The excavation focus was done and working. I could supply it nearly endlessly from my Core. There was a bit of flux build-up but it was not too bad. I might have to take a few breaks here and there to let it dissipate when I got to work. If I got to work.

I had found a way to dig out more space easily. The goblins would not be able to use it themselves. They might be able to access the terra node but they had no perditio anywhere in their caves. The large node was tenebrae and aer. It was also an option to build them a path up the mountains that let them move to the Dwarven Hills.

The next part was figuring out the details of how to grow something underground. I needed to find a way to supply energy to any plants they wanted to grow, be it mushrooms or traditional crops. I wondered which would be more efficient. In order to find an answer I would need access to what they could grow, though, so I discarded it for the moment.

The method was more important. At least the theory for it. Once more, I pulled up the Thaumonomicon. Relying on excess vis seeping into the environment sounded much too unstable. I wanted to find a different method.

The first entry I found was something called the lamp of growth. It was powered by herba vis and made plants grow more quickly. On the surface, in normal condition. I thought it might be able to let crops grow normally underground but I would have to test it. Which seemed difficult with the item requiring an infusion altar to make. I should really find a spot to do that kind of crafting. Maybe further north?

First, I decided to look for other options. When it came to growing plants there was not much at all. I found an item similar to the memory bracelet that would automatically feed the wearer. It directly pumped energy into the body, sustaining it. The problem was that it required food to pull the energy from. It would not help the goblins’ situation.

Then I remembered the node stabilizer the ork thaumaturge had used. It might allow me to supply energy exactly where I wanted. I only needed to make it. This one did not require an infusion altar at least. But it was not a simple device. I remembered the stone base with the four cuboids stuck to its side. That was actually rather simple to make with just brass and stone. Only now I learned the base had a complicated construction inside. An artefact, if the dwarves were to name it. I could definitely make it but it would take a week or so just from the detailed work I would have to do.

I decided I would make one, at least to stabilize the terra node clogging up that hallway. First, though, I wanted to find something else that might help me. A way to move a node.

It took quite a lot of searching and reading some interesting entries. There were ways to drain nodes to just above the point where they would collapse. It required a lot of mental finesse and high-quality wands, according to the entry I found. I found it interesting and did some mental exercises guiding the mana in my body in accordance with what I had just read. The improved control was difficult to come by at first but I soon got the hang of it. I simply had to move less energy simultaneously. The big problem was preventing the flowing vis from turning into flux. Several meditation-like exercises helped with that. I felt a little bit like a xianxia protagonist making their first steps into the world of cultivation. Only, there was nothing really to refine with my internal energy. At least nothing I could figure out.

When I returned to the Thaumonomicon, a new entry had opened up. It was titled Node in a Jar. A very interesting concept. Apparently, if one had enough vis of all six primal aspects, they could create an oversized jar of glass and wood around a node and turn it into a magically sealed container. It sort of ripped the rift in reality out of reality. That was how I understood it, at least. The node would not be connected to the world while inside but to a temporary pocket reality that stabilized it for transport. Once breaking the glass, it would return to this existence and fixate in the position the jar was broken at. This was what I was looking for. I could get a herba node right in the middle of the goblins’ new farm. The only problem was, I did not have all primal aspects available to me. I would need to supply fire and water in a different way than pulling it from my soul.

There was also the question of how much vis was needed. From how I understood it, the usual wands thaumaturges used could not hold enough. The greatwood they were made from had about two-thirds of the capacity necessary to seal the jar. Then why not just use two wands? Well, from how I understood it, that would not work either. Someone had scribbled a warning below the entry.

The energy required can not be supplied by using a second greatwood wand. Do not try it! They will interfere and create a huge explosion of flux! I made it to safety and was able to observe the results. The node turned into a tainted one. The area is now unlivable. Do! Not! Try! It!

I decided to heed the warning. I was also concerned about supplying the energy from myself and a wand simultaneously. Or using crystals for ignis and aqua to drain through me. It looked like I would have to make a better wand.

