Watcher's Question: A LitRPG Saga (Life in Exile Book 2)

by Sean Oswald

  Mira jumped in at this point, “You should have seen the first time that the humans were asked to eat rice. It was almost as good as the first time that the elves had to eat mashed potatoes.”

  Emily looked at Mira and faintly smiled because she could indeed picture that. She suspected the dining options were limited here in Eloria like they were in less developed parts of earth.

  “My hope is to build upon the unity in the dining hall to create unity. I think that having all of the kids in a school together will also go a long way towards promoting that.” Dave’s tone was wistful but his face displayed the resolve that he felt.

  By this time, their walk had taken them to the marked off location for a school. Dave explained to Emily that as soon as they marked off the plot of land for any given building that it showed up in the LRI as 1% complete. Apparently simply designating the land for a specific location was enough.

  “So, I’m pretty sure that you are going to agree with most of what I started, but if you don’t then I want to sit down and talk about any changes.” Dave’s voice was excited with just a hint of nervousness.

  “You know I have ideas about how a society should be built. You probably even know most of them. I know that I have driven you crazy over the years with my complaints about what is wrong in every different kind of society I went to. You’ve listened to all my political rants about first world versus third developing world issues.” Emily was clearly ready to burst out of her skin with intensity. “Now, just think about it, we can build this right from the ground up.”

  “I completely agree that this is a great chance to build something new, but only one caveat, no matter how much freedom you want to give to everyone, I am not going to give up being in control. It is the only way to protect our children. Eloria is not a safe place.”

  Emily frowned a bit, “Don’t you think that someday we could get to the point where there is no need for nobility and Murkwood could be a democracy?”

  “Of course, you know I believe in democracy, but it should be pretty obvious that people can’t go from uneducated serf to full on educated voter in a day.” Dave’s firm tone told Emily that he was trying to be gentle with her but wasn’t going to give in on this issue.

  “Hmmmpph … yes, I know you are right.” The reluctance in Emily’s tone spoke to the struggle between her idealism and her motherly desire to protect her children.

  “Honey, I’m sure that we can find a way to set in place changes for the future, but right now we have to build something.” That seemed to please Emily a bit so he continued, “Some of your vision can start even from the beginning, like the school here.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “I want to educate all of the kids. Learning shouldn’t be something for only the rich. In fact, the way that we will create a better future is through education.”

  “I love you. Free education in the school, free healthcare in the hospital, and free food in the dining hall...

  Dave slammed his left hand down like a knife into the palm of his other hand. “Wait, wait … yes we are going to provide education, healthcare, and food, but nothing is free.”

  A couple of workers who were leveling out the foundation for school stopped and looked at Emily and Dave as their discussion became more energetic.

  “What, you want to lord our positions over them? Charge them for basic needs?” Emily felt her frustration growing as the old argument between her and Dave came to the surface.

  “No, will you stop and let me explain for a second?” Dave said as he reached out to grab her hand.

  A reluctant, “Yes,” came through her clenched teeth.

  “I don’t want to rehash old political arguments. I only want to point out that we need stability for our family. We need Eris’ Rise and all that the Murkwood can become to be a secure place. That means secure from monsters and also financially solvent. I know that sometimes your heart gets in the way, but you know that it costs money to do all of those things.

  Either, we can keep the current system with serfs and can keep them in poverty, just with education and healthcare. Well-fed slaves are still slaves and essentially serfs are just a type of slave. I have a bigger vision than that. As we educate everyone, they will trade, and our community will grow. We will provide opportunities and those with ambition will make something of themselves.

  As long as I am baron here, there will be safety and opportunity. Anyone who wants to contribute or even those who can’t will never have to worry about the basic essentials. The one thing that I won’t tolerate is those that are unwilling to work. We won’t force them to work but nor will they share in the bounty of our land.”

  Emily stood still and let Dave get out his entire monologue. Clearly, he had been thinking about this a lot. “Okay, okay, I admit that you can’t just give free stuff to everyone or it kills their spirit just as much as being made serfs, but I have a hard time with the idea of hungry children even if their parents are lazy.”

  “First off, I think that you are inventing problems. So far, I have yet to meet a single lazy person in Eloria, human, elf, or half-orc. Maybe it is the fact that they are not very far removed from life and death struggle or maybe it is their fear of the nobles, but all seem to be eager to work.”

  “I guess that sorta makes sense, but it's just that these are the sort of problems that I saw all over the poor parts of earth. The rich, lording their wealth over those without, and I won’t be part of that here.”

  “We will have to deal with that if and when it occurs, but for now I think we should just focus on building the best society that we can. Aren’t you always the one telling me that we just need to have faith?” Dave tried not to but ended up breaking out into a sly grin as he knew his last argument was heavy handed.

  Emily stared at Dave for a while, looking for any sign of sarcasm or manipulation in his eyes. Finally, she lunged into him and hugged him wholeheartedly. “Okay, we will trust in God or Shanelle like it's all up to Her, and we will work and plan like it’s all up to us.”

