Once their hour was up, he asked her to sit down and talk for a second. "May I ask why your confident with the sai but you're so worried about the sword? I understand what happened but you are fine with the other weapon."
She thought for a moment. She then explained how when watching the sai being used, it looked easy and fun. She then explained what happened at the factory. How she used Duff's sai to protect herself from the sword.
"You kept this sword? Or do you have a different sword?"
"I kept the sword and a few other things that I found that looked… interesting. The sword has the same symbol as my locket."
"I want you to work with that sword from now on. You were attacked by it so now you need to forgive it."
"Forgive a sword? The sword didn't wield itself."
Steven nodded. "You're right. When you close your eyes, do you see the man coming at you or the sword?"
A look of understanding spread on her face. "I see. That makes sense. I'll bring it for tomorrow's lesson."
Steven nodded and smiled.
"On to the next thing for me!" Lana looked at her husband cradling their babies.
Mandy was sitting against the wall reading one of her notebooks. Shalt had been practicing the footwork she had just learned while she was learning it. Lana didn't know how to feel. The number of people who follow her was strange but she knew it would just grow over time. The most important thing for her right now was the people in front of her, and her brother of course.
"Next order of business," she stated as she approached them, "We need to turn a house into my lab and include a play area for the babies."
Shalt responded first, "There are several empty right next to you minus the one Kattie and Almin moved into."
She nodded, "I was thinking the same. Just put it right there next to them and outside our home."
Lana sighed. "This means, we need to move all the furniture I bought down below and use it for new housing that will be put in down there. I'm thinking of leaving the kitchen and dining area. The living room can be converted into a meeting room. All the bedrooms need to be made into something else. We can leave the bathrooms alone as well."
"Do you know how you want your labs setup?"
Lana shook her head. "I want to go in it again once the furniture is out of it. I'm wondering if the master bedroom is big enough to do my research while having a space in there for the kids. Whether I like it or not, I will need more help with them if I'm to get everything accomplished."
She glanced at Sil who smiled. "Perhaps I need to pose the question in the morning at breakfast but also ask the Cursed or maybe put up an ad in the recruitment area of the faction system? How do families normally hire people?"
Lana felt her mask at her hip vibrate and placed it on her face to answer the call, knowing it had to be Sam.
"Hey Sam, is everything okay?"
"The Parasites got back with us. There is to be a dual between our factions. We need Sil to participate in it. Can you have him back here in three days?"
"Of course. I have a growing list of things to discuss with you anyway. We'll use this time to get things taken care of here. See you in three days."
Lana updated Sil on the contents of the call. Shalt asked Sil if he wanted to help move the stuff out of her new Lab so they could get her set up. Sil readily agreed and found the person with the telekinesis ability. He borrowed from Dobin and a few others as well so he could have the MC to empty the house quicker than having everyone carry the stuff. They could store the stuff after the house was empty. He wanted that part done so she could figure out what she needed while they stowed everything.
Lana had to choose the house between her house and the library because she didn't want to take a 5-bedrom house. It took Sil 20 minutes and Lana was able to go in and start working on what needed to be done. Lana came back out and asked for the living room furniture be moved into a room upstairs to act as a lounge area, which Sil happily did.
Instead of a meeting room in the living area, that would be her primary lab area. The bedroom would be for the children. This left two empty former bedrooms upstairs. She decided to make one into a study room where people could study ancient books, her notes, and such things. This would help the people she teaches have a quiet place to study.
The other place below ground that she had yet to design would be to practice the things they learned.
When contemplating the purpose of her research, she decided the best use for that last room was to use it for research that needed a sterile environment. Now, off to purchase supplies.
The study room got bookshelves, books, a great number of notebooks and note-taking supplies; books on how to draw since that was also imperative. A plant master needed to have proper drawings of the plants in their notes. Drawing was a must. As it would also be if they were in the field. Since Lana refused to allow her notebooks out of her sight, she decided she needed to start copying them to have them on the shelves in this room.
The lounge room looked comfortable. The furniture in this house was all high-end because the 80-foot houses were designed to be. The new conference room looked inviting. The upstairs lab was sparsely set up. She had yet to decide what she would use this room for.
The downstairs lab was fully stocked. The children's room was set up with all kinds of things including secondary cribs, sensory toys, children's books, things they would need as they developed and grew. A single bed was also placed in there in case a nursemaid wanted to nap while the children napped. Lana was satisfied with her new workspace and feeling blessed for all the help she had getting it set up.
Lana made sure Mandy understood when she wasn't tasked with anything, she was to be in there studying.
"Lana, I was thinking."
Lana listened carefully because the tone she carried seemed important.
"Is it okay if I stop being part of the farming team and focused on my studies? I want to be part of your mission and think that will slow me down. I'd also like to help out with the babies as I'm able to. I think you'll need a few people to help."
Lana nodded. "Done. Farming is helpful but you really need that skill so you can eat while you are out on mission."
Mandy nodded.
"I won't need you for the rest of the day. Focus on your studies. With Sil here, he can help with the babies. He'll be going back soon, though. I'm off to grow a really huge tree…." With that, Lana walked out of the shelter.
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