Sinclair, Rose, Ed and Alice spent the next couple of days immersed in rigorous training, honing their skills and preparing with the best resources they could find, all the while anxiously waiting for word from Odin—or for Sinclair's parents to just return home. Strangely enough, both events occurred simultaneously.

As they gathered around the training field, a bright shimmer in the air announced Odin's arrival, his presence as commanding as ever. At the same time, the distant sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, and Sinclair's parents appeared on the horizon, making their way home.

The confluence of events brought a sudden halt to their activities, and they all turned their attention to the new developments.

Odin's piercing eyes surveyed the friends, a hint of approval in his gaze as he noted their progress. "You have done well," he intoned, his voice resonating with power. "But the path ahead is fraught with peril. Prepare yourselves." As he finished his sentence, Sinclair's parents reached them, their faces flushed with excitement and exhaustion, yet also bearing a serious expression that mirrored the gravity of Odin's words.

"We've completed our trials," Sinclair's mother exclaimed, her voice tinged with pride and relief. "We've learned so much, and we have things to share."

Sinclair's father nodded, his eyes meeting his son's. "But we must act quickly." Everyone could feel the burden of time Sinclair had been struggling with and was rushing to do things as fast as possible.

The group settled into the main room of the house, a sense of anticipation in the air. Odin's presence radiated wisdom and power, while Sinclair's parents stood with a newfound confidence and knowledge.

Odin began, his deep voice capturing their attention. "The system integration is progressing faster than anticipated. It will likely conclude tomorrow. The nodes are reconnecting in a more efficient manner, speeding up the cycles and repair process. This is both an opportunity and a danger. You must be prepared."

He continued, his eyes piercing through the room, "Everyone but the people at this table will disappear and be taken to system-generated tutorials. They will spend two weeks or more in the tutorial. During that time, massive changes will rock this planet as the Mana takes hold. Cities will fall, new zones will be created, monsters will appear, and treasures will seed the planet."

The room seemed to hold its breath as Odin's words sunk in. "It will also wake the remaining six Myrkr, which only can make killing them harder, as they will have time to grow more powerful. There are skills you will need to learn that will help you start locating them once the travel nodes are open. I am going to cheat a little, as is my prerogative, by giving you a transfer point on every continent. It will help to at least get to the right landmass, although it will be up to you to find them from there."

Sinclair's mother hesitantly took over, her eyes shining. "Our tutorials were vastly different from what you've experienced, Sinclair. They were not solely action-based, but learning-based. I've been focusing on laws and planning while your father has been immersed in infrastructure. We've learned how to build the farm up and turn it into a thriving city."

Sinclair's father nodded, adding, "We have the blueprints, the knowledge, and the resources to transform our land into a stronghold. We can show you what we have drawn up and the plan for building things. We both agreed and think you should have final say in this. We will need you to give us the appropriate permissions in the system access panel for your territory."

Sinclair looked confused. I don't have a territory panel, do I? He opened his menu and looked again. Nothing. His brows furrowed, he looked to Odin.

"Here, try it now." Odin's eyes had grown slightly distant as he said this, his focus clearly on some unseen mechanism.

Sinclair's eyes widened as a new menu appeared before him, listing each of the buildings: House, storage shed, barn, barracks, and land of 100 acres. He navigated through the options, a sense of awe growing within him.

He found administrator functions and willed his parents' names to appear under the role. A screen popped up, asking him to confirm his decision to give Bruce and Amelia Hagerson these permissions.

He, of course, confirmed. They're the right people for the job.

Odin nodded in approval, his gaze lingering on Sinclair. "You are growing, young Ulfhednar. Your wisdom is expanding along with your strength. Use your tools wisely, for they hold the key to your future."

Odin rose, his tall figure dominating the room. "I must depart. I have many things to plan. I will send you people that have the potential to make a difference around here when the tutorial is over. Prepare the best you can. I know this road is hard and a lot has been asked of you, but it will be worth it in the end."

With a nod and a look that lingered on each face, Odin left the house, his presence fading into the night. Silence settled over the room, the weight of his words hanging in the air. Everyone sat stunned for a few minutes, absorbing the enormity of their task.

