Unchosen Champion

After the first Victory Day celebrations settled down, Coop was released from a burden he hadn't been aware he was still carrying. Repeatedly wandering across the surface and refusing to let himself relax on the beach had been a form of atonement, not just for the troubles he had caused his allies in the past, but for the ones that they would inherit from the choices he made for their collective future. By choosing not to sacrifice Earth for Lyriel's idea of the greater good, he had committed an original sin that they would all have to bear.

For some reason, he was the only person already tortured by their future endeavors. As much as the demonstration in the Underlayer was meant for the members of the Lighthouse to be able to move on from the apocalypse, it seemed like Coop had needed it the most, but to ground him in the present. The end of the Eradication Protocol heralded a relatively peaceful time where there was no organized force directing violence toward Ghost Reef.

With the release of the first public tests of his system, and the rest of the Lighthouse aiming for a united future standing in defiance of the galactic community, he was inspired to also embrace the opportunity to recalibrate. It was unlike him to have so much trouble settling down, but that's what it was.

After years of repeatedly trekking across the planet, contending with new and novel manabeasts, scavenging potentially useful materials, and hunting down any sign of lurking Icons of Mana, he felt like he should finally concentrate on his home. Zones across the surface were still in flux, unable to sort themselves into equilibrium, but between the Tempest Fleet and the Adventurer Guild, there were plenty of hands on deck working for the Lighthouse. He didn't need to personally monitor every change that occurred.

Really looking at the ruins of Ghost Reef made him feel a bit ashamed. It was like he hadn't cleaned his room for years. The outline of the destroyed fort remained, but everyone else seemed to be waiting for him to do something about the island. Unfortunately, shifting his focus away from combat was surprisingly difficult, so it had taken a while to really get his attention.

Ever since the start of the assimilation, his primary focus had been on fighting to survive. The moments where he could admire a sunset, enjoy a meal, casually exercise, or observe natural scenery had been gradually reduced until the times that he did almost felt like he was neglecting his life's new purpose. By the time he was grinding inside the Ark, there was no chance to hesitate at all. While he was fighting for the goal of sitting on his beach and relaxing in peace, he had almost forgotten how to properly unwind.

When he first realized it, he could only laugh at himself. He was completely failing as a beach bum. His skills, his instincts, and everything had been devoted to survival, to offense, and defense, and to the grind for a few years too long. With victory achieved, and humanity back in rebuilding mode, he was left incapable of switching it off.

It turned out that going from swords to plowshares really wasn't as easy as he imagined. Back in the day, when the assimilation was just kicking off, it was nothing for him to loosen up, but a third of his life had now been spent in a violent struggle with mana. Basically, his entire adult life was one long grind session after just a few months of lighthouse keeping.

Ultimately, it was Ghost Reef itself that saved him from losing what kept him grounded. He was inspired by the undeveloped courtyard of Rock Key and all the residents that initiated conversations whenever they saw him sitting in the sand, planning his next trip. The new system gave them an easy subject to breach the gap between them and the Champion of the settlement. Even people he had never met before behaved like they were close family members that just hadn't had the chance to speak in a while. That's what the Lighthouse had become.

In a strange way, Coop had become the most distant member of the community he had started. He was the only human that had been away from Ghost Reef while they established their unbreakable network, but instead of treating him like any kind of outsider, they welcomed him home and constantly checked in on how he was doing. He imagined it was like coming back for the holidays as the only sibling to leave home for college. The more time he spent on the island, the more obvious it became that he needed to chill out.

Coop couldn't figure out how he hadn't noticed before. He had been too focused on the next expedition, establishing another outpost, and making progress on the new system to realize how he had slowly closed himself off to everything else. The Eradication Protocol and his responsibility within the Ark had done a number on his mental state, and the obligation he had taken from Lyriel to expand the scope of his focus beyond Ghost Reef had been the final push to send him beyond the pace he set for himself in the past. Though his friends and advisors had supported his decisions without question, he couldn't help but internalize a seed of guilt for involving the rest of his faction in such grand challenges.

