The night settled across the wilderness in undisturbed tranquility.
Around the glowing embers of the campfire, the travelers exchanged stories of the world's countless quirks and mechanics, ranging from the peculiar physics of soil and trees to the sprawling expanse of external dimensions. Perhaps this long voyage into uncharted territory had stirred distant memories of their earlier expeditions, back when none of them possessed their current overwhelming strength.
In those early days, every foray required exhaustive preparation. They had carried every conceivable scrap of material, meticulously calculating how each environmental rule might aid their survival. Now, with modern firearms fully manufactured, legendary SlashBlades forged to perfection, and high tier staves resting securely at their hips, their soaring power had fostered a habit of simply smashing through obstacles just like Ryen. Along the way, many fundamental rules of the world had faded from their active thoughts.
Only the sudden encounter with the Ocean Monument earlier that day had served as a sharp reminder. No matter how formidable their personal power became, the intrinsic laws of this universe could never be disregarded; otherwise, the land would swiftly deliver a harsh lesson.
Revisiting these foundational principles under the open sky felt like reviewing old wisdom to gain new insight. The Khaenri'ahns and Baizhu, who had little prior exposure to such mechanics, listened with rapt attention, occasionally jotting down notes on parchment whenever a crucial point was explained.
Given that exploration would resume early the following morning, most of the group abstained from heavy drinking. Naturally, this rule did not deter Mondstadt's most notorious windborne bard and a certain cavalry captain from sharing a quiet, companionable sip by the warmth of the flames.
In the deep pitch of the wilderness night, seated close to the fire while exchanging hard won survival lore, the scene carried a strange, comforting charm. Just beyond the perimeter fences, the muffled groans of wandering zombies and the dry clatter of skeleton archers rattled through the darkness, creating an uncanny sense of sanctuary in the middle of hostile terrain.
Aether watched the shadowy figures beyond the fence with measured contemplation. For a nation preparing to migrate its entire population into this realm, the relentless nocturnal spawning of hostile creatures presented a genuine logistical obstacle.
Still, it was far from insurmountable. It all came down to how they designed their fortifications. During their centuries beneath the earth, Khaenri'ah had defended its cities against endless waves of subterranean beasts. Adapting to this realm merely meant returning to old routines and organizing systematic defensive shifts.
When compared directly, monsters within Teyvat posed far greater environmental destruction, whereas within this world, individual creatures possessed relatively fragile physical structures.
As the midnight hour approached, the gathering gradually dispersed, each traveler returning to their constructed shelters. Ryen had built the largest residence, arranging for Klee, the other young girls, and their flying companion to rest comfortably in the adjoining quarters. He retired to the master suite alongside Ganyu and Lumine.
The night progressed in quiet peace, though with so many spirited companions sharing the household, total stillness was never guaranteed. While Ryen rested between Ganyu and Lumine, a familiar, playful presence approached under the cloak of darkness.
Only Yae Miko would dare execute such a brazen advance in a room shared with others. After a silent exchange of admonishing glances in the dim light, Ryen let himself yield to the shrine maiden's practiced tenderness and delicate care. Watching her poised elegance, he felt a faint sense of quiet satisfaction, remembering that much of her current confidence had blossomed under his own patient guidance.
Bathed in the faint, flickering glow of the torchlight, the quiet intimacy drifted like gentle ripples across water before settling into tranquil rest. Miko eventually nestled into place, fully content. Ganyu and Lumine remained nestled beside Ryen, though the subtle warmth radiating from their skin suggested they were not entirely oblivious, merely choosing modest discretion over confrontation.
Dawn arrived across the frontier without incident, marking a peaceful conclusion to the first night of the expedition.
At sunrise, Xiao arose early, following long established habits from previous campaigns. Gathering his weapon, he stepped past the threshold into the morning air to perform the customary perimeter sweep, focusing on creepers, spiders, and other creatures that did not burn under the sun.
To his surprise, someone had already claimed the task.
The Khaenri'ah vanguard had awakened well before dawn. In fact, judging by their boundless vigor, they seemed not to have slept at all. Small squads stood along the outer fence line, methodically eliminating the lingering undead. While zombies and skeletons made up the majority, several creepers also lurked nearby. None of the wild spellcasting wizards encountered the previous day were in sight, suggesting that such elite humanoids were rare, localized encounters rather than common nightly spawns.
This was welcome news for Khaenri'ah. If common undead were the primary nocturnal hazard, standard patrols could easily secure their settlements. If hostile spellcasters spawned continuously in the dark, Aether would have faced serious complications, as a single errant fire spell could reduce early wooden settlements to ash before concrete manufacturing was established.
