, rinsing his arms and shoulders before sitting on a nearby stone, eyes half-closed as he rested.

The riverbank was peaceful. No insects buzzed too close. The occasional fish darted through the shallows. A family of birds chirped softly from the trees, and somewhere deeper in the forest, the distant call of something large echoed faintly before fading again.

Their findings varied—shapes, weights, and colors. Some flakes shone with a deep orange gleam, others caught the sun with a golden flash. Every new piece added to the quiet excitement building in Athan's chest.

By late afternoon, the bottom of the wooden cup shimmered faintly with scattered fragments of copper and gold. Tiny, uneven, but unmistakable.

The sun, no longer overhead, angled down toward the treetops, casting long shadows across the stones. The breeze cooled slightly, rustling the leaves above them.

They didn't talk much.

They didn't need to.

It was just them, the river, and the quiet rhythm of discovery.

After a long while, Athan let out a breath and straightened his back. His knees and shoulders ached, and his hands were streaked with dried mud and grit. The cup beside the sluice held more than he'd expected for a first attempt—enough to call the day a success.

"That's enough for today," he said softly.

Wade nodded in silent agreement and stood, stretching his arms with a low grunt. Together, they moved to the sluice box. Athan tilted it gently, letting the last trickle of water run out before they lifted it and carried it a few steps up the bank. They set it down carefully under the trees, out of reach of the current, and braced it against a flat stone.

The water still clung to the wooden ridges, glinting in the fading light. Athan ran a hand along the edge, making sure the wedges and rails were still in place. They were. The tool had held up well.

Before they left, Athan turned back toward the spot where they had left the iron-bearing stones earlier that morning. The pile was still there, undisturbed. Some of the fragments were heavy and dark with streaks of brown and gray—useless for now, maybe, but still worth saving.

One by one, they gathered them up.

Wade filled his arms again while Athan carried what he could manage in a fold of cloth. The walk back to the village was quiet, the ground soft beneath their feet as the last warmth of the sun slipped behind the trees.

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Back at the village, the sun had dipped below the trees, and the fire pit glowed softly at the center of the clearing. Smoke curled gently into the evening sky, and the comforting smell of roasted roots and boiled greens filled the air.

Athan and Wade placed the iron stones near the tool pile and the cup of ore near them, washed the dust from their hands, and picked up their wooden bowls. They joined the short line forming near the fire, waiting quietly as the others were served.

Lara and Kali stood behind the cooking pot, one stirring, the other ladling out portions. The new table stood proudly beside them, stained now with a few drops of broth and streaks of earth, but still solid—useful.

When it was Athan's turn, Kali grinned as she handed him his share.

"Still clean," she said, patting the table. "And so much better."

"Thank you," Lara added softly, scooping a bowl for Wade. "We didn't know we needed it until we had it."

Athan gave a faint smile. "I figured it might help."

They moved aside to let the next in line step forward, then walked with their bowls toward a quieter spot near the fire. Rael was already seated there, speaking in low tones with Shala, who nodded along while keeping her hands near the edge of her own bowl to cool it for small sips.

Wade settled beside Rael with a quiet grunt of satisfaction, while Athan sat across from her. The warmth of the fire, the smell of the food, and the calm around them gave the clearing a peaceful rhythm.

A few minutes later, Kali and Lara joined them, plates in hand, dropping down to sit on either side of Athan without hesitation.

Lara nudged him lightly with her elbow. "It really does make cooking easier, you know. Our backs aren't aching, and everything stays off the ground."

"It's faster too," said Kali, already halfway through her meal. "No crawling to stir pot. Just turn and done. How you get idea ?"

Athan gave a small shrug, his mouth full, but he was clearly pleased. He swallowed, then said, "It was time we worked at a better level than the dirt."

Lara leaned gently against his shoulder for a moment before returning to her meal.

The warmth of food and fire wrapped around them all as the night continued—slow and peaceful, for now.

As the evening wore on, the quiet hum of conversation filled the clearing. Bowls were emptied, laughter came in soft bursts, and the fire crackled steadily under the darkening sky.

Athan had just set his bowl down beside him when Yun and Ok approached from across the fire. They didn't interrupt right away—just stood nearby, waiting for a pause in the talk.

Ok crouched down again, rubbing his hands together to brush off the dust. "Roof's done," he said with a small nod, eyes on Athan. "We finish before you back. Was fast enough to finish placing last plank."

Yun sat beside him with a soft grunt. "Start walls tomorrow. House looks good."

Athan nodded. "Great. We'll have real shelter soon."

Ok looked at him. "Toilet next, right?"

"Yeah," Athan said. "It has to go up before next rain. The basin's ready. We just need the building."

Yun scratched his cheek. "We build frame first?"

"Yes," Athan said. "Three small cabins. Same size. We place the frame first, check it fits over the basin. Then the rest."

Ok frowned. "The box under the seat. It part of the cabin?"

"It is," Athan said. "Seat goes on top. Box under. We roast the wood inside box for sitting over fire to stop it from rotting too fast."

Yun looked at him. "We do walls, then lid?"

"We build the frame," Athan replied. "Leave back open. We'll check the fit. Then we finish roof, walls, then seat."

Ok grunted. "We need good boards. Not just beams."

"Flat ones," Yun added. "For seat and sides."

"I'll help pick them when you're finish with the house," Athan said.

Ok gave a small nod. "Good. We finish walls fast. Then we build your poop box."

Yun chuckled. "Big house… just to sit."

Athan smirked. "And you'll be happy when it rains."

They all laughed softly. Ok gave Athan a light pat on the shoulder, then stood.

"We see you in morning," he said.

"Sleep well," Athan replied.