Then Sinclair's dad spoke up, his voice breaking the silence. "Look at this," he said, excitement in his voice. He gestured, and a three dimensional hologram of the land and buildings appeared in the air before them, shimmering with ethereal light. "We can plan where the buildings will go. Imagine it!"

The room came alive with chatter as they began to discuss the placement of the structures. They talked about placing another three barracks side by side, parallel to the first one. His parents had discovered that for an additional fee, and with the right materials, they could have the basic buildings use stored energy or mana taps for power instead of something archaic like water and wind, and that placing multiples of the same building together would allow the energy to be shared as if they were a single unit.

The fear and uncertainty of a moment before were replaced with excitement and determination. They were building something real, something meaningful. Sinclair looked around the room at the faces of his friends and family, each one alive with purpose and passion.

His eyes were caught by Bruce, who was discussing the power source, expressing concern about the necessity of finding cores. He admitted he had none and wasn't sure where to acquire them. In the store, they were really expensive, yet of a low grade.

Sinclair, remembering the ice cores he had in his bag from his battle with Ice Elementals, pulled them out. "Would these work?" he asked, handing them to his father.

His dad examined the cores, talking about their properties and how the ice nature of the core might not only serve as a power source but also help keep the buildings cooler in the summer and protect from the cold in the winter. "At least," he joked, "as long as they don't keep them colder in the winter too." The practicality of Sinclair's find seemed to relieve some of the previous tension, directing their focus toward a tangible solution.

They stayed awake until the small hours of the morning, engaged in a lively debate about the order of building operations. Everyone had strong opinions, all driven by logic, but each colored by a unique perspective.

"I think we need to prioritize the Barracks," Ed argued, leaning forward. "With the coming changes and the dangers Odin mentioned, we need to be prepared defensively. Training and housing more fighters could be crucial."

Alice chimed in, "I agree with the Barracks, but we also need to think about supplies and equipment. The Blacksmith would allow us to create weapons and tools. That might give us an edge."

Rose thoughtfully added, "I understand both points, but what about sustainability? Silos would ensure we have enough food storage, especially with the uncertainty of the coming changes. And the Sawmill and Grain Mill will support our long-term growth."

Bruce, Sinclair's father, interjected, "Those are all good points, but we mustn't forget practical skills like tanning and leatherworking. The Tanner and Leatherworker building would enable us to produce clothing, armor, and other essential items."

Amelia, Sinclair's mother, considered their options and finally said, "The Alchemy lab could be vital too. Potions, medicines, and other magical items could be incredibly valuable."

After much deliberation, they finally agreed on a list, taking into account everyone's points and prioritizing based on their immediate needs and long-term goals.

Three barracks

Blacksmith

Silos, of a number yet to be determined

Sawmill

Grain Mill

Tanner and Leatherworker

Alchemy Lab

Realizing they had overlooked a critical aspect, Sinclair suddenly spoke up, "Wait, we've forgotten about fortifications. With all the timber around here, we should be able to erect a temporary wall around the main area first. Once more people arrive to help, we can build a more stable and robust wall around the entire property."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Everyone looked at each other, expressions of realization dawning on their faces.

"You're absolutely right," Bruce agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "A defensive wall should be our top priority. It's fundamental to our security, especially with the unknown threats that may emerge after the system integration."

Rose added, "Not just security, but a wall will also provide us with a sense of boundary and organization as we expand. It'll help in planning and managing the space efficiently."

Ed chimed in with a practical concern, "We'll need to survey the land and decide on the best placement for the wall. And figure out what resources we'll need."

"The temporary wall can be a basic wooden structure," Alice suggested. "But for the permanent wall, we should consider more durable materials, and possibly magical enhancements."

The discussion continued as they brainstormed ideas, explored options, and refined their plans. The fortifications were added to their priority list, and the sense of purpose and unity among them was palpable. The challenges ahead were many, but they were facing them as a cohesive team, ready to take on whatever lay before them.

Sinclair stood up, a determined glint in his eyes. "These are all great ideas. Dad, pull up the layout and have Mom help you figure out the layout for the wall. I don't really need to sleep more than an hour or two anymore, and I can push through without any consequences."

He turned to his friends, pointing at them authoritatively. "You guys, I need you to set up the outside lights. I'm going to go and cut the trees down. I can fell a tree in one swing, and Ed can run through and cut branches off. Then I'll tie them together and drag them back here in bunches."

