Surrounded by hostile knights adorned in white armor, Adam and his friends had their hands up in submission.
"What's going on here?" [???]
The knights parted, but kept their swords raised. They allowed another knight to come through, one with gold inlaid upon their helmet as if to signify a higher rank.
"Captain, there are three suspicious individuals. Their clothing does not match any local culture nor have we any records of it." [White Knight]
"Suspicious indeed." [Captain]
The higher ranking knight scanned them with his eyes before saying another word.
"Name yourselves." [Captain]
Felix started them off.
"I'm Fable, and these are my companions Astos and Til." [Felix]
"I see. Where are you from?" [Captain]
Felix went silent.
("Any help Va'al?") [Felix]
There was no reply.
"We're from Stradori." [Adam]
("No! You idiot!") [Felix]
Felix's heart jumped from anxiety. He had planned to pick out a random name from the planet of Ashtal, but it turns out Adam spoke of their home country from Earth.
"Stradori?" [Captain]
The knight's hand gently placed itself on his sword handle.
"There is no such place as Stradori." [Captain]
Felix began to panic.
"I-It's a very far and obscure place! It's normal to not hear of it!" [Felix]
"Really? You seem like too much of a talker. How about your friend there? Tell me what this "Stradori" place is like." [Captain]
He pointed at Tiffany.
"Adam? What is he saying?" [Tiffany]
"He just wants you to explain what Stradori is like." [Adam]
"...How? I haven't learned their language yet!" [Tiffany]
"That's… a good question." [Adam]
The knight gave them a curious look.
"What language is that? I can hear the boy perfectly fine, but the girl is speaking pure gibberish!" [Captain]
("What?") [Felix]
It appears that whatever Adam says is automatically translated to the language in Ashtal. The same could also be said for what Adam hears.
"Sir, my friend here doesn't speak your language." [Felix]
"I can see that. Maybe I have to reconsider whether you are lying or not. What is your business here?" [Captain]
"We're just trying to get to Lithik, and heard that a bridge was being built here. How long until its completion?" [Felix]
"About three months." [Captain]
That sounded like it wasn't an option.
"Do you know how long it takes to go around the river from Gerland?" [Felix]
"About a year and a half. If you have good weather, then about a year." [Captain]
That was an even worse option.
"Hm…" [Felix]
As he pondered as to what to do, the knight motioned for his allies to lower their blades and return to their duties. After they left, the captain offered Felix a suggestion.
"If you'd like, you can help us build the bridge. We could always use a few more helping hands." [Captain]
"I'm not too sure about that." [Felix]
"Ah, not for free of course. You will be paid in accordance with Ruitarian customs. About 350 mel a day." [Captain]
Felix glanced at his friends for confirmation. Tiffany gave him a confused look and Adam simply shrugged.
"I'm fine with it. Tiffany, do you mind doing construction work or is that a no go?" [Adam]
"I wouldn't particularly mind." [Tiffany]
Felix nodded.
"We'll be in your care." [Felix]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Adam found himself working with smooth white bricks. They had some sort of rainbow-like sheen if the sun hit it just right, and was surprisingly hard compared to how light it was.
("I thought this would be hard labor.") [Adam]
That was until Adam realized how many bricks he would have to lift. The supplied bricks were packed together taller than the average person, perhaps even more than those considered tall. Either way, Adam lifted the packed bricks onto his back and moved them.
"I-Incredible…!" [Amazed White Knight]
"Captain, aren't we supposed to carry a quarter of it at a time?" [Astonished White Knight]
"If you're that strong, I suppose not." [Captain]
The work wasn't as hard as they thought. It was simply moving loads of bricks, which Adam had covered, careful analysis of construction placement, easily handled by Felix, and fatigue relief using Tiffany's ability.
"You've got a very unique healing skill. Are you a priest by any chance?" [Captain]
Tiffany only smiled stiffly.
"She doesn't understand you, remember?" [Adam]
"Ah…" [Captain]
The construction of the bridge went surprisingly fast. More than half of it was completed within a week. So much so that if it was only one or two people, they could cross the bridge without problems. That is, until Felix found a strange problem.
"Um, Captain? Can you come here for a sec?" [Felix]
"Yes, Fable?" [Captain]
Felix motioned for the knight to come to the center of the bridge. Kneeling down, Felix pointed at an array of bricks.
"There's something wrong here." [Felix]
"What do you mean? It looks perfectly fine to me." [Captain]
"This particular spot is arranged a bit weaker than the rest of the bridge." [Felix]
"Will it be a problem?" [Captain]
"Not exactly, but if the bridge deteriorates enough and a very strong blow hits here then the bridge will collapse." [Felix]
The knight scratched his chin.
"How hard are we talking?" [Captain]
"Say we get a sledgehammer and hit it a thousand times." [Felix]
The knight raised a brow.
"...What's a sledgehammer?" [Captain]
"A really big hammer. Like this." [Felix]
He walked off the bridge and picked up some dirt. Then, he used his spatial manipulation to pick up and form the shape of a sledgehammer.
"Ah, you mean a bludgeoner?" [Captain]
Felix was unsure what to say, but he just answered just to get by.
"Uh… Yeah." [Felix]
"That's fine then. Not many are strong enough to deal such a blow, except maybe your friend over there." [Captain]
He motioned over to Adam.
"Besides, the rest of the bridge is fine, no? What are the odds of someone striking that specific spot, much less being strong enough to break it?" [Captain]
"That's…" [Felix]
He cut himself off.
("That was a flag…") [Felix]