The two men walked back into the night, talking low between themselves. Around the fire, the peaceful rhythm of the village carried on. As the fire crackled quietly and the voices around it softened, Athan stood and stepped away from the group.

The air was cooler here, the wind gentler. He sat down on the grass, leaned back, and let himself fall flat on the earth, arms stretched loosely at his sides.

Above him, the stars were out in full—more than he could count, scattered across the dark canvas like dust on black stone. Some were dim, others sharp and bright. A few blinked faintly, as if watching back.

He stared in silence, letting his thoughts wander.

A few minutes passed before he heard the sound of footsteps behind him—light and unhurried. Lara's voice came first, soft and curious.

"You watching sky?"

"Yeah," Athan said without looking. "It's clear tonight."

Kali dropped down beside him without hesitation, mimicking his posture, arms spread like wings. "Lot of lights. More than yesterday."

"They always there," Lara said, settling down on his other side. "Clouds just hide them."

Athan pointed toward the east. "That one—see it? The one that looks like a triangle? That's not a star. It moves."

Kali squinted. "Why it move?"

"It's a rock," Athan replied. "Very far away. Moving in the sky. There are many like that."

The three of them lay there for a while, saying little, just watching the sky. Now and then, one of them pointed at a cluster, or made a quiet comment about the way the stars seemed to shift when you blinked too long.

The night air wrapped around them like a blanket, cool and calm.

Tomorrow would bring more work, more plans, more things to build.

But for now… there was just the sky.

------------------

Morning came slower than usual.

The bedding was warm, and Athan found himself nestled between Lara and Kali, both still asleep, their arms and legs tangled with his under the shared blanket. At some point in the night, they had pressed in close for warmth, and none of them had moved since.

He blinked against the soft light filtering through the shelter's opening and let out a quiet sigh. Lara stirred beside him first, stretching gently. Kali buried her face deeper into Athan's shoulder, groaning.

"No want get up," she mumbled.

Athan chuckled softly. "The sun already did."

Kali tightened her arm around his side. "Sun not work like me. I sleep better."

"You always say that," Lara said, brushing her fingers through her hair. "But I think you just like using him as a pillow."

Kali grinned without opening her eyes. "Warm pillow."

Athan rolled his eyes but didn't push her off. "You'll be warm enough once we start working."

"Mmh. No want work. Want sleep and coffee."

That got Lara to laugh. "You don't even like coffee."

Kali sat up finally, blinking. "I like the smell. Not the taste. But if Athan drinks it, I drink it too."

Lara smirked and gave Athan a sideways glance. "Careful. You might become her reason for everything."

"Not true," Kali muttered, eyes still half-closed.

They got up eventually, stretching and fixing their tunics before heading to the fire pit together. The scent of roasted roots and hot brew filled the air, and Rael was already pouring the first cups.

Athan grabbed one and passed it to Lara. "Here."

She took it with a grateful nod. "I like it more each day. Feels like waking up on the inside."

Kali accepted her cup and took a sip—then immediately stuck out her tongue. "Still bitter."

"You're bitter," Lara teased.

"You're bitter," Kali shot back.

"I'm strong and grounded," Lara said with a dramatic tone. "Like coffee."

Kali leaned toward Athan. "You think I bitter?"

He took a sip of his own cup and looked at her over the rim. "You two are sweet enough to taste like ripe fruit. No need to add anything."

That made both girls freeze, then laugh—Lara a little more quietly, Kali trying to hide a sudden flush.

"Well said," Lara murmured, smiling to herself.

After finishing their cups, the trio made their way to the bathing pool. The water was cool and clear, and they splashed their faces in silence, the chill jolting the last of sleep from their minds.

Then, like clockwork, Kali turned to take care of the watering system, waving lazily as she walked off.

Athan stood, shaking the water from his hands, and glanced up.

Time to work.

Athan turned—and spotted Wade walking toward him across the clearing.

Without a word, Athan nodded, then headed for the brick shelter, with Wade falling in behind him. Lara followed as well, curious. When they reached the structure, Athan crouched beside the drying racks and inspected each piece in turn.

The bricks were solid. Dry. Their color had shifted slightly, the surface hardened and ready for fire. The same went for the clay pipes and bowls—everything had dried just right.

He stood and glanced at Wade.

"They're ready."

Then he turned to the piles of unburnt limestone nearby.

"We're going to cook lime today too."

Looking at the amount of bricks, Athan paused to calculate. One kiln wouldn't be enough—not if he wanted to save time.

"We'll build two temporary kilns," he said aloud.

Just as he said it, Kali returned, wiping her hands on her tunic.

Athan gave them all a quick glance. "Here's the plan," he said. "We'll use the same method as last time. Lara, Kali—take the cart and bring as much firewood as you can. It'll take a lot to keep both kilns burning."

The girls nodded, already turning toward the cart.

"Father," Athan continued, "I'll start shaping the kiln. Can you carry the bricks over? I'll show you where to place them."

With everyone moving, Athan stepped toward the chosen spot and began work. He picked a flat patch of ground between the permanent kiln and the last temporary kiln.

He started by digging shallow pits for the fire channels—long enough to feed logs through, wide enough for airflow. Then he began shaping the foundation walls with large stones, stacking them in an arc, mirroring the method he'd used before. Each stone was placed carefully, and gaps were sealed with thick, wet mud.

When Wade arrived with the bricks, Athan paused to help position them in the right place to be fired, in the center would be the fire pit, then he place the lime stone, and in circle around those where the brick, clay pipes and bowls . Once everything in place, he return to building the kiln using the sand stones that where near, he built the chamber walls higher, until the top was closed.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, already feeling the strain in his arms. But it would be worth it. With both kilns running, they'd save days of work—maybe more.

And once the fires were lit, there'd be no turning back.

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