Robert raised both hands in a welcoming gesture, his voice carrying across the grove, warm and clear enough to reach the villagers of Kilraine gathered around the settlement. "All of you have my thanks. Your help while I was down meant everything, and seein' you here humbles me. I'm back on my feet, stronger than before, and I want you to know you're always welcome. Visit, trade, or stay for good, this place is yours too."
A few villagers stepped closer, their faces full of both curiosity and relief. Robert spotted familiar ones, farmers, hunters, some who'd slipped in to glimpse the grove's rumored magic. "Tell your friends, your families," he continued, a faint smile forming. "We've got work ahead, but plenty of chances too. We'll share extra food, supplies, whatever we can. In return, I'd love to learn from anyone with skills, knowledge, or just a will to pitch in."
He lowered his hands, scanning the crowd. "If you settle here, we'll make room. If not, come and go as you please, trade, explore. Spread the word, we're buildin' somethin' new, a haven for anyone who wants it."
The villagers murmured, their voices blending excitement, relief, and cautious interest. Robert stepped back toward the settlement crystal, its soft pulse calming his nerves, like a heartbeat matching his own. The grove's golden motes drifted slowly, the central tree's fruits glowing gently, their energy lingering in the air. Moira's presence brushed his thoughts, calm and sharp.
"Today's task is straightforward but crucial," she said. "The resource shards must be placed to ensure steady material production. The marble shard goes to the quarry above ground. The gold and silver shard belongs in the dungeon's mining chamber, to align with mana flows and boost the kobolds' output."
Robert nodded, turning the marble shard in his hand. It gleamed like polished stone veined with silver. Beside it, the gold and silver shard gave off a faint magical pulse.
"Straightforward," he muttered, half-grinning. "We'll see."
Snow leaned against her warstaff nearby, eyebrow raised. "Have we had a single straightforward day since you kicked this off?"
Hamish snorted, adjusting the kobold broadsword strapped to his back. "Aye, straightforward usually means what's about to go wrong? Still, let's get it done."
"Then let's not push our luck," Robert said, forcing a grin. "Gear up. Work's waitin'."
They headed toward the quarry, the marble shard tucked in Robert's satchel. The path twisted through rocky ground, rising to a flat plateau, pebbles crunching underfoot. The air felt sharp, like the earth knew something big was coming, the grove's magic still clinging to the bright patches of grass along the way.
The quarry site came into view: pale outcrops streaked with gray veins. Signs of the settlement crystal's work showed, loose rocks stacked neat, shallow pits hinting at future shafts.
Robert stepped to the center, the marble shard humming in his hand. Snow and Hamish watched as he knelt and pressed it into the dirt. A deep hum rippled through the quarry.
Gray veins lit up, becoming polished marble threaded with silver. Rough stone reshaped itself, smoothing into place without tools. A low, rumbling voice came from the ground: "Production initialized. Marble quarrying capabilities active. Awaiting tools and personnel."
Snow shook her head, half-smiling. "Polite quarry. Everything here talks to you."
"Seems like it," Robert quipped, brushing dirt off his knees as he stood. "One site done. Now the dungeon."
The trip back to the settlement and down to the dungeon's mining chamber was quiet, except for Snow twirling her staff and Hamish scanning the shadows. Villagers they passed waved, hands busy with baskets or carved tools, their work showing they'd settled in.
The dungeon's entrance, a rough stone arch, led to cooler depths lit by Robert's staff. They reached a cavern where kobold miners worked, their small, reptilian forms swinging pickaxes in steady clinks, pulling iron and mana crystals from the walls.
"Master Robert, it's always good to have you here!" The dungeon core's voice boomed, sounding oddly cheerful.
Snow smirked. "You really lay it on thick, don't you?"
The core's tone eased to polite calm. "Lady Snow, Sir Hamish, you honor us as well. Your contributions are deeply valued."
Hamish gave a half-grin. "Good to know we measure up."
