"Construction"

The sun peeked from behind scattered clouds, casting a gentle light over the quiet town still recovering from chaos. Inside Bezkon’s battered living room, the five friends stood gathered in a loose circle, excitement in their eyes despite the exhaustion in their bodies.

They had survived a mad scientist, burned down a secret lab, and lived to tell the tale.

Now, it was time for something new.

Jovino leaned forward, arms crossed and eyes bright with ideas. “Guys, where should our base be?”

Shin’ō, sitting on the window ledge. “Yeah… it can’t just be in the middle of town. Too risky.”

Bezkon stretched, wincing slightly from his bandaged leg. A smirk grew on his face as he looked outside the window. “I think I know just the place.”

Curious, the others followed his gaze.

In the distance, a lone cliff jutted out from the forest’s edge. A worn-down ruin sat at its peak—old stone, weathered by time.

Helwin squinted. “Wait… we’re gonna live in that?”

Audaxor cracked his neck and shrugged. “Why don’t we check it out first?”

Just then, the old man stepped in, overhearing them. “Ohh, that place. Let me take you boys there. I know a safe path.”



The group followed the old man through winding woods and narrow paths. The forest whispered around them. Birds scattered. The air grew cooler as they reached the cliff.

As they stood before the crumbling structure, moss-covered stone and cracked pillars told of age and abandonment.

Jovino ran his hand along a broken wall. “These ruins… Hey, sensei! Who actually lived here?”

The old man scratched the back of his head nervously. “O-oh this? Uh… n-nobody lived here. It was just ruins from the start!”

Jovino blinked. “Ohh, that’s how it is?”
Audaxor nearly facepalmed. While thinking. "Is he that stupid? We can all clearly tell the old man’s lying."

Shin’ō also thinking. "Damn unc’s lying for sure."
Shin’ō turned to Audaxor with a grin. “Hey, why don’t we start drawing the blueprints?”
Audaxor pumped his fist, already fired up. “Yeah, let’s go!”

Helwin tapped Jovino on the shoulder. “Jovino, me and Bezkon are heading out to grab materials. You and Gramps can stay and oversee construction.”

Bezkon already going said. “Come, I’ll show you the warehouse.”

The gang split into pairs—Audaxor and Shin’ō sat down in a quiet corner to brainstorm, Bezkon and Helwin headed into the forest toward the warehouse, while Jovino and the old man began clearing out the ruins.

A gust of wind blew through the crumbled windows. This place would become their fortress.



At the drawing board—

Shin’ō leaned over the sketch, eyes gleaming. “Bro, I have an idea.”

Audaxor tapped his pencil against the edge of the paper. “Yeah? Hit me.”

Shin’ō already starting to draw said. “Let’s make a tower. Each of us gets our own floor. That way, everyone has their space, but we’re still connected.”

Audaxor’s eyes lit up. “Good idea! I’ll draw up the sketch and then ask everyone for their input.”

He darted off with the draft in hand, eager to share.



At the ruins—

Audaxor coming with the initial sketches. “Yo bro! Look at this! If you want to change anything, just tell me.”
Jovino studied the page and grinned. “Yeah, I’ve got something to add!”



Meanwhile, at the warehouse—

Helwin walked through the quiet, dark rows of supply crates. “This warehouse was pretty cool.”

Bezkon stopping and grabbing an box. “Yeah. We should come here more often.”

Audaxor entered the room holding up the sketch. “Hey guys! This is the current blueprint. Jovino added this bit. Anything else you want?”

Helwin running hid fingers through his hair. “I was thinking… maybe we should add a basement. For storage. Or something secret.”

Audaxor writing vigorously. “Noted. You?”
Bezkon putting down the box said. “Wait… let me think… maybe a rooftop garden?”

Audaxor writing so fast that the paper starts smoking. “Cool. Adding that in.”

He returned to Shin’ō, who stood surrounded by paper, sheets and half-formed designs.

Audaxor, placing the sketch on the table. “Here’s what everyone added.”
Shin’ō analyzing the edits said. “Alright. I’ve got some final touches in mind.”

Construction began immediately.

Jovino summoned stone from the earth, raising walls with careful precision. Helwin assisted, shaping the foundation and adding reinforcement with threads of ice. Bezkon ferried supplies back and forth with one arm in a sling, while Audaxor coordinated everything with a sharp eye.

Shin’ō, meanwhile, watched from afar, his mind calculating every joint, every frame, every channel of mana that would eventually breathe life into the tower.

Hours passed.

Sun dipped lower.

At last, the tower stood—rough, unpolished, but full of promise.

Audaxor flipped his clipboard. “Okay, everything’s checked.”

Helwin looked up at the building, arms crossed. “Any enchantments yet?”
Audaxor replying. “Not yet. That’s on Shin’ō.”

Everyone turned.

Shin’ō stepped forward. He placed his hand on the stone walls.

The air shifted.

The tower glowed

To be continued...