Cashew nowhad 5 perfectly fine skeletons and 1 of them turned into a Skeleton Minion. All of the flesh and organs that originally belonged to the Skeletons has been burned and he is now waiting for the things he asked for to get here. A Woodcutting Axe, a handsaw, strong and good door hinges and nails that can go into stone.
All of his Wood Golems came back after 17 hours and through head motions, and yes or no questions, they indicated that there are no areas nearby that Crystalized Monts live in.
Cashew: Great! Now if I want more crystals, I need to go back to my old area... Maybe I can create an artificial Crystal cave? I heard that you can get crystals from a cave as well, maybe I can create an artificial one?...
As the thought sat in his mind, Cashew then ordered his 2 Golems to get their pickaxes and mine a cave into the mountain side where they were digging for stone, which they immediately did. Cashew pointed out a spot for them to put the Mined stone and refilled their cores with Mana, then left them to do the job.
While waiting, Cashew picked up the cracked Orb he found on one of the bodies, took it outside and sat on the ground, raised a Magic Barrier for his 3 Stone Golems to punch.
Cashew: I wonder if this Orb can have a Pocket Dimension inside of it?...
He examined the Orb, rotating it around before deciding against it.
Cashew: No. The Orb is too damaged. What if it breaks fully? What about the things i put in it? I'll stick with my original Orb.
After sitting for an hour, letting his Stone Golems punch his Magic Barrier, someone showed up. A man that he doesn't recognize. He is carrying the things Cashew asked for.
Man: Are you the Young owner of the fortress?
Cashew: Id assume so, yes.
Man: Lord Raphael wanted me to give you these items.
He handed the items to Cashew, who took them, thanked the guy, then took the hinges and nails to the collapsed door with his Stone Golems following.
The Man didn't stay and immediately left, Cashew and his Stone Golems fixed the door, removing the old hinges and installing new ones, then reattaching the door. 10 minutes later and the entire door is fixed with new hinges and it doesn't even look like it was ever broken in the first place.
Seeing that his door was now fixed, he was gonna head back to his old area of terrorizing Crystalized Monts and obtain more crystals. But first, he needed to put all of the skeletons into his pocket Dimension, he doesn't want someone to come here and see it, so he was gonna hide it in his pocket Dimension.
3 minutes later and all the bones are inside his Pocket Dimension. Now only he knows.
Going out to his gate with 4 wood Golems following, Cashew pulled out his map and pointed out where his old cabin was and where he used to hunt Crystalized Monts for their crystals.
Cashew: Huh... So the area was called "Monster Plains" and it's listed on the map as a spot with lots of monsters that live there. Interesting...
He found the road that lead to his cabin and Clorilwood, following it back and the route is actually shorter than cutting through the Cloril forest.
Cashew: All 3 of the roads that lead from Clorilwood connect to this road, and this road leads to Krok-Magar. So if Drembord wants to invade, they either follow the roads and end up at Krok-Magar or they can cut through the forest and deal with monsters and wildlife... Probably not much of an issue for an army, but that doesn't mean it's not a waste of time...
Cashew: This all being said, either way, it's still too long of a travel. Either go back the way I came and walk for 20 hours or take the new route and walk for 12 hours. Still too long... Why is this place so big?
As Cashew was putting his map away and getting ready to leave, Cashew noticed something hiding behind a tree.
As Cashew got closer, he noticed more and more about what was behind that tree.
Cashew: ... Alice?
As he said the name, what would you know, Alice slowly stepped out from behind the tree. She was wearing clothes that didn't look like rich person clothes, she had a Nervous expression on her face as well.
Cashew: *Sigh* I take it you're here for a reason?
Cashew had a somewhat harsh tone in his voice which caused Alice to look down at her feet.
Alice: C-... Can I stay here?...
Cashew: Stay here?...
He was caught off guard by that question.
Alice: Yes... Please, may I stay at your fortress?
Cashew: *Sigh* I assume you have a reason and not for fun?
Alice: Yes... I-... I do have a Reason.
The two of them stood there in silence. Cashew was waiting for her to explain her reason, but she never did.
Cashew: *Sigh* can you tell me your reason?
Alice took a few minutes to actually explain, but she eventually did.
Alice: 2-... 2 years ago, before I got.... Kidnapped... My-... My father was trying to M-... Marry me off to a strange old Man... I-i... I kept trying to run away to get out of it, but... But I was eventually kidnapped... I wanna stay here be-... Because I'm afraid the Arranged Marriage is still ongoing...
Cashew: I see... So you wanna stay here to get out of an Arranged Marriage? Have you thought about saying something to your father instead of running away?
