Chapter 68: Just life

Excerpt from the book “Basic building” By Strig

Foundations: Important aspects in every building. You may think about how placed items float makes them redundant. Far from it! What if a natural disaster happens? Perhaps a mountain dragon swoops down to swipe at your house.

Foundations keep your building grounded in extreme circumstances. These foundations can range from spikes into the ground to solid underground steel structures.

My best advice, build a basement. It acts as an Anker point to any buildings you construct. I have found it to be a very effective foundation with high utility.

‘Beep, beep, beep’ I hear, stirring me from my peaceful slumber. I hit the alarm clock with my fist, living out every movie involving a teenager.

“Why did I even set an alarm… ah right.” I have a game with Jengal this morning. I suppose I should get some breakfast.

Suiting up in my usual armor, I head to my kitchen with haste. I have a slightly off-balance gait as I shake off the morning fog. By the time I reach the kitchen, I feel sufficiently awake to safely handle the equipment within.

I prepare some cheese on toast. While the cheese melts, I chop up some light fruits. They are mostly berries and some watermelon. Gorging myself on the carbohydrates and sugars, I quickly finish my meal.

Stretching lightly, I have a little bit of time before my game. There are two things I want to do before I leave! The first is pretty easy, a syringe. Not the same one used for genetic engineering. An EvilCraft one which I craft with ease. Producing a couple, I keep them within my bag of holding.

I… am going to need a mob farm soon. I can't avoid it forever. Next, I craft a bow with some hellstring and nether wood. Running my hand over the bow, I appreciate the constant heat permeating the bow. I quickly craft some arrows out of the same wood as well.

Creating a small target outside, I begin marking the ground at 5 block intervals. Grasping the bow in my left hand, I pull the string back carefully. I knock an arrow on the slight indent in the bow. I let it release, a wave of hot air hitting my face as it travels. It goes wide, missing terribly.

I take my bow and knock a second arrow. This arrow actually hit the target. Although I would hazard a guess that luck was heavily involved in the hit.

Allowing the arrows to fly though the air relaxed my mind and worked out my body. Peaceful tranquility falls over me as I let the projectiles loose. By the end of the period using the bow, I find my skills passable… by Earth standards. I am sure that by the standards for this world I am dreadful.

I look over my shoulder to one of my many clocks. “Crap, I am nearly late.” I am glad I can teleport, otherwise, I would be late.

Finding myself quickly at Jengals home. Knocking lightly, I see Jengal as he opens the door. His mother in the background, running around with a dusting brush, takes a short second to wave at me before running out of view.

Jengal steps outside, closing the door behind himself. “Hi, how are you?” He begins speaking fast but quickly slows his words down. I wonder if he picked it up from his family? He has noticeably slowed down, when I first met him his words were almost impossible to understand.

I reply in turn, “Hey, I am good; how about you?”

He walks the final step towards me and then past me in the general direction of the carnival island. “I am very good.”

Walking with him towards the island. “So, I hear you got your mental mittens on a source of garmonbozia.”

He just smirks as he walks. “Straight to business huh? Well, it doesn’t matter, yes I found a source. I didn’t specify if it was an easy source.”

Intrigued, “Go on.”

He takes a deep breath before speaking at a hasty but understandable speed. “Recently, an item matching that description was sold in an auction. The person who bought it I couldn’t find but I did find who sold it. A small family, isolationists. I hear they will skin you alive if you go onto their property without forewarning. Anyway, some nasty rumors float around them. I realize they won't give it up willingly so here.” He hands me a note with a location. “That’s the family home they live within. You might have better means than me to get them to cough some up.”

Is he implying I should steal it? Or does he trust my negotiating skills? I will at least check the location out, and see what I can find out. Invisibility is my best friend in situations like these.

We start to close in on the edge of the town. I guess it's far smaller than what it felt like. When I first got here, it felt massive. Although, if compared to other towns I have visited, I suppose it is a little small.

Without a verbal cue we both take flight, rising into the sky before heading to the island. Basking in the stairs and occasional finger point of the odd guard on duty. A few people don’t even bother staring or pointing anymore, clearly used to seeing flying people by this point.

While flying, I mentally muse that I haven’t seen Andira in a while. Her house is rather quiet, with little change happening. Most people who move in do some gardening or renovation, even if it’s just sweeping the odd bit of trash that lands in the garden. Her house remains eerily quiet. I wonder what she is up to.

Finally, we land upon the island. We receive a few glances from the odd person but it doesn’t attract much attention. Most are far more preoccupied with the activities on the island. Looking around; little has changed on the central island. Although, foundations are in place around the skirt of the island. I do think they are expanding the island. I wonder what they are going to build on top?

Turning to my companion, I see barely contained energy within a youthful body. I am surprised he hasn’t exploded like a creeper; he is positively vibrating. “You okay bud?”

Quick as a whip, “Yep, yeah I am good. Just excited, I can't wait to beat you into the ground.”

Wincing at the voice and intent. “Alright, let's go. The arena ain’t going to wait for us.”

We walk at a fast pace towards the clay soldier’s arena. We got there just in time to see the tail end of the last fight. Watching a range specialist demolish a bunch of juggernauts, showing it's all about tactics.

I nod appreciatively to the supervisor as we take our sides. Selecting our items and preparing for war, I prepare a small melee unit supported by 2 medics and a few rangers. Generally a very broad and jack of all trade’s choice. Rubbing my hands, I’m excited to see what you have in store.

