For Kurisa

She greeted the people who were going to install the insulsation and the interior of the house along with the larger panels that would make up the buildings. Most likely a painter or some other designer would be the one to make the final touches, along with putting in the windows and all of the other little bits. They took up their things and begun to clean up their mess, making sure what they had prepared hours before was ready before leaving. It was only right to see their job through to the end, rather than leaving it half way done. With the last bits of a final inspection they would make sure it was step ad settle on the concrete and that all of their boards were in place and secured properly, after doing so the lot of them made their way back through the alleys and into the plaza once more, seeing where else they were needing to be. Their task as a group was to simply put up structures or prepare pieces to be put up. They were part of the many construction teams. Fala was just one of many people who had been attached to these groups to help defend against rebels, whom thankfully had not presented themselves yet.

It wasn't long before they would be stuck between a crowd of people again who were between their locations and finding their next task. There was a good few more locations they could get through before the day was over, and waiting was only going to delay the process. With the day started and most people going back to their normal lives, it would be almost necessary for the teams to split and group up, taking in more people and traveling just a bit more cramped to save the travel time as the carts return to their daily trade routes. It seemed to make sense. They helped as much as they could, and the others that were able to later in the day were doing so now. The next town would be a smaller city not that unlike to where they were now. A more industrialized place with far less crop and farmland, or at least that was what they seemed to be saying about it all. With a nod, the next wave of carts rolled in and her group loaded themselves onto it, only for herself to be left behind. Without the desire to really squeeze on the over packed cart with them, she decided to wait for the next one. After all, they were going to the same place.

She waited among masses that she had not seen nor talked to before. It wasn't any different than a new city full of strangers. This town was just that. All she had to do was patiently wait for the next batch of carts to arrive. Until then, she wandered around the plaza, seeing how things used to be, trying to get a feel for the life the used to breathe, or at least, the life that normally was about here, instead of all of the people who had came here to help start rebuilding all of the damaged structures. She wondered if the next place would have burned down homes or if she would have to help them start from scratch like she was doing before with her former team. It wasn't long until she caught the attention of another woman who seemed to have been appointed the same position of protection. With a bit of introduction and explanation of her simple armor she would explain that she was put in charge of her unit for the same reasons; to keep them safe. But having done so, so many times before, they had gotten used to seeing her around. With the short introductions, they loaded themselves onto the next cart and went on their way.

And ultimately that was what they had all come together for, to rebuild a lost and damaged community before it was lost forever. They all had to endure the hardship together. That was what brought communities together, more than be believed before. This world, it was cruel. You learn to accept its evils, and often deal back to it. Taking in the joys of killing those that wronged you, or those that wronged others. The only way to be rid of monsters, is to kill them. And often, its those with blooded hands that continue to do that dirty work. There really was no way for them to stop or fight back a dragon. At least not at their current state. They might be able to fortify themselves, or get something to minimize damage done to them, but in the end, they just had to survive. That was all any of them had to do at the end of the day. They just had to survive to the next day. That was their life mission, it was any one's life mission. To make it to the next. If you died today, you don't have tomorrow to make it up. And some of them seemed to cherish every moment, taking in these small joys as if it would be there last. When very damn well it could be.

These people in relation to those she had interacted with more often, could be killed relatively fast. Just by her hand just a single punch could send their heart into cardiac arrest. For most of them, that was it, and it would be rather instant death. These farmers' names never to be recorded in the annals of history. Nameless lives reduced to a statistic. All of these lives left with little to defend themselves with. All of these lives that could be ended in fractions of a second. Fractured moments would pass and all of them would be dead. It would be just that easy. Deep breath in. Slow exhale. This desolate town was just one of many on today's trip. All of it was for the good of the world. Small seeds planted in the hearts of nobodies. She could never commit all of their names to memory, but they would remember her. She at least would rise above the rest. She would be one to stand out from the masses. She was sure of it. They were nobodies, but she, Fala, she would become somebody. Among all of these background characters, she would rise above them all and become something far more.

Dragons. It was still something unbelievable. It might as well have been a werewolf super beast awoken from an ancient slumber and called upon the world to fight him in a glorious one versus one hundred battle. A horrid display of power that would result in several different accounts for what would transpire, turning the event into a strange story only to be further warped as time continued to skip forward. This world was strange, and often the more she thought about it, the stranger it became. Was it worth the thought? Perhaps not. But it was better than talking over what her favorite vegetable to eat for breakfast in spring was. And for that much, she was thankful they weren't exactly pestering her for answers. Perhaps it was how different she was to them, or perhaps the fact alone that she was an outsider. It didn't matter if it was a dragon or some beast creature name Ragnar. What matted was the effort they put in today, and the lives that they helped in making better. All of the people who lost their families, they could at least still have a home. And those that were lucky to have only lost their homes, well, now they would return to their normal lives.

