NOVEL NEXT Pathways and Water Channels
An hour after getting the brownie settled down in the lower layers of the pyramid, Hala was levitating in the seventh layer, looking over the vast desert lands. A 3D hologram of the Barren Lands floated in front of her as she languidly moved her hands above the hologram. Each movement of her hands and fingers added another addition to the land. If she didn't like how something looked, all she had to do was pluck it from the hologram, and it would disappear from the desert sands.
"Those brownies are rather cute, with their big floppy ears and big doe eyes. They kind of remind me of hobgoblins but fairy-like with a hat fetish." Hala flicked her finger, and a large rock on the hologram disappeared, much to the surprise of the vultures in the distance. The sudden disappearance of their resting place caused them to squawk in a comical display of shock.
"Hey Thoth, what are the chances that the dire lions followed them here?" Hala wondered as she released magic to her hands; her fingers glowed with that familiar blue and amber hue as she brought them above the hologram and, with an image in her mind, formed smooth, even trenches where the pathways would lay. Once it appeared on the hologram, the ground trembled as sand parted, shifted, and formed the same trenches that appeared on the hologram. These trenches would serve as the foundations for the lazurite crystal roads that would carry travelers and citizens alike through the heart of the kingdom.
As Hala moved her hands lazily, her powers shaped the desert through the hologram, as if she was goddess of creation, Thoth answered with its smooth monotone voice. "Answer. The chances of the dire lions following after the brownies are 93%. There is a 7% chance that they were killed along the way here."
"Hmm." Hearing this, Hala raised her brows in thought. 'Rimuru fought those dire wolves, then after they submitted to the slime, Rimuru paired them up with the goblins. Maybe I should do the same? Having cute fairy housekeepers with dire lion mounts sounds... "Exciting."
Looking over the desert over the horizon, she couldn't help but think, 'Things are getting interesting. I wonder what's next.'
Stretching, she went back to work. She wanted to get done with the waters channels done before lunch time. Apparently, brownies are great at cooking.
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Hala wanted the water channels to run parallel to the pathways, providing irrigation and water access to the residents, farmers, and merchants who would eventually settle here, so she carved deep, wide channels into the holographic desert floors, creating smooth canals where the water would flow. These channels would be lined with crystal slabs
, similar to the pathways, ensuring that the water moved swiftly and efficiently throughout the kingdom.Glancing over at the real thing, Hala allowed herself to appreciate the beauty of the work she was doing. The straight lines of the channels, the shimmering blue of the Lazurite, the way the water would soon flow through the desert like veins through a body—it all felt right. It felt like the kingdom was finally taking shape.
Once the channels were "carved", Hala gathered her crystal magic to her hands, and summoned the crystal lining, fitting the pieces perfecting into the carved earth. These crystal slabs were smooth and reflective, their surfaces etched with ancient runes that helped control the flow of water. The magic infused in the crystals ensured that the water would always remain clean and pure, free from the contamination of the desert sands.
With the channels prepared, the next step was to direct the water from the central oasis into the newly constructed canals. Hala watched as the waters reflected the morning light. She could feel the magic within the oasis, a deep well of life-giving energy that had sustained the desert for centuries, all the way from where she floated from the seventh layer.
"Alright, let’s get this water moving," Hala murmured, extending her hands over the surface of the oasis in the hologram. With a gentle nudge of her power, the "water" began to ripple, responding to her command. Slowly, the waters of the oasis surged forward, spilling over the edges of the central pool and into the channels that Hala had created.
Hala rose from her sitting position and stretched. Looking over her work, she nodded and after dissipating the holograph, teleported down to the ground to check her work.
The water flowed smoothly through the canals, guided by the crystal runes that lined the channels. As the water moved, it glittered with the same cosmic energy that powered the rest of the kingdom, its surface shimmering with the light of the stars. The channels stretched out alongside the Lazurite pathways, bringing fresh, cool water to every corner of the city.
Nodding in approval, she headed back to the pyramid to eat lunch.
"I wonder what my cute little fairy maids made for me to eat." She'll start on building the bridges and archways later.