"In seven days, you and your people will face your first battle."
What? So soon? I thought, though I dared not voice it aloud, lest I interrupt Osidon. I was still uncertain of his true powers, but I knew that I had no desire of testing them against myself.
"During this time, it is crucial that you advance your people as quickly as possible. You will also encounter a survival event. If all of your people survive, you will be rewarded with five new residents. Of course, they will have no homes, but part of being a god is managing such challenges."
The mention of the survival event—a trial that could endanger my people—filled me with dread.
"Prepare thoroughly for both the event and the battle. I am sure you have questions, but I cannot answer anything asked by the gods. Just know that there are many aspects to divine powers and abilities that will be revealed to you soon, known as the Tiers of Godhood. In seven days, we will speak again. Survive the survival event, and we may speak sooner."
And with that, Osidon's voice vanished from my mind.
---
Dyliana and Sera returned from their tasks first, each bringing news that thrilled me.
The house of Loven, the farmer, contained a chest filled with farming tools.
The house of Dyliana, the zealot, held a chest with equipment for sculpting, alongside small blocks of wood and strings of fabric.
The house of Thomasu, the woodcutter, had a chest of tools for cutting trees and stone, and even a fishing rod.
The house of Serpahina, the teacher, had a chest of ink, quills, and empty scrolls inside.
Zerlos's house held a wooden sword and shield.
Every item in the chests was unique, but that was not all they found. Each house had a supply of bread sufficient to last a week if rationed carefully, and a full waterskin. Other useful items were uncovered too.
I was pleased with these discoveries, but a thought struck me: I had no house of my own.
---
After sitting in the field for a while, the men began to return one by one. The women sat further away from me, as though they were not allowed in my presence.
That isn't how things should be. I'll need to change that soon, I told myself.
From their reports, I learned the field stretched roughly a mile in each direction from the centre, where our houses stood.
To the north lay a large waterfall that fed into a vast body of water below. This would serve as a vital source for washing and collecting water. We would need buckets to carry it back.
To the east was a dense forest, too vast and shadowy for the men to risk exploring. They reported hearing animal sounds from its depths but could not determine if they were predators. Still, I was glad to have a supply of wood nearby.
To the south, the land sloped into hills. Beyond them, the terrain stretched further, dotted with trees, plants, and flowers. In the distance, a mountain range loomed. The men estimated the journey would take an entire day, so they had not ventured further.
To the west, the grassy plains gave way to rocky ground, with ravines and caves opening into the earth. Without a light source, the men had avoided exploring their depths, though they glimpsed a wealth of minerals within.
With the immediate surroundings mapped, I felt content.
I will need to name this world eventually. The Realm of Vale sounds too vain.
Perhaps vanity is necessary for gods, I mused. If earthly rulers could indulge in it, why not I? Especially if I plan to rule more justly than them.
---
As the five men and I sat in the field, we discussed and assigned tasks.
The farmer would begin planting lettuce, as it grew quickly. We could only hope the soil near his house was fertile.
The woodcutter would start gathering timber and hauling it back to our settlement. For now, we agreed to postpone mining stone.
The swordsman would practise his skills and familiarise himself with the terrain. I had no idea where the battles Osidon mentioned would take place, but we had to be ready for an invasion. Zerlos said he would rather a katana than a wooden short sword, but it was something that would need to be dealt with at a later time.
That left the two women. Struggling to think of suitable tasks for them, I decided they should work together to record all events that took place in our realm. Keeping historical records seemed vital. I also asked them to compile a list of their skills and areas of expertise—it might prove useful in the future.
These plans, however, would have to wait until tomorrow, as the sun began to set and the moon rose high in the sky.
I wondered where this world lay in the cosmos. Did the sun and moon behave like those I had known on Earth?
What was certain was that the five residents were tired and soon retired to their homes.
We had agreed to ration our food to last the week. They worried about what would happen once our supplies ran out, but I told them not to concern themselves—I would handle it.
I chose not to tell them about the impending battle, not yet. They needed time to adjust to their new lives before such a grave matter could be introduced.
But how could they ever prepare for a war against a god?
The question gnawed at me until I found an answer.
It's simple. They must believe their god to be the strongest of all.