Chương 60: Settlement Accelerant

Even with his eyes closed, Orion could see everything currently related to Sevrin Dhal. The perspective was very strange to him. It was not his own sight, but instead like watching the world through a window that happened to exist somewhere else. A small room in the Waystation filled his awareness. Sevrin sat beside the bed with several sheets of parchment unfurled in front of him. He was writing; exactly as promised. The image sharpened as Orion focused harder.

Sevrin's hand moved steadily across the parchment, every line precise and compact. Orion tried to make out the words, but the writing meant absolutely nothing to him. They were characters unlike anything used in Bellhaven. Orion frowned - of course Sevrin wrote reports in Velkaryn's native language. The man had agreed to wear magical surveillance and somehow still found a way to be irritating. Sound came through too - sort of. Small scratches here and there, and a muffled movement as Sevrin adjusted his chair.

The Dragoneye Scout transmitted noise like Orion had plunged his head underwater. He could tell whether a room was quiet or chaotic, and he could probably recognize a scream. But for actual words? Useless. At least Sevrin was doing exactly what he had said he would. No sneaking through Drakehaven, no hidden weapons, and no unexplained midnight meetings. For tonight, that was enough. Orion opened his eyes, and firelight replaced the Waystation.

The communal dinner had ended some time ago, but the fire had been allowed to burn low rather than extinguished entirely. Roy sat across from Orion with a cup balanced between both hands, while Aurelia occupied the bench beside him. Talia had taken another seat and turned it backward so she could rest her arms across the back. Kaelu and Kiana remained nearby, while Rowan had stretched himself out closer to the fire. Aegis sat on the ground rather than use furniture. Garrick was the one notable absence.

He had remained in Bellhaven that evening rather than making another trip. Roy looked toward Orion.

"Well?"

"He's writing." Talia leaned forward.

"The report?"

"Probably. I can't read it."

"Why not?" Orion stared at her.

"Because I don't read Velkaryn."

"Oh," Talia considered.

"Could you learn?"

"Not tonight." Roy's attention sharpened.

"But you can actually see that much?"

"Yes." Orion held out one hand, and Golden Weave flickered. This skill produced no giant walls or armor soldiers - just a tiny curl of light above his palm. It twisted and lengthened before sprouting wings, and before long a miniature winged serpent appeared above his palm. Its body was scarcely larger than a songbird, though its tail made it look longer. Talia immediately smiled.

"That is significantly cuter than your soldiers." The Dragoneye Scout chirped, but Orion ignored it and looked at Roy.

"Hold out your hand." Roy did. The Scout fluttered across the fire and landed on Roy's wrist before coiling. Its long body settled comfortably against his skin like a living bracelet, its tiny wings folded along its back. Roy stared.

"This is unsettling."

"You'll get used to it."

"Why am I getting used to it?"

"Because that one's yours."

"I thought you were watching Sevrin." Orion closed his eyes briefly. For an instant, Sevrin returned as he continued to write.

"One Scout is with him." Aurelia frowned.

"You put one in his room?"

"He agreed to keep it with him. I made it part of the arrangement after Roy and I spoke with him." That eased her expression somewhat, but Talia still stared.

"He agreed to wear a spy?"

"Scout."

"That's definitely a spy." Roy turned his wrist, watching as the little creature shifted with him.

"How many of these can you summon?"

"The description says three. Also, before you ask, I know very little else." Roy sighed.

"I was about to ask several more questions."

"I know." Roy looked back at the Scout.

"And this one is for...?"

"When you return to the road." Roy stopped.

"When I return? You're not coming?" Orion shook his head.

"I don't think I can." That got everyone's attention fairly quickly. Roy's expression quickly became a frown.

"Sevrin just walked into Drakehaven," Orion gestured toward the Waystation in the distance.

"I need to know what he does."

"Aegis can watch him." Aegis looked over.

"It's true." Orion shook his head.

"But I made the call to let him stay. If that goes wrong, I don't want to be ten miles away because I decided the road needed me more." Roy studied him.

"And the road?" Orion pointed at the Scout wrapped around Roy.

"That is part of what I want to test." Roy looked down; understanding came soon after.

"Oh." Orion leaned back.

"If I can keep a Scout with the road crew and still see through it from Drakehaven, then I don't need to physically stand there every day." Talia grinned.

"You're becoming responsible." Roy's expression had become thoughtful. He turned the tiny Scout over gently, which it protested with a chirp.

"All right," Roy nodded.

"We will test it tomorrow." The fire cracked. For a moment, everyone was quiet. It lasted long enough for people to reflect briefly on the new information, but only just.