  The workers who had been worried at being near to arguing nobles, even a husband and wife, were even more mortified by the kissing that went on after the heated discussion. Albians were not very comfortable with public displays of affection, but for once, Emily didn’t care about the cultural standards around her.

  Finally pulling away from Dave, Emily said, “So what is your plan?”

  “It’s really simple. We are trying to build the homes, town hall, school, and dining hall before winter arrives. The idea is that the dining hall will provide food for everyone over the course of the winter, while the school provides a place to start educating the kids. We will start with those who are twelve and older and expand as we find enough qualified teachers. Meanwhile, the town hall will serve as both a meeting place and some of its back rooms will provide a spot for crafting training. Hopefully by spring, we will have a plan in place for exporting goods and creating the revenue necessary to finish developing Eris’ Rise.”

  “Okay, so I’m on board with all of that. What about the churches?”

  “Well, I know that you are technically a part of the Church of Shanelle, but we can’t let that be a top priority. If there is enough time then we will certainly finish the temples. The other issue that must be addressed is the wall. I don’t want to take a chance that there will be another goblin or undead attack.”

  Emily felt a surge of anger pass through her, “Do you think that is a possibility?”

  “According to Max before he left, each of the knights who have sworn fealty to me, and what little I have been able to learn from the elven warriors who arrived before you, there doesn’t seem like much risk. The problem is that none of them thought that the first attack should have happened. Max thought it was most likely that death knight, Draznei’kai working alone, but I am not so sure.” Dave had taken on that attorney tone as he critically analyzed an issue.

  “I agree that we should be careful.
Building something new and precious here is worth defending, not to mention all of the children, ours included.”

  Their conversation had continued on past the school and they found themselves next to a plot of land marked out for a store. There on the leveled slab of hardened ground, they found Balayria painting on a shield. Next to Balayria was Sara who spent most of her time with the half-orc whenever Dave and Emily needed to do something without her. Of course, Sara’s ever present shadow, Krinnk was hiding in a corner too.

  Dave got a big smile on his face, “Do you recognize the symbol she is painting?”

  Emily grabbed both of Dave’s hands and said, “I forgot all about that. I recognized it immediately. It’s the same as the artwork over our mantle back home err … I mean back on earth.”

  “I know that we can’t ever go back home, or at least I have no idea of how to, but I thought that was the most appropriate image of what we want Eris’ Rise to be. It will be a tree growing up to support a host with its branches.”

  “Exactly, and thank you for the reminder of home and all that image means to me. Can I ask though why Balayria is painting it on the shield?”

  “Well, Balayria has a skill for painting. Her art isn’t just beautiful, it is magical. I don’t know what all it can accomplish, but she says that with the right symbols her magic can strengthen those who bear it and can bring to life the things in her paintings. The coolest part is that Sara has this same skill.”

  The two shared a grin as they remembered how much Sara liked to draw. “That is amazing. I get to be a ninja healer and Sara has magical drawing.” Emily was so happy even as Dave was reminded that everyone seemed to be achieving their hearts desire while he was still trying to find his way.

  Emily and Balayria spent a while talking. The latter showing Emily her work and explaining some about how it works while Dave looked on lost in thought. While they spoke, the second sun started to set and not a one of the three adults realized Sara had wandered off again.

  Seeing everyone was so busy talking Sara started to look around for something more interesting to do. There. What was that? She saw a group of boys around her own age throwing rocks at something. Curious and bored, which is always a dangerous combination, Sara snuck up behind them to see what the boys were doing.

  “Stop. Stop it right now.” Sara cried out in horror as she ran forward to protect the creature that they were tormenting. Her heart would have gone out to any creature in that situation but that fact that it was a bunny, albeit an oversized one made it so much easier for her. As she reached it Sara first saw that its white fur was streaked with blood and it was trembling in obvious terror.

  Another pair of rocks were still thrown even after she yelled and one struck Sara’s face, cutting her cheek and sending her sprawling while crying out in pain. The other rock struck the rabbit’s back leg and even through her tear filled eyes, Sara was able to see that this leg was stuck in a trap of sorts made of a wooden board and a metal spring. It was like those icky mouse traps that her dad used to put out.

  Her crying must have scared the boys off, that or one of the adults came over and saw who she was and shushed the boys away so they wouldn’t be in trouble for injuring the baron’s daughter. Whatever it was no one came to help her right away other than Krinnk, who was standing guard over her. It was probably a good thing that none of the boys had tried to throw anymore rocks at her. Sara wasn’t sure how long Krinnk could have controlled himself and it was Sara’s greatest fear that he would hurt someone in town and she wouldn’t be able to protect him. She loved her goblin friend so very much and she knew he only wanted what was best for her. Yet, even though her young mind couldn’t put words to it she knew there was a feral side to Krinnk.

  As she laid there stroking the trembling rabbit she took a better look at the creature. It was clearly much larger than any bunny she had ever seen. The class pet bunny in Mrs Michlek’s 1st grade class had fit easily within the nook of her arms but this rabbit was almost as big as she was. Its fur was still a pure white and it had the same little pink center to its nose which kept wrinkling up as it was nervously sniffing at her.

