Homestead Survival

<13 August 2024, GRAND MESA OF SUMMER , A+>
[Theo and Julia]
Theo turned and sprinted as hard as he could to the Cabin. As he crossed the line of the Ward runes, another wave of flaming arrows penetrated the rune circle's protections.

Julia and Ordus were using dirt to rub out the flames that were licking at the green wood. Luckily the sod roof was working to their benefit now. Something in the arrows was allowing the greenwood to start burning quite easily.

"You both okay?" Theo asked as he scooped a handful of dirt from the ground and helped them.

"I'm good!" Julia said, and Ordus nodded.

"Okay, Julia, I think it is time for you to get some wand practice in." Theo said, "Ordus and I can handle the fire. Why don't you see if you can take out some of those Orcs?"

"Okay, did you deal with the goblins?"

"Some of them, let's just take it one thing at a time, though."

Julia nodded, and her Glimmer Branch appeared in her hand. She stood next to the wall and called out. "More arrows incoming!"

Theo ducked inside the open doorway of the Cabin. Cursing as the flaming arrows struck the Cabin. He thought for a moment, and then shrugged, "Okay, new plan, we need to move the firewood inside, and stack it all on my sleeping platform. I think for the foreseeable future, we will be sleeping one at a time."

"Yes, my lord!" Ordus said and scooped up an armful of firewood.

Theo shook his head. "The platform is inside and to the left."

Over the next hour, the left half of the Cabin on Theo's side of the divider was filled with firewood. All the while, Julia had been plunking away at the Orcs.

[Krok Grom]
Krok watched, after every wave of fire arrows, the female would pop out, let off a good number of shots, most of which hit, with a Glimmer Branch, and the male and the traitor would move more of the firewood into the shack that had been built.

"They are doing better than I thought." Krok said, "How are you holding up?"

Angram grunted, "I am nearly at the allotted number of uses for the day. Once more, actually."

"Alright, give it one more, then we can hold off and give them some sense of respite. Tonight, the Spirits can play with them."

Angram extended his hand, and the Ward runes were breached once more, allowing arrows in. After a few minutes, he dropped his hand. "That is all I can do."

Krok nodded. "Thank you, Commander. I will go inform the Spirits that they are taking the night shift."

Angram nodded and walked back into the forest, muttering to himself. "It's only a matter of time."

[Theo and Julia]
The next hour was oddly silent, with the sudden addition to the team this morning, and then the battle to keep the Cabin from burning down, and now the eerie silence, Julia was feeling exhausted.

"I think," Julia said, stretching, "I am going to go to sleep, then when I get up, one of you two can take a break. If something happens, though, please wake me up."

Theo nodded and smiled at her, "Sleep well."

"Goodnight, Lady Julia," Ordus said with a small bow.

Julia smiled at them both and went into the Cabin. Theo looked at the open door. "I think I need to make a door, but I don't have any more planks."

"We can fix that, but I think that we should try and find a way to fireproof the structure, especially since we stacked all the firewood inside," Ordus said, and Theo nodded in agreeance.

"Well, the easiest way to do it is with these," Theo said, taking one of the remaining bricks from his pouch. "If I stack them, can you do your dirt-mortar thing?"

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"Yes, Lord Theo." Ordus nodded, and they got to work.

Roughly six hours later, the sun was setting, and Theo and Ordus had managed to stack bricks around the whole of the Cabin, making it look like a Stone-brick building with a sod roof.

Ordus was just finishing using his skill to 'mortar' the bricks with dirt when Julia walked out of the Cabin.

"Lady Julia," Ordus said.

"Ban'Go' Ordus," Julia said, returning his fractional bow. "You know that you can call me Julia."

"I... I am aware. My people are very big on formality." Ordus said, "But if you would like, I can call you and Lord Theo as Julia and Theo. I would ask that you simply call me Ordus."

Julia nodded, slightly confused as she had sworn that was what she had heard Theo calling him. "Of course, Ordus. Now, why don't you go to sleep? Theo and I can watch the start of the night, and then you and I can finish the night out while Theo sleeps."

"Very well. Thank you, Julia." Ordus said, stepping into the Cabin and going to the sleeping platform.

Julia went to where Theo was making a fire in a corner of the stacked brick walls. "Hey."

"Hey," Theo said quietly, finishing the job and sitting back. He pulled out two meat sticks and offered one to Julia. "I think I only have like six of these left."

"That is about what I have." Julia agreed, "We still have three weeks of food for all three of us. Assuming that Ordus eats the same amount we do."

Theo was about to speak when a flash of sickly grey light struck the Wards. "What is that?"

"Theo, let me in." A voice said. Theo and Julia turned to see a person.

"Keary..." Theo said, his voice catching, at the same time, Julia felt tears begin to well up in her eyes.

"Dad."

That stopped them both; they looked at each other and then went back to the person outside the Ward runes. Over their head floated text.

{[Corrupted] Zintho, Level 09, A-}

As Theo and Julia watched, several other beings floated into view.

{[Corrupted] Trelni, Level 08, B+}
{[Corrupted] Sasharon, Level 07, B-}
{[Corrupted] Velthier, Level 07, B-}
{[Corrupted] Saariel, Level 06, B}

They all floated so their heads were at roughly eight feet. At their core, a shimmering orb of power was in each. They all had well-defined upper bodies, but the only one with a lower body was Velthier, whose legs hung limp, swinging back and forth. The others had a smoky lower half that faded away to nothing.

Velthier locked eyes with Theo and waved a hand. Theo saw a blue box.

"Oh, I have been challenged," Theo said, and Julia quirked an eyebrow at him.

"What do you mean?" Julia asked.

Theo quickly read what had been offered to him. Julia thought for a moment, "I mean, do you think you can win?"

Theo looked at the warrior, "Level 7, I mean, hopefully. But I still don't know if it is a wise move."

Julia looked hesitant. "I know that we are usually a little blasé about just doing things..."

"I mean, yes," Theo chuckled.

"But, I am excited!" Julia said after a moment, "I feel like there is possibility with you, and for the things we are trying to do. It's new, and a little weird, and we still have a lot to learn about each other. But I don't want to throw it away."

Theo stepped over and hugged Julia close, ignoring the spirits that watched them closely. "I understand. And I agree with you. And after we finally find a way to bathe, I want to spend more time with you."

Julia chuckled. They had agreed without speaking, not to mention bathing, but this was okay. "Fine. If you want to do it, then do it. I will support you as I can, just win."

"Yes, ma'am," Theo said, turning to the Spirit. "I accept your challenge."

A purple ring of energy appeared outside the Ward runes, and a message appeared.

>Local Message: A System sanctioned challenge is taking place. Interference by non-involved entities will be punished severely. Challenge area established. Involved parties, please step into the Challenge Area.

Theo stepped out of the Ward runes, fully expecting to have to jump back as something lunged out of the dark, but nothing happened. Ahead of him, all five of the spirits had entered the challenge area. "Oh fuck me, of course, I thought that only applied to me."

Julia stepped out and took his hand, "Welp, five versus two is much better than five versus one."

Theo sighed; he could see that he would not sway her.

They both stepped into the challenge area.

>Local Message: Challenge Begins in 3...

Julia quickly laid down a ring of temporary Ward runes around herself.

>Local Message: Challenge Begins in 2...

Theo took a deep breath and formed his Master Tool into a metal rod.

>Local Message: Challenge Begins in 1...

The Spirits formed into one corporeal entity. And Theo questioned his choices.

>Local Message: Challenge Begins! Fight!