Lassim’s new surface dwelling was modest yet perfectly situated, offering a panoramic view of the expansive sky that stretched endlessly above.
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The cabin, built with the help of Master Tolen’s skilled apprentices, was constructed from sturdy, weather-resistant wood sourced from the newly thriving forests around the barrier’s edge.
Its design was simple: a single-room structure with a loft up off the cold ground, but directly above an enchanted fire stove for warm sleeping and rest. Next to the stove included a small cooking area, and closet space for his personal belongings.
There was also a larger open central area with an old carved table with chairs that was brought up from the underground to be used during any meetings with Sanvra and Master Tolen.
Due to the central location in the village and the conveniently large table, his cabin quickly became more than just a personal living space. It evolved into a hub for community interaction.
Lassim welcomed anyone who wished to visit, discussing plans, hearing out problems some of the drow had, listening to their ideas, or simply offering a warm place by the enchanted fire stove.
Adapting to life on the surface presented its challenges. The constant cold and the perpetual snow, unaffected by the barriers, demanded a significant adjustment.
Lassim learned how to properly layer his clothing, thanks to Sanvra, using thick, insulated garments prepared by the community for him to combat the unrelenting chill. He learned that the Drow’s unique physique actually made them resistant to feeling how cold it truly was compared to him.
Sanvra’s body seemed to be perpetually covered in frost, which he initially thought was an aesthetic choice after a while, but she mentioned in passing she barely noticed it.
Cultivating the thawing land was another new task he attempted to assist with. The soil, though perpetually covered in frost, was beginning to show signs of life due to the influence of the mana barriers.
Lassim experimented with planting, supposedly, resilient strains of crops that could survive in the cold. He received the seeds after speaking with an elder Drow one time when he came over to chat by Lassim’s fire stove.
During the respite, he shared that he had a tome of some of the ancient farming techniques from when he was but a child helping his family to grow their own vegetables.
Under his assistance, slowly, green shoots began to break through the frost, promising a future where the surface could sustain more than just transient life.
Despite the omnipresent cold, there were other joys to be found. The sight of the first sturdy plants pushing through the frost was the first victory. The second happiness that Lassim enjoyed were the birds.
Attracted by the area’s increasing vitality and cleansing mana, the purified and released birds brought sounds to the quiet eternal night. Their calls and songs, rare and beautiful, were a melody of life returning to a land long silent.
During the moments which Lassim could only refer to as "evening", when they had finished spending a full day working, his third joy was spent sharing tales and plans around communal fires some would light under the falling snow in the open spaces between the cabins.
The flickering flames a counterpoint to the eternal twilight. Under the constancy of the night sky, these gatherings maintained the positivity of the growing community
~~~~
Four months had passed since the establishment of the first surface village. The success of the village, combined with the effective operation of the barrier cages that gradually cleansed and normalized the wild beasts, brought a new sense of optimism.
The once cautious community began to eagerly discuss the expansion of living areas on the surface, planning to replicate the model of the first village in new locations. These discussions were fueled by the noticeable improvements in the environment and the increasing comfort of living above ground.
During one of the community planning sessions, Lassim brought forth a proposal that caught everyone’s attention.
"[I want to share something about my cultivation technique, which you might find quite unusual,"] Lassim began, pausing to gauge their curiosity. "[Normally, when I engage fully in my cultivation, it summons a powerful cloud of lightning and rain above me.
This is a natural extension of my elemental abilities and something you might have recognized occur slightly when I’ve help defend the barriers.]"
He continued, his tone thoughtful, "[However, up until now, I’ve always kept this aspect of my power suppressed, thanks to Zaphy and Mari, my elemental companions. They help regulate the intensity to prevent any unintended damage or disruption to our surroundings when I absorb the cleansed mana and advance my cultivation.]"
His eyes moved across the faces of his audience, ensuring they grasped the significance of what he was about to propose. "[I believe that if I were to cultivate at full force, without any suppression, it might not only accelerate our cleansing efforts but potentially transform the environment at a much faster rate.
Yet, this is not without risks, which is why I haven’t attempted it near our living areas. I believe the intensity of the storm could be dangerous to our structures and possibly our people if I do it too close to our current locations.]"
Sanvra and Master Tolen listened intently, understanding the potential benefits and risks of such an endeavor. Master Tolen, ever the pragmatist, was the first to respond.
"[It’s a bold idea, Lassim, and one that could accelerate our efforts significantly. However, we appreciate that you’ve been holding back in consideration for the safety of the community. We can find a location that is isolated enough to ensure no harm comes to the progress we’ve made so far.]"
Sanvra added, "[Perhaps we could utilize the far eastern edge outside of our current village sanctuary. If you head East for about four hours at running pace, you’ll come across a set of natural rock formations that could provide some barriers against your lightning and water elements from spilling out.
We could set up a temporary barrier system there in the miniature valley, much like the ones we use to control the wildlife but designed to keep beasts out while you cultivator so you’re not surprised by rabid beasts.]"
Lassim nodded, appreciative of their input. "[That sounds like a great plan! If it’s successful, we could consider taking notes on how much this could speed up the progress of cleansing the realm. If we can add it to the village’s systems, it could possible speed things up exponentially, or at least I hope it can.]"
The community agreed to Lassim’s request and quickly set to work. Under Master Tolen’s direction, a team of builders and engineers started designing a specialized barrier capable of withstanding severe weather phenomena.
They made their way to the site that was surrounded by high cliffs, which naturally shielded the rest of the territory from potential fallout. This site would allow Lassim to harness his powers without fear of damaging the surrounding area in every direction in the event that things got out of hand. They had no idea what could possibly happen, so they wanted to prepare for any kind of situation.
Sanvra coordinated the logistical aspects, ensuring that all necessary materials were transported to the site and that a safety protocol was in place. She also organized a small observation team, consisting of Drow with knowledge in weather patterns and elemental magic, to monitor the experiment and gather data when he was ready to set out.