The Manaverse

South East Penthouse

Slatewell Safe Zone

The crimson crescent peeking over the horizon illuminated the Safe Zone for Wendy. She gripped the warm mug in her hands that much tighter as the first truly crisp breeze blew through her chin length blonde hair. She brushed her bangs back over her lengthened ears, a new habit she developed to keep them in view. She took a sip of the precious coffee, which would likely only last them until the end of the week, as she took in all the changes below her.

In three days, the Safe Zone had changed dramatically.

A second wall was being built around the flat area just outside the Safe Zone which was close to being finished. Multiple property lines were already marked off in the open space, showing where buildings would soon be built.

The space inside the Safe Zone had been ripped down and rebuilt already; much of the construction taking place during the Lock Down.

The System Shop was to the east. The area had once been high-end apartment complexes and lavish estates. These were all replaced with single story buildings that were being used as Safe Zone authorized Shops. It gave the area the feeling of an open air bazaar. It was shaping up into a well thought out Market District.

North from there was the Orphanage and the Safe Zone's magically built Academy. The new structure stood and looked like an elegant, private school that had taken up residence in an old Gothic castle. It gave Wendy the feeling that it was a cheap knock off of that fictional Wizarding school everyone wanted to go to. Maybe they would get the chance now?

West from there, the Graveyard was given a wide berth of empty space. Just past that haunting reminder began the long houses.

This was where the only residential area within the barrier would be besides the Residential Towers. The population had a one year time limit on the expanded space inside the Residential Towers, meaning the Safe Zone needed something for the eventual spill over. The long houses were their current solution. The long houses were nice. Cramped, but nice. They didn't quite have the same magical amenities the Residential Towers had, but it was a secure roof with at least some privacy.

One of the reasons Wendy accepted moving into the Penthouse with the female Crusaders was because she was going to lose her status as a Safe Zone employee soon. Non-Employees were starting to be moved into the Long Houses from the Residential Towers. While Wendy could have retained her room higher up in the Residential Tower for a while yet, once the first year had passed she would be moved either way, so why not live in a bit of luxury in the meantime?

Heading South along the West side of the Safe Zone was where the storage facilities went up. Silo like structures held what had to be every last scrap of pre-System supplies and materials gathered before the Lock Down. Even from Wendy's spot on the edge of the Penthouse, she could see the increased Safe Zone Staff presence there.

Further South was spotted with industrial buildings where the Safe Zone employed crafters and gatherers. These workshops ran until the Adventurer's Guild and kept the noise of the tradesman localized. Moving all of the Safe Zone's crafting needs out of the public crafting stations freed them up for the population to use within the Residential Towers. This reduced the pressure the citizens felt to Level Up without making them feel like they were holding back the reconstruction efforts.

Lastly, between the Adventurer's Guild and the new Market District, around the Central Medical Clinic, was an open area with trees, grass, and a few stands stood where supplies had once been handed out.

If Jut and Diggy can secure us a spot today, we won't have to set up Radiance there any more.

Wendy nodded as she took another sip and thought her response to Sirius; her uncle who had died and refused to be called by Jerry anymore. I know. That's where our official Guild Building will go too. Derrick is already sketching out the structure in his mind last he told me.

We are spreading my brother and your mother's ashes today, right?

Yep. Jut's taking me out there. Thanks to the hunters, we should be able to travel there without running into many Monsters.

Good. Good. I was worried we would never put them to rest.

Wendy nodded again but did not respond. She was just as eager to get the thing over with as he was. Constantly carrying them around with her was starting to become painful instead of reassuring.

Wendy reviewed her Status Screen to take her mind off of it.

Name: Wendy Sims

True Name: Wendy Stephen

Title: Progenitor

Rank: Stone

Level: 2

Race: Elf - Bohemian

Racial Abilities: Forrest Walk

Guide: Spirit

Guide's Name: Sirius, Stone Rank

Attributes:

Body: 0

Mind: 3

Available Attribute Points: 0

Characteristics:

Body:

Strength: 12

Constitution: 12

Agility: 14

Mind:

Intelligence: 19

Wisdom: 18

Willpower: 13 (1)

Available Characteristic Points: 0

Equipped Skills: 5/5

General Skill Pool: 7/XXX

Non-Combat Path Equipped Skills:

Administration Level 2

Emulate Task Level 2

Gather Information Level 2

Combat Path Equipped Skills:

Power Strike Level 0

Quick Step

General Skill Pool: Wands

Inspect

Magical Bolt

Slow Fall

Walking

Deep Sleep

Eating

Affinities: Water Magic

Wendy was happy with her status. Her work at the Safe Zone had facilitated a rapid growth for her Skills. She was shocked when the other Crusaders were only level one after their two days of continuous hunting. Even Derrick was level two already. She pondered on how that could be as she took another drink of coffee.

