The trio stared at the glowing ground; their eyes wide in awe. Lily was the first to react, a grand smile on her lips as she jumped and grabbed slimy dirt, building up a retaining wall that would hold water. She could feel Rosie and Malroth watching her as she slapped mud in certain spot until she was standing in the middle, dirty hands on her hips. "There we go! Malroth, there's a rock in the way up there, would you smash it for me?"
Malroth excitedly bound up the rocks and slammed his club into the one blocking the path down to Lily's little watering hole. "There we go!" He laughed as water rushed around his legs and down the small path and filling the spot Lily made. "Nice work, Lily! And you got that built in no time!"
Rosie clapped her hands as she watched the water rush down. "Lily! That's genius!" She ran off, disappearing into a makeshift hut before reemerging with a small wooden bucket in hand. "I'll water the plants and then we can wait until the cabbages grow!"
A few days had passed, and Lily had built up a sturdier hut for the small group to sleep in while they waited for the cabbages to grow. Lily and Malroth had cleaned up the small farm area as best they could, removing weeds and rocks from the land. Lily worked on clearing up the ruins of old buildings, stopping occasionally, to jot something down in her book. She glanced up on the fourth day, looking over to the small field of cabbages.
A smile spread on her lips when she saw that they had grown tremendously. She ran over to the field, nearly running over Malroth to get to the crops. "Woah! Watch yourself, Lily!" He stumbled back, nearly falling in the mud. He ran after her, staring wide eyed at the large cabbages. "Those are cabbages?!"
Lily turned on her toes, throwing up two fingers in 'V' at Malroth. "Cabbages!"
"Cabbages?!" Perry came running up, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head as he stared at the large green balls of leaves. "These cabbages're gurt lush! Did you 'nd Rosie really grow 'em all by yourselves? Maybe you really area a builder after all…"
"All the more reason why we should shun her accursed presence! Come along now, Perry – we're leaving!" Bonanzo grumbled from where he waited on the boy, his dark eyes narrowed on Lily.
Rosie came running up when Perry frowned and turned away. Malroth glared at the back of Bonanzo's head once more, growling out loud. "Why's beardy got such a grudge against builders? If anything's accursed around here, it's that dead dog on his chin!"
"It's not really a grudge… really. He's just being cautious. After all, everybody knows that builders spread desolation and despair wherever they go…" Rosie turned to Lily, giving her a soft smile. "Don't worry, Lily. I don't think builders are harbingers of doom and gloom. In fact, I think you're great! Bonanzo has just spent his whole life being told how awful people like you are." She reached out, touching Lily's shoulder. "You can't expect someone to change their mind over night."
"Or you could. She clearly isn't this awful person he's making her out to be, you can tell that in the first glance." Malroth waved his arm, showing off Lily in one swoop of his hand.
Lily felt her cheeks warm at Malroth's words, she looked away, suddenly feeling bashful. "It's okay, I'm sure he'll warm up to me sooner or later."
Tiny bounced on Lily's shoulder, narrowing his large eyes. "Hey, Rosie. I didn't notice it before, but is that a Builders' Bell over there?"
The three turned and looked at what Tiny was pointing out, it was a rusty old bell hanging over a small platform. "Huh? That old thing? I'm not sure, it's been there since we took this land back." Rosie crossed her arms then put her finger against her temple as she thought for a moment. "I don't recall any stories about it. It could be anything."
"My old man told me the Builder of Legend came around and made folks happier than he'd ever seen them before. Once he gathered enough magic from the people he helped, he would hit that bell and the people around him would be filled with the desire to create." Bonanzo slowly came up to them, his hands shoved in his pockets as he glared at Lily. "I tried hittin' it when I was a young lad, but nothing happened. It didn't even make a noise."
Rosie stood there for a moment, then a light went off in her head. "I got it!"
"Oh, someone's home." Malroth teased when he saw Rosie light up with an idea.
"Lily, go ring that bell!" Rosie gave Lily a shove towards the bell, cheerfully giggling as she pushed Lily towards the bell. "I bet something magical will happen!"
"I-I don't know, Rosie. What if something bad happens?" Lily gasped, trying to push back against Rosie; but they were in front of the bell before she could stop it. "I don't know if I should."
"Bonanzo tried to ring it when he was younger, but he isn't a Builder! You are! Please! For me?!" Rosie begged, gripping Lily's hand roughly. "Please?!"
Lily glanced to Malroth who only sighed and shrugged. "I…"
"If any monsters show up, I'll give them a good thrashing. Keep 'em off of ya." Malroth gave her a thumbs up, seeing her relax at the thought of someone being there to protect her. "Don't worry, Lily."
Lily pulled her hammer off her back, giving a determined nod to Rosie and Malroth. She turned to the bell; her body trembled with anticipation as she swung her hammer. It struck true, but it only swung from where it hung. Defeat reverberated through Lily, even a Builder couldn't get the bell to ring? She hung her head, almost dropping her hammer in defeat.
