Through the exhaustion the fort continued to stay alive with activity. They knew they had big jobs to do before the night and only so long to do it. The jobs were handed out to the workers and there was still no time for the 5 of them to rest. They held an emergency meeting by the baby tree that represented their souls.
Standing around it with the shimmering light in the middle they began.
"Good work last night everyone. I know we're tired, but now is not the time for rest. Depending on what we get done will depend on how fast we can sleep."
Elli said in a matter of fact way, trying to brush off her own exhaustion with reason.
"Our duties revolve around organisation, expansion, and protection."
She looked at Kai with an almost apologetic expression.
"I'm so sorry to ask this of you Kai, but you're the only one. We need everybody we can get and a lot of people are hurt. Can you heal the worst of them and help with the recovery of those who just need to rest?"
Kai had his arms crossed and his head down, but thanks to him being taller than everyone else they could see how wide his eyes got. He realised what this would require from him, but like Elli said, it was a job only he could do. He cleared his throat and tried to play it off.
"Yeah. I was going to do that anyway. It's nothing."
He said as he looked up to only turn his face to the side, trying to hide the tears building up in his eyes at the thought of how painful today was going to be. Not just today, but maybe every day.
Poor Kai…
Skye thought to himself while suppressing the urge to celebrate. He wouldn't say anything outloud, not unless he was provoked again at least.
"Claire, We're going to need to strengthen the walls and repair what's broken already, along with building what we can. We'll need to clear more of the forest. Skye, we're going to need a lot of rope so people can work together and build. Are you two good with that?"
Claire and Skye looked at each other and smiled, happy to have the team back together. Both shaking their heads yes. Claire could really speed up the clearing as long as she didn't have to drag the trees back by herself.
"And Nora, me and you are going to start setting this place up. We'll have to designate people to jobs and start planning how this fort can actually work. Right now everyone is aimless. We'll set up times to wash in the river and jobs. I'll need your help with this."
Nora was a bit taken back, she didn't know Elli grasped the scope of her skills so quickly. Back in the Bubble Nora was mainly responsible for logistics and communication. In the Bubble everything needed to run like a well oiled machine. It was originally set up as a research outpost in the ocean, far below the surface. Once the wars broke out they were cut off from the topside, and eventually, they decided to never return.
Every breath of air was deliberately throughout, resources were scarce and running out of anything meant death for thousands. Luckily some of the world's brightest were down there and they banded together to form the council that led them. That council eventually turned into the ruling families.
Nora just shook her head up and down, unsure what else Elli has been able to figure out.
"Before we go, we have to talk about the changes we've experienced since our souls combined and we became group 6 on this list. Can we all see this thing that says Branded? Do you all also have a 0/20 on it as well?"
The group confirmed together, still unsure what it meant, but happy that everyone also saw it.
Elli continued.
"The wording is more vague than I've seen before, and we don't have our guides to ask anymore, so we have to figure it out on our own. I really wish they were still around to help."
A voice from the shimmer responded.
[Please, how may I help?]
The group stood stunned around the tree where the voice came from. They assumed that the introduction would be all they got, but of course, no one even tried to talk to it since. They were far too busy becoming step parents to hundreds of lost humans to put much thought into it.
Skye was the first to reply.
"Why.. Why didn't you tell us you'd still be here to help us Ora? We all just assumed you'd be… We'll.. A tree?"
Ora answered with a tone that Skye could have sworn he recognised.
[You never asked. Please, how may I help you?]
Skye knew in that second that Dubs was still in there somewhere. He'd bet all the money he had, which was none because money didn't exist here, that it came directly from his mouth. Skye crossed his arms and let out a small laugh.
You son of a bitch, and here I was missing you.
Elli coughed, then introduced into their moment.
"Sorry we didn't ask Ora, but if you could please, what is this branded? It has no description."
[Thank you for asking Elli. As the gods have left their mark on you, you may leave yours on others. It will not be as powerful, but they may borrow from your power and improve with the essence of life found in the slivers of the worlds.]
Elli's eyes widened, while Skye and Kai looked at each other a bit confused.
I'm not too keen on the idea of having to touch people like that.. It seems pretty personal and definitely unconsentual..
Skye decided to just listen rather than speak up before he knew more about it, a first for him. Elli already figured out what their next steps needed to be just from that small exchange.
