Chapter 53: Current Village Update and August the Boy Wonder
Year 0003, I-III Month: The Imperium
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The Most Useful Feature
In the new month that followed, life in the village had been slowly progressing. The villagers had returned to their normal activities as the newcomers had finally stabilized their health, and so had the original villagers, who had now regained much of their strength back.
August, in the days following their experimental expedition with Erik, had already added almost everyone who had been with him the longest to the newly established [PARTY SYSTEM] managed by his [GAME-LIKE SYSTEM]. The other newcomers were still not included, their status uncertain as they slowly adapted to village life.
Perhaps the most useful feature they had constantly utilized after accepting August's invitation to the party was the [PARTY CHAT]. This remarkable tool allowed them to send messages to other members who ventured outside the village—a telepathic communication with a range far exceeding Aetherwing's telepathic abilities, which was limited to only a few hundred meters.
Such convenience was essential in this dangerous realm. A simple alert or warning to people exploring beyond the village boundaries could mean the difference between life and death, potentially helping them avoid tragedy. Another advantage was that these communications couldn't be intercepted by potential eavesdroppers, though there was one significant limitation: users had to momentarily cease movement while using the messaging system, as it required complete concentration. Being a new ability, they all needed time to grow accustomed to its nuances and develop the mental discipline required for efficient use.
"This party chat is incredible," Theressa had remarked one evening as they gathered around the communal fire. "Though I nearly tripped over a root the first time I tried sending a message while walking."
Erik had laughed in response. "Better than me—my first attempt gave me such a headache I had to sit down for ten minutes afterward. Though I'm getting better with practice."
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Village Residency Status (I)
The new arrivals remained in a limbo state, still under supervision by the established residents. They were temporarily assigned as guests and provisional residents, their status subject to change based on their behavior and contributions.
During a recent village meeting, the council had discussed protocols for encountering other people in the vast forest who weren't residents of the village. There were significant concerns about potential dangers that might accompany integrating strangers without proper vetting, especially when August seemed adamant about accepting people without thorough background checks.
"We can't just welcome every stranger with open arms," Jonathan had argued, his weathered face grave in the hearths light. "Not everyone has good intentions, and we must protect what we've built."
August had wanted to protest this cautious approach, but was outvoted by the majority (8-3). He couldn't argue with the reasoning, which was both logical and practical. Though they desperately needed additional hands in the village, they weren't so desperate as to invite potential danger to their community. Furthermore, they couldn't forcibly integrate everyone they rescued—consent was necessary from all parties before formally assigning newcomers as villagers, temporary residents, or guests.
For now, only one housing unit remained available in the village, forcing most newcomers to stay in the communal longhouse. The cramped quarters added tension to an already delicate situation, with privacy at a premium and personalities occasionally clashing in the shared space.
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Village Residency Status (II)
Donna and Andy, despite their apparent willingness to join the community, remained classified as temporary residents until the villagers learned more about them. Their backgrounds, skills, and intentions needed verification before they could be fully accepted. The other two young women would remain as guests for now, though they were slowly beginning to interact with the women in the group, especially Theressa, who took a hands-on approach in caring for them.
Several concerns had been raised regarding the newcomers' future plans—whether they intended to stay permanently or had somewhere else they wished to go. Regardless of their long-term intentions, it was made clear that the village couldn't support them indefinitely without contribution. They would need to carry their weight during their entire stay.
"Our village isn't some nobleman's estate with surplus to spare," Red had explained firmly during their orientation. "Everyone works, everyone contributes. That's how we survive."
The settlement hadn't yet achieved the luxury and comfort needed to freely host others indefinitely; numerous pressing issues still required attention and resources. Nevertheless, having additional helping hands promised significant benefits for the growing community, assuming the newcomers proved trustworthy.
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Village Residency Status: Andy Shoor (III)
Regarding Andy, the villagers discovered he had experience working as a mercenary, providing him with combat skills valuable for defense. Additionally, he possessed trade knowledge gained under the tutelage of Lord Kirka, the very same one who previously was the lord of the Frontier Village Of Kirka, where most of their current residents in Maya Village were from.
Andy had expressed his disappointment upon learning what happened to his former lord after he'd departed for a business deal in the South of the continent and had not returned in years as their caravan was ambushed by bandits and he was made a slave. Lord Kirka had apparently been ousted from the village he once governed, by his adopted stepson—a tale of betrayal that was only known within the village, even Count Gremory didn't know of this. Now Kirka was a lord in name only, having lost his lands and authority to another.
"I had hoped to see him once more," Andy had confided to Theressa one evening, his voice low. "To thank him for the knowledge he shared with me, and perhaps I could offer my service once again even in his reduced circumstances."
However, any such reunion would have to wait. Not only was Andy physically weakened from his ordeal, but they were deep in the forest, far from civilized lands. Most significantly, Andy suffered from lingering trauma that shackled his mind—he couldn't bring himself to step beyond the village walls, despite repeated assurances that the area within a ten-kilometer radius was relatively safe due to Aetherwing's protective presence.
When Andy had first encountered the guardian beast perched on a rooftop—a customary greeting Aetherwing performed when new people arrived—he had nearly suffered cardiac arrest. He'd fallen to the ground as his knees gave way, all strength draining from his legs before he passed out from shock. Even now, weeks later, he would tremble at the sight of the creature, though he was gradually becoming accustomed to its presence.
At forty-one years old, Andy had long lost the muscular physique of his mercenary days. Years of enslavement had left him malnourished and weakened, subsisting on mere scraps provided by his captors. The village represented a chance to begin anew, though he understood perfectly well that his temporary resident status meant the others couldn't fully trust him yet. He and Donna remained under Theressa's supervision, their every action subtly monitored as the community determined their character.