Once he grasped the problem, he decided to transform that uneasy energy into something positive, using it to rebuild his part of Ghost Reef, and allow himself to atone in a way that wasn't just searching for more battlefields to step into. That's how he had been ever since mana activated, just plowing his way forward, one step at a time. If he bit off more than he could chew, he just gnawed at it until he made it through. If anything, continued fighting was holding him back.

It didn't take long for him to shift his momentum after he set his mind to it. If any of the residents visited the surface of Ghost Reef in the weeks after the Victory Day celebration, they would have found Coop asking his friends for advice while figuring out ways of making various bricks by hand. If they came in the months after that, they would have the opportunity to witness Balor, Garod, or Jones shouting that Coop was doing something incorrectly as he started some basic construction himself. If they came during any of the years that followed, they would have the chance to work side by side with the founder of their faction as he built the crown of their civilization.

His expeditions abroad became less, and when he did go, he didn't wander around aimlessly. The Adventurer Guild established specific objectives, and otherwise took care of just about everything else on his behalf. That way, he was able to concentrate on home.

It was hard to be mentored by a Grandmaster, but from the start, Coop went through the process of manually rebuilding the structure of the island under the guidance of Balor. He found the activity to be therapeutic, using the hands that wielded his weapons so efficiently to hold tools and build instead of fight. He just kept trying, redoing things if they were incorrect, and embracing imperfections when they wouldn't create future problems. Everything he made would be filled with his character.

Through the guilds that provided him with advice and suggestions, and their new preliminary systems based on the status tracking he had made, he grew a bit addicted to leveling their professions. He was ranking up in half a dozen different jobs as he took on the project of reenvisioning the fort and its courtyard. It was a massive job for one person, but it was small in comparison to how the rest of the Lighthouse faction was developing.

He also didn't do it completely alone, despite his intention. No matter what the job was, someone would come and offer to help. They would hand him materials or help put the finishing touches on the day's project while sharing their life stories. Coop learned about their hopes for the future, and was ultimately relieved from the guilt he had made for himself, as he confirmed that he had been right about the members of the Lighthouse. They wanted to live up to the name, shining bright for the rest of the universe, maybe even more than he did.

Jett, Sunny, and Birdie watched as he toiled away, visiting whenever a whim brought them to his side. Rather than build a new city from scratch, he had ultimately decided to make the surface of Ghost Reef more of a symbolic place. It would represent the Lighthouse to newcomers and function as a communal environment for residents to visit and sort of remember where the faction had come from. Something like that was what he had in mind.

As the capital in the Underlayer became more and more advanced with new mana-based technologies springing up basically everyday, the calm vacation vibes were being threatened. For Coop, he wanted to maintain that special atmosphere, no matter what the Lighthouse evolved into, even if he himself had lost the signal for a bit. In order to permanently record that feeling, he would carve it into the foundation that capped off their home so that no one would forget.

Every stone, plank, and brick was placed with the spirit of Ghost Reef. Coop found catharsis in actively shaping the future with his labor, though in a way, that's what he had always been doing. The sweat and strain purified whatever lingering inner turmoil that remained in his heart, reminding him to focus more on the actions he could take in the present, rather than what he would have to do in the future. Amazingly, even he needed the reminder.

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Somehow he ended up being the last person to settle down and pace himself for the challenges that would come, despite being the biggest advocate for exactly that. He supposed that was just what it meant to be a flawed human. He may have been overwhelmed at first, but through patience and perseverance he was reestablishing his connection to the community and demonstrating his commitment to their shared future in a physical way that he might have had trouble articulating with words.

