My name is Maria. Before the wish event, my biggest responsibility was keeping up with my 2 boys. Now I regularly make decisions that affect nearly 200 lives and they all trust me enough to follow along.
This morning started like most others—Isaac bouncing into my room at dawn, already dressed and eager to start the day.
"Mum, Thomas's crew is already working on the old shelters," he announced with excitement. "Can we go watch them?"
At 12 years old, he's fascinated by the construction process, constantly asking questions about how things are built and why certain materials work better than others.
I put on my clothes and stepped outside with him to see the work crew dismantling one of the old temporary shelters.
Thomas had them starting early to beat the heat, they were recycling materials for the new projects. The steady progress of our community never ceased to amaze me.
"They're being really careful with the good timber," Isaac observed.
10 year old Noah appeared moments later, practically vibrating with energy. "Mum, can we help carry the smaller pieces?"
"You'll have to ask Janet, she's the one in charge." I gently rustled their hair as we made our way back inside.
Both boys had adapted remarkably well to our new life. They understood that wolves were dangerous and stayed within the settlement's safe areas, but they didn't let that fear dominate their days.
After getting the boys settled with breakfast, I made my way to the plaza for the morning meeting. Eric was already there with his logistics reports, while Thomas reviewed the day's construction priorities.
These informal gatherings had become essential for keeping our growing community organized.
"Housing update," I said, settling onto one of the stone blocks we used as seating. "How many families are we expecting this week?"
Eric consulted his notes. "Two groups, about 15 people. They should arrive by tomorrow or the day after."
Thomas scratched his beard thoughtfully. "We've got 3 houses nearing completion, but that still leaves us short. The new arrivals will need temporary arrangements until we finish the next batch."
I considered the options while watching the settlement wake up around us. People emerged from their homes, children played between the buildings, and the sounds of daily life created a comforting backdrop to our planning.
"What about converting some of the storage spaces?" I suggested. "It won't be great but it's only until the new construction is ready."
"Could work," Thomas agreed. "The old shelters near the river have good bones. We could partition them and add heating."
Eric made notes as we talked. "I'll coordinate with the arriving groups, I'll tell them about the situation. Most people are just happy to have a roof over their heads and more importantly feel safe."
That was true, but I still felt responsible for providing them with suitable living arrangements.
"Speaking of construction," Thomas spoke, "we should also start thinking about a proper administrative building. We're going to need a dedicated space for record-keeping, meetings, and coordination."
"True, add that to the list of things to do, keep it as a low priority though, it's not urgent." I nodded.
"What about the resource allocation for the week?" I asked, moving to the next issue.
Eric pulled out another set of papers. "Food stores are solid with the hunting teams bringing in regular catches and the farms are providing more food than expected. Tools and materials are the bigger concern. The expansion is eating through our stockpiles faster than we can replace them."
"The old settlement remnants," Thomas added. "We're breaking them down for materials, but it's labour-intensive. We could do with more hands on that project."
I nodded, already thinking through the work assignments. "I'll talk to the newer residents, see who's available for heavy labour. Some of the younger men haven't found anything to do yet."
"Speaking of which," Eric said carefully, "there's been some... resistance to certain work assignments."
I raised an eyebrow. "What kind of resistance?"
"Nothing major," he assured me quickly. "Just a few people questioning why they're assigned to specific tasks instead of others. Mostly folks who haven't been here long."
This was a recurring challenge. New arrivals often came with expectations from the old world—that certain jobs were beneath them, or that their previous status should carry weight here. It usually sorted itself out once people realized everyone contributed equally, but it required patience.
"Did you have a word with them?" I asked.
"That usually does the trick," Thomas confirmed. "Most people just need to be reminded that we all do what needs doing and that no one's too good for honest work."
As we finished our meeting, I noticed a group of children heading towards the agricultural areas with Janet. My boys were among them, carrying small tools and water containers for the morning farm work.
This was part of their education—learning practical skills alongside the reading and writing Janet taught them. Isaac was getting better at planning and organising, naturally gravitating towards logistics work. Noah loved the physical labour, cutting, carrying, digging, and planting with a big grin on his face.
Watching them work with the other children from the settlement filled me with pride. They were growing up as part of a community while learning skills that would serve them throughout their lives.
"Mum!" Noah called out, waving enthusiastically from beside a row of vegetables. "Look how big the carrots are getting!"
I walked over to take a quick look at their progress. The agricultural areas had continued to expand, neat rows of crops stretched across cleared ground. The children worked alongside adults, though they mostly did what they enjoyed.
"They're doing excellent work," I told Janet, who was supervising their efforts. "How are the other kids doing?"
"They're doing well," she replied, watching Isaac carefully space seeds in a prepared furrow. "They're all keeping up with the program, they've adapted well."
After spending time with the children, I made my rounds through different areas of the settlement. This daily walkabout helped me stay connected to what was actually happening rather than just hearing reports in meetings.
Near the workshops, I found Robert teaching metalworking to a small group of apprentices. The forge glowed brightly as they practiced basic techniques, their concentration evident even from a distance.
