The construction site on the southwestern wall of Damu buzzed with activity beneath the winter's ashen sky.
Living ancient trees stood tall between the stone walls, their branches spreading wide toward the heavens. Their bark was etched with deep wrinkles, revealing the unvarnished marks of time. Whenever the wind blew, the branches swayed gently, emitting low whispers.
The breeze flowing along the wall carried a mix of earthen dust and the scent of sweat, while the sharp clang of hammers striking stone and the scraping of sledges against the ground filled the air. Dust rose from piles of gray rocks, sparkling in the sunlight.
Keuraber, atop a wooden scaffold, directed the placement of stones with his cracked voice.
"Move that stone next to the third tree! Stack the front tightly, no gaps!"
The sleeves of his worn leather coat fluttered in the wind.
Vargo, the master builder of Damu, still oversaw the site, driving the Dawi workers relentlessly. His gray-streaked brown fur was matted with sweat and dust, and his furrowed eyes gleamed with dissatisfaction toward Keuraber.
"What does a Laboreus Sarun-Ke know..."
He growled lowly while inspecting the rocks loaded on the sledge.
Yet, Keuraber's design—with its margins... an evolving wall to counter enemy attacks—gnawed at a corner of his mind.
'That Sarun-Ke's words, absurd as they are... there's an undeniable logic to them.' He grumbled inwardly before shouting at the young Dawi, Brone.
"Brone! If even one stone is misplaced, no dinner for you tonight!"
At that moment, heavy footsteps and the clank of metal drew the attention of several workers below the wall. The hammering paused briefly, and all eyes turned in unison toward one direction.
At the point where the southern and western walls met, beside a massive pile of gray rocks, stood a hulking Dawi figure.
It was Gardon, the Grand Warlord of Damu. His thick plate armor made his massive frame appear even larger, and the sharp steel adornments on his shoulder guards gleamed in the sunlight.
His brown fur was scarred from battles, yet a hearty smile graced his face. The enormous battle axe in his hand seemed as light as a toy. Two Dawi soldiers followed behind him, but they were overshadowed by Gardon's presence, barely noticeable to others.
"Haha! What a spectacle this is! So many stones piled up."
Gardon's booming voice resonated in the ears of the surrounding Dawi and Muwa.
His laughter thundered across the workers above and below the wall.
"I heard walls were being built, so I came to take a look! Sarun-Ke Keuraber, you're in charge of this construction, right?"
He strode boldly to the base of the scaffold where Keuraber stood, slamming his axe into the ground with a thud. The earth trembled slightly from its weight. Nearby workers flinched and stepped back. A Muwa stonemason hastily picked up a dropped chisel, his face flushing red.
Keuraber descended from the scaffold, brushing off the dust, and faced Gardon. Fatigue lingered in his eyes, but a smile spread at the Grand Warlord's boisterous energy.
"Grand Warlord, what brings you here? To come all this way personally."
He rubbed his throat with his hand, smoothing his raspy voice.
"Whether it's the battlefield or a stone-stacking site, if it's about protecting Damu, my feet must tread there!"
Gardon guffawed and slapped Keuraber's shoulder. The force was so strong that Keuraber staggered slightly.
"Do you think I only enjoy swinging my axe? Grand works like this make my heart race too!"
He clenched his fist and gazed up at the wall. The intertwining of trees and stones caught his eye.
"But over there, at the corner where the land-side (south) and moon-side (west) walls meet, there's a mountain of stone piles. What are you planning to build there? The mind of Laboreus's master must hold some ingenious scheme, eh?"
Keuraber followed Gardon's gaze to the stone piles. Massive rocks were stacked orderly, with several Dawi holding chisels and hammers, shaping each one before them.
Each stone had been quarried from the depths of the Monos quarry, their surfaces speckled with fine black crystals that shimmered in the light. He nodded and began his explanation.
"We're building a watchtower there. But not an ordinary one. It's three times the size of a standard tower, a multi-layered stone structure designed to fire crossbows and small ballista in all directions."
He extended his hand, drawing a circle in the air as he continued.
"Each level is spacious, allowing soldiers to move freely for attack and defense. The top will house sentries to monitor far into the Sarn Forest, while the lower levels serve as armories. This tower will play the most crucial role in defending the south and west."
Gardon's eyes widened at Keuraber's words.
"A stone tower three times the size! Hahaha, it'll be quite a sight when finished!"
He smacked his palm with his fist, his excitement evident.
"Whether Minotaurs or Orcs, they'll get a real taste of ballista bolts from that height! Sarun-Ke Keuraber! Your plan pleases me greatly!"
He slapped Keuraber's shoulder again and roared with laughter. The surrounding workers couldn't help but smile along with his hearty guffaw.
