Chapter 314 - New Companions Resolve (1/2)
The closer we got to the shore, the stranger the situation became.
My passengers obviously didn't except for us to travel to this exact island, thus when we passed the halfway mark of our journey, their peddling started to slow down, to the point where I was actually the only one providing forward momentum to our boat when we neared the sandy shore.
Maybe it was the taboo they were scared off, maybe the fact that there was no distinguishable line between the sands of the beach and the dust of the desolate land, but something about this island made them just give up any hopes of surviving!
While it made me quite annoyed since I had to do all the work myself now, it was more of superfluous feeling, since from the very beginning I was the one actually doing to most work!
Whatever was the cause behind those men, strange behaviour, it lost its all influence over them as soon as we reached the shallow waters and jumped off the boat to carry it on to the shore.
At this point, it was impossible for them to not notice the peculiar situation on the island nor the presence of my magnificent but kind of plain tower.
Since it was the first time I was going to introduce someone to my home, it only struck me now how simple look it had to it! Instead of some carvings on the walls, sculptures guarding the windows or even simple arches making the entire building look way loftier… It was just a round tower, stretching for about thirty meters into the sky, with its diameter changing for about only a meter from the ground level as compared to the very top.
”Is this the place you want us to live? While I'm not gonna hold myself back from admitting how imposing it is, how do you intend to grow food? This island is empty as far as I can see, so we won't be able to hunt for the animals either!”
From the moment they stepped on the shore, my new companions regained their confidence, with their voice even gaining a slight tone of reverence.
Thinking about it, they could brag how they were the first people from their tribe and the entire island to appear on this land, boosting their courage and killing off most of the stress they previously had. In this light, my promise had to turn more and more likely to be realised, but while their newborn hope should prompt them to attempt putting some trust in my words, the reality surrounding them had to constantly eat away their new resolve!
”You don't have to worry about it for now. If it's the matter of food, I can always bring it from the other islands, but I don't think that will be the problem later. Just follow me!”
I didn't see any point in trying to explain to them how the small world looked or worked. I could save a lot of time required to make them understand, just by letting them in!
”Blop!”
”Entering the Stronghold area!”
”Detecting other, sentient lifeforms.”
”Activate defensive mechanisms or register new guests?”
At first, I hoped that it was Bonger coming back from his deep slumber, but from the mechanic feels to the words I heard in my mind, I realised that it was just an automated reaction.
They are my guests. I want to turn them into the permanent residents of the first floor of the tower.
”Blop.”
”Blood offering is required to register permanent residents!”