Chapter 48 – Building the House
A sudden realization struck Flux like a bolt of lightning.
He froze.
"I… don't know how to build a house."
"Pii pii?" The horned rabbit tilted her head, confused.
Flux and the rabbit stared at each other in silence, as if both hoping the other had a solution.
Finally, Flux sighed. "I guess I'll have to head into town to get what I need. Or someone—that can help me figure it out."
He glanced down at the rabbit. "You want to come with me?"
The little beast hesitated, blinking a few times before giving a firm nod.
"Pii pii!"
Flux chuckled. "Alright then."
He reached into his pouch, pulled out his wide-brimmed hat, and settled it atop his head with a decisive nod. "Let's go."
He scooped the rabbit into his arms and floated up into the air, wind rustling his robes as they rose above the treetops.
The rabbit looked down at the vast forest below with wide, curious eyes.
Flux smiled. "Feels nice flying, doesn't it?"
"Piii!"
After a short flight, the wooden walls and gates of Oaktown came into view. They began their descent.
Flux landed just outside the entrance and casually tossed a low-grade spirit stone to the gate guards. The guards gave him a quick nod and waved him through without question.
Walking through the streets, Flux kept the rabbit cradled in his arms. She peeked out cautiously at the crowd—curious, yet clearly uneasy.
"Still not used to people, huh?" Flux whispered.
The rabbit buried her face into his sleeve, ears twitching.
He smiled softly and continued on.
After a few turns, Flux spotted a familiar storefront—the elegant, golden-brown facade of the Yellow Leaf Pavilion.
He stepped inside.
"Welcome to the Yellow Leaf Pavilion, sir," a polite attendant greeted him with a bow. "How may we assist you today?"
"I'm looking for building materials," Flux replied. "Also a book or guide on how to build a house. Something practical."
The attendant nodded. "Of course, sir. Do you have any preferences regarding the quality of materials?"
Flux paused. "Hmm… give me the highest quality you've got."
The attendant blinked, surprised, then quickly recovered. "Understood. Please wait in the guest room while we prepare your order."
Flux followed her to a quiet sitting area, where tea was served. The rabbit nibbled at a sweet biscuit placed nearby.
Not long after, the attendant returned with a storage pouch and a thin but well-bound book.
"Here are the materials you requested, sir, and a guide detailing the essentials of traditional home construction, including layout tips, proper foundation techniques, and qi flow optimization."
Flux took the pouch and book, examining them both. "Perfect. Thank you."
"You're most welcome. Also, if you'd prefer a professional touch, we do have a roster of certified master craftsmen available to assist."
Flux gave it some thought. "A master craftsman, huh…?"
He shook his head. "No need. I'm just building a simple house."
The attendant smiled politely, though a flicker of confusion passed behind her eyes. (A simple house… with premium-grade materials? Must be nice having money to spare.)
As he handed over his payment, the attendant's eyes drifted to the rabbit.
"Is that your pet, sir? I've never seen anyone tame a horned rabbit before. They're usually wild and travel in packs—very skittish, sometimes aggressive."
Flux looked at the attendant. "Pet? No, she's not a pet—she's a friend."
The attendant blinked. "Ah… I see. My apologies for the misunderstanding."
"No offense taken."
Flux dropped a few spirit stones onto the counter. "Here's payment. Thanks for the help."
"Thank you for your patronage, sir. Please visit us again."
"I will."
As Flux exited, the attendant murmured under her breath, "Strange… why does that man feel familiar? I swear I've never seen him before…"
Meanwhile, Flux walked calmly through the bustling streets, the rabbit still in his arms.
"Well, that should be everything we need," he muttered.
He glanced at the rabbit. "You alright there?"
"Pii…"
She clung a little tighter to him.
Flux smiled. "Don't worry. We're heading back now."
With that, they exited the city and soared into the sky once more.
As the town disappeared behind them, the rabbit visibly relaxed.
"Pii… pii…"
"You really don't like crowds, do you?" Flux chuckled. "Well, don't worry. At your current level—sixth stage of Qi Refinement—you'll be able to protect yourself before long."
The rabbit gave an enthusiastic nod. "Pii! Pii!"
"That's the spirit."
Before long, they descended back into the clearing near the cave.
"Alright, we're back," Flux said, setting the rabbit down.
He pulled out the book and flipped it open.
"Let's see… 'First, inspect your materials. Ensure your wood is dry and free of infestation… Use solid qi-based foundations for long-term durability… Align the entrance with positive qi flow to promote inner harmony…'"
Flux studied the diagrams and instructions carefully, then closed the book with a determined nod.
"Time to get started."
He walked to the clearing he had prepared earlier and took a deep breath.
He summoned his qi and began digging the foundation trenches by hand, making sure they followed the measurements outlined in the book. The soil was dense but manageable.
Once the trenches were done, he embedded the anchoring stakes made from reinforced spirit wood and poured a foundation mix of compacted stone and spiritual mortar, ensuring it settled flat.
The rabbit watched intently from a stump, ears twitching every time a beam was laid into place.
After several hours of hard work, the foundation was in place and the skeletal frame of the house began to rise.
It was nothing fancy—just a single-level structure with a spacious room, a sloped roof, and wooden windows that opened outward—but it was sturdy.
Flux wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at his progress.
"This… actually isn't too bad."
The rabbit hopped up beside him and gave an approving, "Pii!"
He smiled. "Still a long way to go, but it's a good start."
As the sun dipped low in the sky, casting golden rays across the clearing, Flux sat down beside the half-built home and let out a long breath.
"Alright then, let's continue."
Flux kept working as the sky darkened, but the growing night didn't bother him.
By the time he finished, the moon was already high and bright above them.
Flux stepped back and gazed at the completed house, the rabbit by his side.
It was a simple structure—not too big, but spacious enough to live comfortably.
Flux turned to the rabbit. "It's finished. What do you think?"
The rabbit nodded vigorously. "Piii! Pii! Pii!"
"It's nice, right?"
He stretched his arms. "Now for the finishing touch—I should make a protection array around here, just to be safe."
He spent another hour laying down a basic defensive array around the perimeter.
When he was done, he called out, "It's done now. Come inside—we'll stay here from now on."
The rabbit nodded and trotted inside, looking around curiously.
It was still empty, but clean and quiet.
Flux followed her in and looked around with a small smile. "Feels good to have a proper home… You can stay here too, if you'd like."
"Pii pii pii!"
Flux smiled warmly. He paused, then glanced down at her. "You know… I can't keep calling you 'little one' forever."
The rabbit perked up.
"How about I give you a name?"
She stared at him, surprised—and then nodded excitedly. "Pii! Pii! Pii!"
Flux rubbed his chin. "Let me think…"
He studied her snowy white fur and red eyes thoughtfully.
"Hm… how about Silva? What do you think?"
The rabbit blinked, then grinned wide and bounced in place. "Pii! Pii! Pii!"
Flux laughed. "You like it, huh? Alright then—from now on, I'll call you Silva."