Chapter 117: Lodging and kitchen (1/2)

A breakthrough came in the night. Barely three days after Layn's return from the monster-producing site, he finally figured out how to properly use the crystal he brought back.

”Are you for real?” Irea asked while looking at the makeshift blueprint. It was made on a special sandboard, where one could draw symbols and lines with a single move of one's fingers.

A bunch of maquettes of a varied kind was placed on it, showcasing the true scope of Layn's ambitions.

”Yeah. This is how our academy will look like in the beginning,” Layn said while nodding his head. ”But don't take it too seriously for now. When I mean a study hall, picture a small shed with some desks and seats, not some grandiose building,” Layn added after a few moments.

”That I understand, but,” Irea moaned in protest. She then shook her head before clasping her hands into fists. ”Nevermind, let's do it,” the girl announced, raising her eyes at the archmage. ”What do we begin with?” she asked.

”Like everywhere else, we need to kickstart the economy first,” Layn announced with a weird look on his face. ”As dramatic as it sounds, we can't build without bricks or mortar. We can't live for long without a stable and abundant source of food.” Layn started to count on his fingers, only to reach his second one and stop altogether.

”Why bother drawing the entire thing right away, then?” Irea asked while leaning her head to the side.

”To visualize. If we know where everything needs to go in advance, we won't run into problems with space later,” Layn explained while his lips formed a wry smile. 'I learned that more than well enough back at the camps,' he thought, recalling some of his academy memories.

What Layn was doing in this deserted place was no different from one of the popular exercises at the academy. The official claim said that it was all for the sake of teaching students how to survive.

But those who had any brains understood its real purpose. This training was specifically aimed to prepare the students for life in the field.

'Who could've known that I would actually use those skills,' Layn snickered, looking down at the plan at the table below.

From the placement of the tents, through setting up road layout, saving enough space for the growth of the buildings that would come along with the expansion of the sect... Those were all tasks that Layn happily took on himself.

Because when planning for the future, he could catch a glimpse of how this future would look like.

”Let's not waste our time, then,” Irea suddenly shouted, most likely noticing how Layn fell into the river of his thoughts. Once immersed in his own mind, the archmage could take a long time to wake up.

”Yeah, let's go.” Layn shook his head before moving away from the table.

The entire thing was hidden within one of the tents. No different from the temporary lodging of the others, this particular tent served as the headquarters of the whole operation.

And right around it, everyone was as busy as a human being could be.

Three of the mercenaries tirelessly worked at the primitive brick factory. Just two days of working there allowed them to take care of the production with as little as three people while keeping the output unaffected.

Two more mercenaries spent half of their day fishing while the other half on gathering what little herbs, fruits, and roots this endless plain had to offer.

Everyone else, Layn and Irea included, worked on the construction.

”Everyone, you all should know what we are going to build today,” Layn spoke out as soon as he appeared in front of the other builders.

”Yes, master!” The group, heralded by Irea and Antion, replied in an orderly fashion.

Their response was disciplined and organized, but there were hints of genuine joy in their voices.

Because they were about to build the two most important buildings of any camp.

Lodging and kitchen.

”Let's do it then!” Layn shouted, raising his fist.

”URAAA!” the mercenaries shouted back before rushing to their tasks.

”Hey, are you really sure about that kitchen idea?” Layn caught Irea's hand before she could run off to haul bricks.