The outer walls regained their appearance first, rebuilt to be mostly similar to the originals. Brick by brick, they developed into the monument of safety that had projected strength to the oceans all throughout the assimilation. With the help of Jones and his many apprentices, the structures were repeatedly reinforced so that they could better withstand enemies as powerful as the Icons of Mana, particularly at the points of each corner. Other than that, the footprint was mostly the same, with Coop avoiding any encroachment of the living reef in the sea and the sandy dunes on the island any more than the original fort already had.

The ramparts were as much a pedestrian destination as they were for defense. Keeping that in mind, he laid out the top portion of the walls so that they would see just as much use in times of peace as they did in battle. Taking advice and accepting some help from Balor and his citadel design, he transformed the defensive bunkers into pleasant gazebos with ocean views. Mini-Caisalya and the many gardeners of Ghost Reef helped spruce the place up, giving the artificial walls a natural feel that would better mesh with the climate. What had previously been accomplished by portions of blown sand was scrupulously restored so that even the wildlife was inclined to visit the tops of the walls. It was a bit modest for a skywalk, but it held its own appeal.

Previously, the cannon portals had been nothing but empty rooms, partially exposed to the weather and sea spray, but given the increased population and hopefully increased times of stability, Coop gradually transformed every level into a series of places that people would want to visit and spend time in, if at least to admire a sunset or a sunrise in comfort. Mana-fueled cannons were reclaimed, and their physical shields transformed them into the long-distance artillery that had defined the thunderwalls of Ghost Reef. The space behind them became comfortable places to listen to the waves and meet with friends while watching tropical swim through the patch reefs and tarpon and juvenile barracuda among the dwarf mangroves that established themselves on the sides of the moat.

The basement level was reinforced just as the interior of the walls had been, transforming into cozy places for garrisons and their supplies. For the first time, maybe ever, they weren't damp, dark, and filled with puddles. No matter what buildings were behind the walls, the actual fort had always been the heart of the island. He kept that in mind as he worked his way around the island.

Coop connected the northern and southern halves of the fort with elevated bridges. They ran across the top of the ramparts and were tall enough to clear the larger ship masts, but were also fortified enough to serve as more elevated bastions. They looked down on the ends of the canal where Vronk and the pigs played with the giant crab and alligator cavalry. The deep canal remained as the only opening in the walls other than the main gate, so it needed to be protected. It wasn't long before daredevils were using the tallest points to dive into the water for groups of spectators in the courtyard. The wild pigs would race each other to be the first to reach the bobbing divers as they popped back up to the surface. It seemed like activity would return wherever Coop worked.

After he outlined the walking paths on the ground, he started working on a series of public buildings that could take advantage of the environment. They would line the main street, replacing the private buildings with something more communal.The residents that had made the surface home before the Eradication Protocol had already reestablished themselves in the new capital, but that didn't mean they didn't want the chance to visit and conduct business where it had all started.

Peristyle architecture provided covered walkways and natural ventilation for temporary shops and food carts up and down the main street and all the way around the perimeter. They created a series of what were essentially smaller courtyards for people to gather. Even on hot days, the shade would be comfortable, and whenever it rained, the residents would be able to navigate the full extent of the main courtyard without getting wet, just by moving from one building to the next. The rainy ambiance had its own appeal in the right environment, and that was captured by the open air shelters for anyone visiting.

The second floors of each building were wrapped with open balconies for a touch of privacy for those looking for a place to sit and eat while enjoying some varied views. They looked over the smaller interior courtyards of each building, the growing canopy of the gardens on the outside, or the streets of activity in between. Then, the top of the buildings had open roofs and widow walks that looked over the rest of the courtyard with lounge seating and bars that would have unobstructed views of the sky. Medium sized trees and large shrubs separated the rows of buildings and created a lush environment while providing shade for further paths into the gardens on the ground.

The whole effort took years, but by the time Coop was almost done, every member of the Lighthouse had worked side by side with him to complete one section or another, adding countless details to the final product. It was a flawed masterpiece, filled with character and intention bleeding through every nook and cranny, and it belonged to them all.

