Chapter 15: Forging a Future
The fortified palace gate, now visibly sturdier and less reliant on sheer desperation, was a small but significant victory. The olive stores, while a temporary reprieve, highlighted a critical vulnerability: resource scarcity. Lykos knew they couldn't subsist on olives forever, nor could they repair a crumbling city without a steady supply of basic materials. His 65 System Points felt like a tiny fortune, enough to make a dent, but he needed a clear, actionable plan.
He spent the dawn hours poring over crude, incomplete maps he'd found in the palace library – dusty parchments that depicted the city and its immediate environs, though many details were faded or lost to time. He needed wood for construction and tools, stone for larger fortifications, and perhaps even sources of metal if they were ever to forge proper weapons or advanced tools.
"Elara," Lykos began, addressing the native forager as she arrived for the day's tasks. "Your knowledge of this land is vital. Beyond the olive groves, what other resources do you know of?
Are there forests?
Quarries?
Rivers?"
Elara's brow furrowed in thought. "Prince, to the east, there are some rocky hills. My father always spoke of them having good quality stone, though it's hard to work. And further south, beyond the old farmlands, there used to be a small forest, thick with cypress and pine. It's been untended for decades, but it should still be there."
"And metal?" Lykos pressed.
She shook her head. "Not that I know of, Prince. Any metal would have come from trade, or from deeper mines far from here."
Lykos sighed. Metal was a long-term goal then. For now, stone and wood were the priorities.
He then turned to the newly summoned Greek Apprentice Builder. "You, Builder. You've seen the gate. What would be the next critical area to fortify? And what materials do you need most urgently for proper construction?"
The Builder, methodical and practical, immediately answered.
"Prince, the next step is to secure the outer perimeter of the palace itself, particularly the walls facing the main city square. They are riddled with weaknesses. For proper reinforcement, we require squared stone blocks and sturdy, straight timbers – not just salvaged debris."
His eyes held a professional glint. "With sufficient materials, I can begin laying true foundations for towers, or at least strengthening the existing wall structure significantly."
This confirmed Lykos's intuition. They needed to actively acquire raw materials, not just scavenge. This meant expeditions.
"Alright," Lykos announced, his voice carrying conviction. "Today, we diversify. We need to secure a more stable supply of building materials. This is crucial for our long-term survival."
He outlined his plan:
"Homerus, you will accompany me and a small party to the eastern hills to scout for a suitable stone quarry. Your Epic Narrative skill, used subtly, might deter any lingering threats, or even reveal hidden paths." Lykos also needed Homerus for morale and his Ballad of Restoration if any injuries occurred.
"Elara, you, Theron, and the summoned Forager will head to the southern forest. Your mission is to identify viable trees for lumber. Mark them, but do not cut them yet. We'll need axes and saws first. This is a reconnaissance mission for wood." He emphasized the caution required in the untamed wilderness.
"The three Laborers will remain at the palace with the Apprentice Builder, continuing to reinforce the gate and any immediate weak points under his direction. Their strength is vital here."
"And Myron, Kydon, and the two Militia will maintain full vigilance at the palace. This is our home now, and it must be protected at all costs."
Kalypso would oversee the olive stores and manage the day-to-day needs within the palace.
Lykos looked at his remaining 65 System Points. He desperately wanted to summon more Laborers (10 SP each) to speed up construction, or even another Militia (20 SP) for security on the expeditions. But he also needed to conserve points for unexpected emergencies or to progress towards that tantalizing System Lottery unlock. For now, he would rely on strategic deployment of his existing forces.
His own expedition to the quarry would be dangerous. He wasn't a warrior, and Homerus, while powerful, was a bard, not a frontline fighter. But Lykos knew he couldn't simply send others into danger he wasn't willing to face himself. He needed to understand the risks firsthand, to gauge the true state of the world beyond his crumbling palace walls.
As the sun climbed higher, Lykos, accompanied by Homerus, set out towards the eastern hills. The ground was uneven, rising gently then steeply, covered in sparse, hardy vegetation. Lykos found himself constantly scanning the horizon, his senses heightened by the previous day's encounter. Homerus walked silently beside him, occasionally plucking a few low, contemplative notes on his lyre, a calming presence in the wild.
They found several promising outcrops of stone, but many were fractured or too difficult to extract without proper tools. Lykos, frustrated, wondered if he should have prioritized summoning a specialist miner. He couldn't shake the feeling of being chronically under-resourced.
Then, Homerus stopped, his lyre humming faintly. He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, gazing at a particular section of the hillside hidden by a cluster of gnarled bushes. "Prince," he said, his voice quiet but resonant. "I sense something here. A certain resonance with the earth. Perhaps… a vein of purer stone, less fractured." He wasn't using a specific skill, but Lykos recognized it as Homerus's enhanced passive awareness, a benefit of his unlocked Memory.
Lykos pushed through the bushes, revealing a small, almost hidden alcove in the hillside. Inside, the stone looked different—darker, denser, with clear lines of fracture that suggested it would cleave more easily. It wasn't a grand quarry, but it was a start. A stable stone source.
"Excellent, Homerus!" Lykos exclaimed, excitement bubbling. "This is exactly what we need!" He took a moment to mentally mark the location.
As they made their way back, Lykos's mind was already formulating the next steps. They had located a stone source. Elara's group would hopefully have found viable wood. The palace was being fortified. They were making progress, slow but steady.
But the wilderness was vast, and the dangers were ever-present. The feeling of being constantly on the knife's edge, balancing immediate survival with long-term growth, was exhausting. Yet, it was also undeniably exhilarating. Lykos knew that with every new resource secured, every new wall erected, every new challenge overcome, the Forgotten Flame would burn a little brighter. And with the tantalizing promise of the System Lottery and its legendary rewards, he was more determined than ever to see this ancient city rise again.