She wondered if the people beside her in this crowded cart would share the same ideas or like before, would be shocked at such ridiculous statements. Was it worth opening her mouth and taking a second chance at conversation? No, these people looked like they were far more grizzled and less of speaking types. It wasn't like any, or most of them, would really have any entertaining thought. Perhaps a scholar among them to pass the thoughts of some eloquent passage she had yet to hear of. It wasn't impossible, but with the hillbillies in the back of this wagon she doubted the value of the passengers. Whatever one place lacked, the next could damn well have. It was unlikely that every town out here was empty and devoid of anything interesting. hopefully the next town would yield someone or something of interest, but with each passing moment she found it more and more unlikely. Everywhere she went it felt like they were devoid of culture or free thought. As if not a single soul had considered life beyond their strange little farm land. She wanted to ask, but even she understood it was going to be a waste of time.

It would be those little gems hidden among rocks that would keep her interested. Perhaps some mason rebuilding some stone castle who would shed some light on rather interesting forms of magic, or perhaps he would be one versed in speech. A poet in hiding. A diamond in the rough. The thought of some sage like man racked up in strange texts and a warped sense of reality offering a different perspective on live and literature was rather fascinating. But again she turned to look at them all, trying to guess their background, their life, who they were before it all, or after it all. She wondered if perhaps one of them could be some sort of secret book fanatic, someone to have interesting conversation if prodded with the right bait. She imagined a few of them to be bakers, or some sort of blacksmith who made tools for the other tradesmen. It would certainly seem like a community that relied within itself, and it would bring no surprise that armories out here would be more fitted for their customers who would far less often take to war and battles to display power, but to tend to jobs and other things that paid rather well, or offered a sort of service.

But what was the point of all of this rebuilding? they worked together, but for what? An endless struggle of gathering materials, donations from those who could spare it in the name of good will and hopeful good fortune. Sure they may receive it back the next time they're on the receiving end. But she couldn't help but find the struggle moot and pointless. They would rebuild what dragons and destroyed, but for how long would it stand? How long would it last this time? It was not like these new materials would prevent such destruction again. If anything, it would just make it just as easy to destroy as the first time. Nothing would be different in the end. The town would stand again, only to be knocked right back down. And the cycle would continue. Like war, battles would be fought, people would die, cities fall, and they get rebuilt and it all starts over again. That was just how the world was. How long would it be until their queen is assassinated and another noble tries and takes her place? Who was to say it hadn't already happened and all of their support for her was misplaced as someone else puppeted her words?

When it was all over, maybe she could have an escape. Just maybe. The idea of it certainly was a thought to consider, even if it was unlikely. But perhaps a world where the only danger comes every so rarely might be preferred over magic that could very well remove her from existence. There's a chance. Even if it was near to none. Maybe then these jobs would be finally over and done with. Maybe then the struggle and grind for money for all of the armor and weapons just to survive will be over. But even if she obtained wealth, these people had still each other. Its that sense of community that makes a guild worth while, why wouldn't it apply to some backwards town in the middle of nowhere? She would have no reason to visit if it wasn't for some job that was paying. It wasn't like it was a tourist destination, but perhaps in helping out, in the small chance she retired out here, maybe she would have people who would have her back. Would she have that sense of community? Would she have people willing to lend a hand because she asked them to? Would they spare their wealth to help her back on her feet like they did for each other?

Sure, she could become a lord of sorts like Cassia the Dauntless, but was it worth all of the struggles? A handful of servants to tend to her needs, rather than a small army to feed and worry about. which would be the preferred life to have? No one works for a life where they work forever. The endless mindless jobs hired to take just to pay bills. Everyone works for the life where they wouldn't need to anymore. Be it to become some lord or king of sorts, or to settle down and have a family. A quiet life where issues are few to none, or one where power is always within grasp. But would she be fit to be a queen? Would people really respect her command, or listen out of fear? What stopped them from leaving her land, and what would entice those to come and join her populace? There was also the idea of perhaps just owning the land and having farmers tend to it for her, but was that any different than a small private mansion and her select servants to tend to her needs? There certainly was a lot to consider and think about. It would be something she would have plenty of time to do so. Perhaps years before a choice would have to be made.