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Village Residency Status: Donna Campbell (IV)
Donna, meanwhile, was typical of teenagers in this world—full of hopes and dreams that had been slowly crushed before her arrival at the village. The spark in her heart, nearly extinguished by the hardship she had encountered during her time as a slave. But it had been slowly rekindled when they were finally rescued from their desperate situation, or rather when they met the villagers of Maya.
In truth, she had abandoned all hope during their captivity. After escaping through the treacherous forest floor, they had spent weeks running and hiding from the monstrous beasts that ruled the wild lands. Freedom from slavery had quickly revealed new, equally terrifying dangers.
"I thought we'd die out there," she had whispered to Isabel one morning while helping with the laundry. "Every noise made my heart stop. Every shadow seemed to hide something with teeth and claws. I'd given up praying by the third day."
Hope had returned unexpectedly when they encountered a group camping within the forest—August's party. Donna had been astonished that anyone would brave setting up camp in such dangerous territory, but overwhelming gratitude followed when these strangers not only offered aid but fought and defeated the beast pursuing them.
Though they had reached the safety of the village and received excellent care from Theressa and the other residents, tragedy had still struck. The two elderly people who had accompanied Donna's group had succumbed to their injuries, their emaciated bodies and advanced age proving too much to overcome. The village had honored them with a meaningful burial in the small graveyard a few hundred meters from the settlement, a gesture that deeply touched the remaining survivors.
"They were kind to us in the slave cells," Donna had explained during the memorial, tears streaming down her face. "They shared what little food they had, told stories to keep our spirits up. They deserved better than this end."
Now, each day brought new tasks and responsibilities, but also security. For the first time in years, Donna could sleep without fear, eat without wondering when her next meal would come, and begin to envision a future beyond mere survival.
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Boy Wonder
Everyone who had been in the village since August's arrival remained amazed by him. Though he appeared to be a child externally, like the other young ones in the settlement, he stood as unquestionably the strongest individual and held the most authority and responsibility within their community.
Just recently, he and Erik had returned with a massive snake-like creature—an Arborwyrm, measuring ten meters in length and one meter in width, its body covered in dark, bark-like scales. August had humbly denied credit for the kill, claiming they had merely delivered the finishing blow to an already mortally wounded beast. However, the others knew the difficulty of slaying such a creature even when injured.
According to Erik's account, August had impaled the monster with his spear without apparent effort. The veterans among them understood how formidable those scales were—even thicker and stronger than the exoskeleton of the dreaded Scythe Stalker. They doubted August's dismissive explanation, especially after witnessing him drag the massive carcass with one hand across the forest floor.
As if that weren't impressive enough, they had also returned with several boarats—formidable forest creatures in their own right. The sight had been particularly staggering to newcomers like Donna and Andy, who had never witnessed such casual handling of dangerous predators.
"It was like watching a legend come to life," Andy had whispered to Donna as August dragged the massive serpent through the village gates. "The stories of hero-kings from the ancient sagas couldn't match what I just saw with my own eyes."
For the newcomers, the meat from both the Arborwyrm and Boarats proved delicious beyond comparison—superior to any domesticated livestock they had consumed in their previous lives. The revelation that the villagers regularly enjoyed such exquisite fare astounded them. Day by day, their once-emaciated bodies regained healthy weight, their faces filling out, strength returning to limbs that had known only weakness for too long.
August truly was a wonder boy, capable of performing almost every task the other villagers undertook—from tending fields to hunting, cooking, construction, and more. It seemed he had originated many of these practices, with others gradually taking over responsibilities to free him for more crucial duties. To the newcomers, he appeared almost divine—a benevolent force that had graced mere mortals with his presence and protection.
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Witnessing a Work of Art: The Training Regimen
On this particular morning, August performed his daily exercises—a routine adopted by nearly every established villager. The newcomers watched from a distance, curiosity evident in their expressions as they observed the synchronized movements and disciplined breathing.
"What's the purpose of all this?" one of the young women finally asked when the session concluded. "Why does everyone participate?"
Theressa, wiping sweat from her brow, offered the same explanation they had all received when first introduced to the practice. "It makes us stronger. This was actually a tradition of the previous residents—August's family and the original settlers. May they rest peacefully."
She paused, seeing the skepticism in their eyes. "If our words alone aren't convincing, join us tomorrow. I promise you'll feel the difference within days of consistent practice."
After the morning routine, everyone dispersed to their assigned tasks. August and his fellow hunters—Erik, Red, Isabel (who had rebelled against her mother's domestic expectations), and Adam (eager to gain experience and "level up")—but first they visited the garden fields to check if anything required their attention.
Finding the women already tending the crops efficiently, the hunting party prepared their gear and weapons. Jonathan and Christopher remained behind as village guards, while the others ventured beyond the protective walls. Their dual mission: to hunt for food and canvas the surroundings for materials needed to complete the remaining housing construction. With the new arrivals, additional accommodations had become an urgent priority specially for womens privacy.
As they passed through the gates, August cast one last glance at the village—their growing sanctuary in this dangerous world. Despite the challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead, a sense of purpose filled him. Step by step, they were building something meaningful here—not just structures of wood and stone, but a community bound by shared experiences and mutual support.
"Ready?" Erik asked, adjusting his bow.
August nodded, gripping his spear. "Always. Let's see what the forest has for us today."
Together, with the others they ventured into the wilderness, guardians of a fragile haven in a world that showed little mercy to the unprepared.