"Do take some with you if you can so we can increase our workers." Nai told Garut that, and the latter readily agreed.
"That's what's on my mind too. Alright, see you then." Garut laughed carefreely.
Garut forgot to call him ruler, but with such a change in attitude, Nai didn't mind. He wasn't that strict about what others called him as long as it wasn't belittling him.
Strength is what dictates one's standing in this place. However, there are some unwritten rules that must be obeyed in order to work.
"That Garut actually turned into a hulk after activation of his ability. That sick!" Shaking his head, Nai didn't want that kind of ability. It looked so disgusting to look at. He wondered what he would feel if he became like that.
He shivered at that, though. Though it might have some use in other areas. For example, at night.
Months passed again.
After several months passed, Nai even forgot how many years it had been. Four? Five? Maybe it's already been six years since he opened his eyes in this place?
He had long forgotten it. However, forgetting about time isn't that good. Measuring time has its uses, and without it, there are things that can't be done.
So Nai set up a calendar for him and the village to see and use. The calendar is called the Moon Calendar. It has 12 months in a year, and each month has thirty days.
The calendar was made using 12 huge slabs of stone engraved with only numbers. Writing a word for it will just cause Garut, who was making words for the village language, to be confused.
One slab of stone will have [1] on top of it, which signifies that it was the first month of the year, followed by thirty numbers below it, which signify the number of days.
With the calendar for everyone to see in between the castle and the village. They slowly realized the good things it brought them. Such as the exact month and day the crops should be harvested.
The day when the chickens would lay eggs and such. There are other examples, but all of them can be omitted as such a waste of words would just take time to explain.
With the calendar on hand, there are many things for the village to use to plan ahead.
"Let's go hunt on day 12. That is five days from now."
"Eh? Why on day 12? Let's go on day 10."
"I'm on duty at crop harvesting that day, sorry."
"Oh, alright. Then we'll go on 12."
"Thanks."
...
While the Viridescent Territory was blooming with progress and life. In the inner area of the castle's foundation, where the pond water levels have increased by a few meters from rain,
Nai sat on the stairs with his feet submerged in the water. He was playing something in his hand at the moment. If Garut were to see this, he would surely be shocked.
That is because on top of his hand were droplets of water leisurely swimming around like some sort of fish or dragon.
It's not an ability, nor are his doings, but this droplet of water was a creature he had just found this morning playing around on top of the pond like it was dancing.
Yes! A creature made of water! pure water! This is shocking to behold! He didn't see any heart or brain, but how can these droplets of water live?
Soon, the droplets stopped turning into countless shapes as they gathered and formed the shape of a fairy like those from Tinkerbell. This water fairy, or so he would call it now, looked at him.
Nai felt some kind of closeness to it. Maybe from his constant use of the miracle water? This also made him sure that this water fairy came from the pond.
"This is the first time I saw a creature like you, water fairy. "made of pure water and can turn into many shapes." Nai played with her for a bit before letting her return to the pond.
After that, he seriously thought about how the water fairy appeared. "The pond water started rising, although there's always been rain in the past. Even after the castle foundation was built."
"The water level that hasn't risen or decreased for a long time suddenly had a spike in increase." And it even gave birth to a water fairy. What's going on under the pond?"
There are things that can be imagined in this world. Although the birth of the water fairy was shocking, to Nai, who had long grown to accept things after becoming an accepter, it was just surprising and not impossible.
The secret of the pond cannot be touched for now. Seeing how gentle the water fairy was to him, there should not be any danger if Acacia see it. After all, sooner or later, she would be coming back here to lift some pond water.
The wooden house in the pond has long since been submerged. Now, Nai just treated it as an underwater house and dove down from time to time to experience what it was like to be a diver of an ancient ruin.
There's no problem with lighting, as the pond water seems to always be clear and bright, even in dim places. After swimming and playing with the water fairy for a while,
Nai left to take Acacia with him and let her see the water fairy. When Nai came back, Acacia, who had heard him explain along the way, saw a water fairy tiptoeing around the pond, playing cutely.
However, to Nai, it isn't cute at all. It can't be explained, so it was an unknown being. If he hadn't touched it and felt affinity for it. He might have already treated it as a creepy being.
As for Acacia, she was surprised at first, but upon closer inspection, her face started to pale. Nai knew she was frightened. After all, it is the unknown that brings fear to human hearts.
Nai wrapped his arms around her and gently said, "Don't worry, it came from the pond where you bathe every day." You should feel something like closeness from it too."
Feeling his stronger and warmer body, Acacia felt the security and immediately calmed her restless heart. She nodded and looked closely at the water fairy, who noticed their arrival.
It looked curiously at the other being Nai had brought with.
"Come on, come here. She's Acacia, my wife." The water fairy, exuding innocence, naturally won Acacia's heart. She looked at Nai and saw him nod at her.
She became brave because her husband got her back. The water fairy slowly skipped around the water before curiously observing Acacia, then Nai.
Nai smiled at her as he opened up his palm. The water fairy immediately turned into the shape of a flying fish that flapped midair before landing on top of Nai's palm in her fairy form.
Petting her head, Nai gives Acacia a clear and closer look. "See? I called her the water fairy. You can call her that too."
"Water Fairy?..." "Can she talk?" Acacia observed the water fairy on top of Nai's palm while the other also observed her.
"So far, I hadn't heard her say any words yet. Come and open your palm." Nai motioned his hand towards her.
Acacia was immediately nervous. "Eh? Why? I'm okay with just nearing it for now."
Seeing her flinch at the thought of touching the water fairy, Nai understood her feelings. If he were in her shoes, he would be the same. At the same time, although the water fairy didn't feel repulsive about Acacia's presence,
It seems to dislike other people being able to touch it. Nai wasn't a person to force things out, so he just let it be. "Alright, you can meet her in the pond every day." No, it should be a big pool now."
"After some time, you can slowly become friends. Water Fairy, okay?" It doesn't matter if she understood it or not. Nai just wants to convey his friendly intentions.
As for how she would interpret it. Nai doesn't know, as he can't read minds. Instead, he can feel intentions. The water fairy's intention is pure.
Since he wants to familiarize the two with each other's presence, Nai stayed with Acacia and the water fairy for a bit on the stairs as they enjoyed their relaxing lives.
The next day. Nai woke up, greeting his wife with a kiss, who was busying herself in the kitchen. As for him, after leaving the house he spread his hand upon meeting the morning sun after the rain.
The air smelled damp, and while enjoying the green scenery below, one couldn't help but puff up one's chest as one felt the vastness one could see below.
There was this inexplicable feeling that seems wanted to break free inside him and soar through the infinite sky.
"Hello World."