"How are the new students progressing?" I asked during a break in the lesson.
"They're all eager to learn," Robert replied, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Though some have unrealistic expectations about how quickly they'll master the craft."
I understood the sentiment. Many people wanted to contribute immediately, to prove their worth to the community. But skilled work required dedication and practice that couldn't be rushed.
"Keep encouraging them and let them know their efforts are appreciated," I said. "Even beginners learning basic techniques are valuable to our future."
Moving through the residential areas, I noticed small signs that someone had been causing minor disruptions.
Nothing dramatic—tools left in the wrong place, work assignments "accidentally" confused, and materials that had been moved from their designated storage areas.
Why did I call them disruptions instead of mistakes? Because they followed a pattern that was too... regular, predictable even.
I had suspicions about who might be responsible, but proving it would require more evidence than scattered tools and misplaced supplies.
Richard had been quieter since his injuries healed, accepting his situation without open rebellion. But his intelligence hadn't been damaged, and I suspected he was testing boundaries.
"Small acts of defiance," I murmured to myself, straightening a pile of lumber that had been knocked over. "Trying to undermine efficiency without being openly hostile."
It was frustrating but not immediately dangerous. Richard's actions were more annoying than anything, designed to waste time and create minor headaches rather than cause serious problems.
Still, I made mental notes about the incidents. If the pattern continued or escalated, we'd need to address it sooner rather than later. Community cohesion depended on everyone working towards shared goals rather than pursuing personal agendas.
The medical centre was my next stop, where Doctor Hayes was training several residents in basic first aid techniques with Claire assisting with the instruction.
"How are the assistants coming along?" I asked.
"Very well," Doctor Hayes replied. "People are motivated to learn, especially after seeing how quickly injuries can become serious problems if left untreated."
Claire nodded in agreement. "We're focusing on practical skills—cleaning wounds, applying bandages, and recognizing signs of infection. Things that don't require extensive medical training but can prevent small problems from becoming serious ones."
This was exactly the kind of preparation we needed. A community our size couldn't depend on a single doctor for every medical issue. Training people to handle basic care would improve everyone's health and safety .
"Any requests for additional supplies or equipment?"
"Always," Doctor Hayes said with a smile. "But we're managing well with what we have. AJ's ability to produce healing salve and bandages has been invaluable, and our stores of other medical supplies are adequate for the current needs."
After leaving the medical centre, I checked on the construction crews working on the new housing. The sound of hammers and saws filled the air as teams worked on multiple projects simultaneously.
Thomas moved between work sites, offering guidance and checking quality. His experience showed in every decision, from foundation placement to roof construction. The houses being built now were significantly better than the first attempts.
"What's the timeline for completion?" I asked, joining him beside a house that was nearing the roofing stage.
"This batch should be ready in the next day or 2," he replied, checking the joints in the timber frame. "The crews have really improved their skills over the past few weeks."
"And materials?"
"Running lower than I'd like, but manageable. The old settlement breakdown is providing decent salvage, though it's time-consuming work. We're trying to balance the speed of construction with the supply of resources."
Growth required investment of time and materials, but pushing too hard could lead to shortages that would have knock on affects that could impact other essential projects.
"Prioritize quality over speed," I decided. "Better to build fewer houses well than many houses poorly."
With the initial morning rounds complete it was lunch time, everyone took a break to eat with their friends and family.
The afternoon was similar to the morning in many ways, I finished doing my tour of the settlement, checking in with all the different groups progress.
Then I joined in with the usual mid-afternoon meditation session, seeing my teammates strength was a bitter sweet feeling.
On one hand it was nice knowing they had done well for themselves and their abilities were reassuring. But on the other it felt as though I was being left behind, I had managed to reach the Realm of Man recently but I wanted to stand beside them as equals in cultivation...
As evening approached, I spent time with Isaac and Noah, helping them with their studies and listening to their stories about the day's activities. These moments reminded me why dealing with all of the difficult decisions and complex problems were worthwhile.
"Mum," Isaac said as we reviewed his maths homework, "why do some of the new people complain about the work assignments?"
"Because they're used to a different way of life," I explained. "Before the wish event, people often did only one type of work, and some jobs were considered more important than others. Those 'important' people don't want to do what used to be less important jobs."
"But that makes no sense," Noah spoke up. "If something needs to be done, why wouldn't you do it?"
"Exactly," I agreed. "You understand something that some adults are still figuring out."
Later that evening, I stood in the central plaza. Lights glowed in windows, families gathered for dinner, and the sounds of community life created a comforting atmosphere.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges—more new arrivals to integrate, more resources to allocate, and more problems to solve. But tonight, the settlement felt peaceful and secure, a small beacon of hope in a transformed world.
As I checked on my sleeping children, I thought about the community they would inherit one day. Not perfect, but growing stronger every day. Built on principles of cooperation, mutual support, and the understanding that everyone's contribution mattered.
That was the legacy I wanted to leave them—not just a place to live in, but the knowledge that people could work together to create something better. I wanted them to dream big and achieve bigger.