Malroth frowned as Lily turned to them, defeat written all over her in the way her shoulders slumped, and her head hung. "Hit it again! I bet you just had to hit some rust off!"
Lily looked up at Malroth, unable to smile her usual dopey smile. But the more he bounced on his toes, cheering her on, a warmth spread through her. She would get that bell to sound no matter what it took. With Malroth next to her, anything was possible. She whirled around; her hammer lifted up over her head.
Malroth watched as a ball of light sprang from Rosie and hit Lily in the back. He watched as the petite blonde, with her silly pigtails and her dopey grin, seemed to glow in front of them. The hammer struck true again, and a wave of magic hit him, making him take a step back. And then he heard it, the loud 'ding' of the bell. Each swing of the bell brought a new wave of magic, taking his breath away each time.
This goofy, ditsy builder turned to him, her tongue sticking out as she through up a peace sign at Malroth. He stared at the girl in awe as Perry and Bonanzo ran up, their eyes wide. "Marauding mollusks, builder! What have you done?!" Bonanzo gasped, running up behind Malroth and Rosie. "The bell?! You got it to ring?!"
Malroth stumbled back from the three around him as little orbs of light plunked off of them, his red eyes wide. "Rosie, do you see the little lights at your feet?"
Rosie took pause for a moment before looking down at her feet, gasping and jumping back. "What in the world!? What are these!"
Malroth couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. "They've been jumping off you ever since Lily made the irrigation hole and planted the cabbages."
"I wonder… I felt so happy I could explode in those moments." Rosie put a finger to her cheek, thinking to herself as she wondered what those lights could mean.
"Me 'ole body's bin filled with a yearnin' to create… I've got this uncontrollable urge to go an' till a field!" Perry gasped, holding his chest as he looked to Rosie. "What's this mean, Ms. Rosie?"
Lily yanked her book out of its' protective sleeve and quickly scribbled things down, her eyes wide as her quill went wild across the pages. She turned her book around for the others to see. "I just thought of ideas of different furniture and buildings I can make for you guys!"
"Well… this place could use some decorations…" Bonanzo scratched his thick beard as he looked around the poor excuse of a farm.
"Alright, Lily, we're all very impressed. You can stop posing now." Malroth teased her as she shyly put her book back in its' rightful spot.
"From now on, you will have full cooperation from Perry and I. Let us rebuild the great farm and restore this island to its former glory!" Bonanzo cheered, clapping his large hands as Lily started down the stairs towards them.
"Lily, we can finally move on to the next step of making Furrowfield Farm the best farm around, but in order to do that… we need better soil and… well… I uhm… I'm not sure how we go about that. Any ideas?" Rosie walked up to Lily after Perry and Bonanzo went to go till more of the field.
"Ha! For a mob who hates builders, you lot certainly seem to be lost without one." Malroth came up next to Lily, his hands on his hips as he glared at Rosie. "What's the story there, anyway? What's so bad about builders? Come on, let's get to the root of this."
His words seemed to strike a chord with Rosie and her eyes lit up. She slammed a fist into her palm, grinning wildly at Malroth and Lily. "Of course! The root! Well, I suppose it's more of a bulb, really… Whatever it is, it certainly isn't a cabbage! This can be the next thing we grow!"
Lily and Malroth watched in awe as Rosie pulled a large blue seed from the pouch at her hip. While Lily was drawn to the bulb, Malroth whirled on his toes, pointing to the platform in the middle of the farm, his eyes nearly bugging from his head. "Lily! Do you feel that magic? It's coming from there."
"Go on, Lily! You can take it." Rosie smiled when Lily hesitated to take the seed.
Lily nearly dropped the seed when it hit her hands, it felt like the seed shocked her. But then she could feel a gentle flow of magic between her and the seed. Each little wave of magic sent a warm sensation all the way down to her toes. She turned and trotted over to where Malroth was pointing to, glancing at him as she kneeled and dropped the seed in. "Hopefully this doesn't destroy the world, yeah?"
Malroth threw his head back in laughter, his hand feebly slapping Lily on the shoulder. "Wouldn't that be hilarious!" He helped her up after she got the seed buried, pointing to their makeshift home. "C'mon, it's late."
"We'll see what happens in the morning, right, Rosie?" Lily stuck her tongue out and left Rosie to stare at the ground. Though, Lily and Malroth hadn't made it but a few steps when a wave of magic nearly knocked them to their knees. They both whirled around, their jaws hitting the ground at what they saw.
"Oh, fiddlesticks!" Rosie gasped jumping away from the flimsy tree that now stood before her. "We've really gone and done it this time! The Master of Destruction is sure to strike us down!"
"I've heard that name a few times. Who is this Master of Destruction?" Malroth put a hand on his hip, staring down Rosie who shied away from him.
