Chapter 310 - Interested in the Craft

Considering the work people have put in the mines, the odds were to their favour in terms of progress. In the Iron mine for example at tunnel 2 on the left, some men took it upon their selves the responsibility to dig through the collapse located in the main branch of the tunnel, exactly in the middle.

The feeling of success when they busted through that tunnel felt indeed overwhelming for the bunch but this mine is hundreds of years old so of course more complications came with it. Luckily no one got hurt, they just met with more old collapses.

Through the main road for example, they found two more new ways to explore. Sounds good and it will eventually prove profitable, but the main tunnel along with the two new ones dug in the sides which they discovered, have a dead end, a collapse.

Since there was a hell load of Iron stored in two areas, the miners know for sure that more hides behind this collapse which is why they are trying to keep their morale high. Eventually they will break through each collapse and hit Iron, these collapses can't go on forever after all and they have some iron ore to use.

As for the second mine in the third tunnel, five more men are digging through it and it has proved the most tiring and most demotivating mine so far. Because all they saw before starting to dig through, is a tunnel taking a very light turn to the left stretching 50 meters long before meeting with a dead end.

There are no side tunnels, or best called branches whatsoever. Until now they have not met the end of the Collapse, they've dug through 30 meters already. Such work required the men to work 10 hours a day! Getting all that dirt out of here became the most tiresome part, as for the rocks that look usable they have been sent to the Stonemasonry room. Imagine walking up and down through 100 meter long stairs.

The third mine located at tunnel four or best described the gold mine, is their best progress yet thankfully. But since there only are 16 men in this tribe and a portion of them were still handling inventory at that time, 5 ladies had to be send down to mines ranging between the ages of 22 and 37.

They just had to dig through ten meters of dirt to get through the collapse, but found another branch on the right that too faced a collapse. As for the now considered main tunnel in front of them taken ever since they started digging through the tunnel who took a sharp left, they are now they are exploring deeper parts. Let's leave the details for this mine for later!

...

"The walls are looking great aren't they?" Asked Mollara, as she stood near the Campfire with Bittore at the first tunnel.

"Yes they are, I can't believe that it took Alcon Epke barely a week to finish ten of them!" Answered Bittore still feeling a bit confused of his speed but at the same time with pride, they have a magician with the craft on their hands.

"Well you did assign more people to work there." Reminded Mollara, finding it tad funny how her grand leader here missed such an important detail.

This mention of more people assigned there, instantly reminded Bittore of the Guarding ladies which in other terms reminded her of the Demons they have fought off. "Either way the walls are still heavily durable, I don't think that even the first wall broke and not to mention any other." Trying to prove her point better, she stared at Mollara and with her tone intensifying she added. "We fought off six waves already Mollara, and we didn't even get a scratch!"

Well that just explains how tough a meter thick wall is, as for Alcon everytime he heard that an attack is in process he dropped any work and just rushed his way to the site, feeling sure of his work he felt like if any Demon is to go through, he will be the one to face them because these walls are his responsibility. Much honour for a crazy man aye?

"Calm down Bittore." Mollara tried to joke around, "I am not your enemy, I don't want the walls to fall."

"Right right, sorry I've got tad excited." There is nothing wrong with apologising after all, but at this case they are both joking around.

Due to the fact that Mollara is practically baby sitting Bittore, they have developed a bond greater than before. Typically Mollara would be elbows deep working on any task that needs work on, but now with leather sleeping bags made for everyone in this tribe thanks to all those Ratbugs, she has nothing else to do.

Now her duty has become to take care of Bittore until she completely heals, keeping her safe from either a Ratbug attack or out of trouble because Bittore can't stay in one place that easily. When it comes to knees the thing that they need the most for healing is rest.

They are no longer broken thanks to Eric, they just have minor damage to the point where she can't stay up for too long. But thankfully she is seeing a lot of progress over the weeks, the knees have begun to hurt less and she is getting more sleep thanks to that fact.

