Probation

Winter.

While everyone in the Empire, locked their doors and huddled up to face the snow and biting cold, a frontier rural farm bustled with activity. Since the start of winter, every morning at dawn had been the same. Now nearing the last month of this bitter season, this movement never ceased.

"Elder Jim, we need some more of this type of wood. Please have it cut into small strips like last time."

"Alright, I'll get someone to gather a bundle for you, Sally. You'll have to wait until midday though, we aren't transporting any logs today."

Jim replied before he clicked the horses. A wagon, full of cloaked men and boys began to trundle its way through the foot-deep snow towards the forest. Another wagon driven by a man's Jim age followed behind with saws and axes.

Sally walked over to another group chatting animatedly in the dim light of dawn.

"Jim says my trap works too slow, it's strong enough to break a Jaga's foot, but the trap seizes halfway along the spring sometimes."

Dareck complained. Since he built the first prototype, the Boss had been eyeing him down like a wolf to improve on it.

"Have Old Hodge look at it, he seems good at tinkering with things. By the way, I want some more nails, and tomorrow we need someone to install some rivets."

Clod replied.

"Old Hodge can't help you until tonight. We just finished late last night making a proper sieve. Today we might make a breakthrough. I have permission from Sakura since we will be missing classes this evening."

Sally interjected.

The Research division had a total to five members, but Old Hodge had the awkward position of being the only adult in the group. If there ever was a case of a crane among chickens, this was it.

"Please Sally, help me out here. Jim says that in two days time, all the logs will be pulled out of the forest."

Dareck said.

Once those men switched jobs to help Clod's group with the windmill and workshop construction, Jim won't have time to lay down the trap for testing.

"Send one over for us then. Bella and Old Hodge will test it out while waiting on our results, but you need to make another pair of scissors for Sherry."

"Fine, I'll get Senior Bon to craft one."

Sally turned to Clod, deciding to strike the iron while hot.

"Clod, I need another pounding hammer and a large pestle about three feet in diameter, and about half-foot deep..."

***

The two wagons rambled passed a pair of young children near the forest entrance. The two cloaked figures waved to the drivers, before making their way along the trail towards the farm. All the riders on the wagons had hints of admiration and respect on their faces while gazing at those two small retreating backs.

On either side of the road, snow piled high, nearing four feet. One look could tell an outsider as to how busy this trail had been during the entire winter. Blocks of stone and slabs of wood testified to spot road repairs.

Chu picked his way across the road, slipping and sliding on the patches of ice unbroken by the frequent wheels. Lucy walked at the side, slowing to navigate the deeper wagon ruts.

"Those guys are going to faint when they see ten wolves stacked up in a heap."

Chu chuckled lightly.

Yesterday Jim reported that one of his snares about a mile from the lumber camp had activated. In the late evening, the hunting trio along with Miki and Rose found the culprits. This was Chu's first real fight since he recovered. The group fought together well, ambushing the pack from the trees, before engaging in a one on one, close combat fight at the end.

"I doubt it. After that Jaga incident, Elder has had his hands full in receiving countless training request. Even Toll has been complaining, saying that he is being hounded during his archery practices."

Chu nodded.

One night a Jaga decided to climb over the wall, seeking an easy meal. Instead, it encountered Ming and Rose waiting patiently for it. Under the eyes of the recruits peeping from the dormitory windows, the two swiftly dispatched it, flanking the large beast while using well-coordinated strikes.

Coupled with that amazing feat, rumor soon spread of a little girl who worked alone in the butcher shed. Nearly every two or three days, she had the wagon bringing spoils of war from the forest. All of her catch consisted of predators that ended up as food for her wolves.

Half of the thirty recruits that remained consisted of boys and husbands, the other girls and wives. Mr Thomas had originally brought close to fifty people, but after the first month, the lazy and scheming ones had been booted out. Mr Thomas carried them to the village and dropped them off with a silver each.

Chu preferred these ingrates mouthing off in the village where Mr Thomas had a mercenary reputation. The last thing he wanted was for them to mouth off in Karst near unscrupulous ears. Least in the village, Farmer Thomas and his roughneck kids were well-known.

"How is it now."

He asked.

Lucy stopped as she turned towards the snowbanks. She carved a hole in the snow and walked about ten feet away. Chu moved to her side as Lucy removed her left hand from under the cloak. The index finger clawed outwards from a clenched hand. Sherry had stitched and modified her leather gloves into fingerless ones.

What came next, never ceased to surprise him. The hand and finger never seemed to move but a nearly invisible arc about a foot wide appeared before it. One second it hovered near Lucy, the next, it already entered the snowbanks. It cut the hole she made cleanly in half.

"I can hit a slow-moving target from this distance with the wind-blade."

She said as she poked her red finger into the snow.

Impressive, very impressive. Chu had nothing but praise after learning that Lucy contemplated this skill from witnessing the special attack of the cave bats. Since the bats had their own sonic ability, she mused until she achieved her own. Chu thanked the heaven's that they never had to face this skill from the wolf demon.

That beast must have possessed some type of skill like the bats. He remembered it trying to get closer to them near the very end.

"One attack a day, any more and it makes me weak and is also not easy to aim."

Lucy said, knocking him out of his thoughts. Her face turned red, remembering the amount she cast out of anger, during that time in the woods. In retrospect, she unleashed those wind-blades because she felt something more than rage. As for what the feeling was, she didn't know.

"Good enough, you should concentrate on increasing the distance for the time being. Let's head home, you look like you might be coming down with a cold."