I already knew about greatwood. I knew where to find it. But it would not do. I needed something better to hold vis. The Thaumonomicon had an answer for that as well. Silverwood. A strange tree of magic and order. It was supposedly one of the few things capable of pushing back taint. The tree had white bark with fine black and purple spots and blue leaves. I should have spotted one if I ever flew past it so I could be sure it was extremely rare. The method to turn its wood into a wand was also problematic. Once again, I needed an infusion altar. It was time for some exploration.

But first, back to the library!

I asked the librarian if they had anything on silverwood. He brought me several books. Apparently, it was a highly coveted carpentry material. Who would have thought? It was also extremely rare. The type of rarity comparable to the gigantic vis crystal near the goblin village. The wood also held very desirable materials for artificing, letting one create filters that would rapidly break down flux into harmless energy and somehow release it into the Empty.

The last time the Dwarven Hills had seen even a branch of silverwood was 17 years ago.

I was disappointed. Everything was lining up so well and now I got stuck because some material was not available. I could try to do some other things. Apparently, there was some magical cloth that could be used to improve the efficiency of channelling magic. It would effectively reduce the cost of any vis someone spent. The best improvement one could get was about ten per cent. Not enough to make a node in a jar with a greatwood wand.

There was only one person I could ask that might be able to help me. Nymph.

I arrived at the grove soon after and spotted a group of dwarves sitting in a half-circle in front of it. Banélin stood in front and talked to them about vis enrichment and magic in general. I landed on the wall and observed them. The dwarf gave me a quick glance but otherwise did not acknowledge my presence. He was answering their questions with a slight delay, Nymph sending him the answers telepathically.

Every dwarf had one medium-sized herba crystal in front of them. Some were touching it carefully, trying to absorb the energy, others were resting or considering their life choices. I almost flew down to show them how to really absorb vis but figured Nymph knew better about how dwarves did things.

It took nearly an hour for them to be done with their session. The dwarves looked very exhausted and I could see their bodies pulsating with flux. They were approaching their limit. Banélin led them out of the Comraich and as the door closed behind him, I dropped onto the grass.

I greeted Nymph with a hoot, the mantis peeking out from behind a leaf and waving a scythe.

“Back so soon?”, she asked.

“I was sure you would take a little longer with your project.”

I nodded.

“It will take a while still. I just ran into a problem you might be able to help me with. At least I don’t know anyone else that might know better.”

“Is that so? Do you need a specific crop?”

“Not quite. I found a very interesting option. A way to move a node. But it requires a wand capable of storing a lot of vis. Greatwood is commonly used for thaumaturges but it won’t suffice for me.”

“You can move a node? Something like that is possible? Is it harmful?”

“For the node? No. It can slightly weaken the connection, turning bright nodes into normal ones from what I’ve read. But that’s all.”

“How… interesting.”

I clicked my tongue.

“Well, the material I should use according to the Thaumonomicon is silverwood.”

She stared at me. A scythe twitched a little.

“Silverwood?”

I nodded.

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“No other options?”

“As far as I found in the Thaumonomicon.”

“Silverwood… You won’t be able to find that easily.”

“I figured.”

Nymph turned her head to look inside the darkness of her grove.

“And you’re confident you’ll be able to move a node?”

“Yes.”

“Without harming it?”

“Unless it’s bright. It might get a little weaker then.”

Her mandibles rubbed against each other.

“Do you know where I can get some silverwood?”

She looked up at me, fixating my eyes with her tiny face.

“How much do you need, exactly?”

“A branch about twice as long as you. As straight as possible. It should be as thick as a dwarven thumb. Like this.”

I formed the approximate dimensions with a shadow tendril between us. It was connected by a tiny thread of darkness where it touched my shadows.

Once more, she looked around. Back into her grove, then across the meadow surrounding it. Her eyes lingered on the door to the gatehouse for a moment. Then she turned to me.

“I…”

Her thoughts were conflicted. She sent hesitation and fear along with the one word. Then something changed. The mantis found her resolve and her mind cleared.

“Come inside. I can’t carry it.”

What? She just had some laying around? Why?