Wendy slipped into the Penthouse once her coffee was gone and she was thoroughly chilled. She was not expecting to run into one of her roommates, but Isabelle was in the kitchen. The high elf looked dead to the world as she drank her own share of the dwindling supply of coffee.

"Good morning, Wendy. How are you up so early every single day?" Isabelle asked. She fought back a yawn as she did.

"Deep Sleep. It's a General Skill. I don't need nearly as much of the stuff. Still can't function without coffee though. We are so screwed." Wendy said wistfully.

Isabelle nodded in commiseration as she took another slow drink.

"Why are you up this early? You normal appear ready to go around eight." Wendy asked politely. As far as who she got along with best in the penthouse, it was by far Isabelle. The woman's work ethic was insane.

"Oh, I have a meeting with Yolanda Serrano later. She is going to ask me to become a Safe Zone employee again." Isabelle sighed.

"You don't want that? They do have decent benefits and it's usually safe work. Even more so since you are a healer. Don't they reward you now, even though you only help out in your free time?" Wendy asked, already knowing they did.

"Yeah, but with the Safe Zone officially appointing people, I hear they are going to do away with the part timers once enough people with healing Skills and Spells are in position."

"Right." Wendy also sighed. That made sense. She doubted they would want someone in a high position who risked their lives everyday, given the lower amount of people who chose to heal. "So, you're going to say no?"

Isabelle's eyes sparked with determination for a brief moment and she nodded. "Yeah. Being an Adventurer will help me prepare to travel North safely so I can find my family."

"Oh, you did mention that. You used to live in the far, far North right? Over the border?"

Isabelle nodded as she killed her coffee in one go. "Sure did. Best to get this over with. See you after your date." The healer teased, waved cheerily, sat her cup in the sink and left down the elevator.

Lily perked up but didn't get off the couch.

Wendy rolled her eyes. "It was just an expression." She took care of the two cups, washing them both. "Well, I am off too. I need to do some shopping and get ready for the trip later today. Watch over things, will you?" Wendy said to Lily as she pressed the elevator's call button.

The cat yawned and gave Wendy what she felt was over the top flat look. There was no way the house pets weren't getting smarter.

The ride down the elevator was silent and allowed Wendy to mentally prepare to walk amongst the people. While eight hundred thousand people was nothing in comparison to the original population of two point five million Granite City once had, it still meant at least tens of thousands of people were already awake and moving about. Many would be doing exactly as she was, trying to avoid the morning rush.

Wendy made her way into the Town Hall. She checked on her station and retrieved any news from the Safe Zone's System she had access to. As she only had a few shifts left before she would no longer work for the Safe Zone, her access had already been reduced.

Wendy didn't mind. Instead, she greeted the early shift team and made her way through the line for food. After a quick meal of a couple bagels which she ate as she walked, she explored the market district just to see what they had available.

Unlike the the System Shop, which paid out the minimum prices on items and gear, the stalls and small shops in the market district were allowed to pay out and charge more. This meant the real place to get better gear and items was in district's stores, not the System Shop.

Wendy didn't have a lot of chips, nor a lot of money, so she bought some food for lunch later and first aid supplies. More than anything, she flowed through the crowd, listening to gossip, and learning how the people were. The mood around the Safe Zone was lighter than it had been, but it was still heavy with fear and mourning. It created an atmosphere of distrust and skepticism that kept tensions high. However, the added space and the Lock Down ending was allowing the people to relax a bit and that was felt as well.

After securing her supplies in her Inventory and taking in as much gossip and socialization as she could handle, Wendy left for the Eastern Gate. The combat team had been shocked when the non-combat members of the Guild also received an unlocking of all of the System's features, but it was the final straw that made Wendy determined to administrate the Radiant Crusaders as best as she could. If they were going to continue doing such amazing things, like clearing the Dungeon first, then they would likely continue doing so and Wendy wanted in on that action.

To Wendy's delight, Jut was already waiting for her. She knew he would be. The man was never late to anything unless he had no other choice. He was waiting patiently with both Nox and Gunther lounging with him.