  Something about the stroking made the creature calm down and Sara began to feel a connection form between her and the creature. She snuggled her head against its warm fur and was greeted with the prompt:

  Do you wish to make this creature into a monster friend?

  Sara promptly chose yes, she had always wanted a pet bunny after all. Then another prompt followed.

  You must name your new monster friend in order to forge the bond.

  “Hmmm...,” Sara said speaking out loud, “You have such beautiful white fur, so how about we name you Snowball?” Not in words, but Sara instantly could feel the connection with Snowball and knew that the bunny approved of its new name. Sara felt its body shudder and it grew larger and even fluffier.

  Congratulations! You have formed your second Monster Friendship Bond.

  Sara Nelson: +5 AGILITY, +5 STRENGTH, Jumping: +10, Burrowing: +10,

  Heightened Olfactory Sense: +10 to Tracking

  Snowball the Riesenhase: +3 INT, +20% all physical stats and size. Max Tier +1

  Note that because you now have more than 1 Monster Friend you may share some of the strengths for each of your friends with 1 other of your Monster Friends. These allocations may be changed each time a Monster Friend is added.

  Given that you only have two monster friends the allocations will be made automatically. Krinnk gains Jumping +10 and Snowball gains +10 to Stealth

  By this time her mother had noticed that Sara was missing and came out looking for her, by she found her lying on the ground in the alley space between two buildings next to what looked like a monstrous rabbit, Emily had started to panic.

  “There you are,” she began before seeing the bloody cut on Sara’s cheek.”

  Emily ran forward, “What happened sweetie? Did this thing bite you? Why didn’t Krinnk stop it?”

  Sara reached out for her mother’s hand. “No, this is my new friend, Snowball. I saved her. Her foot is stuck in this trap and some mean boys were trying to bash her with rocks.”

  Aghast, Emily said, “Did they throw rocks at you too?” Even as she asked Emily began casting Minor Heal.

  “Just one mommy, those bashers are bad boys.” Sara said but her indignant tone turned to a sigh of relief as the healing magic worked to close her cut.

  “Thank you mommy, but now Snowball needs to be healed too.”

  One of Emily’s bodyguards chimed in at that point, “Lady Emiri, you should be careful with that creature. They don’t eat meat, but they do burrow under homes and eat food supplies. They have also been known to strike buildings or even people with their back feet when running away. That is why we call them thumpers. And that one seems to be a particularly large one.”

  Sara stuck out her tongue at the guard who was startled by such a gesture. “Mommy, Snowball is my friend. She would never hurt anyone now. We have to help her out.”

  “Sara, look at me. Is Snowball one of your friends like Krinnk is?” Emily asked.

  “Yes, exactly like that. I can feel what she is thinking. We are gonna be the best of friends, I just know it. So, please can we help her.”

  Conflict played out across Emily’s face but in the end she said, “Yes of course sweetie.”

  After ordering the guards to help her free Snowball from the trap, Emily healed the creature and then was the recipient of a wet rabbit nose kiss up against her face. This led to everyone but the guards laughing.

  One of his human guards came up next to Dave, “Pardon me, my Lord, but the evening meal will be served anytime now at the dining hall, and you asked us to make sure you were there each night to eat with the people.”

  The statement pulled Dave out of his introspection and he said, “Exactly right. Thank you guardsmen Schiele.” After that, Dave spoke to the two women and the three went to the dining tents that were set up until the permanent bu
ilding was ready. This time all three making sure that Sara, complete with her friends was never out of sight.

  Emily was amazed to see well over a thousand people eating at nearly one hundred long tables set up throughout the half dozen huge tents. Dave guided them around saying hello so many times that she lost count. Most of the people seemed to be very happy to see the two of them. The elves looked to her first, and the humans looked to Dave first. The occasional person looked at one or the other of them frowned, but no one dared to say anything. Finally, once they got through all the handshaking and encouraging words, they reached a head table for twenty where there were several empty seats. Dave and Emily sat together with Mira and Sara on either side of them and Balayria took a seat further down the table.

  Once they took their seats, everyone started to eat, digging into an elven dish which Emily had never seen before. Dave began introducing the various people around the table to her. Besides the girls, Balayria, Talvenicus, Jaselm, Daichi, and Eisuke, she didn’t know any of them. The other eleven men were knights, a paladin from Mishpat’s church, and a couple of elven military commanders. Dave explained that as best as possible these were the leaders of the growing community but that no official decisions had been made regarding who would make up the council of advisors.

  Over dinner they had a long discussion about the progress in town. The various military commanders expressed their dissatisfaction with the various menial tasks that their men were given. From the way Dave groaned, Emily figured that this was a regular complaint. Eventually after everyone reported in, they discussed plans for the future. Dave explained that he would be putting together a hunting party to go with the elven forest wardens and a long argument ensued over who would be allowed to go.