The morning after the marking brought a settlement transformed by purpose. Where yesterday had ended with stakes and rope outlining their ambitious vision, today began with people arriving at the marked boundaries ready to turn dreams into reality.
From above, the settlement resembled a hive stirring to life. The enormous circle of stakes that marked their future plaza served as a rallying point, with work crews gathering at different sections of the planned construction.
Maria stood at the centre of the marked plaza, coordinating the day's activities. The housing area north of the plaza buzzed with early morning preparation.
"Thomas, are your construction teams ready?" she called out to the man who'd been studying the terrain since dawn.
"The crews are organised and equipped," Thomas replied, his confidence evident. "Stone cutting team's already at the quarry with Robert's new tools."
AJ positioned himself at the centre of the most intensive work area, his translucent form already flowing between the material preparation tasks they'd discussed. The raw stone blocks from yesterday's expanded quarry operations disappeared into his mass and emerged as perfectly cut foundation stones.
"Incredible efficiency," Sam observed, updating his calculations as he watched AJ work. "At this rate, we'll have foundations completed ahead of schedule."
The housing project had been divided into the manageable sections—10 homes to start, each designed to house a family of four comfortably.
Walter moved between work areas with his cane, his experienced eye evaluating progress and offering guidance. "Foundation work sets the standard for everything that follows," he reminded the crews. "Take the time to do it properly."
Eric had already implemented a supply coordination system, with materials moving from the quarry and the forest to the construction sites in an organised manner. "Timber team's reporting good progress in the eastern forest," he announced. "First loads should arrive within the hour."
By midday, stone blocks were being fitted into place with precision, beginning the actual construction work.
Doctor Hayes had claimed her plot near the centre of the housing area, where her new medical facility would serve the community. "The foundation needs to be larger than the residential buildings," she reminded the construction crews. "There are going to be multiple rooms."
Janet's childcare operation had naturally evolved from their community discussions. Children too young to help with the heavier construction tasks carried water in small containers, while older ones sorted materials and delivered messages between work crews.
The sight of children working alongside adults, all contributing to their shared future as they'd envisioned, created an atmosphere that combined hard work with genuine community purpose.
Across the river, Lily had begun the agricultural expansion they'd discussed. Teams were clearing additional farmland, expanding far beyond the settlement's current modest garden plots using AJ and Robert's newly created farming tools.
"The wheat operation should have been expanded months ago," Lily muttered to Maria as they surveyed the new farmland. "If only Richard wasn't so focused on controlling people. Going so far as to deliberately limit food supply... what a moron."
The new farmland stretched in neat rectangular plots. Teams worked systematically, clearing shrubs and preparing soil. The earth was rich and dark, promising good yields if properly managed.
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The second day brought the rhythm that Thomas had predicted as everyone got used to their work. Foundation work continued on the second row of homes while the first foundations were already receiving their stone walls.
The construction teams had naturally divided into specialised groups—stone workers, timber framers, and general labourers who moved materials and performed basic tasks.
Sam moved between work sites, checking measurements and offering adjustments.
The medical centre's foundation proved more complex than the residential buildings, just as Doctor Hayes had insisted on. The design had multiple rooms—treatment areas, surgical spaces, and storage for medical supplies.
Meanwhile, Lily's agricultural teams made an unexpected discovery. While expanding the farmland as planned, they encountered a small group of creatures that resembled oversized rabbits but with the temperament of sheep.
The animals were docile, herbivorous, and showed no fear of humans. Before one of the hunting teams could get to them, Lily intervened.
"We should catch these creatures and start a livestock operation," she proposed. "It would be good to have a sustainable source of meat rather than relying entirely on hunting."
Victor quickly coordinated the capture effort. Using simple rope nets and persistent herding, the team managed to secure six of the creatures in a hastily constructed pen. The animals adapted quickly to captivity, accepting food offerings and showing no signs of distress.
"If we can breed them successfully, we'll have a sustainable source of meat within a few months," Lily' announcement energising the settlements efforts.
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Before starting the third day's work, the stoneworkers, lumberjacks, AJ, and several others collaborated to build two small carts for hauling materials, this would save time and effort while transporting.
AJ provided the wood components in various shapes like wheels, axles, and planks while the teams worked together to assemble the carts.
The houses were progressing beautifully, simple but well-constructed. Stone foundations and walls with timber-framed windows and roofs. Each house included a main living area, two sleeping chambers, and a basic kitchen space with a fireplace.
The last missing piece was a roofing material, which some workers promptly addressed with the discovery of clay near the riverbank. The tiles they produced were waterproof and designed to interlock, ensuring weather-tight coverage.
The medical centre construction had progressed to wall height, revealing the full complexity of Doctor Hayes' vision. The building would be the largest single structure in the settlement, with thick walls for insulation and multiple chimneys for heating different sections independently.
Thomas had begun establishing his educational workspace near the medical centre, though his "school" bore little resemblance to traditional classrooms. Instead, he'd created an open area with covered workstations where practical skills could be taught alongside basic literacy and mathematics.