But these thoughts cycled through her mind once more, an endless loop. She closed her eyes as she rode into the next town. She took this moment to calm herself, to gather composure in the best way possible. To meditate on her thoughts. They were just thoughts, for now at least, but surely there would be something that could manifest into something actually be useful. Every outcome, every possibility. She would have to find them. Maybe there would be payment, a reward for her struggles. one to support her small dream to be some feudal lord with dominion over the same very people she worked with in this moment. Maybe they would get paid in pure gold bars. Maybe a whole treasure, or an artifact to call her own. Maybe it would be so small or perhaps more than enough to get what she wants. Perhaps the payment in the land itself, or a position of rank along her side. The idea of being appointed royalty could be a fun one, only to take the crown herself. The crown would command respect, but with it, would remove the very pleasures she can take up as a common person. It was a balance she would try to take for herself. A balance she would struggle to discover.

her mind raced out of frustration and excitement. what would become of them all when this was over? Would it be for naught? Would their queen continue to fight for them, or when it was over, would she accept the outcome? What would the others do if she took the throne? Would they fight? Would this continue and get worse? Would they begin to ally with each other and make deals to compromise their own value in trade of protection? Or would they settle for lesser positions like military leaders and the such just to appease them? She was curious to know what would happen, but like before it was rather impossible given her skill set to see the future, for now all she could do was guess and speculate. For now, that was all she was able to do. But with the next town arriving, she was expecting another repeating routine. Arrive, destroy, build, and leave. It was something she was learning to accept in the last few hours of her life, and one that would oddly pleasing to be correct about. She looked up, and forward to see the larger city they were on their way to. With their destination in their sights, she wanted more from her duty, but strangely was still satisfied.

It was where she needed to be. The reason she came out here was to help them all rebuild what was lost. Right? but why did she really help them? What compelled her to assist these farming nobodies if it wasn't without some sort of incentive. Was she hoping for some new social relationship? She certainly didn't come out here to learn how to properly learn how to cut and sand wood. The sound of the dirt and rocks under her begun to shift as they moved to cobblestone roads. The rough and messy pavement of these back road towns. It was where they needed to be. She cursed silently not having a magic to make this all super easy, or well any caster that could. She started to wonder what sort of spells would greatly assist in both rebuilding, as well as combat. A sort of force magic, or telekinetic magic seemed the most versatile, but any Maker-Mage whose creations could long last after their caster left seemed to be just as important. But those were just ideas, and not all of them were going to help get the job done. Most of them would only get in the way of it all, and most would just burden her with stupid things to blurt out in front of them causing a weird strain.

As they arrived they, like before would hop off the wagon with their tools. Fala holding onto the hammer she was given, and whatever the small bag at her side held. From what they could see, the place looked rather freshly built, leaving it to the imagination of what was left to do. She wondered if magic might have been more helpful, or if it would be wise to use her own daemonic powers to carry everything needed in a single trip. But it would save time, it wouldn't stop all of the work that needed to be done. It wasn't like she could speed up their work, or make everyone suddenly better at precision work. She could have attempted to brew some sort of stamina potion to increase everyone's endurance, but even something like that was out of her skill set. All she could do was listen, and learn and use what she knew. She might have been stronger than everyone, if not most of the people there/ if there was danger, she would stop it. And in a weird way, she hoped their would be, as if she could showcase that she wasn't a total fuck up in regards of what they actually came there to do.

But looking around the new crowd of people, she tried to find the group she had originally worked with. Having taken in that moment to try and locate them, the woman she came with would then inform her of where to go. Fala would follow, still trying to keep an eye out. Following to a line of stores, there was already a few teams working on collapsed shops. It looked like the debris had already been cleared out and all they needed to do was build a new roof for the shops. But her gaze was fixed on locating her friends.

But were they that? Could she even call them that? They had known each other such a short time, but it was easier to get work done with people she kinda knew, over people she did not know at all. That was what the saying was right? The devil you know is better than the devil you don't. Or, in the case of them, the daemon you know, is more helpful than the one you don't. But she tried to think less on it. Getting onto the scaffolding with the others, she brought up her tools, thinking she would need them, only to set them aside for others to use. It wasnt like it was hers to begin with.

She would help them in lifting up the large wooden beams to lay them across the open gap left behind by the now destroyed roof. Smiling faces holding shovels would greet her from outside of the house, all of them waiting to do their part of the work. She may have been on the inside destroying what used to be a home, but on the outside was the others waiting to do their part. Maybe it was just how they did things. Maybe they feared her. But everyone still was here to do their part. be it tending to singed plants, or to repair a roof, they all held their own weight. Fala held up the large piece of wood as the others would get the brackets to get it sealed into place. Whatever the store used to have before, this new roof was definitely an upgrade. But as she stood there, she looked within, trying to see what the shop had to offer. It seemed to be just a normal clothing store of sorts, maybe a tailor of some kind. There wasn't that many things that stood out besides the interesting fabrics. Though it did cross her mind of exploring new materials among her collection. but was getting something that felt nice better than something that just looked better?