Unlike Lily, the changes to Nox after Ascending were plainly visible. The German Shepard had grown taller and sleeker. He wasn't as big as Gunther, but he looked much more aerodynamic than before and the black in his fur was deeper, almost a pit that sucked in the light. The Guild's leader proved he was ever vigilant when he called out to her, long before she closed the distance with him.

"Wendy, hey." Jut smiled and waved.

Wendy smiled back. Crap, did he get the wrong idea too? He was clean shaven and his hair was brushed. Of course, he was wearing his battle armor, but that was to be expected. Yet, he also didn't seem nervous. She expected Jut to be nervous if he considered this a real date. When she reached him, Wendy spoke, hoping to clear the air.

"Jut, before we head out, I wanted to make sure. You know when I called this a date it was not..." She trailed off, unsure how to put it without coming off rude. While she actually wouldn't mind if this lead to a date with her guild leader, it wasn't her intention at the time. Her roommates had teased her relentlessly about it the night before.

"Oh, I know. It was just a saying." Jut smiled warmly. "I figured if this was any kind of thing, it would be closer to a work meeting while we take a walk." He gestured towards the gate. "Should we head out, or did you need to finish preparing? I was a little early."

"No. I am ready if you are." Wendy felt herself smile genuinely. So, the man wasn't as dense as the others made him out to be.

They joined the queue to exit and made it out the Eastern gate rather quickly. They walked causally through the outer area, each taking in the amazing way the population was coming together. While the atmosphere inside the Safe Zone barrier, which everyone referred to as Slatewell Safe Zone, was thick and harsh, the population thrummed with optimism and drive in this outer area, which everyone had started to call Granite City. Wendy could feel it all around them. The people didn't fight or argue. Instead, they were all working together to begin building their new home.

After they passed multiple buildings that were going up, the foundations being laid as they walked by, Jut spoke.

"Diggy and I secured a good spot. It'll be on what will become the main road to the Eastern exit for the greater Granite City area. We expect we will get a lot of traffic, and being so close to the System Shop will be a boon. Even if the people will have to pass through the gate first."

Wendy nodded. "That is a good idea. It will allow us to have access to the cheaper ingredients for Crimson while still allowing us to increase our profits and keeping us largely relevant. I wanted to go over our mission statement with you."

The two chatted pleasantly about ideas until, before Wendy knew it, they were standing at the gap in the wall that would lead them North. They exited the flat area and Wendy went silent. She felt uneasy. For, while she did have fighting skills, she hadn't fought Monsters regularly. In fact, she had only killed Monsters in the Dungeon, where her death was not possible.

A gentle hand on her shoulder made Wendy look at Jut. He pointed to Nox and Gunther, smiling. "I'm a bit nervous too, but it'll be okay. The guys will get us through quickly, and if we are attacked, the three of us can handle it."

Wendy felt reassured but also a little annoyed. "Are you saying I won't be able to help? I'll have you know that I have the Wands skill and an attack Skill. I even got Power Strike to Stone Rank."

Wendy kept her expression challenging and Jut only laughed, which made her a little angry. He must have seen her expression because he immediately waved his hands defensively.

"I'm not saying that at all. I just liked how you put it. However, unless you have a wand, I doubt either of us will lay a hand on a Monster." He again gestured to the dogs. They were already ripping a small Monster apart.

"Oh. I see." Wendy felt both disgusted and reassured by the grizzly visual. "I can't really afford a wand from the shops and Truman isn't making any as he spends most of his time helping Derrick. I chose a dagger as my weapon though." Wendy admitted. She had also gotten a basic set of leather gear, only one piece having come from the Dungeon.

"Oh, really? Here." From his pouch which lead to his inventory, Jut pulled out a Stone Metal wand and passed it to Wendy.

"Oh, I can't take your weapon." Wendy tried to back petal. She hadn't intended to get anything from him with her statement. He was always too generous in her opinion.

"No worries. I purchased a few of them. I deconstructed them until I could make the base model." He showed her a few wands in his other hand. "These ones aren't actually wands yet, but that will be when Truman is free again. And I have the one I prefer." He stowed the hand full he had and pulled out another wand, holding it at the ready.

"Well, thanks, I guess. I don't want to get to used to free stuff, though." Wendy sniffed. They began to ascend the path that other Adventurer's had carved through the trees the day before leading to Vixen's Vigil.

"That isn't free. We just owe you a lot already. Without your guidance, I doubt we'd even be a true Guild yet. Consider that a tiny fraction of your back pay." Jut grinned. He held his wand up and fired at a bird that was descending on Gunther.