Noticing the Khaenri'ahns diligently striking down even standard zombies and skeletons, Xiao walked over and spoke in a steady voice.
"During morning sweeps, prioritize the targets that do not ignite under sunlight. Common undead require no wasted effort; the morning sun will incinerate them on its own. Conserve your supplies."
Endis, who had been practicing offensive incantations with her staff against the pinned targets, paused and nodded respectfully. "Thank you for the guidance, Conqueror of Demons."
Given the size of the expedition, the perimeter spanned a considerable distance, drawing a sizable swarm of nocturnal monsters. Xiao and the adepti joined the effort, quickly finishing the sweep.
By the time the rest of the company emerged, including Ryen and his companions, the surrounding clearing was spotless, with all valuable drops gathered and stored.
Ryen chose not to dwell on the morning work, calling everyone together for a swift breakfast before charting their onward heading. Neither Ryen nor Aether intended to dismantle the outpost; maintaining the structure would allow it to serve as a future rest stop, a frontier garrison, or a notable historic landmark marking the first steps of Khaenri'ah's new era.
Mounting their horses, the expedition continued along the established heading. As casual conversation flowed freely, the open plains gradually receded, replaced by an increasing density of woodland. By midday, they had entered a sprawling forest dominated by towering oak canopies, nearly identical to the old growth timber of the Main Continent.
Aether surveyed the dense foliage, calculating prospective urban layouts before remarking with mild concern, "I have not spotted any villages throughout this stretch. Without indigenous villagers, scaling up technological infrastructure and vital resource chains will become quite difficult, which will inevitably slow down our founding timeline."
Riding alongside him, Venti offered a breezy smile and an airy wave of his hand. "There is no need to fret over that. Most of our existing city states maintain dedicated villager breeding facilities. If none can be located here, we can always ship an initial population over from the Main Continent. Once a small group is settled, they will multiply on their own in no time."
Aether nodded quietly. While he preferred to minimize reliance on the other five nations, logistical necessity took precedence if local populations remained scarce.
"Ganyu, it is your turn to shine," Ryen said with a warm smile, resting an encouraging hand on her hip.
A light blush colored her cheeks, but she promptly closed her eyes and extended a slender finger in a specific direction.
Trusting her uncanny intuition, the party spurred their mounts into a brisk trot.
Within half an hour, glancing through the sun dappled leaves, the group spotted a distinctive architectural silhouette.
It was a Wizard Tower, characterized by a steep, dark crimson conical roof resting atop a sturdy cobblestone pillar. Faint torchlight flickered through the narrow embrasures along its upper tier. Rather than ornate gothic masonry, the structure was built with functional, rustic simplicity.
Ryen exchanged a knowing look with his companions as they steered their horses toward the clearing. While several such towers stood across the Main Continent, the nations had rarely bothered to initiate trade with their solitary occupants. Now that they were actively exploring the Wizardry mod, entering this outpost was a natural step.
The ground around the tower opened into a broad meadow, bordered by vibrant patches of wild blossoms and free of tall timber. At the base of the stone shaft stood a plain wooden door.
"If an evil wizard resides within, we can dismantle it for raw materials and claim another stockpile," Ningguang noted smoothly.
Ryen let out a soft chuckle. When the Seven Nations first stepped into this realm, Ningguang had insisted on approaching every native creature with strict diplomatic courtesy, even expressing hesitation toward villager trading systems. Half a year later, she operated villager automation with ruthless mercantile efficiency and looked upon local magical entities with clear calculated ambition.
Ryen approved of the shift. Colonizing and developing a new world was inherently an act of bold acquisition, and maintaining clear pragmatism was the swiftest path to prosperity. As the master of this realm, he had no interest in petty sentimentality; so long as the world prospered and ascended, the internal movement of assets mattered little.
"Let us see what lies inside," Ryen instructed calmly. "Keep trading supplies at the ready. If the occupant is an ordinary wizard, do not strike them, and leave the stone masonry intact."
The party drew their staves and blades, checking their equipment.
Lisa tilted her head, a teasing glint in her eyes. "And if an evil wizard awaits us?"
Ryen raised an eyebrow with an easy grin. "Then we open with an RPG rocket to clear the threshold and let Ganyu finish the rest from range. We have the numbers to overwhelm anything inside, but taking the simplest path is always best."
A collective murmur of amused laughter rippled through the ranks. Ryen's instinct for absolute tactical security remained as unyielding as ever, preferring guaranteed dominance over reckless bravado.
"In that case, I find myself rather hoping for a hostile host," Ningguang remarked with a graceful smile.
With weapons secured and trade goods ready, the group advanced across the lawn and pushed through the wooden door of the tower.