Construction Mage - Chapter 31: Morning Hours

Bonus Chapter!

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With a new member in tow, it didn’t even take a week for Clay to get used to the new normal, and it was great. Having an extra set of hands dedicated to carrying things not only made it easier for him but also increased the profitability.

The agreed split was nine to one, while the amount of loot from each run more than doubled. That was because Malik didn’t have to be worried about being too over-encumbered to fight, as he didn’t have to at all. At worst, he would just have to drop his bags and flee, but there was no need for that against measly Feral Kobolds.

Clay was also no longer a rookie, having vanquished hundreds of oversized critters. The chance of them running into a sticky situation was almost zero as long as they didn’t fall prey to any traps.

The only complaint Malik could have was that they didn’t delve enough. Clay had been adamant about sticking to just one run each morning before stopping. He had just thought his mentor had other obligations to attend to, but it didn’t take long to learn he simply returned home and stayed there.

At first, Malik celebrated the fact that he only had to work for a few hours a day, but it quickly became boring. He felt like there was so much wasted potential, and his progress stagnated, but there wasn’t anything he could do. He wasn’t dumb enough to try venturing into the dungeon alone. 

Walking around the Delver area aimlessly after a morning delve, he suddenly slapped himself on both cheeks.

“Watching other Delvers isn’t helping! I need to do something!”

To the befuddlement of the passersby, he stormed off to confront his employer. He didn’t even hesitate to step out of the safety of the third ring, despite having been drilled countless times about how dangerous that was.

With only a few buildings in the wide open space, Malik easily found Clay’s home. He stepped forward with gusto, about to knock on the door, when he noticed the towering man had yet to install one. In its place was a thick door curtain that made use of the same canopy he had once seen covering the pile of earthen bricks. Malik sighed before finding his voice.

“Sir! Are you there?”

Some shuffling could be heard inside, and soon, a head peeked out.

“Malik? Did you forget something?”

“No, I wanted to see if you would like to go into the dungeon again today. I think I’ve gotten quite used to it. There should be no problem doing a second expedition.”

“Umm, I’ll have to decline. I’m a little busy with something.”

“Can’t it wait for a few hours, sir? It’d barely take us an hour if we’re lucky. We have the potential to double our earnings!”

“Sorry, but to be honest with you, I have no intention of spending the entire day in the dungeon. I only plan to work in the mornings. You should take the afternoon to relax and have fun. You’re still young.”

“There’s no need for that! I want to become a fully qualified Delver as soon as possible!”

Seeing how adamant the young man was, Clay scratched his cheek as he pondered how to deal with the impatience of youth. He never considered being a parent, so he wasn’t prepared for how to deal with a teenager who was too eager to grow up. All the ones he normally interacted with were already ahead of the curve, as they were already working a part-time job at his store. Following that line of thought, an idea popped into his mind.

“Why don’t you spend the afternoon running errands within the Delver enclosure again? You’ve been doing that already before you met me, right? You just have to approach it correctly. Ask questions and really speak with the Delvers you come across. I’m sure you’ll be able to learn a lot more that way.”

“But it’d just be for odd errands. If that were to be the case, why don’t I just tag along with you? You must be training or something, right?”

“Sorry to disappoint you, but I wouldn’t try to emulate what I do. I don’t exactly have the mentality of a typical Delver. You know what, rather than explaining it, just come in and take a look. Then you’ll understand.”

Though confused, Malik still complied and followed his employer into his abode. The place was exactly the same as he had left it after helping set up some basic furniture. The entrance was a wide opening living room, with only a bundle a hay that was used as a seat instead of a proper chair. The room on the right end of the house had a simple wooden bed frame with the same hay stuffing covered by some rough linen.

The only other room in the house was what Clay referred to as the toilet, where the strange indoor privy was. This was the room Malik was led to.

“What do you want me to see? Don’t tell me you took up the cook class and set up a kitchen in here or something?”

“Close, but no.” Clay ruefully shook his head as he gestured toward the other side of the privy. “You’re right that I’m trying to improve my living conditions, but I’m working on the toilet first.”

Malik walked around the privy to find a hole being dug behind it. It stretched under the exterior walls of the house, going outside.

“Wasn’t this toilet of yours already complete? What is this?”

As if waiting for the question to be asked, Clay proudly explained.