Wendy was shocked at how easy the travel was. She almost felt like she could have made the trip on her own. They were only attacked by normal ranked Monsters and Jut and the dogs made it seem like it was nothing to dispatch them. The hardest part was walking up hill.

"Why is this so easy? I hate to jinx us, but it feels way too easy." Wendy observed as they reached the summit of the path.

"It's a mix of things. We are still relatively close to the Safe Zone and the Vigil itself keeps Monsters away. I heard too many people traveled to and from the Vigil yesterday so I am sure no Stone Ranked Monsters would dare try to attack here. If I had to guess, this is really the only safe place outside the Zone for people without a team to travel to." Jut explained thoughtfully.

"Is it really that bad?" Wendy was curious. She would have looked at Jut to see his physical response, but she got her first look at Vixen's Vigil. It nearly took her breath away.

There was a metal fire pit installed in the center of the clearing. Well crafted wood benches had been placed around it. A railing had been put up around the cliff's edge that would prevent any accidental falls. What stood out as unusual was the alcove. The tall surface that was cut into the mountain side was covered with hundreds, if not thousands of names.

"We can talk about that later. Let's finish our mission here first while the crowd is light." Jut offered.

To Wendy's surprise, there were only a few people around. A small line had formed leading to one section of the railing where a small platform had been added. It allowed visitors to spread their loved one's ashes without risking much blow back, if any.

They waited in a companionable silence. Wendy stepped onto the platform when it was her turn and everything else faded away around her. She pulled out her uncle and mother's urn orbs.

Wendy was the last in her family left in Granite City. Her siblings and cousins were all off else where and she had no idea where they were or if they lived. Her mother's generation was too stubborn to believe their new reality and that's how Sirius had died. Her mother and last remaining uncle had been in the tent city that fell to the Wave on the night of the Lock Down. They had refused to join her in the Tower.

"You idiots. You should have listened." Wendy breathed as she smashed the two orbs together. She had already cried a lot after their passing, and now only one tear escaped. What Wendy felt now was closure.

While she was furious the Wave had happened, the truth was, her entire family let them die. That included her for not forcing them to come with her. As their relationships with Wendy were already more hands off than not before the initialization, she was more upset with them, and herself instead.

Wendy turned and met Jut's gaze. He looked back and nodded in support. She stepped back for someone else to take their turn and bowed her head. She allowed herself to remember them and think back over her life with her mother. Jut was a silent, reassuring presence.

"This place really does help." Wendy sighed before turning back to the alcove. At the end of the long, long list of names, her family members had appeared.

Jut was looking up at the top of the list. Wendy had known Jut's team. They had been awesome guys who turned in more than could be expected of their loot. Their loss was what sparked that look Jut had from time to time. A determination Wendy was jealous of.

The two sat together and had lunch around the fire pit. The mood was somber for Wendy but she was glad for it. Then they watched the Safe Zone for a while in the early afternoon light. Wendy could feel the place breathing and growing as she watched. It was a lance of hope she desperately wanted to cling to. Granite City was going to survive. She could feel it.

While they were walking down the path back towards the Safe Zone, Jut made an obvious show of looking around before he asked Wendy a question.

"I've heard about a Quest the Staffers had. I think is was called Complete the Quest. Did that give any good rewards?"

Wendy tapped her lips in thought. "You must mean Operation Complete the Quest, right? It was alright. I got quite a few Food Credits from it because the numbers were so high." Wendy felt her demeanor shift so she forced it back to neutral.

"What was it exactly?" Jut asked curiously.

Wendy smiled and explained. "I thought it was an excellent operation. It helped motivate the staff. You see, Adam had a Quest from the System to provide housing and food for the population. The higher percentage we reached the more credits we got. It also allowed us to move into better housing after the Lock Down."

"Those are some nice incentives, for sure. That's probably how you girls still have coffee." Jut said teasingly. Before Wendy could respond, he continued. "What percentages do you mean? Of what?"

Wendy shrugged. "Well, Adam's Quest was to provide enough shelter and food for a certain percentage of the population. We scored amazingly well, thanks to..." Wendy felt herself falter as she thought about her mom's only contribution to the Safe Zone. "The Wave."

Jut nodded seriously and looked around briefly before patting her shoulder reassuringly. He just walked with Wendy for a while. She couldn't help but notice his expression shift.

First Jut was solemn like she was. Then he looked to be considering something. His expression went wide and he paled before he shook himself. He regained some color but he still looked nervous. 0

"Why? What does it mean?" Wendy finally asked.

Jut looked around nervously before shaking his head. "I can't tell you. I don't want you to die."