The Empires Rise

I wake up with a start as there is a banging on my door. Hearing shouting from outside, I get my sleep-addled brain to try and pick out the words.

"Do you think he is awake now?" The first voice asks. I faintly recognize it as someone from my family, but I can't think straight.

"Well, if that doesn't wake him, I will just have to barge in and shake him awake." A second, much more irritated voice comes through. This voice, I can distinctly tell, is coming from Draemish.

Shouting out to them, "I'm awake. No need to go barging into the room." I jump out of bed and go to find my clothes. Not seeing them anywhere on the floor, I realize I have been wearing them this entire time.

Shaking more of the sleep from my head, I head to the door and open it. Outside are several figures: Draemish, Xelyphe, and Laxreal. Seeing this will not get any better, I join them outside my room.

"Why are you in such a hurry this morning?"

"MORNING?" Draemish shouts at me. "It's nearly two in the afternoon."

"Oh...." I scratch the back of my head. "I guess I did oversleep a bit." Trying to bring the conversation back to a regular volume.

"You told me. ME. That you would have the gatehouse figured out by this morning. Lo and behold, it is not done!" She exclaims.

"Whoa there." Laxreal steps in, trying to help calm the she-zombie. "Drake, might I ask a quick question?"

Grasping the opportunity to change the subject, I jump at it. "What is it, Laxreal?"

"Where exactly did you get with clearing your Mana Veins?"

"From what I remember, I was working on clearing the veins in my neck and head." I offer.

"Then that would explain it." He says with a sigh. "Draemish, do you remember..."

He doesn't get to finish his question before she interrupts him. "So, you weren't just sloughing off the responsibility because you couldn't wake up until now?"

"Yes?" I hesitantly offered, not knowing what I should be saying.

"That would make the most sense," Laxreal says. "Those working on the veins in their necks and heads require more rest after cleaning. Do you know how much you have cleared out?"

"I could get it just past the base of my skull. I felt like there was a threshold that I needed to overcome before I could continue."

"Ah, that explains it then. Draemish, if you don't mind my saying. I would think giving Drake some time to wake up from his endeavor would be the best option. Knowing him, he will not let things sit for long before he starts working again." Laxreal states.

"This makes things harder for us," Draemish says.

"Why?" Xelyphe asks.

"No one else can open the boxes for the blueprints or population. I tried it already, and it gave me two options. One is to destroy the box and receive lesser versions and amounts; the other is to throw Drake as the settlement's leader. Not wanting to do either, I came straight here this morning only to find that Drake was still sleeping." With a look of despair on her face.

"Give me a few minutes, and I will start opening those boxes."

She gives a curt nod and then proceeds out of the manor.

"Drake," Laxreal starts, "I know you want to get your Mana Veins cleared out as quickly as you can, but I think it might be best that we wait until after the attack for you to clear them."

Thinking about it, I reply, "I would like to, but unless we get together and go out as a small party like we did initially, I won't be able to progress much. My enchanting profession is stuck until I can get my veins cleared. And that is one of my quest objectives."

With more frustration, I continue. "Also, there are the blueprints I need to go through. And then, I also need to open the population scrolls."

"Don't forget, you have that mythic treasure box, as well as that special token," Xelyphe says.

I clutch at my head. "And those," I point at them. "Those are my biggest concerns. I don't know what they will give, and I don't know what to do with them."

"Have you tried analyzing one of them yet?" Laxreal offers a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"No, we got back, and I first needed to get everything situated to have housing and crafting areas." Throwing my hands up, I said, "Also, I just found out I slept for over 12 hours. That means, as of right now, we have only 29 hours left until we are attacked. I am a bit stressed about all of this."

In a shocking turn, Xelyphe comes over and hugs me. "Drake," They say soothingly. "You are trying to do all of this on your own again. You just started to get people in a semblance of order. Take a step back for a second and let things settle. Most of us are also trying to get used to being here. And I, for one, am still getting used to the idea of friendly undead. Sorry, Laxreal."

"It is ok. Coming from a world where there aren't these types of beings can be quite jarring, and I am shocked at how well Drake has taken it." He replies to them.

"Drake, let's start with the simple things first. Let's go downstairs, where everyone has piled the rest of the boxes that need to be opened, and start dealing with the blueprints. Once those are done, analyze the two other items. Starting there will be the best for you right now. After that, I think that you should go around and talk with people. You haven't had much time to settle for a second, and I think you need to change that."

"Ok," I say, finally calmed down. "Let's go."

Removing them from me, I nod at Laxreal, thankful for his support. Leading the way down to the first floor, I see all the boxes that need to be opened. Next to those is the Lord's Chest.

Taking a deep breath, I start to open the blueprint boxes.

- Blueprints Received:

Adaptive Housing

Stone Walls

Spike Traps

Moat

Gate House (Wood)

Gate House (Stone)

Logging Hut

Herb Garden

Docks

Shipyard

Siege Towers

Mobile Balistas

Wall-Mounted Catapults

Communication Tower

Stone Slab Roads

Irrigation Channels

Wooden Bridge

Stone Bridge

Summoning Portal Base Piece X 3

Summoning Portal Tower Piece X 2

Infantry Training Yard

Archery Training Yard

Apprentice Mage Tower -

I was shocked at the differences with all the new blueprints. There is also a pile of blueprint parts, equalling 70 pieces.

"Well, at least I got the gate; now is the choice of a wooden or stone gatehouse. I will bring this up to Draemish when I have time." I sigh with relief that we have the gatehouse blueprint. Considering that she might flay my hide if I didn't do anything about our inability to leave yet."

"Drake," Laxreal stops me before I can leave. "I have a question for you. I know this is sudden with everything happening, but I need an answer to what I am about to ask. What is your goal for this settlement?"

Confused, I look at him, "What do you mean? I want it to grow and prosper."

"We all see that. I am more concerned about how you will deal with all the different species of people coming into the settlement. Will you treat everyone as you have been? Or will you let others sway you from making the best decision for the settlement?"

"That's quite a tricky question. Of course, I want to treat everyone equally. While I am not accustomed to the people of the different planets we have been pulling from, we haven't had any major issues other than the problem with Shadow and Autumn. If push comes to shove and someone isn't willing to play nice like Draemish. I would have no issues kicking them out of the settlement to have a more community-focused group."

With that answer, Laxreal responds by bending his knee. "Drake, I swear that as long as you uphold the stance of openness to those who need a home or those searching for knowledge. I pledge to follow your direction and help in any way I can. I promise to keep the settlement's interests in mind as I work. This I swear."

With him giving his oath to me, a red and gold flash surrounds me.

- Congratulations, your Noble class has leveled up. It is now level 2. Received +1 to Charisma and +1 Free Stat point -

Looking at him with shock, I help him back to his feet. "Why this all of a sudden?"

"Strauvana and I have been talking about it. While she is tied more towards Draemish, I am more of a free spirit, shall we say. I want to see you prosper as you are the first being that didn't criticize me for being a failure of a scholar. While it doesn't seem like much to you, it means a lot to me. Thinking of the hundreds of years I failed with my research only to be welcomed, as hesitant as you were that first day, meant a lot. So thank you. If you have any need of my assistance in the future, please don't so much as hesitate to ask. My door is always open to you."

"Thank you, Laxreal. I will do everything in my power not to let you down."