Alice: N-... No. I'm the daughter of a Nobleman... I-... I don't get much of a ... A say in this... I'm ex-... Expected to marry who I'm told, be silent and... Obedient, and Deal with it...
Cashew: I see... Sucks to be a woman, huh?...
Alice looked at Cashew with a Nervous and confused expression.
Alice: Gender doesn't... Matter. B-both boys- and girls... Are expected to marry who they're told... All that matters... Is if- they're Nobles...
Cashew: I see... So it makes sense why you're running away, I guess, but why here? Were you not traumatized in this place?
Alice: It's... It's here, or... The forest...
Cashew: *Sigh* you know what? I don't care. I'm gonna be gone for a while anyways, so, go ahead, stay here. I hope you know how to hunt and take care of yourself...
Cashew immediately started walking away, not staying around to ask questions again. Alice was gonna try and stop him, but decided against it, standing there until he was out of sight. Then slowly and reluctantly went into the fortress, closing the door behind her.
Cashew was walking down the road, Heading back to the monster forest he spent 6 years of his life at.
Cashew: *Sigh* putting a roof over that girls head is gonna bite me in the ass later, I just know it. But this time I live in a fortress, not a dilapidated cabin. I should be fine.
12 hours worth of walking later and Cashew is back at his old cabin.
Cashew: I've been moved out for 2 weeks and I already feel nostalgic being back here... Let's look inside and see if there is anything new. Did someone new move in? More bandits? Drug den? I wonder what this place is like now.
He went up the steps and opened the door, wondering what he would see. It's half what he expected to see.
Cashew opened the door and what greeted him was a really foul smell. He saw people drinking a strange liquid and alcohol, he saw 3 men and a woman having an orgy on the bed, as well as multiple people having sex in different corners of the house.
Random person: Hey Kid, get out! And shut the door, you're letting the stink out!
Cashew: Who knew this cabin would turn into an orgy drug den in the span of two weeks... Alright, Have fun!
Cashew said as he shut the door.
Random person #2: We are having fun!
Someone shouted as the door was closed
...
Meanwhile, back at Cashews Fortress, Alice was sitting outside on the steps watching the two remaining wood Golems dig a hole into the side of the mountain, she was hugging her legs with a bored and nervous expression on her face.
As she watched the Wood Golems work, the doors suddenly swung open.
Raphael: Where is she?!
He spotted Alice, who stood up nervously, staring at her father wide with eyes.
Raphael: Ok, wheres the little shit who tried to kidnap my daughter?!
He said as he walked over to Alice and pulled her into a hug, the Wood Golems paid him no mind and the Stone Golems didn't react much either.
Alice: He didn't kidnap me, I came here on my own...
Raphael: Stop defending him. Why would the daughter of a City Lord want to be in a Dingy old fortress instead?
Alice: be... Because I DONT WANNA MARRY P.DOPHILE!!
...
Silence filled the atmosphere. All that could be heard was the Golems working and nature, but Alice and Raphael were quiet.
Raphael: You're not marrying him.
Alice: Exactly... I'm not.
Raphael: No. I mean that he cancelled the Marriage while you were still recovering.
Alice: Really?...
Alice had a surprised tone in her voice hearing that.
Raphael: yes. He thought I didn't hear, but he cancelled because you're too old now. If he didn't cancel, I would have, but still. It took me a while to realize what a creep he was, but you're not marrying him.
Alice: Well... Aren't you gonna put me in another arranged marriage to a different person?
Raphael: *Chuckles* you were gone for 2 years. I'm gonna be a clingy father for the next 2 years. I don't plan on marrying you off.
Raphael pulled Alice into a hug, holding her close for a few minutes before pulling away.
Raphael: So, why did you choose to run away here? Do you like the kid?
Alice shook her head.
Alice: No. He's surprisingly rude. I guess he was nice to me the first time out of pity for my situation. I came here because it was better than being in rain and under trees. I thought maybe he was rude when you met him because we showed up out of nowhere, but I guess that's how he always is.
Raphael: I see... Where is he?
Alice: He left a while ago. He knows I'm here, but he said he would be gone for a while.
Raphael: I see... This is the place you said you were held hostage for 2 years, right? Maybe while he's gone I should have the place torn down? You were traumatized here, so maybe I should destroy it while he's away.
Alice: That's fine, but what about the Golems?
Raphael: Wood Golems? Only two of them? That's no worries. Just get a great bow and aim for the chest, the chest is where the core usually is. Without the Core, it's just a pile of wood. We could have them gone before sundown. But let's get you home first. Surely you'd like a bath.
Alice: You're saying I stink?
Raphael: No, no ... But you do want one, right? You're wearing ragged clothes, not at all suitable for a noble woman.
Alice and Raphael left the castle and got on Raphaels horse, heading back to Krok-Magar.