Chu said as he noticed her red complexion.

The two continued their journey in silence, heading to the farm.

On the other side of the farm, a group of men and boys busied themselves in construction. A senior blacksmith and a carpenter stood among them.

"Bon, I will have to help you lay the bricks for the forge myself. I have no idea why the Boss wants such a huge fire pit."

The gray-haired lean carpenter complained. Since he came, that Boss had him constructing two large workshops, a huge master-smithy and a monstrosity called a windmill. All in the middle of winter to boot.

"Haha... Halter, I learned a month ago to never question the Boss. I must say, when it's done, this will be nearly five times bigger than the largest Smithy I've seen."

Bon laughed. His large belly shook as he replied in pride. Under this bald-headed, plump man, hid the skills of a senior blacksmith. He looked around before shuffling closer to the frustrated carpenter.

"I talked to Old Hodge last night after dinner. Did you know this is the place where they built that gear machine hanging over the well? Hodge said this place is like a gold mine--for fame and money. He said he won't leave this place even if you kill him."

Bon whispered.

Halter looked at him in surprise. The carpenter, like Bon had learned his trade in the city under a master. Old Hodge also came from a city, a poor Artisan similar to them. Halter turned his gaze towards the large octagonal building. Did Bon mean that this thing had the possibility to shake the Empire?

Both men turned the same time to stare at each other. New inventions meant their names would forever be listed in the Artisan Guild. Such fame could wipe away a lifetime of shame. That stamp of slavery on both their left arms would disappear in a blink.

In the evening, a group of participants braved the cold to assemble in the training ground. With the exception of Sakura and Mrs. Thomas, all of the core family members presented themselves. The rest consisted of those interested in joining the hunting squad.

Martial Arts in his old world had been perfected under centuries of training, blood, and sweat. Since this world had medicine and research that focused on meridians and Qi found in Sersens, the basics had a chance to improve. He might not know much, but integrating the standard blocks, punches, and kicks into the Military training only served to enhance it.

Mr. Thomas had been keen to incorporate it, even insisting on the boy standing out in the cold doing the horse stance. Chu had the idea that this art of fighting would be akin to dropping someone with skills shown by Jet Li into the middle ages.

If those six who had left decided to return, he would drill them into a true commando squad.

***

Winter passed and Spring followed.

Chu had an established a routine geared towards becoming stronger. In the morning he trained while in the evening he helped Sakura and Amanda in educating the newcomers. All activities centered in the large dormitory building. The large classroom under the sleeping quarters served as a study. The workshop functioned as a large dining area and kitchen.

By the end of Spring, the farm had a relatively close-knit group, while the skills of the original hunting party had increased tenfold. The five children could now actually face a wolf pack of the same number evenly on the ground without getting bowled over.

Jim had also made an accidental discovery while out trapping and foraging in the forest. He had squeezed some type of berry growing on a vine, trying to break a fall when scouting. His hand remained discolored with splotches of brown and yellow. Swollen bumps of different sizes broke out on his fingers and palm.

The condition of his hand looked horrible when he exited the forest in the evening, but he refused any treatment saying the hand never pained. Only if the swelling did not subside the next day, would he be willing to undergo treatment.

On that morning, not only did his hand return to normal, his callused and rough skin had all but disappeared after washing in warm water, leaving a smooth flawless skin. Considering the effects, Chu had the vine and berries replanted near the herb garden and handed over some samples to the Research Division with specific instructions.

***

Now summer was upon them.

Chu looked out from the window high at the top of the windmill. Fields of vegetables and corn stretched out on both sides. He moved his gaze from the corn stalks swaying in the wind to the farm surrounded by a thick log wall and protected by four high watchtowers.

If he ever wanted a place to relax and settle down, this had to be it.

The windmill test had turned out as a success. Halter cried when they used some of the grains from last years harvest to demonstrate the mill. Seeing the smooth fine flour, devoid of stones and lumps, gather outside the grinding wheels, caused the man to kneel and break out in tears.

"With this, the shame I cast on my family is gone. Thank you, Boss."

It was no secret that flour could be only ground by hand, mortar and pestle style, or by using animals and slaves to turn a grinding wheel. Here the flour did not touch the ground but was collected onto a polished wooden tray. This invention would make the cost and labor to produce flour negligible.

"Amazing"

Bon remarked.

Last month they had commissioned the master-smithy, converting iron ore into liquid metal. The Boss had made him make smaller gears, shafts, and coiled springs, for Finn. Dareck and the other apprentices had converted a wagon, making something called bearings, spring lift and a front wheel that actually turned using a small handle.

Chu amazed himself in how useful these little ingenuities could make life easier. Best of all, they did not require the brain of a rocket scientist to manufacture.

One ride on that simple wagon and even the Emperor's carriage would be put to shame. Bon cursed when Clod took him to the village using the old wagon for him to place an order. Every bump along the road had him groaning and mumbling.

On the top floor, Finn and the others could not help but sneak glances at their young Boss. The whole farm had turned out to witness this invention in action. It could be said that nobody would return disappointed. The children might not realize the true value, but the old villagers who have joined certainly understood.

Chu turned to the group standing at the top floor with him--Mr. Thomas, Mrs. Thomas, Halter, Bon, Dareck, Hodge, and Sherry. Most of the farm members were still on the lower floor with the operators; Toll and Rugol working the mill, followed by squeals and shouts from the spectators as they tested the mill.

He glanced at Finn and Sherry before talking

"And this is only the beginning."