Elementals. They were created through the pure power of nature. Similar to ghosts, they were barely visible to the human eye, difficult to touch, and impossible to detect. Furthermore, they despised humans as their powers came from living in a pure environment of untouched nature. That meant they lost territory and power from the resulting damage of human contact and urban development. Just like what was happening now in the Pantara Range.
Pantalisa's sad eyes darted to the shattered rock fragments. But they weren't just shards of rock in his eyes. He recalled what they used to be.
"My love, it's a shame. You had been beautiful and elegant for tens of thousands of years..."
Pantalisa remembered the day this range was raised up with the tectonic pressure from the ground, the way it soared through the sky, how it stood tall in the face of blizzards and gusts of wind for so many seasons. This piece of stone, once part of a boulder that protected one side of the range, was a quiet and dependable friend of his. However, now...
It had been obliterated. Hopelessly smashed to smithereens. The rock elemental that drew strength from it had vanished. Pantalisa had no way of knowing whether it had been extinguished or relocated. But one thing was certain. He had lost an old friend.
Step. Step. Pantalisa strode across the path, which was littered with tiny stone fragments and a plethora of marks and traces of human destruction. The tens of thousands of acres of permafrost, the snowflakes that walked over it, the high winds that carried the snowflakes, and the mossy shrubs that lovingly grew even as they trembled against it. The elementals inside everything had disappeared. He assumed they had been extinguished or fled. It made him sad to imagine them wailing over the loss of their homes and fleeing as they wiped their tears. That fact infuriated him.
His gaze advanced slowly toward a small cave on the range's flank, past the ruins of the peak. From inside, a bonfire light spilled out, reflecting two swaying human shadows. They belonged to the humans who had just arrived on the range and caused havoc.
"What am I supposed to do with them...?"
Pantalisa felt a strong desire to kill them right now. He wanted to rip their bodies apart using the wrath of nature. He couldn't, however, because he was a spiritual being with an amorphous body. It was physically impossible for him to touch humans. That unfortunate fact inflamed his rage even more.
The Pantara Range was one of the few places untouched by human presence... But now... Why?
His icy stare at the cave became even colder as he considered how to eliminate those humans and restore the land his friends had lost.
♣️
Five days passed. Lloyd had visited the Frontera fiefdom alone with Yong Yong until now. But when he returned, he flew back together with the Skeleton Soldiers. The indomitable balls of energy who never complained about hunger or fatigue from sleep deprivation.
Looking at the proud 200 skeletons, Lloyd said, "Got it? You guys are frontrunners. My question is, for what?"
Turtle Neck, the leader of Skeleton Corps, raised its hands and stepped forward before scribbling something in the snow.
[We are the most handsome group of frontrunners!]
"Wrong..." Lloyd sighed. "I explained on the flight here. Anyone remember?"
This time, Square Jaw stepped forward.
[Construction of shower facilities for workers!]
"Great," Lloyd chirped happily, "That was close. Anything else?"
[Accommodation! Cafeteria! Exercise facilities! Arcade room!]
"Exercise facilities are unnecessary. And an arcade room? You've gone too far. Anyway, you all are somewhat close. As frontrunners, you are in charge of building the camps for the laborers to sleep in."
Lloyd took a look around at the rest of the Skeleton Corps. There were no better frontrunners for the construction of the worker's facilities despite the harsh conditions here since they did not require food or rest.
The environment is harsh, and technically speaking, there's no infrastructure here.
With the constant terror of blizzards and freezing temperatures in the area, they needed basic amenities and lodging facilities to stay for the entirety of the construction. This would be even more true after the flow of time was stopped.
I can't send the workers outside this area since the rest of the world will be frozen. That means I'll have to keep them here until the construction is finished.
Lloyd considered just proceeding with the construction at first but abandoned the plan after estimating that he would go beyond the one-year limit of the Time Freeze skill with only the skeletons' help.
The Skeleton Corps aren't enough. I need workers with more real-world experience. That is why there needs to be facilities for those individuals can stay in for a year.
Therefore, the Skeleton Corps first arrived to build the workers' facilities.
"So," said Lloyd to the Skeleton Corps, “Your work here will determine the life quality, safety, and happiness of the workers here."
Clack!
Their heads bobbed in understanding.
"And make sure not to overwork yourselves," Lloyd added. “I know you all don't eat or need breaks. However, it's bitterly cold here. Remember what I told you on our flight? Frozen Shoulder. You respond this time. What precaution did I give you?"
[We need to warm ourselves around the bonfire every hour, so our bones will not freeze!]
"Good, you remember it well," Lloyd said, making Frozen Shoulder smile. "Even if you can work indefinitely, the cold climate will make ice freeze between joints. It could cause you to trip and break your bones. So, keep my words in mind. Bonfire, every hour. Remember that."
Creak!
"All right," said Lloyd, "Let's go over the blueprint of the lodging house you all will build."
Lloyd lifted the scroll of paper that contained the design for the lodging facilities and opened it up for everyone to see.
