Qui nem Jiló

The sun is setting when the boy reaches, but it is easy to find his way, since the fire was already burning in their shelter.

The river is close, so they spent most of the morning in the river, looking for sections where there is less current, taking the dirt there and making balls out of it. If it retained the shape, they'd fill containers with it. 

Later, Biel learned how to treat and shape clay. He kept one skill point, even though he doesn't have access to secret skills yet. Joy kept one for hers and learned how to make leaf baskets with one skill point.

With larger recipients, they could do the cleaning process for the clay, changing between both recipients while getting rid of common earth and other things mixed within the clay. 

At noon, they get to the last step, having to wait the clay set they had to wait, and that is when they noticed someone was missing. 

Did he go on into town without warning them? Or did something happen? 

They called for him, but there wasn't any answer. In the lack of options, after some two or three hours of waiting they started working the clay, and so they lit the fire and started going a step forward into survival. 

He is met with an embrace from Joy and a warm smile from Biel who speaks first with a rhetorical

"Couldn't you have warned us?"

Joy's hand go down from the back to his hand, while taking a step backwards.

"Joy, thank you very much! I finally understood what you meant. Your words also helped me a lot.
I was so scared, and I had so much in my mind, since I came here.
It was honestly a miraculous experience. I found myself and truth within the fabric of reality itself."

"Oh, great. Now there are two crazies … " Biel sputters.

"Did you find his family?" Joy asks

"No. It is not a 'Coat of Arms', it is just his guild."

His hand is tenderly placed at her shoulder as he continues

"It really is a pity."

His eyes suddenly light up and he adds.

"Oh! You won't believe who I met there, Lily! And I also got a gig to do!"

"So you have confidence that you can go in and out reliably?" Biel asks

and Joy continues

"You could find someone to buy the clay pots we've been making!"

"Oh! That is a great idea! I'll try it tomorrow. And your beautiful clothes too, Joy!"

 "Haha. Thanks! That means we can actually think about settling!"

She again seems to blush from her choice of words, but that doesn't change the overall hopeful atmosphere of the night.

In the morning, the boy checks the traps, Joy goes gathering for large leaves and wood and Biel works with clay. They eat before noon and still before the first afternoon rain the boy is already headed for the town, Joy is making cordage, baskets, and clothes while Biel goes gathering. 

At night, they share their days around a campfire.

"I was thinking about a one piece dress, with large dried palm tree leaves! I'd keep the transversal cordage in the same color, and a lot thinner."

Joy says while showing an example of the basic cut with some of the material around her. He picks it up, exited.

"Yeah, they would definitely be interested. This will give a lot more sophisticated feel and I can barely see the lines. I really admire your creativity and courage to put it out there!" 

He smiles, and before it becomes awkward he adds 

"Biel's bowls, for example, are the basic of the basic."

"Oh, shut up, Freak."

Joy looks at the others with a smile, and think about how the future, finally, seems to have hope. It really was right to keep their heads up. The others seem to have gone into a parallel conversation:

"Oh! I met with Lily today again!

"Really? Is she still into gossip?"

"Yes, I feel like I know more about their guild leader, Manu, than he himself" 

While a song infiltrates her mind, and she keeps singing quietly "Laa-ia la-ia La-ia La-iaaaaa la-ia la-ia la-iaaa"

The following week was pretty much in the same pattern. They managed to get better food, some meat from the capital city and some spices. 

They also got, each, two more skill points. All of them got keen vision. Biel decided to start in the housing, so he got basic foundation and flooring and Joy finally learned to use the sword, which she practices even more while getting material for the house.

That night they decided to start the project of the house.

"Yeah, things are pretty stable. And my work in the town is guaranteeing even more stability. I might even manage to get us out of the wanted list in a few days!"

"Oh, right when I'm starting to get good with the sword! I thought I'd have to conquer the city to get to that point. Just like in the ~"

"Oh, Biel, you won't guess what Lily told me!"

Wait, did he interrupt our hero? Tsk, right when he was starting to be redeemable to me. DIE

"You know how the leader of the MADEIREIROS and the AGRICULTORES are sworn enemies? Well, Don is apparently back in town and lining up with Sales. Can you believe that? After everything Manu did?"

Joy is a little taken aback. In her mind: "I mean, I was getting into a tangent … It doesn't matter … But he said he liked my … " 

Hey, stop negotiating with the enemy, Joy! He is in the wrong. Just punch him in da face!

HEM HEM

Anyway. 

The next two days, curiously, the boy didn't come back. When he came in the following night, most of the wood was already split and the others were tying up stakes on the corners of the house to fix the foundation better. 

"We found a spy. Had to follow him, and he was a good fighter. But we managed to beat him and to get some information. Apparently, there are scouts planning to attack the trade route to the west. We will coordinate with Don's and Sales' crews to take them down. That'll be our ticket into formality!"

"Wow, that is great, man!" Biel answered

"I'm glad you're alright." Joy says with a bit of relief

"Thanks! I see you're getting the foundation done. Maybe I'll be back to a fully functional home when I'm back? LOL"

Joy handed him the cloth she had been weaving, threads still damp with bark resin.

“I was thinking of a new design,” she said, her voice lighter than her eyes.

“That’s pretty… actually. I just remembered. Maybe Lily could come live with us?”

His eyes danced around to the silent tune, in confusion. Until 

“I don’t know how you talk so much about her,” Joy said, her tone sharper than she meant. “She only ever talks about things that happened to other people.”

She looked down, cheeks blushing, and pulled the cloth back against her chest. 

“Sorry. I’m… tired. Forget it.”

Biel watched her leave

They continue talking well into the night. Before they go to sleep, Biel turns to him.

"You know. It might be charming in some books, but cluelessness can be pretty hurtful in real life."

"What are you talking about?"

The next night, he didn't come back.

Joy is singing

"Saudade, o meu remédio é cantaaar. A  A  A A"

"Do you know what that means?"

"No"