''So you are Kendra?'' a young man in his late teens stood in front of her and sized her with his eyes in wonder.
''That is given. You must be Claro.'' She stared at him back.
The two people had an unusual stance in mid of the market and everyone that passed found it strange. They looked like they would fight any second. Even from far them anyone would think that, but only people from her own sect knew that Kendra was actually completely relaxed and was just curiously staring at him.
''He didn't tell me you were this... young.'' He shook his head while looking at her childish appearance.
What he didn't expect is to get a simple answer. ''Ditto.''
Kendra turned around and started walking away leaving him standing there completely flabbergasted. When he realized she really was leaving he started running after her.
Kendra was actually heading towards Jason's group of people. There was a man standing with a simple but kind face and spoke with everyone. Even the air around him was quite peaceful.
As she arrived Jason stood by her side and introduced her. ''This is Kendra. Our head. Kendra this is Taro.''
Taro could already see the strange child even from far so when she headed towards them he already knew she was part of their sect, but that she is village chief, that was unexpected and left everyone speechless.
Jason sighed. ''She ate too early youth potion and it will take many more years to wear that off. She is actually quite a powerful cultivator outside. If you look down on her, you look down on all of us. Do not think she is simple only because she looks like a child.''
Taro looked at calm Kendra that just swiped her eyes over a bunch of people and then sighed. ''Miss Kendra, I am Taro.''
Kendra just nodded. ''Did Jason show you the plan for your tower?'' Then she looked at Jason and saw him shaking his head.
''Sorry, chief. We just came together so I still didn't have time to explain to him.'' He was truly hoping Kendra would do it herself, as he didn't understand half of the things she spoke off.
Looking at his face she almost chuckled but stopped herself. In this case, she wanted to be serious. ''Give me the plan. Taro, gather all that will help to build the tower and let them come with me. Jason, you will follow me. The others go finish your duties.'' With her words, the people from her guild went to do what they planned already leaving Taro looking at their swift and precise actions he knew they are already long used to listen to her words.
Not only that. Everyone had the same clothes. Like a uniform, the clothes were worn only by their people. He couldn't see anyone else wearing those. Clean clothes, clean people and he could see they were all well fed and healthy. Somehow he felt even pressure coming from them, but how is that even possible?
As they walked Kendra saw more and more people coming out simple huts that they build only for one night and sighed. ''As your people's job will be to take care of all pregnant women from now on, you will be given dormitories. There are enough. The only one will be still kept for our use when we come. The food distribution will be taken care of as well somehow. But I hope after you people finish with this you will as well help to gather food.''
Taro nodded. ''I already send my people to check the forests.''He saw her nodding.
''That is good. The winter is coming and when it does we can support only those that are with babies. So you need to set aside at least two dozen people to search for food. I can send you my people to show you some of them. As long as you don't destroy it completely we all can live from the forest quite well.'' As she spoke they already headed towards higher grounds.
Taro looked at her with surprise. ''What do you mean?''
Even tho he was still a bit worried about listening to this child any further, he could see a doting smile on Jasons face. Actually, Jason answered this one.
''Kendra meant if you don't destroy everything only to gain a bit then you will have vegetables and fruits even the next year. Do not destroy roots or something.'' Jason patted his shoulder as he was right next to him.
Claro walked behind them and shook his head. This girl indeed doesn't care who is older and who is younger. No rules whatsoever, but why is she still so cute in all the seriousness? He was wondering is that what he wanted in a woman? If his sister comes back and acts like this, wills he had any chance?
Claro was from one side biased as he wanted to help his sister, but from the other side, he had to accept the fact that this child was quite charismatic. Involuntarily everyone started closely listening to her words.
Even tho her voice was never too loud, everyone could clearly hear her words.
They listened to her advice as she started explaining even about planting and gardening. Don't they sell vegetables to survive? Why telling such secrets people you don't know at all?
But actually, they planned to tell everyone how to take care of vegetables as they felt to much burden. Too many people wanted to buy off the vegetables and if they continue they won't have much for themselves. But as they planned anyway to start with textiles, they didn't want to work themselves to death.
Actually, lately, Grounding Fairy sect members realized one simple fact. They were the most relaxed people among all the cultivators in this world. Soon they even planned all to go and have fun by themselves in one of the hidden beaches. The men already prepared the beach houses already.
Everyone just wanted finally to relax. After the warrior guide takes over the care about the pregnant women they will pul out of the city bit by bit, leaving only that one place where they wanted to stay when they visited the town.
Taro's group just came at right moment. As she walked Kendra smiled at him. ''Taro. You and your people can build houses inside the walls as that town is now in your hands. But remember one thing, the women part of town is off the grid. If someone tries something funny, they will die. I am not one of people that jokes with such things. I warn you all just one time. Don't say later that no one ever warned you.
Claro was stunned by strength or her words and seriousness seeping our her eyes. Is there something he didn't know? Somehow he felt her words bit off so he turned his head towards the town. At first her didn't see anything but then stopped in tracks. ''Formation?''
His thoughts became wiery as he was thinking many things at the same time. Feeling headaches upcoming he just sat down on the nearby stone and jumped when he heard Kendra screaming. ''Don't sit there!''
He was about to ask when hundreds of ants started coming under the stone out and moving in quite a speed towards him. We are not talking about tiny ants. The ants in this world are the size of a tarantula. So seeing hundreds of them moving straight towards him, made him almost turn and run for dear life.
But as he saw Kendra pointing behind him he thought at fist they are about to caught on him so he rushed quickly and almost hid behind Kendra while peeking behind her back at ants that followed him just for couple steps and went back.
Taro rolled his eyes while Kendra simply too his hand and pulled him up, towards the mountain.
As they got close to the strange stone formation Kendra rolled out the plan for the tower and started explaining, while everyone speechlessly looked at the small girl with shiny eyes explaining what how and where.
''You can choose to make a combination of stone and wood, or clay clocks and wood. Or combine all of them. In base make it stone, but as higher it goes it should be lighter material.'' On end, they came to the decision to make the fist five levels from stones, next five from clay blocks and all appliances and everything else from woods.
Taro and his people had already some experience with wood, but this time stone... They had nothing they could work with this time. But suddenly Kendra gave them an idea.
''When we were building the castle we realized some stones are easily broken off in big pieces and you could go and crack the stones and build everything you need. That is the reason we build the city fast. You know we have only a couple dozen people. So how is it even possible to build such a big castle without help?''
Her words made them all realize one simple thing. How did they do that...?