"You guys haven't heard of the Master of Destruction? Do you know who the Children of Hargon are?" Rosie felt like a few of her braincells died when the two in front of her shook their heads. "So, you really weren't playing dumb. You don't know about the evils of building. Let me start from the top," Rosie pushed her glasses up her nose, clearing her throat as she prepared to speak. "Here on this island, building isn't only forbidden. It's a sin. Punishable by-"
"G-Guys! We're in an 'ole 'eap of trouble 'ere! T-The pastor-!"
The group turned, seeing Perry running right for them, his dark brown eyes wide as he nearly collided with Rosie.
"What blasphemy is this!?" A pastor of Hargon walked through the fields, the red glowing eye in his mask flickering as it bounced from side to side. "Who planted this tree?!" He spun around, taking in all the things Lily had created before turning on the builder, his scepter held up high and glowing. "Who created these things?! This is heresy!"
"I did."
Rosie gasped when Lily stepped forward, the builder's dark blue eyes bright and angry as she stared down the priest. "Lily! Y-You can't…" She started to step up next to Lily when Malroth grabbed her wrist, holding her back. "Malroth…"
Lily stuck her chin out and glared up at the much bigger monster. "I got hungry, so I decided to plant those cabbages. And I got cold, so I repaired the hut."
The priest pulled back some, the red eye narrowed on Lily, taking in her small stature. "Oh? A witless-looking whelp such as yourself made all of this… I very highly doubt that."
"It is my duty as a builder."
The priest flinched at the words Lily spoke, nearly dropping his scepter. "Did… did you say builder?"
"I sure did." Lily put her hands on her hips, giving the priest a dopey smile.
"What an odd creature. Surely you know that means de-" The red eye went up from Lily, as if looking behind her, then slowly moved back down to her. "I…"
Rosie tried to hide the chuckle that tried to leave her when Malroth stepped up quietly behind Lily, his red eyes ablaze with anger. He had his club out and ready to bash away at the priest. But what made it all so funny, was that Rosie could feel the hatred and anger radiating off of Malroth from where she stood, but it seemed to go over Lily's head. She didn't think she would ever tell either of them, but the way Malroth loomed over Lily so protectively while she just burst with pride about being a builder was absolutely adorable.
The pastor huffed and lowered his scepter, glancing at the tree again. Lily had never seen someone jump as high as that pastor did just then when he examined the tree again. "Wa-wait! Th-This tree! Is this what I think it is?!"
"What? You gonna stammer all day or you gonna spit it out?" Malroth growled from behind Lily, his knuckles going white from how hard he gripped the club.
Lily turned, finally realizing that Malroth was right behind her. She reached out, touching his arm gently. "Give him a moment to collect his thoughts."
"That is a young Deitree. It is said to have protected the island so long ago but was destroyed many years ago." The pastor seemed to relax a little as he stared at the tree. "I've changed my mind. I will help you get this farm up and going, if only to see this tree grow."
"What?!" The group gawked at the pastor; their eyes bugging out of their skulls. "You're going to help us?"
"I won't help build anything; Master save me." The pastor laughed out loud at them. "I will give advice on what can be done to help against monsters and different crops." He looked at them, and by the sound of his voice, Lily could tell he was smiling behind his mask. "My name is Pastor Al, by the way."
The group got introductions out of the way before heading to bed, excited to see what tomorrow would bring them. Lily stirred, unable to get her body to relax enough to fall asleep when she noticed that Malroth wasn't next to her like usual. She slowly got up, looking around the makeshift shelter, still not seeing the angry bundle that was Malroth. Getting up, Lily carefully picked her way through the sleeping residents of Furrowfield. She winced when the door creaked as she opened it, but no one stirred.
With a sigh, Lily silently slipped out and looked around, spotting Pastor Al and Malroth standing in front of the deitree. She started for them when she heard them talking. "It's funny to me how you show up and these people decide to drop the teachings of Hargon for some small builder like your Lily."
Malroth glanced at Pastor Al, his eyes narrowed. "And it's funny to me how you show up and drop the teachings of Hargon to help them build up this twig in the ground."
Pastor Al flinched, turning away from Malroth. He took pause when he saw Lily standing a little way off. "Builder!"
Lily gave a sheepish wave before glancing at Malroth. "Mal, you aren't sleeping."
Malroth rolled his eyes and shrugged at her. "I did sleep, I just decided to make a few rounds. I don't trust this guy as far as I can throw him." He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked over to her, using his arm and side to push on her, trying to urge her back to the hut. "Go back to sleep, I'll be back in a few minutes, alright?"
"I can stay up with you. I can just build something for now." She tried to hide her yawn as she tried to ignore his pushing. He won the mini battle though and she turned, finally letting a big yawn escape her. "Fine, fine. But if you aren't back to bed soon, I'm sleeping out here." She smiled when she heard him chuckle behind her.