Overhearing their conversation, a young Dawi stonemason, Terin, cautiously stepped forward. His fur was still soft and glossy, and he gripped a chisel in his hand. His face was tense with nerves, but determination shone in his eyes. He bowed slightly toward Keuraber and spoke.
"Um... Master Keuraber, may I offer a suggestion?"
Keuraber looked at Terin with curious eyes.
"Speak up, Terin. I'm ready to listen to any ideas."
He approached Terin with a gentle smile.
Terin fidgeted with his claws, slightly anxious, and said,
"What if we plant Fiorne's moss on the walls? That moss isn't afraid of fire; it spreads along the walls, making them slippery so enemies struggle to climb. It's resistant to flaming arrows or siege weapons like oil pots, strengthening the walls even more."
He finished speaking, eyes wide as he caught his breath, watching Keuraber's reaction.
Keuraber's face lit up. He clapped his hands and lightly patted Terin's shoulder.
"Fiorne's moss! That's a brilliant idea, Terin! Fire-resistant and slippery for foes' feet—it'll turn this wall into a far more formidable shield."
He scanned the surroundings and raised his voice.
"Not just this wall, but all of Damu's walls should be planted with Fiorne's moss! This won't be a mere stone barrier; it'll become a living fortress!"
His voice was hoarse, yet brimming with passion.
Terin's face flushed as he smiled shyly. The surrounding Dawi and Muwa artisans nodded and murmured in agreement.
"The young one's got some sense!" Dawi mason Logan approached and thumped Terin's back. Muwa stonemason Kallia fluttered her feathers and muttered,
"A perfect fortress... Covered in Fiorne's moss, it'll live up to the name even more!"
Vargo watched from afar, scratching behind his ear as he muttered,
"A thought that Sarun-Ke would fancy..."
He grumbled, but a faint glint of approval flickered in his eyes. Terin's suggestion was simple, yet it held the potential to infuse Damu's walls with unyielding resilience against foes.
Gardon stroked his chin and nodded.
"Fiorne's moss, eh? We'll need quite a supply to plant it on Damu's walls."
He looked up at the wall and grinned.
"I'll order the soldiers to gather it from near the Tharn Forest. I can't wait to see Damu's walls turn into a slippery beast, watching those fools slip and slide trying to climb! Hahaha!"
His jest elicited bursts of laughter from the surrounding workers. One Dawi worker shouted playfully at Gardon,
"Grand Warlord, would even a Minotaur slip and fall then?" To which Gardon retorted, "If they're lucky enough to just fall! Those horned heads of theirs might snap right off!" The site brightened further with laughter.
Keuraber smiled and approached Gardon.
"With your support, Grand Warlord, the work will go much smoother. Thank you."
He extended his hand with sincere gratitude.
Gardon grasped Keuraber's hand firmly and guffawed.
"Thanks? Nonsense! Protecting Damu—it's only natural I lend my strength!"
He suddenly lowered his voice and added,
"That said, I must head out early today. My son, back from trading in distant lands after a long time, has returned. I promised to share dinner with the lad tonight."
A warm light softened his eyes. A rare tenderness graced his battle-hardened face. He scratched his chin and continued,
"The boy's starting to talk like a proper merchant now, haha! Am I bragging too much about my son?"
Keuraber smiled gently in response.
"Time with family is precious. Go on, Grand Warlord. We'll build these walls sturdy and true."
Gardon surveyed the construction site one last time, nodding in satisfaction.
"Alright, Sarun-Ke Keuraber! Thanks to you and Damu's artisans, these walls will grow even stronger!"
He hoisted his axe onto his shoulder and strode away boldly. His armor glimmered faintly in the waning sunlight as he receded. From among the workers, a playful shout rang out,
"Grand Warlord, ease up on the son-bragging!" Without turning, Gardon waved his hand.
"Have kids of your own, then you'll understand! And I've got three sons to brag about—three!"
He turned back with a comical expression, holding up three fingers, prompting another round of laughter.
Terin and the other artisans picked up their hammers and chisels, diving back into work. Kallia smoothed her feathers and whispered to Terin,
"Your suggestion was truly impressive. Even the Grand Warlord liked it!"
Terin scratched his head bashfully at Kallia's praise. Keuraber resumed his steps, climbing the wooden ladder back onto the scaffold, gazing at the stone piles where the south and west walls converged. The image of the colossal stone tower formed vividly in his mind. Walls entwined with living trees and cloaked in Fiorne's moss, crowned by a towering stone bastion... Damu would yield to no threat. His voice echoed once more in his heart.
"Alright, lift that stone over here! We've got to sort out the bigger ones today!"
The air filled with the clang of hammers. Sledges scraped the earth, hauling stones. The branches of the trees standing parallel to the wall swayed softly in the wind.
Even if shadows from the distant western wastelands of the Badlands crept toward Damu beyond the Sarn Forest, Damu's walls were transforming into an impenetrable shield that no darkness could pierce.