Robert chuckled, holding up the gold and silver shard. "Here to place this. Where's it go?"
The core glowed brighter, sounding extra pleased. "A visionary choice, Master Robert. Insert the shard near the central mana vein. It'll boost the kobolds' efficiency and refine the ore."
At the core's word, kobolds cleared a path. Robert set the shard down, and it sank into the ground with a flash of golden light. Mana veins pulsed brighter, the dungeon's magic flaring in sync with the grove above.
"Resource integration complete," the core said. "Gold and silver production activated. Your foresight continues to inspire awe."
Robert nodded. "Thanks. Anything else I should know?"
"The kobolds are eager to prove themselves," the core said, sounding extra pleased. "They're ready to mine, guard, or serve as you need."
Hamish raised an eyebrow. "Defenders, huh? Could come in handy."
With both shards placed, they headed back to the surface. A small kobold approached, holding a rough parchment map, bowing low.
"Master, a humble report," it said. "Whispers from the northwest. Another dungeon, alive but empty. The map shows the way."
Robert studied the sketch, forests, hills, a path stretching beyond their land. He glanced at Snow and Hamish, a jolt of curiosity running through him. Another dungeon meant risk, maybe reward, just outside their reach.
"Well," he said, grinning, "looks like Moira's task just got spicier."
The kobold's tail flicked as Robert patted its head. "Thank you," he said. "Keep up the good work. I'll talk to the core about makin' things better for you and your kin."
He turned to the glowing sphere in the cavern wall, arms crossed. "Core, how's our point count? Anything we can upgrade for the kobolds?"
"Splendidly, Master Robert!" The core said, its voice light and eager. "We've accrued 1450 points from mining, training, and dungeon challenges. Plenty for enhancements."
Robert rubbed his chin. "Let's boost the kobolds' mining and combat. Faster miners, tougher guards. Can we do that?"
"Of course," the core replied. "Three hundred points for mining skill across all kobolds, four hundred to train guard kobolds in advanced combat, archery, formations, the works."
"Good," Robert said. "We'll need archers for the settlement's watchtowers too. Somethin' worse than that grub might show."
"For two hundred fifty points, I can assign a squad with enchanted bows for your walls," the core said, flashing with satisfaction. "Pinpoint accuracy."
Robert nodded. "Now, let's fix their livin' conditions. Somewhere to sleep, eat, maybe have a bit of fun so they don't lose it."
Snow leaned her staff against the wall, her gem brightening. "Happy kobolds, happy life, right?"
Hamish snorted. "Aye. Feed 'em, let 'em rest, and they won't turn on ye."
The core's glow pulsed. "Two hundred points for a warm barracks. One fifty for a dining area and kitchen, a hundred for recreation, a fountain, simple games."
"That's solid," Robert said, smiling. "And one more, upgrade the storage room. Less mess, less waste."
"For two hundred fifty points, consider it done," the core said. "Better organization, zero waste."
"Approved," Robert said. "Use the points, keep me posted on more."
The kobold with the map lingered, shifting nervously. "You've done great," Robert told it. "I appreciate the effort. Make sure your kin get some rest too."
It bowed, tail wagging, then scampered off. Snow watched it go, smiling softly. "You're handlin' this well, Robert."
"Thanks," he said, half-embarrassed. "Just doin' what needs doin'."
He faced the core again. "Get those upgrades rollin'. Have the new guards ready for the settlement soon."
"Of course," the core said. "Outfitted and drilled in no time."
Robert waved Snow and Hamish along. "Let's check the settlement's progress, then maybe scout that northwest lead."
They left the dungeon as the sun climbed higher, washing the fields in gold. Snow and Hamish trailed Robert northward, the dig site humming behind them. He wanted to make sure nothing lurked beyond their borders to threaten the settlement, the grove's magic sharpening his senses as they walked.
A strange feeling brushed Robert's mind, like the land was whispering details. He paused, glancing at the others. "You feel that?"
