This morning was like any other in the new normality. I woke up, looking out the window before making my way to Nymira, healing her, checking on her condition, and spending some time decoding her curse. Progress was swift, and in no time she'd be free to go back to work in the arena if she so wished.
After my morning routine was completed, I made my way to the fountain. I actually wanted to try something new.
On one of my walks around town, I'd pondered the idea of a garden, but that wasn't possible without an abundance of water.
My idea was to fill the open space around the building with a sandstone wall and a platform within it, holding a grand garden that would spill out above the wall. In my head, I imagined inside the garden, tables for the tavern sat on a sandstone platform surrounded by a stream that would lead all the way around it, keeping the plants hydrated, my own little oasis.
Once I reached the fountain, I dunked my hand into the water, cupping it in my palm and splashing it back out.
How could I create water, I wondered. Maybe I could find a creature that would aid, but a creature such as this wasn't available in the desert. And if there was one for sale, it would surely be worth a huge price.
Water mages were highly regarded in town, but they could not comfortably afford everyone an abundance of water. I myself am most versed in earth magic, meaning my sandstone walls were no problem, but water magic, well, that's difficult for me. I can do it, but only produce a cup of water or two a day.
I decided to research this dilemma within the books I'd recently acquired. Ancient tomes, apparently, someone had found in old ruins in the city.
Back at the shop, while I read, I hadn't noticed that a man had slid into the shop. He scoured the wares intently, eventually coming upon red snake leather pelts formed into a wider reel for easy use.
Eventually, I sneezed, breaking my concentration. I looked up, almost falling out of my seat in shock at the presence of a customer. Luckily, he wasn't waiting on me. He had only just grabbed the reel, placing it before me and taking a long, hard black case from his back.
"Welcome. I see you've already picked out what you like. Can I interest you in anything else?" I persuaded, looking at the man who stood before me.
Perhaps in my past, my ability to identify people hasn't been the best, but in this case, it seemed clear that he was a dwarf, likely mixed with a beastman of sorts. He was short and muscular, with fur covering the upper half of his face and the back of his fist stretched up to the brown sleeve of his shirt.
"I'd like this leather to make fireproof clothing for when I metalwork. I would love to know if you know anywhere I can get this made," he said, his voice coarse and gravelly.
I did know where he could get one made, in fact, it's one of the jobs Nymira has picked up. It's something she can do while resting, so she's been patching up and creating garments for us.
"Certainly," I explained. "We can do that in-house. If you come back in a day or two, we'll have that made for you."
The man was surprised at the range of services we now offered but nodded in agreement before opening the black container now placed on the counter before me. Inside were his wares.
"Now, I can't offer you much in the way of coins, but I do have some weapons I'd like to trade," he petitioned. "Some of these swords, I must tell you, are scrap that had to be remade to meet the client's demands. Such as this sword—a noble requested it with the intention that it would catch alight in the heat of combat. Unfortunately, the fire gemstone I used wasn't the highest quality and seemed to contain small fragments of earth mana pockets within it."
There were around eight swords. He hadn't exactly sold his pitch, but the sword that created steam did interest me—an unusual item indeed, one I believed I could use.
My face showed no restraint at the offer, showing my clear interest in his wares.
The deal was practically made before I had even opened my mouth, except I had one condition.
I would like to build better ties with the blacksmith, as I severely needed one within the city.
"I accept on the condition you allow me to invite you to join me and a friend for a drink," I said, a smile plastered across my face.
I had to tell him a friend would join us, or he may get the wrong idea.
"Well, certainly. That sounds great, a strange request but a welcome one," he bellowed, chuckling as he leaned over the counter to match my stance, throwing his arm around my shoulder.
"I'll be back in a few hours then. The first round is on me."
After the man left, I put the rest of the swords to the side for later inspection, shifting my focus to the main blade.
It was a broadsword (a fine one at that) with the gemstone embedded in the hilt.