"So," Talia pointed toward Roy.

"What happened with our Velkaryn spy?" Roy sighed; Talia had not been present for most of the conversation. She and Roy had arrived from Bellhaven on Zephyr earlier that afternoon with Elias an additional passenger. Getting a man who could not use his legs securely onto a Gale Drake had required substantially more than any of them had expected. By the time they arrived, Sevrin had already been established at the Waystation.

Initial introductions had been brief, then Talia had been sent away with Elias while Roy and Orion dealt with Velkaryn's Arbiter. She was clearly still offended about it.

"You told me you'd explain afterward," she said.

"I will," Roy glanced toward Kaelu.

"Before that, though." Kaelu returned his gaze.

"What?"

"Elias." Kaelu folded his arms.

"I saw him briefly. I'll admit, I'm surprised you picked someone who can't walk for an underground masonry project. Do I have to ask why?"

"I have a plan."

"Of course you do." Roy leaned sideways and picked up a smaller piece of firewood. Aurelia immediately frowned.

"What are you doing?"

"Showing him." Roy pressed his hands around the wood, and Golden Weave slipped across the grain. The log compressed and twisted under the duress of his Basic Transmutation. A small frame emerged, with two larger circles formed on either side and a seat between them. By the time Roy finished, a rough miniature vehicle sat between his hands. Kaelu stared.

"What is that?"

"A chair."

"It has wheels."

"Yes."

"So... a cart?" Roy handed it to Kaelu, who turned the model in his hands. The design was primitive and heavy, using more wood than Roy would ideally use in a finished version. The concept was clear enough, though. A stable seat with large wheels so Elias could potentially turn himself. There were smaller supports for balance, handles at the back if someone needed to assist him, and foot supports low along the front. Kaelu's expression shifted as he rotated a wheel.

"We'd need proper hubs."

"Yes."

"It will need metal banding… and the seat needs to be lower."

"Why?"

"Stability." Roy considered.

"Fair."

"Other than that, I can fix the other terrible parts." Roy leaned back, accepting that was the closest thing to agreement he would likely get.

"Elias is spending tomorrow and probably the next day studying the basin plans and reviewing the area with me. That means he doesn't need full site mobility immediately. If we can get something functional together—" Kaelu looked down at the miniature chair.

"I can try."

"Good." Aurelia was examining the design from beside him.

"Padding." Kaelu sighed.

"Of course." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"And something to keep pressure off his hips if he's sitting all day." Kaelu looked toward her.

"I have not even built it yet."

"I'm helping." Roy smiled, prompting Kaelu to point at him.

"Do not encourage her." Talia waved one hand.

"Wonderful. Elias gets a rolling chair. How about Sevrin?" Roy's amusement faded.

"Nothing you didn't already know." Her face fell.

"That is incredibly disappointing."

"He intends to observe, report, and wrk enough to earn his meals." Talia stared at him.

"You disappeared into a room with him for that?"

"There were other details."

"What details?" Roy looked toward Orion, who simply shrugged.

"He agreed to teach you." Silence. Talia blinked.

"What did you just say?"

"Sevrin is going to teach you."

"No."

"Yes."

"You assigned me homework with the enemy."

"Diplomacy."

"He's from Velkaryn!"

"Which makes him significantly more qualified than any of us." Talia stared.

"Did you ask me?"

"You would have said no."

"I am currently saying no."

"And yet the arrangement is already made." Talia stood.

"You cannot just assign me a dark elf." Aegis looked between them with visible interest as Talia pointed toward the Waystation.

"He could lie about everything." Roy nodded.

"Yes." That stopped her.

"Yes?"

"Relevant Detail." Talia's mouth closed, which Roy took as an immediate sign to continue.

"Sevrin knows Orion has surveillance abilities. He knows Aegis can watch him. Most obviously, he knows we're suspicious… He does not know your Class repeatedly points out information that matters." Talia's irritation began changing shape.

"So when he teaches you?" Talia slowly sat back down.

"You want me watching what he emphasizes and what doesn't line up."

"Yes." Talia's eyes narrowed.

"He thinks he's training me."

"He is training you," Roy held up one finger.

"Do not waste the opportunity because you think you're playing some clever game." Her expression flattened.

"He is a Third Seal Arbiter from a larger city who works professionally between political interests. He knows settlements we've never heard of, as well as regional history. He probably knows negotiation customs you don't even know exist." A tiny smile appeared on Talia's face.

"And while learning..." Roy sighed.

"Yes."

"Counterespionage."

"I regret giving you the word."

