Thunk!
Two men dropped a twelve-foot-tall wooden log with a width of twenty inches, sharpened at the top, into the mud trench, leaving seven feet above ground. The forests of Amol carried vast amounts of oak and white pine.
Normally, a width of between ten and twelve inches would be enough, but facing orcs and evolved goblins with greater strength needed better plans.
So Luka increased the length and width by 50%.
'Thank god Vaun is here...'
Luka and ten of the strongest men from Iris and the knights went into the forest, able to find the white pine trees thanks to Vaun's insight. As an elf, he could detect the size, shape and state of the wood.
"This old hunter is quite skilled."
"Yeah, maybe we should get to know him better."
Several of Iris's men began to whisper, curious about Vaun and his skills.
Though his ethnicity remained a secret, due to humans and the other races remaining in a long stalemate because of jealousy.
'Will I be able to confidently reveal his true form one day? The same can be said for her..." He watched as Iris, Brea and several of the Amol women carved the tips sharply to avoid goblins and other monsters easily climbing them.
Clack!
Clack!
Creaaaak....
Boom!
Another tree fell while slowly guided by the men holding the rope.
Luka's muscles screamed each time he pulled back to strike the tree trunk, his shoulders aching from the battle as it was.
'Being a human isn't all fun and games... but I feel so alive right now.'
Even though the subtle pain in his stomach from hunger grew each moment, this pain still felt quite refreshing after painstaking hours of chopping trees.
The distant sunlight faded over the horizon as Luka's men prepared makeshift torches with the spare wood, wrapping them with branches, cloth or leaves.
Thanks to the Skilled hunters who spent a lot of time working with the forest, each of them carving sockets every few metres along the wall for the makeshift torches to hang above their heads.
Finally, after they finished the wall facing the Amol Village, they built a makeshift gate using the goblins' leftovers to create a circular outpost with a rough diameter of 90 metres, allowing for 4,000-5,00 square metres of internal space.
This was enough to eventually reinforce the Amol Highlands with thirty small houses.
For now, they created makeshift huts using leftover leather and materials the goblins seemed to have hoarded in the short time they had conquered the Amol Highlands.
"It's not perfect, but... It's the first step."
Luka strode across the battlement with spiked logs coming to his chest, his hand brushing against the smooth yet sharp tips.
'The people are in high spirits, some doubt me still, and others are curious about how we knew what trees or items to use... One day, when they all follow me, I will tell them more, about myself... about Vaun and this world.'
Thanks to the loyalty system added to his modified Destiny System, this idea was no longer a dream for Lucifer.
"Hm?"
He paused at the main gate, which overlooked the direction of the Amol village mentioned by Iris and the towering Amol mountain range. The place where his fate and the fallen lands and goblins invaded from existed.
A flicker of golden embers brushed his cheek in the darkness.
The light dimmed completely, leaving the entire outpost bathed in a dull, torchlight.
"And in the darkness, their small village burns on this solemn eve."
Luka watched a distant billow of smoke.
The flecks of flame from the village, Iris begged him to save. His heart tightened seeing the familiar sight of a raided territory. He wouldn't reach the ones who remained in time without Gerard's arrival.
While he contemplated his plan, a warm fingertip grasped his shoulder. "What are you doing up here alone?" Galatea's familiar voice eased the tension in his muscles as he released the dagger tucked in his waist.
"I was planning for the future, Galatea."
When he turned to face her, she inquisitively examined him with furrowed brows.
A painful and awkward desire to spill everything to the beautiful maiden before him struck his chest like a dwarf's hammer.
"Oh~ what kind of future does my little lord see?" She paced around him, her steel-plated boots thumping the wooden battlement with a crisp thud. "I wonder if I am included in that grand future, those fierce eyes overlook." Her finger poked his cheek, stroking beneath his eye as she narrowed hers.
[Desire Increasing rapidly]
Lucifer never minced his words.
Even after choosing to live as Luka, he promised to never forsake his people.
And Galatea... was his.
More than anyone else here.
Luka grasped her delicate hand, covered in coarse bumps from her dedicated training, the biting cold leaving a lingering chill upon her skin.
"My, how warm your hands are, Luka."
He watched her captivating face reflected in the ember light and smiled, before suddenly tugging her close enough that her sweet breath brushed against his cheeks. The sudden act caused his Sin Energy to spike at the same rate his heart pounded.
"If you are willing to follow me, Galatea." Their fingers interlocked as if natural, squeezing tightly. "Then I will take you to the ends of this world."
Her eyes locked with his silently, with only their breathing under the twinkling stars.
Da-Da-Dan
Da-Da-Dan!
Suddenly, the low rumble of hooves echoed from the rear wall. Galatea's eyes widened as she quickly pulled away, holding her hand to her chest. "I-It seems to be coming from the village back home... we should check it out."
Galatea turned away, whispering something under her breath.
Then sped down the simple steps without waiting for his reply, her golden hair bouncing in the moonlight as their distance grew ever further apart.
'How far must you enchant me, human...'
Luka stroked the surface of his palm, his lips twisting before settling on an emotionless expression while he milled over the quiet words she whispered while gazing up at the stars, cursing Gerard for his untimely return.
"She doubts me."
He could only follow her fading back, only the crackle of torches lingering, like the fading warmth of her brief touch and the slow thump of his heart.
As if to clear his heart and mind of the sentimental mood.
The joyful roars of his men sounded from the distance, and everything was starting to fall into place for his plans.
"There cannot be any delay, tonight... yes. Tonight I shall tell her everything."
To him, Galatea was that important.
A woman, a knight, and an existence he refused to deceive.
'Even if she hates me now, I believe there will come a day when she understands.'
He glanced at the massive moons hovering above as if gazing upon him. One emerald green and the other sapphire blue, so large they seemed close enough to touch.
"Or so I pray."