"Claire when we're done here, go find 20 of the best fighters from last night and try to Brand them. Take half of the slivers from last night and divide it between them. Find Li and make sure they have the best gear."
She looked at the other members of the group and pondered for a second, resting her dirty hand on her chin. She still hasn't stopped long enough to go take a wash in the river.
"Kai, tell me more about your abilities, you're the only one I'm not up to date on. Nora becomes stronger when wrapped in shadows and Skye has new Minions and an ability to grow. What changed with you?"
He replied, almost hurt that she didn't know what he was doing in the background.
"We'll my Minions can now slightly heal and recover stamina. If you even cared to ask.."
She cut him off mid huff;
"Yes I know about that part, you were a huge help last night, anything else or is that it?"
He snapped back.
"We'll if you'd stop fucking interrupting me I'd tell you! Damn, the disrespect! I should have left you for the roaches. Yeah, I can also imprint Runes onto things. I just don't know how yet. I think I need to carve it with either my mana or a sharp rock, I'll figure it out. It should make whatever I imprint strong."
Elli let a small smile escape her lips and clapped her hands together.
"That settles it! It's all coming together!"
"Sneaky!" She pointed to Nora
"Strong!" She pointed to Claire
"Crafty!" She pointed to Kai
"And stinky!" Kai pointed to Skye
"Oh I thought we were just giving out nicknames, my bad!"
He raised his hands when Elli shot him a look, really disappointed he ruined her fun.
"And Farmy!... I'll work on that last one, growy didn't feel right, but I think your ability will help feed everyone. Kai, go find people who want to craft things, anyone good with their hands will do. Nora, find people who seem fast and agile, smaller frames and quick thinking. Skye, anyone who will do, I have a feeling they'll be more farming related. I'll pick mine from the leftovers."
She gave a dramatic pause. Then placed her hands on her hips and exclaimed.
"We're going to survive tonight no matter what."
—-
Everyone followed the directions Elli gave, not because they didn't have any of their own ideas, but because hers seemed like better ones all around.
Claire consulted the military leaders and her 20 warriors were picked out.
The process of Branding was quite straight forward, Ora helped them understand it. All you have to do is place your hand on their backs and channel some mana into them. That mana spread and though not as painfully as it did for them, it opened up their pathways and allowed them to use abilities similar to theirs. Each one was left with a red handprint that didn't seem to fade.
Skye watched it all happen from his stump as he created rope that would be used to build and drag trees. The warriors Claire picked were able to lessen the blows they took, energy passing through them and into the ground, making them much like her, a brick wall.
Kai's crafters could also imprint runes onto things, and they didn't even need a sharp rock to do it. It was all about how they channeled their mana. They started to cut and dry the skin of the monsters killed last night and practiced on that. Once successful, it even stopped a blade from cutting through.
The plan was to tie those on the outside wall so monsters couldn't dig their claws in and climb up. Another good idea directly out of the brain of Elli.
Nora's Brand allowed the people she picked to hide their presence, even in the light of day, making them harder to see. Skye could only assume they'd become stronger at night. The people Elli Branded gained amazing eyesight and reflexes.
And then there was Skye, sitting next to 20 people, waiting for his orders. They could improve the growth rate of not only his root ability but any plant. With them by his side he was flying through these roots like meat being pushed through a grinder. They will come in handy when they start to farm as well, but for now, this was their job. They braided the ropes together in the meantime.
Skye let out a big sign. Of course this was his destiny. He was just happy he could be helpful. An army cannot exist on just meat alone.
They carried on with their jobs, cleaning the woods and building stronger walls and expanding the fort. They extended the front gate to shoot out into a large corridor where they will continue the same tactic tonight as they did last night. This way the people inside had the extra protection of a gate protecting them.
This was the idea of someone named Shelby, a builder from an island that was so small that most people forgot about it. Most islands became smaller as the oceans rose, but hers must have been pretty big before to still survive.
She directed the workers alongside Elli, pointing to where things should be to improve the structural integrity and helped with the final design. They wouldn't be able to do it all in one day, but they had to start now.
They drew in the dirt under their feet the layout and a small map of the area. They had where Claire talked about the town up north, where the river was, the castle and entrance to the cave as well. Nora's Branded were already running though the forest getting a grasp on their surroundings, communicating with each other about what they found every time they returned.
And Skye, Skye kept on making rope.