He turned and said to Chewy and Leia, "I could never forget you two. Please see if you can't take down some of the nearby deer. Bring them back to the barn and lay them on the tarp I'm about to go and put down. One of us will clean them as soon as we can."

Chewy and Leia both nodded their heads and headed out the back door to start their hunt.

His friends all nodded, excitement mixing with a sense of urgency. The night was waning, and there was no time to lose.

"We're on it, Sinclair," Ed responded, slapping him on the back. "We'll make quick work of those trees."

Alice grinned, her eyes shining with determination. "We'll have those lights up in no time. You can count on us."

With a final nod of approval, Sinclair sent them off to their respective tasks. The house was filled with energy and purpose as everyone went into action, each person contributing their skills and effort to the shared goal.

As Alice and Rose began setting up the outdoor work lights, Sinclair and Ed hurried to the nearby tree line. The area was filled with tall, straight and relatively young pine trees, interspersed with some older oaks. Knowing that speed was essential, they opted for the abundant pine trees.

Sinclair unsheathed his large axe and took aim at one of the trees, its diameter measuring a solid two feet across. With a swift, forceful strike, he cleaved straight through the trunk. Pushing against it, he directed its fall to his right, the tree making a resounding crash as it landed on the forest floor.

Ed watched in astonishment as the tree came crashing down, his eyes wide. The sheer power and precision of Sinclair's strike were beyond anything he'd expected.

"You weren't kidding," Ed finally stammered, shaking his head in disbelief. "That was… impressive!"

Sinclair grinned, a proud glint in his eye. "I told you so. Now, let's get to work on the next one. We've got a lot of ground to cover."

With a nod, Ed got to work, running through and quickly cutting off the branches from the fallen pine tree. Meanwhile, Sinclair moved on to the next tree, swinging his axe with deadly accuracy.

The sound of chopping wood and the crash of falling trees filled the air as the two of them worked in unison, their movements practiced and efficient. Pine trees fell one after another, and the pile of logs grew steadily. As soon as Ed was done chopping tree branches off Sinclair would circle back around and cut the tree into 12-foot sections, before setting them to the side, stacked up on top of each other.

Back at the house, Alice and Rose were making progress with the outdoor work lights, setting them up to illuminate the areas where construction would take place. The soft glow of the lights created a serene atmosphere, contrasting with the hectic work happening in the forest.

As the night wore on, everyone worked with a sense of urgency. The vision of their future home, strong and fortified, drove them on, each person playing their part in bringing that vision to life.

As he was dragging another stack of logs back to the house, he found his father outside, marking off the areas where the logs would be placed with little flags. After dropping the logs, he raced back to chop more trees for Ed to trim, then repeated the process. The rhythm of chop, trim, drag, and repeat became a well-coordinated dance as they worked efficiently through the task.

On one return trip, Sinclair realized that he had forgotten to put everyone in a group so they could communicate and send messages back and forth. He quickly spoke to everyone, instructing them to accept his request, and added them to his group. Having done so, he decided it was time for a brief break, and he headed over to chat to Bruce.

"Dad," Sinclair panted, wiping the sweat from his brow, "how many logs do you think we'll need for the perimeter?"

His dad, looking over his notes and the layout of the land, replied, "It's going to take at least 900 logs, each 12 feet, to enclose the entire area where the house, barn, barracks, and future barracks would be."

"Nine hundred?" Sinclair grunted, looking over the timber he'd gathered so far. "Well, I've got about 250 here, and it's only been a few hours."

"That's progress, son," his dad encouraged with a smile. "You're a regular 'Beast of Burden.' No wonder you've gained points in that skill."

Sinclair's friends, overhearing the conversation, laughed, and one of them chimed in, "We've gained some points too! Seems like we're all beasts today."

The group's laughter and good-natured ribbing lightened the hard work, as they continued with a renewed sense of camaraderie and purpose.

Everyone stopped for a brief bite of food that Sinclair's mother threw together in the house. The clock struck 3 a.m., and exhaustion was beginning to show on their faces. However, they were 80% there, and the end of the night's work was in sight.