The core of the courtyard was designed to be more active, with flexible seating and wider paths for higher traffic, but no matter where someone was, they were never more than a few steps away from tranquil retreats deeper within gardens or closer to the moats and canal. Secluded alcoves for relaxation and contemplation were exactly the type of thing that Coop was always looking for, so he was sure to provide many.

On the south side, crushed shell pathways or natural limestone pavers guided people across the former parks, passed casual benches, swinging chairs, hammocks, gazebos, and through mulched art gardens that connected to the various focal points. It was a true sub-tropical paradise, with sunshine and shells decorating the many natural trails.

The central circular courtyard had a massive fountain donated by one of the artisan guilds providing one anchor point for Balor's reconstructed bridge where the civilization shard had once been. The opposite side of the canal still served as the connection to the rest of the underground layers, including the spiraling ramp that ran all the way to the Underlayer.

The main street, with its access to the open air multi-story public buildings on either side provided long sightlines from north to south, across the entire fort, and was worth a visit by itself. That the peristyle buildings were constantly filled with market stalls, and food carts was a bonus for any guest. Then there was the waterside promenade along both sides of the canal, overlooking docks and platforms that would make for a nice place to stroll or take a swim. A massive banyan tree established itself over the landing area, where Balor's Tower had once been, shading the hidden access to the chasm. As the years went by, the tree created a tunnel for visitors to pass through, whether they came on foot or by teleport at the north side of Balor's bridge, almost as if it was paying homage to Caisalya's defense of Ghost Reef.

Other than the established banyan tree, the northern half had larger open areas of grass compared to the gardens that filled the south. A large amphitheater formed where the training yard had been, meant to serve as a flexible venue for live music, communal gatherings, or sport events. Instead of traversing through gardens, the northern half was more structured, without the larger trees and interior structures interrupting the flow of green spaces. Since the inner portions of the wall were also set up to be open verandas, and the peristyle buildings continued along the main street and around the perimeter, there was still plenty of shade on the edges, but it was a good place for more activity in the sun.

As the fort was nearing completion, the community came together to exclude Coop from establishing what ended up being the main feature of the entire project. At the end of the main street, opposite the main gate, they built a massive lighthouse that was many times larger than the original. It was like the lone highrise of a private island, overlooking not just the courtyards but the rest of the island as well.

With more than just the oceans in mind, they designed it in a way to be the first thing visible, even when approaching from the sky. It fit with their ambitions, as the turtle shield was rebuilt and the walls and siege weapons were constantly being upgraded and reinforced, integrated directly into the construction rather than being added after the fact. The lighthouse was a watchtower for the entire region.

After the last brick was placed in the entrance arch of the final peristyle building, Coop stepped back and admired the view. From where he stood, near the base of the new gargantuan lighthouse, he could see through the banyan tunnel, across Balor's Bridge, the fountain, and onto the main entrance. The stone planters down the middle of the road had returned, filled with palm trees and hanging orchids with stone benches underneath. People visited stalls and ate snacks as they strolled through the streets.

Despite his slow progress, residents had already made it a habit to visit the fort of Ghost Reef. Sunset was always the most popular time, but there were constantly people enjoying their time together within the various communal areas. Even at night, small parties and bonfires were frequently held on the rooftops or in the larger park areas. During the day, recreational tournaments frequented the fields in the north while the archivist's book vendors shared tablets for those looking for some light entertainment while relaxing in the gardens in the south.

Coop ran his hand against a stone pillar, then patted it as he silently confirmed that he was done. As he closed his eyes, he could smell frangipani and the scent of fresh soil as the gardeners maintained the countless flowerbeds and raised troughs currently blooming throughout the fort. The atmosphere hummed with the energy he had been looking for, way different from that of a battlefield. Time just felt like it would move slower in such an environment. It was like a declaration by the fort that they were safe to relax. He took a deep breath, thinking it was perfect.