♣️
The construction went swimmingly. It had to be due to its ever-so simple architecture.
"Got it? From here to there. The same as how it's marked in the blueprint. Terraced all the way along the cliff slope." Lloyd explained the concept behind the lodging facilities to Javier.
Staring at the blueprint, Javier asked, "Are you filling up the sides with logs?"
"Yeah, like a staircase."
"Then, the ceiling of the lower floor would serve as the front garden of the upper floor."
"Exactly," replied Lloyd happily. "You are quick to understand."
"Hence, my dislike," said Javier under his breath.
"For what?"
"I know what you are going to do from now on. You will be traveling around after delegating this job to me, abandoning me here at this site," grumbled Javier.
"Come on, come on. Abandon you?" Lloyd spoke in a lighthearted tone. "This is a necessary process. So, make sure you're doing a good job of supervising your skeleton pals. And one more thing. Did I explain to you how elves' houses should be different?"
"Yes, you did," said Javier with a resigned look on his face. "Don't use any form of wood, including logs."
Lloyd nodded. "So, dig out a few caves and carve some ice for doors."
"Haah... I understand, Master Lloyd."
Javier and Lloyd then went back to work. Javier buckled down and concentrated on constructing the lodging accommodations with the Skeleton Corps, all the while keeping an eye out for any suspicious movements beyond the range. Lloyd, on the other hand, traveled around the kingdom with Yong Yong, transporting the bundles of supplies he had previously purchased in Cremo and Namaran for the Pantara Range. It felt similar to shopping for a month's worth of groceries. Following the transfer of goods, the workers would be moved next.
"Okay! Hop on! Quickly now!"
Every time Lloyd passed through the Frontera fiefdom, there was a raucous exclamation from the laborers on Yong Yong's back. The first to set out for the range were 300 orc warriors.
Whoosh! When Yong Yong's wings spread wide to lift everyone to great heights at great speed, the Frontera fiefdom shrank dramatically, and everything from the manor to the wetland, terraced field, apartment complexes, and eastern range diminished to the size of a toy as the entire landscape spanned beneath them. This enthralled the orc warriors.
"O-oink! We're flying! We're flying! Oink!"
"Mom! I'm a flying orc now! Oink!"
"Father! I've floated all the way up, oink!"
"Honey! I love you, oink!"
"A couple...! Oink!"
"A traitor! Throw him outside, oink!"
Following the strong and brawny orc warriors, the White Cavalry lancers arrived, followed by the elf archers. Then there was the Engineering Corps. Corgidus and dwarf blacksmiths were the last to arrive.
Lloyd was taken aback by the dwarves. When he noticed a strange figure in the crowd, he led him to a corner and asked, "Mister Solitas? What exactly are you doing here?"
"I don't feel comfortable..." Solitas's face flushed with an emotion Lloyd couldn't make out.
"Eh?"
"Did you know?" Solitas spoke in a shaky voice. "The existence of the guest slumbering in the guest's chamber?"
"Guest's chamber? Oh, you mean-"
"Yes! The Dragon King Verkis." Solitas's eyes burned with indignation. "Shouldn't you have at least told me if he was here? Why didn't you even give me a hint?"
"So, I guess you met him..."
"I did. I did get to meet him. I also didn't recognize him. As a result, I... Haah. Forget about it." Solitas sighed deeply. His failure to recognize Verkis cost him dearly. He was trapped in a lizard's body for 24 hours, which was a humiliating, embarrassing, and terrifying experience.
I have never felt so powerless before. I couldn't do anything.
Solitas tried to break the spell. But when that proved impossible, he was forced to admit that he would be trapped in that body for an entire day, which he spent hiding in between rocks in fear of being eaten by cats or caught by naughty kids eager to grill him.
I don't want to tell him what I had to go through.
It hurt his pride to tell him the story. Solitas thus worked hard to appear unconcerned. "Anyway, being left at the fiefdom with such a strong presence is not comfortable. In addition, I have more to learn from my teacher."
"Yes, I'm sure it is." Lloyd nodded, understanding where Solitas was coming from wholeheartedly.
It'd be like an employee being forced to spend the day in the same room as their company's CEO. It must be extremely taxing. Plus, I'm sure he'll want to continue learning from Corgidus.
Since there would be no more sludge to burn as the world would freeze soon, Lloyd concluded that it'd be all right for Solitas to be here.
"Anyway, welcome. Unpack your stuff in your room first."
Everyone arrived and was immediately assigned to their respective rooms. The food, materials, and supplies for them were fully prepared. Everything was set for the start of the construction.
Great. Once it's past noon tomorrow, I'll freeze the passage of time.
Lloyd thought as he observed the sky darkening between the light snowflakes. He then went to bed, knowing that all he had to do the next day was choose the right time to freeze time and begin construction.
The next morning, however, everyone at the site was greeted with a disastrous blizzard caused by the Elemental King throughout the range. The violent and cruel snowstorm arrived with biting cold, rendering construction to be impossible. As a result, excitement stirred amongst workers.