Furthermore she can walk through half way when she needs to use the bathroom at the Dungeon all the way up to the first section, that is good progress but she can't go alone. The times Mollara lifted her as if they just got married are uncountable but in no doubt it seemed overly cute.

The bathroom situation has raised a lot of questions here, two rooms explored in the first section and 16 rooms explored on the second one yet they did not find any bathrooms. Did the Snow Ignites drop their dunk 200 meters below or something?

Using the Dungeon is okay but there are 59 people up here who use these 10 holes up to twice a day, the dunk magically disappears if pushed down with a litre of water but that still doesn't get rid of the smell that fast. Some holes were even clogged so a couple of ladies found their feet covered with ancient odour.

Wherever this poop sinks down too, it became very convenient for this tribe. Last thing they need is to fly down in these cold lands every time they need to handle their business, considering the rate of trees up here one wouldn't get too much privacy.

...

Ada and Osira too have gotten their hands busy with work, their main task ever since Osira returned from that little trip, has become to make those Iron containers required to finally store all that food. The few crates that came with this new shipping are useful for the moment but they can't rely on them forever.

So far, Ada and Osira have made 5 of the required metal containers and life indeed became more easy for those who handle inventory. The oldest food have been put closest to the entrance/exit, regardless of the fact that it is Ratbug meat everyone is to eat it if not enjoy it.

Because if they become picky now and choose the good stuff, the time will come when they could be running out of food and end up eating Ratbug meat who might become rotten by that time, who would want to live such a life?

Osira has been trying here and there to teach Ada, since she might not be staying here forever Osira didn't make it a main priority to teach her. She did appoint Ada to be her little assistant though and admittedly she has taken a lot of interest in the craft.

Which is nice to see, girls aren't usually Blacksmiths here and her enthusiasm is contagious. She wouldn't sit still until Osira taught her more of this, than taught her more of that. Ada has been caught a couple of times sneaking in the forge and doing work for herself.

Admirable act and one couldn't in no way get mad at her, Osira even hugged her a couple of times in forms of admiration. A lot of people in this tribe has been questioning her skin pigment, some even making laughable banter behind her back. But she slowly started being approved through more hearts.

She is so calm, collective and would never yell. Whatever one says to her, she would out smart them. Which eventually led to more people liking her, Bittore talked directly to the people who have been giving her a bit of a rough time and that's where most problems ended.

Today, Ada has been given permission to assist Osira more towards their main task. They need extra hands to put in work due to the mass request, but can't put in people who have no idea what they are doing. This is where Ada comes in as help, she has been showing a lot of interest for the craft and is tremendously progressive.

"Alright Ada, hand me the nails." Requested Osira as she held the two walls of the Iron Container as straight as she could.

"Yes Ma'am." Ada tried to show formality but in other terms is just joking around a bit, they have a lot of work to do and although an assistant she doesn't want Osira to loose motivation.

Handing her the newly crafted, finger long and thick nails. She took Ada's hands, placed them on the positions of which this part of the crafting requires and slowly moved away from the Container. "Alright, as I taught you earlier, you are to keep them as steady as possible. I will hammer down a nail and it will feel a lot easier for you after that."

To make this construction easier, she has attached Iron support poles on each corner of the foundation. To make it easier she has melted a few little holes through these poles so the nails can fit in easier, once the nails through they will be hammered at the right or left to completely mend with the Container and provide further stability.

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

Osira nailed in the three nails required on this one pole, the first one shook Ada a little bit but she managed to maintain control. The second and third were a lot easier, "Okay now let go of the plates."

Standing up, they both saw the two plates who were just connected to each other stay firmly in place, and she felt flattered. The way the newly lit torches shine on the metal is in some ways satisfying.

"You did a very good job." Complimented Osira, feeling proud of having someone this smart by her side. She has bragged a couple times already, it confused Bittore but it is fairly worth it.

Ada felt joy with those compliments, but of course. "Thanks, now don't forget to mend them!"