Bruce approached his son, eyeing the progress and the pile of ice cores. "Sinclair," he began, a hint of nervousness in his voice, "I found an option in the store that might help with the wall. Seems that if you provide the materials—and pay an extra fee—the wall can be assembled for you through the system. But the price is steep. I checked, and it wants ten of those cores to do it. Do you have that many?"

Sinclair, mid-bite, choked a little at the price. "Ten cores? That's a fortune!"

His father nodded, his eyes concerned. "I know, but I've been thinking about how we're going to dig all those holes for the poles. It seemed like a good idea at first, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like a pipe dream. We're having to go further and further afield to get the trees, and carrying them back takes longer each time."

Sinclair's face turned thoughtful as he considered his father's words. The reality of their situation was sinking in. The cores were valuable, but the time and energy they would save might be even more precious.

After a long pause, he sighed, "Alright, let's do it. We'll use the cores for the wall assembly. It's a steep price, but we need to get this done, and we need to get it done right."

His dad patted him on the shoulder, grateful for the decision. "We'll make it work, son. We always do."

Over the next three hours, Sinclair gathered the remaining logs and dragged them to their designated spots for the wall. Upon returning, he handed his father ten cores, and watched as Bruce activated the build service through the Market Crystal.

The cores erupted in a spectacular show of light and were sucked into the market structure. Multiple rainbows burst from the top, spreading out in a dome shape as the light rushed towards the walls. The logs were seized by the apparently solid lights and hoisted upright, shoved into the ground two feet deep. Ethereal lashes sprung into existence from nowhere, binding the trees together before solidifying into entirely normal-seeming ropes

Once the wall was in place, the remaining trees were gathered up and elevated five feet off the ground before being attached to the vertical logs, thereby forming a rudimentary walkway around the perimeter, for guards or scouts to observe the surrounding area. Gazing around, Sinclair could see that in each cardinal direction, a gate sat within the walls, currently held closed by large wooden crossbars.

Amelia put her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. "I never thought I'd see something like that," she whispered, her voice full of wonder.

Bruce responded with a smile, "It's incredible, isn't it? And practical. This will help us stay much safer."

Ed laughed and threw an arm around Sinclair's shoulders, although he had to stretch to accommodate Sinclair's recently increased height. "Well, that's one way to build a wall! What's next on our magical to-do list?"

Sinclair's voice was firm but gentle as he urged everyone to get some rest. "We've done great work tonight. You all deserve a break. I'll take care of the deer. See you in the morning."

With tired smiles and appreciative nods, his friends and family said their good nights, leaving Sinclair with Chewy and Leia.

Approaching the barn, he congratulated the two hunters on a successful hunt. "Five large deer! You two have outdone yourselves," he praised, patting them affectionately.

As Chewy and Leia told Sinclair about their hunting experiences, the latter set about cleaning the deer, his movements swift and precise. His enhanced abilities allowed him to complete the task in just five minutes each, a feat that would have taken hours before. When finished, he stored the prepared meat in his storage ring to preserve its freshness.

With the work done, he washed up and headed to the porch, settling into his favorite chair with some food and drink that someone had kindly left out for him, well aware of where he would come to rest. The night was peaceful, and as he closed his eyes for a brief rest, the sense of accomplishment and the promise of a new beginning filled his thoughts.

With the sight of his newly-erected wall standing strong in the distance, and the gentle play of clouds drifting overhead as early morning light began to chase away the night, Sinclair felt a profound sense of peace and accomplishment. The hard work, the sweat, the unity of purpose – it had all culminated in something tangible, something that was a part of their new beginning. Draped in these comforting thoughts, he drifted off to sleep, a satisfied smile on his face, ready to face whatever the future might bring.

*****

In the darkness just beyond the property line, a shadow lurked, watching the human activity. Sensing the magic that had been at play, it had come to investigate. Unlike its other brain-dead ilk, this creature was slow and methodical in its hunt. Its eyes, gleaming with an unnatural intelligence, observed the newly erected fortifications and the slumbering figures beyond. The mystery of what had transpired here intrigued it, and a plan began to take shape in its twisted mind. The humans had revealed a new facet of themselves, and it was something worth studying. For now, it would wait and watch, its patience a weapon as sharp as any blade.

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