With the wave of a flag the battle begins. My soldiers march forward aggressively. With no sign of enemies, they continue on almost to the door of the castle. Suddenly, I hear a crack as the ground gives away under my soldiers. Noting the terrible position they are in, I wince. I watch as a small battalion of mages and archers reach the cavity.

My archers managed to pick off one or two, but it was utter devastation. I lost by a landslide; I just turned to my companion. “Good battle and clever tactics. You have improved.”

Restoring the battlefield and returning the items, we begin a second round. If he wants to play dirty, let's play safe. Going for fast soldiers and rangers, I prepare for another battle.

Finding his castle now decorated with a maze-like structure, I cringe. My soldiers aren’t smart enough to deal with a maze. I watch as my rogues enter like mice after cheese. Surprisingly, with their swift speed, they make it to the core of the structure quickly; straight into an ambush. A large number of juggernauts are sitting, waiting for them. They are the worst enemy of the rogues.

They were decimated, but not before they displaced the small army and damaged their numbers. Almost on cue, I watch as the ranger’s step through before turning the juggernauts into pin cushions. It ended in a draw by a hair as mutual destruction was achieved.

It was nail-bitingly intense watching the juggernauts slowly get whittled down as they lumbered towards the ranger before the last few managed to decimate the brittle long-range fighters.

Sharing a handshake with my opponent. “Those were some intense fights. I am impressed by your improvements in skill Jengal.”

He acts all shy, but I don’t believe it at all! “Thank you.” He looks very proud.

Before leaving, we played in the parkour area for a time. I check the top, noting a single ender letter is gone. I wonder, who got it? I suppose that I will figure it out when they mail me.

Jengal is far better than me at it now, scaling it like a monkey. He still can't complete the hardcore area, though. That’s just scary difficult. It’s possible, but a nightmare.

Checking the time, I bid Jengal farewell, as I have a date to catch. I waved at my friend as he struggled to climb a particularly difficult part of the climbing frame.

Before leaving, I take a moment to appreciate the busy energy around this island now. It's really nice to know people are happy with it. From what I hear, the visitation traffic has doubled since adding the island. I don’t have nor care for the stats. Simply knowing people are enjoying the structure is more than enough for me. Although, I still need to get something out of the mayor to allow me to expand upon the island internally. I have a whole mushroom fortress idea in my head. Although a hide and seek park sounds awesome, too.

Jumping off and landing in a superhero pose on the ground, I steadily walk towards a diner we have arranged to eat at. It is a simple restaurant, although one I haven’t visited yet. Coming to the front of the wooden structure, I see log beams placed in the walls and a deep-set door with lovingly carved wooden vines.

A nice first impression, that’s for sure. Lightly gazing at the carvings, I am suddenly shaken out of my stupor. Turning around defensively, I see Cassie in a beautiful purple dress. I quickly let my guard drop, “Hey Cassie, don’t do that. Scared the life out of me.”

She just brushes past me with an eye roll. I hear a barely audible murmur “Shouldn't be staring so intently at the damn door, then, should you?”

I am quickly dragged inside before she takes us to a seat she had prearranged for us. A booth seat; she knows I like my privacy – touching. “Well, you going to remove that helmet, or do you plan to eat in it?” She still has that air of sudden confidence, I see. Although, I haven’t found any confidence potions so far.

I remove my helmet and set it on the table carefully. A waiter approaches; taking a moment to look at my face. He quickly schools his face to a neutral approachable face. The smartly dressed man hands me a menu and then speaks. “Any wines?”

“Give me the house wine,” I say, not knowing any of the local wines. Cassie interjects, “Same for me.”

As the waiter walks away getting us our wine. “You don’t know wines either do you?”

She just chuckles, “Of course not.” We share a bit of laughter.

Gazing at the intricate menu, I see that it’s well designed and smartly laid out. “I think the pasta looks good, what are you going to order?”

She places her menu down, “Crab tacos. They are amazing.”

Taking her word for it, maybe next time I’ll try it. We quickly order our food. I find the pasta with its cream sauce… okay. It wasn’t blowing my mind, but watching her demolish those tacos with gusto made me curious. “Hey, could I try a bite?”

She just grumbles with food in her mouth what I can only assume means “Okay.”

Carefully reaching over and grasping one of the hard-shelled tacos, I take a bite, careful not to take too much. It was rich, flavorful, and immediately brought my mind to images of the ocean. Blown away by how nice they are, I quickly regretted not having bought some. “Next time,” I say in almost a whisper to console myself.

After finishing the meal, we talk for a while before dessert arrives. She ordered some kind of pie. It was gigantic, so I question if she can even finish it. “Of course, I can.” She replies defensively.

I personally ordered some ice cream. Every bite was heavenly; I haven’t had ice cream in a long time.

“What have you been up to recently?” I ask, bringing some small talk into the meal.

She thinks for a moment. “Mostly damage control, the merchant’s association is breathing down our necks.”

“What happened?” I can't help but enquire.

Between mouthfuls she replies. “Some changes to merchant laws tend to stir up waves. I simply have to sift through all the now crumbling suppliers and see who we should support and who we should cut off.”

“That’s very cold and strategic,” I say, quickly regretting my words.

“That’s the life I am afraid. The merchant business is a hard, cold-hearted business.” I let out a breath I was holding. She didn’t take it to heart, good.

The rest of the evening went very well with a less cold-blooded conversation. I bid her farewell with another date planned soon. Laughing at the grumpy face shown to me after having failed to consume the pound of pie on her plate, I leave.

I guess it's time to find either a spawner or the satanic family now. Shall I flip a coin?