Volume 4 Chapter 23 Let's Build A Bridge III
As the sun climbed toward noon, Cain quietly began his Mana Circulation. There were still more than thirty minutes before the bridge construction was set to start, but he wanted to prepare early. Slowly, he gathered his Mana. He focused more than usual, letting it flow through his body. The Mana built up inside him, and then it started to leak out around him like a soft mist.
"Sir Cain, preparations are complete. You may proceed at any time."
Barvish spoke quietly from behind him.
Cain opened his eyes and looked across the river. Gardy stood on the opposite bank, fixing a long staff into the ground. The staff held a magic stone filled with Cain's Mana—one of the same stones used when they built the walls in Sanroze territory.
Cain crouched down and placed his hand on the earth. He slowly sent Mana into the ground, directing it toward the staff Gardy held. The Mana flowed deep below the riverbed, reached the bedrock, and then spread across the bottom until it touched the staff. The magic stone began to glow.
"...Obey my will and take shape. [Earth Wall]."
As Cain spoke, the ground shook slightly. The vibration grew stronger. A stone wall rose between him and Gardy, following a straight line across the river. It stretched ten meters wide and two meters high.
People nearby shouted with joy. Cain didn't stop to listen. He ran up the new wall, using a ladder Barvish had placed. He made it about one-third of the way across the river.
Behind him, the dammed water started to spill onto the riverbed.
"Around here... [Delete]. Alright, next."
Cain used [Delete] on the stone wall where he stood. Then he quickly moved to the far bank and cast [Delete] again. Now that the dam was gone, the overflowing water rushed downstream.
"Whew... I'm really glad I practiced with that model and the image training. The water wasn't blocked for too long. Should be fine."
He turned around and looked downstream, mumbling to himself.
"Sir Cain, just like in the practice. I'll admit, I got nervous when the water started overflowing onto the riverbed, but it cleared fast. I was relieved once it opened up."
"To be honest, I thought we were in trouble for a second too. I'll have to ask Uncle Will what he thinks later. But first, I need to adjust the shape a little more. [Earth Wall]."
Cain touched the stone bridge and sent Mana down into the riverbed again, this time along the center support. He cast the spell, and this time, he shaped a new wall upstream of the bridge base—angled like the bow of a ship. It would help block the current from hitting the support directly.
"Looks like it worked well."
"Thanks, Gardy."
Gardy had walked across the bridge and was watching how the water curved around the new wall.
"It really did. It went so smoothly it almost makes me nervous."
"You too, Barvish? Ah—sorry, Sir Cain."
Cain gave them a flat look, hearing their quiet talk.
"Well, I get it. We've had a lot of unexpected problems in the past... and sometimes, nothing happens at all. But not every time is the same."
As Cain said this, the three of them looked at one another. Then they all burst out laughing.
"Alright, let's build slopes at both ends and take a lunch break!"
Cain crossed to the far side of the bridge and used [Earth Wall] to shape a gentle slope, just like in the model. Then he returned to the Bridge Village side and made the same slope there.
He walked down the new slope and approached Will, who had been watching the work from nearby.
"Uncle Will, the scheduled work is complete. If there's anything you'd like to change or adjust, please let me know. I can fix it right away."
Will replied with a distracted "Ah..." but kept staring at the bridge. He seemed lost in thought.
Cain tilted his head, unsure what to make of it. Not far off, Barvish and Gardy stood together, watching the scene with quiet smiles and slightly shaking shoulders.
Character Notes:
• Barvish - A slave dwarf with a muscular, compact physique, intended as Cain's retainer/bodyguard, brought via magical contract.
• Will - Margrave Shield's son, Aisha's brother, and Cain's uncle. He is playful and enjoys teasing his father. He is a fan of Cain's 'hamburg' recipe.
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