"I love the word."

"I know." Talia leaned back, visibly more pleased with the arrangement now. It lasted a whole of ten seconds before her expression shifted.

"Clover and Spark." Roy frowned.

"What?"

"If I'm here attached to Sevrin all day, who supervises them in Bellhaven?" Orion answered.

"I may have an idea, but I'll need to check."

"Where?"

"Bellhaven." Roy looked at him.

"We have another day before the road crew returns. Why are you going to Bellhaven?" Orion stared.

"We have a Velkaryn Arbiter living in our settlement." Roy sighed. Right.

"We can't hide that from Bellhaven." Aurelia nodded immediately.

"Definitely not."

"They find out later," Orion continued, "and suddenly it looks like we're having private conversations with the city that burned half their town."

"Yes," Aurelia said.

"Velara needs to know."

"Edric too."

"Probably the council." Roy sighed again.

"And while we're there…" Orion looked toward the fire.

"I want to ask about Velara." Talia frowned.

"What about her?"

"Sevrin knows how she became Reeve, and implied it might not have been the most diplomatic of events." Roy's expression tightened.

"And he wouldn't tell us, I presume?" Talia looked between them.

"Why does that matter?" Orion stared into the fire.

"I don't necessarily think it means anything bad, but he wanted us to notice that we didn't know." Roy rubbed his face.

"You're going to ask Velara directly."

"Maybe." Roy pointed at him.

"This is why I'm going." Orion looked offended.

"What?"

"To keep you from destroying our relationship with our only major ally because an enemy envoy asked one interesting question."

"I can talk to people." Talia laughed. Orion immediately glared in her direction. Roy looked at her.

"You are not helping."

"I wasn't trying to." Despite the jab, the tension began to ease a bit. Nobody said it out loud, but it was clear everyone felt they had enough politics for one night. Roy looked around the fire.

"What is everyone doing for the next few weeks?" Orion raised an eyebrow.

"That sounds suspiciously like an assignment."

"It isn't," Roy shook his head.

"I've been gone most of the month. I want everyone saying what they're actually working on instead of me discovering halfway through that three projects need the same person." Kaelu nodded.

"That would be helpful." Roy pointed toward him.

"Then you first." Kaelu sighed.

"Warehouse addition while Elias takes over enough of the basin work." Roy nodded.

"After that?" Kaelu looked toward Aurelia.

"Healing house." Aurelia blinked.

"Already?" Roy looked toward her.

"Why not?"

"I didn't know it was next."

"It should be," he glanced toward the Waystation.

"We need it, first and foremost. Secondly, if Sevrin is watching what we build, I'd rather his first report describe a healing house than a barracks." Orion smiled.

"So propaganda."

"No," Roy frowned.

"We legitimately need the building. Finishing something useful that also demonstrates peaceful intent is not propaganda." Talia tilted her head.

"That sounds exactly like something Sevrin is going to teach me." Roy ignored her, but Aurelia looked pleased nonetheless.

"All right," Roy moved on.

"Kiana?"

"Fields. The first harvest is close. Without Nimbus, Aurelia and I keep watering by hand."

"And when Nimbus returns?"

"Expansion, potentially." Simple; Roy liked simple.

"Rowan?" The young man sat up.

"Whatever Kaelu tells me." Kaelu nodded.

"Accurate."

"Anything else?" Rowan shrugged.

"I'll keep training when I can."

"Good." Roy looked toward Talia, who let out a sigh.

"Apparently I belong to Sevrin now."

"You do not belong to Sevrin."

"Attached at the hip?"

"Yes."

"That sounds worse."

"Learn everything you can." Talia looked toward the Waystation.

"I will." There was genuine excitement underneath the complaint now.

"Aegis?" Aegis looked offended.

"I am supervising the spy." Orion nodded.

"If Sevrin is moving around Drakehaven, I want someone with him." Aegis smiled.

"With pleasure." Roy turned toward Orion.

"You're here."

"For now."

"And tomorrow Bellhaven… Then back here."

"If the Scouts work at range." Roy glanced toward the one still wrapped around his wrist.

"And if they don't?" Orion sighed.

"We figure something else out." Finally, Roy looked toward himself.

"Tomorrow morning, Shale and I will start the basin excavation. Elias observes, but he won't direct anything permanent until he's reviewed everything. After that, Shale and Nimbus head back to the road." Orion looked toward him.

"And you."

"Yes." That covered the major pieces. No argument, no competing demands, and no one saying Roy had forgotten something catastrophic. For perhaps the first time, Drakehaven's immediate future sounded less like a collection of emergencies and more like people doing their jobs. Conversation loosened after that. Kiana and Aurelia began talking quietly about something involving the fields.