The agricultural expansion achieved its second success when teams discovered a grove of fruit trees that produced large, sweet fruits similar to mangoes. The trees had leaves that shimmered in the sunlight, and their fruit was delicious, nutritious, and abundant.
Teams worked carefully to transplant smaller specimens closer to the settlement, creating an orchard that would provide both food and natural beauty.
The rabbit-like creatures had multiplied. Not through breeding—it was too early for that—but because the original ones had attracted others from the surrounding area. The pen now housed 15 of them, all seemingly content with their new situation.
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By the 4th day, the construction work had further evolved. The first row of houses was receiving interior finishing—wooden shelving and basic furniture crafted from surplus timber.
The second row had reached roof level, while foundation work began on a third row, maintaining a steady rate of progression that surpassed Sam's predicted deadlines. With each row having 5 houses they were on track to double the initial 10 houses they planned to start off with.
AJ's material processing had become a marvel of efficiency. He'd developed a system where raw materials were delivered to specific locations around his position, processed according to predetermined specifications, and deposited at designated pickup points.
"Like a well oiled machine," Walter observed, watching the smooth flow of materials. "Human workers feeding materials in and collecting finished products."
The medical centre had received its roof structure, a complex framework designed to support multiple chimneys and provide good ventilation throughout. Doctor Hayes walked through the unfinished building, checking various aspects and discussing modifications with the construction team.
Janet's childcare system had evolved into more of a nursery, the ones who were old enough were learning and working with Thomas while she took care of the younger ones. She had them help out by delivering water and food to the teams during their breaks. Then she would let them play or teach them to read and write the rest of the time.
The agricultural teams had established test plots using seeds gathered from wild plants discovered around the safe zone. They were working towards a greater variety of crops which would be essential in the long-term.
The larger variety of crops would naturally provide a more varied diet but it would also protect them from sudden food shortages if something happened to one or more crops.
The livestock operation had expanded beyond the rabbits. A second pen housed what appeared to be buffalo—cow-sized animals with woolly coats that would be used as fibre for textiles. The animals were gentle but resisted human handling.
Even though it had only been a short time since the buffalo had been brought in they had already broken the makeshift pen 2 times, though both times the buffalo didn't even bother to escape.
The day's progress was overshadowed however, when one of the hunting team members failed to return from a routine expedition. Despite thoroughly searching the area where he was last seen, there was no sign of the man.
"Could be that he decided to leave," Victor suggested. "He was one of Richard's supporters after all."
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The 5th day brought a significant milestone—the first completed homes. 3 houses stood finished, their stone walls solid and weatherproof, their timber roofs covered with clay tiles.
The interiors were simple but comfortable, with built-in storage solutions and a fireplace that would heat the entire house.
Families began moving into the completed houses immediately. The transition from temporary shelters to more permanent homes created a visible change in the settlement's atmosphere—people walked straighter, smiled more readily, and spoke with greater confidence about the future.
Maria observed, watching families settle into their new homes. "It's not just about shelter, but also a sense of dignity."
The medical centre neared completion of its structural phase. The building's impressive size exceeded everyone's expectations it was larger than any other structure in the settlement, with multiple wings extending from a central hub.
The livestock situation had stabilised. The rabbits had adapted completely to domestication, while the buffalo showed promise, with the pen being expanded they stopped breaking it. A dedicated team of herders had emerged, developing expertise in animal care.
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On the 6th day 3 more houses were completed and the construction crews were confident that they would be able to maintain a rate of 3 houses per day. This had them well ahead of schedule and soon enough everyone would have a spot to call home.
The buildings also showed increasing sophistication as the construction teams refined their techniques and AJ's material processing became more precise.
The completed houses demonstrated remarkable craftsmanship—stone walls fitted together seamlessly, timber frames were precisely joined, and roof tiles created watertight seals.
The medical centre had progressed to interior work, with AJ contributing specialised equipment—metal instruments for surgery, containers for medicines, and basic medical supplies including bandages and the healing salve the group had used during their adventure.
The hunting teams returned and once again noticed one of their members was missing, they went back out in search of them only to come up empty handed.
While the previous disappearance could be seen as one of Richards followers not wanting to stay, this time it was a regular person who hadn't shown signs of wanting to leave.
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On the 7th morning Janet began organising an evening gathering where everyone would be able to share stories, discuss community issues, and plan future projects.
Another day of work came and went, 3 more houses were finished and the people quickly moved in. Once the work day was over everyone gathered around a large fire where food had been prepared.
During this time people told their stories, they spoke of life before the wish event, the wishes they had made, and their time after the wish. When and how they'd come across the safe zone, their time under Richard and their new hope for the future.
The group took this opportunity to share some of the information they had gathered during their adventure, they mentioned the Obsidian Sect, the Cult of the Shattered Veil, and the Iron Vanguard. The group also spoke of mana, in the hope that more people could harness it.
Having more people capable of using mana had its risks and advantages, it would make people stronger and faster workers. Seeing as the group was at the forefront of cultivation they had no fear of others catching up and creating trouble.