I ran my hands along the blade, finding them on the gemstone. Closing my eyes, I infused my fingertips with mana and coursed them into the gem.
The blade lit up. I panicked, thinking it may catch fire. I definitely should've done this outside. Before reaching the point of bursting into flame, though, steam started pouring off the blade, making the shop into a makeshift sauna. Quickly, I rushed outside.
"Perfect," I whispered, my eyes wide with glee.
Outside, I placed my hands to the ground and began to cast. Sandstone walls began to shift up from the ground, connecting to the wooden supports of the building, resting alongside them.
A perimeter had been set for my future garden.
My tavern, shop, and inn now expanded its borders to meet up with neighbouring buildings.
Along the side of the original building a door stood, at the bottom of the stairs leading from the upstairs accommodation down to the outside and a short hallway to the bar.
To the left of the door, I began forming a room attached to the outside of the building. Benches made of sandstone lined the walls of the room.
At the back of the room, I formed a box on the wall, placing the sword inside and activating it.
Steam plumed up, filling the room and making breathing difficult. Quickly, I formed a funnel on the roof leading in a U-shaped bend back out to my newly formed perimeter.
Walking outside to inspect the constructed building and the end of the tube coming from the ceiling, steam condensed, forming a steady trickle of water. I formed a large basin beneath it.
I dipped my fingers into the water pooling up at the bottom. The temperature would make a perfect outdoor bath, so I decided to leave the pool where it was, endeavouring to continue my construction.
From the basin, I created a small stream winding around a section of the inside ground of the walls.
Along the walls, I began to create pillars every couple of metres before placing a roof on it that left an open courtyard surrounded by a small stream. Along the walls, islands of sand and dirt began being saturated by the stream.
Doughy (likely hearing the tremendous sound I was creating) rushed out to our newly formed courtyard in sheer shock.
"What the fuck, dude," Doughy exclaimed.
I let the words linger in the air a moment while he soaked in the sight around him.
"This is very cool, but you should probably have informed the neighbours prior to this," his words rang true in hindsight, but I was still very proud of my creation.
Before heading out into town through a small gateway I'd built into the wall, I asked him to furnish our new space and inform Nymira I'd like her to grow an extravagant garden while I was out. His face grew concerned.
"I'm not sure she can do that right now. Her mana is still in recovery," Doughy admitted.
"If you could provide her a mana potion from my shop, ask her to just try her best," with that response, I was off.
Walking the streets, I headed for the local guild a spot I heard was frequented by Charles. He'd become something of a local legend for his experience and expertise in battle while still retaining the gift of youth.
Entering through a large dark wooden door, I was greeted by a grand hall with branded tapestry lining the walls.
Long tables lined the halls, full of adventurers.
At the end of one of the tables, Charles sat, conversing with a large group enthralled in the valiance of Charles's words.
"Charles," I called out.
Met with a look of surprise and then joy, he jumped up from the table, running over to greet me. He threw his arms around me in a moment of informality, his armoured chest hitting me in the face, leaving me in a daze.
Whenever I've seen Charles since the day we met in the shop, his height as a human hasn't yet not shocked me.
I myself am a gnome, a rare race among the town. We tend to keep to ourselves. We are, of course, short, but we also have a long lifespan, a lifespan im only about a quarter of the way through, but to other races being 126 is definitely no infant.
"Charles I was hoping you'd come for a drink with me a new friend I met at the shop today," I petitioned a warm smile firmly on my face.
"Certainly I'm indebted to you," Charles replied.
"Your definitely aren't Charles, your recommendations led me to meeting miss Nymira, who's been working in my shop, she's tending to my garden now in fact."
Charles grew embarrassed placing his hand on the back of his head his eyes losing contact with mine, "well you know, I was just very pleased with the comb. Never in my life did a believe I'd get a second chance to do it all again."
I began my exit through the door from whence I came, Charles rushed to catch up.
"Wait did you say garden?"