Snow nodded, her eyes distant, her gem brightening. "Like I can sense the terrain without lookin'."
Hamish's brow furrowed. "Aye, same. Ground's tellin' me where the rocks are."
Robert focused, letting the feeling grow. His mind picked out herbs by a rocky outcrop, a cluster of oaks, a thin iron vein. "Scoutin'," he said. "We're gettin' better at it together."
Snow's gem glowed brighter. "This'll make findin' resources a breeze."
Hamish laughed, tapping a rock. "Better than any paper map."
They spread out, each marking resources with the sense. Snow found medicinal plants, Hamish spotted sturdy rocks, and Robert tracked the terrain's shape. Their mental map sharpened with every step, the grove's magic urging them to guard its land.
"This'll save us time," Robert said, regrouping in a clearing. "We'll know where to send folks for supplies."
Snow tucked away bluish-green herbs. "And it'll speed up my alchemy."
Hamish tapped another rock. "More iron here. Easy pickin'."
They pushed on, the land feeling open to their search. At the northwestern edge, a faint pulse caught their attention, just within their scouting sense.
They crept through trees and found it: a glowing portal, an oval of soft blue light. Its edges gleamed like polished crystal, each pulse like a quiet heartbeat. The grove's magic hummed, wary of the intrusion.
"Another dungeon," Robert said, mind spinning. "That's what the kobolds meant."
Snow's gem brightened. "It's stable, but who knows what's inside?"
Hamish gripped his sword tighter. "We can handle it, but let's be smart."
Robert stepped back, scanning the area. "We'll map it, come back with a plan. Let's finish scoutin' first."
They circled the portal's area, each scan stretching a little farther than the last.
"Feels odd when it levels up," Snow said, half to herself. Hamish nodded. "Aye, like when your ears pop and everything sounds sharper."
She giggled. "Heehee! Yes! That's exactly it!"
Snow paused, eyeing Hamish. "How come ye have an accent, and sometimes ye don't? Like ye forget it."
Hamish looked sheepish. "Aye, well. I slip sometimes. If I'm tired or riled up, ye'll hear a proper Scotsman, maybe even some Gaelic if I'm really goin'. Rare, though."
Snow smiled, patting his arm. "Oh. Makes sense."
Hamish stopped short, distracted. "Hey, Chief. Right here. Metal deposit. Mix of stuff. Can ye feel it?"
Robert tried, but the portal's pulse drowned out his sense, bright in his mind. "Nah, I don't. Show me?"
Hamish led him to a sheer rock face, pointing out discolored patches. "Through here. Loads of metal, some gems, minerals. Wish I had a proper pickaxe."
Robert's insight tingled, nudging him to try something. Essence Refinement. "Hamish, step back. Gonna try that dungeon trick."
He hadn't used the skill much, only on kobold corpses and an old rattle from a corrupted sanctum. Now was a chance to test it outside, a twist on mining.
Robert stretched his left hand toward the stone. His magic reached in, like searching murky water. The metal stood out, denser than the rock, and he wrapped his will around it.
He flicked Essence Refinement on, and his magic locked onto the valuables. Cold, molten copper and lead poured out, piling into neat ingots on the ground. Hamish cursed in Gaelic, and Snow stared, jaw dropped.
Pounds of metal stacked up, plus garnets pulled from deep in the stone. Moira's Magus System sent messages, and Robert glanced at them, his refinement skill climbing, fast at first, then slower. He grinned. There was something satisfying about it, like pulling a sticker from glass, slow, but satisfying.
By the end, the skill hit level 7, close to evolving. His mana fueled it, draining but feeding M-Power to his Aetherium Core. Robert lowered his hand and took a look at the results. His magic created a loop, spending power to gain more, building his skills and core with every use.
Days in, and he was already this far. As he turned to train and help the villagers build, Moira's voice cut in, sing-song. "Ohhh, vessel… I found a dungeon for you! Not far either!"