The wall that had been a point of contention became the new standard. The fusion of Stone Creek's unshakeable masonry and Aethelburg's harmonic integration created structures that were not only profoundly strong but also felt inherently *right*. The new longhouse rose faster after that, its bones a testament to this new, hybrid philosophy. The air, which had briefly grown tense, now hummed with a different energy—one of discovery and mutual respect.
But a settlement is more than its buildings. It needs water.
The mountain provided a constant plume of clean steam, but condensing and channeling it for daily use was a long-term project. For now, they needed a reliable source of fresh, cool water. The river that had once run through Stone Creek was still a toxic trickle, its bed choked with the residue of the old mining days.