Talia attempted to interrogate Orion about how many Scale Soldiers he could summon and became frustrated when every answer was I don't know yet. Aegis tried to convince Rowan that Sevrin would be easier to supervise from the roof. Kaelu inspected the miniature wheeled chair again. Roy sat quietly, handing Aurelia another log so she could enchant it with Kindle's Heart and add it to the fire. Recently, he had noted that he couldn't supervise everything, and now he felt like that was coming to fruition.

Kiana did not require instructions on how to grow food. Kaelu did not need Roy designing Aurelia's clinic for him. Orion had independently decided how to divide his attention between Drakehaven and the road. Roy had spent so long thinking that being the Architect meant solving the settlement. Tonight, he had mostly asked questions, and everyone else had supplied the solutions. Golden light appeared in front of him. [Coordination Completed] [Architect now oversees more than construction] Roy stared.

"That feels insulting." Aurelia looked toward him.

"What?"

"Nothing." The message changed. [Schematic Unlocked: Coordinator's Obelisk] Roy stopped breathing; then another line. [Classification: Settlement Accelerant] His annoyance vanished. An empty progress indicator appeared beneath it. No description, no explanation, and just one material requirement. Tidestone. A great deal of Tidestone. ─── 🐲🐲 ───"There you are." Roy did not turn around. Dawn had barely reached Drakehaven as gold light crept through the treeline.

Birds had only recently begun making enough noise to become irritating, and Roy stood behind the cottage staring at something that did not exist. Orion walked toward him.

"You didn't sleep."

"You have no proof."

"Aurelia is going to kill you."

"She has healing abilities now."

"That just means she can hurt you and fix it afterward." Roy finally looked over.

"That doesn't sound like Aurelia."

"You're the one who keeps staying up all night."

"I had work."

"What work?" Roy gestured ahead.

"This." Orion followed the motion, then stopped. A golden outline towered over the ground roughly three full stories. It was an obelisk - narrow at the top, and broad at the base. Constructive Tapestry-style lines showed internal channels, layered sections, and inset structures. The entire thing shimmered like an unfinished blueprint drawn directly onto the morning air. Orion slowly approached.

"What is that?"

"Coordinator's Obelisk."

"That explains nothing."

"I know." Orion looked up. The outline towered over them.

"What does it do?"

"Settlement Accelerant."

"That means even less."

"It means something to the System." Orion rubbed his face while Roy pulled up the schematic. [Coordinator's Obelisk] [Classification: Settlement Accelerant] [Construction Progress: 0%.] [Primary Material Requirement: Tidestone] [Additional schematic information will become available as construction progresses] Orion read it, then read it again.

"It wants you to start building before it tells you what you're building. That seems stupid."

"Yes,"Roy smiled.

"So I'm doing it." Orion stared.

"Of course you are."

"The Weave hasn't led us completely wrong yet."

"It gave us five mystery eggs."

"One became Therma."

"It almost got us killed with a dragon."

"We got Aegis later, though." Orion closed his eyes.

"I hate that these are answers." Roy looked back toward the holographic structure.

"The problem is Tidestone."

"How much?"

"I don't have the final quantity yet."

"Because it won't tell you?"

"Because construction hasn't started." Orion laughed once.

"So you have an unknown quantity of a material for an unknown building with an unknown function." Orion stared at him, but Roy shrugged it off.

"This is basically what we've been doing the entire time." Orion considered.

"That is unfortunately true." Roy pointed toward the southern portion of the settlement.

"Initial Tidestone supply stays with the basin. Once we've got enough coming in consistently, I start diverting some here." Orion looked up again.

"The stone takes time to quarry, so this isn't immediate."

"No."

"That might save you from yourself." Roy ignored him. Orion walked around the holographic base.

"I can watch it." Roy frowned.

"What?"

"While you're gone." Roy looked toward him with a smile.

"Assuming your test goes well?" Orion frowned.

"Why'd you say it like that?"

"You're taking after me." Orion's expression flattened.

"No."

"Remote systems. Delegated protection. You're even using the System's tools instead of personally doing everything."

"Shove off." Roy laughed while Orion started toward the front of the cottage. Zephyr waited somewhere beyond the buildings. They still needed to reach Bellhaven. They need to talk to the council about Velkaryn's Arbiter, and figure out supervision for Spark and Clover. There were also the uncomfortable questions about how Bellhaven's government actually worked. All of that needed achieving without turning any of those things into a diplomatic disaster.