The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 1128: Expanded Forge Building

Tian inspected the building that they had to work with, and conferred with Opal, who showed him dozens of illusionary design ideas, each more fantastical than the last.

[Putting the Dwarves in the mountain in the Tiny World would be better, wouldn’t it? But then they would travel everywhere with the Karl, instead of being here where they could put stuff in the shop.] Tian asked, replying to an idea Opal had shown him.

[Keep the ideas to what will work here in Drodh. These people have families and lives in the city, we can’t be carting them all over the world with us.] Karl reminded them before they got too off track.

Opal flashed an image of turning the main building into a ten-story tall stone Keep. Tian could do it with the magic that he had.

[Focus, just an illusionary upgrade for the forge building, with new work spaces inside.]

Opal lost interest for a moment, then began flashing images too fast for Tian to understand them.

[That’s too fast, I don’t know what you want.] He complained.

Then Opal settled on one. The inside of Bara, with the mountain exit being the door of the workshop, and everything else arranged like the Dwarven City in a mountain. There were workshops, forge buildings, a few houses, an Inn with a tavern on the main floor, and a small market square.

It would all fit in the space she had imagined, and if Tian coated everything in stone, you would have to actually dig to damage the core illusion to break the world.

[Oh, that is wonderful. I like it. That is a beautiful den for Dwarves.] The little fox realized.

Opal found a Totem Ranked Illusion Stone among the belongings her siblings had dropped in her space. That would be a suitable core for the Illusion. Then, once it was a shell, Tian could build the core structures, and she could make it pretty with illusions for everything that wasn’t stone and metal.

”I think that we have an idea. Can you grab the rest of the staff out of the workshop? Tian and Opal will begin the process right away.” Karl explained.

Ashbringer raised his hand to his lips and whistled, which brought Loros and Wendy running out of the workshop.

”Time to upgrade your working conditions. The area will be closed for the next few hours, so take a break.” Karl explained.

Wendy laughed. ”There is a fresh list of sundry items from the Guild Alliance, and our shoppers should be back soon. How about I take Loros with me? We can make the deliveries and then have something to eat?”

Karl nodded. ”Bring snacks for Lotus. She should be around the house in Zilaz today. At least, I didn’t hear about them planning a Dungeon visit.”

Sending her more short people would also make Lotus happy.

Now that the workshop was empty, Tian and Opal both came out of their spaces to work on the upgrades. Opal had the stone ready, and her plan was to have Tian bury it under the workshop, so it would be harder for anyone to find the core of the Illusion.

Then, they could work on making the illusionary city real.

The Guard on break at the entrance made a pacifying gesture to the gate, letting them know that it wasn’t more random Totems showing up, but Karl’s bonded partners.

Seconds later, the floor of the workshop had been replaced with Totem Ranked stone, and the Illusion Stone was buried, with the spell activated.

[Karl, we need you to make a recharging stone and put it on the door. The spell shouldn’t take much to keep active, but Opal can’t make it recharge itself.] Tian translated from the images she was showing him.

Charades were more fun than making his sister speak out loud.

Besides, even if he was wrong, it was still a good idea.

Karl set a small arcane stone in a metal amulet and linked it to the charging stone the pair had placed underground.

”Ashbringer, this is for you. It keeps the illusion they’re building charged with mana. It shouldn’t take much to keep it going, according to them. The stone will constantly channel mana to it, but if it needs more, someone will have to top it off.” Karl explained.

”What all are they putting in there?” Ashbringer asked.

”Oh, I think that you’ll be happy when you see it, but it’s a surprise for now. The question is whether we’re going to be able to get enough crafters. It’s the obsession Demons with carving obsessions, or anyone else with sculpting talent, that I’m worried about finding.

Dwarves are a great option, but I think that we’re stealing enough of them to work the forges, so we might not be able to find enough to just work with stone.”

The Demon at the entry laughed. ”I don’t think that will be a problem, but you might have to ask some to relocate. There are plenty of Dwarven Sculptors with what the Dwarves consider mediocre skills in Bara. You could recruit them to bring them here.”

Karl sighed. ”I should have known that trying to stock a workshop would turn into an international excursion and hiring fair. But I have connections. Give me a moment to send a message and I might be able to find someone.”

Karl thought about what to send for a few seconds, then sent a message to Slate Petros, the Totem Ranked Shaman from Bara.

{Shaman Petros, I am hoping that you could help the Darklight Host find a group of sculptors for our workshops. We will provide accommodations in Drodh for them and their families, suitable wages, and benefits. Their power level isn’t important, only their skill with sculpture to create base items for our Runecrafting teams.} Karl sent.

There was a short delay, then the Shaman replied.

{Karl, congratulations on your advancement. I can contact the Sculptor’s Association on your behalf. They represent all Dwarven Sculptors. They will want to review the work contract and living conditions before they agree to send anyone over. Let me know when they are prepared, and I will have a portal mage bring me to you.}

{Everything will be ready within the hour. I have a Totem Ranked Stonefur Divine Fox working on the accommodations now, designed to mimic the homes of Bara City.}

That assertion intrigued the Shaman. How was the odd cat Demon planning to mimic Dwarven living conditions in the Demon city by the shore? Had he bought a high-rise apartment and modified the interior?

He wouldn’t put it past Karl to have done exactly that.