“I got tired of having to empty the bucket every time nature calls. That is especially so when it’s raining or in the dead of night, so I’m building a drainage of sorts so the waste can pool in a barrel outside the house, where it won’t stink up the place. It’ll work perfectly with my plans to build a shower—err, a bath, as well.”

“A bath? Like the ones nobles have? But you don’t have any servants, sir. Will you be filling it up yourself?”

“That’s where the wonders of magic come in. Do you happen to know how the water fountains outside the churches work?”

“Father Thigar has taught us about how the grand fountain in the capital had been built. It took over ten years, with dozens of architects carefully directing the flow of river from somewhere very far away, upstream.”

“That is how you would have to do it back then, but we have magic nowadays. Most fountains now have a much simpler solution. They just need magic crystals that have been processed by a Delver with the Jeweler profession. You should’ve seen them all around the marketplace, right? I learned that there is a recipe that can make the crystals generate specific elements.”

“Aren’t they really expensive, though?” Malik argued. He had only heard of nobles using magic crystals to light up their estates, so it sounded extravagant to use such precious resources for water, especially for matters related to relieving oneself.

“I have a magic crystal right here, so I just have to find someone with the right profession and recipes, willing to work for cheap. Who knows? Maybe I can trade my idea for their work. I would appreciate it if you kept an eye out for someone meeting those requirements while you take on jobs in the Delver area.”

Malik reluctantly nodded along and quickly found himself thrust out of the house. He didn’t bother dwelling on it for too long, as his mentor was likely right about one thing. He could learn a lot from other Delvers if he put in the effort to talk to them. Previously, he had been too focused on making money, not wanting to be a bother to his clients, but now that he made decent money from delving already, there was no need to worry.

The trick was narrowing down what he could possibly learn and how he should approach the people in question for that information. He contemplated how to do so as he made his way back to the second ring. 

***

Inside the first ring of Ravenhold, there were many resplendent manors with metal gates and large gardens that were masterfully shaped into works of art. The streets were finely paved with cobblestone, and many fine steeds pulled along luxurious carriages through the streets.

One such carriage pulled into one of the more impressive estates. In fact, even by the high standards of the local nobility, the vehicle was still a level higher in terms of lavishness, causing the guards on duty to hurriedly pull the gates open for it. The carriage then made its way through the carefully maintained yard until it reached a grand fountain with a three-story mansion in the backdrop.

The visitor stayed in the carriage until a butler, accompanied by a few maids, came out to greet them.

“Welcome, Lord Rainmere. Our lord is waiting for you in his study,” the butler with shoulder-length brown hair, who looked to be in his late twenties, said as he kept his head low.

“Lead the way!”

“Of course, please, this way.”

The group briskly walked through the mansion, not sparing a glance at the artwork or stained glass windows lined along the way. The study was on the first floor, so it didn’t take long before they arrived.

“My lord, Lord Rainmere is here to see you,” the butler announced after a soft knock.

“See him in,” a gruff voice called out from within.

Holding the door open for the young nobleman, the servant swiftly closed the door after him, leaving the guest alone with the lord of the estate. The middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair had an aura of authority that made one conscious of their posture. He gave the young man a nod of acknowledgement as he adjusted the monocle he wore on his left eye before returning to the documents before him.

“Lord Rainmere, apologies for the unseemly display, but it’s been busy recently with the new materials my knights have discovered within the dungeon’s depths. With all the great lords sending people here, I can’t afford to delay my work.”

“Of course, Count Talon. There is no need to delay anything on my account. I can wait.”

“No, I don’t dare waste your time like that. We can talk while I work. It’s a learned skill I’m quite proud of.”

“If you insist, then, milord. I’m here to report to you about an upcoming visit from the third prince. It seems like his wandering has brought him to Ravenhold this time.”

The news caused the count’s hand to momentarily freeze before he resumed writing, as if nothing had happened.

“I see. Thank you for telling me. I’ll be sure to increase security and make our city as presentable as possible.”

“Yes, I recommend finishing the south gate as soon as possible and ensuring nothing along the path to your estate draws the prince’s attention. I’m sure you understand why,” Lord Rainmere said with a meaningful look.

“Yes, the third prince’s penchant for investigating new things is well known throughout the Solkin Kingdom. His infamy for stirring up trouble is well known. I’ll be sure to have the guards do a thorough sweep.”

“Perfect. I won’t bother you any longer, then. I must go make my own preparations to welcome the prince.”

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