[I'm sorry if the writing differs from time to time, I have been writing this through the course of a few days and have been trying to regain my writing skills.]
I took a seat on a stone that, miraculously, wasn't yet buried under a blanket of snow. I felt distant, as if drifting in a dark void, ruminating on everything that had happened to me.
For a moment, a sharp pang of doubt surfaced: What if I am on the wrong path? What if I am doing something wrong?
"Oh, how far I've strayed..." I whispered to the empty air. "But toward what, Lord? What am I failing to see?"
I looked around, feeling untethered. In that moment, I found no answers, no grand conclusions. There was only me and the wind. The gale picked up speed, and snowflakes began to sting my face with every gust.
"The clouds gather... It seems the re will be a snowstorm." I murmured. Yet, when I gazed up at the sky, I saw an undeniable, piercing light.
I sighed and stood, preparing for my final ride of the day. After putting on my helmet, I began my descent toward the town(living area) which I decided now to name "Everwil." Rolling mist obscured my vision, but I didn't slow down; despite the disorientation, that light remained my compass. All I had to do was turn toward it and follow.
By the time I returned to the town, I was finally able to relax. I ducked into the hotel complex and shut the door firmly behind me, dragging in a bit of snow. I was safe now. Looking around the lobby, I realized that something was lacking: music.
Music was the final ingredient for a perfect, cozy atmosphere. And so I set to work, installing a gramophone and a custom mechanism to automatically switch the discs. I made it sophisticated - it could be paused and customized, with discs arranged on a rack where each row could be shifted or moved. For an energy source, I engineered it to draw power from the guests passing through the lobby doors.
"Welp... what else is there to do?" I asked myself.
I remembered I needed to hire employees, and I started brainstorming ways to make communication easier for visiting adventurers. Despite the violent storm raging outside, I set off to work. I treaded through the whiteout to the path connecting the train station to the town. Seeing the conditions, I felt glad I'd finished the sound system; surely no one would be crazy enough to travel in this weather.
The door to my private tram opened automatically as I approached. The temperature was a grand contrast to the frozen world outside. Taking a seat, I pulled out a pen and paper to draft two advertisements. The first was a job posting for the Snowfield Resort in Everwil, promising good pay, lodging, and food. The second was an invitation for travelers to try my new "invention" - a railway created by the noble who had famously worked with Kazuma's party to defeat four of the Demon King's generals.
I considered creating a long-distance communication system between stations, but I figured that would take more time than I wanted to spend right now. I took the lazy path instead and finished my drafts, using the originals as blueprints for transmutation to print copies.
Once that was done, I could speed up the process. I ordered the tram to the Oasis Fortress before teleporting to the Axel's train station to post the ads. Next, I headed to the Adventurer's Guild. A few heads turned as I walked in. I didn't know their names, but I greeted them like old buddies anyway. They did the same for me, but they knew my name.
At the reception desk, I found Luna looking a bit weary. I raised an arm in greeting. "Hey, Luna! How have you been?"
"Doing fine. What can I help you with?" she replied, her exhaustion showing.
"Could I put up some fliers?"
"Depends. Can I see them?" she asked, already reaching out.
She scanned them quickly. "This one, yes," she said, handing back the job advert. She slid the other back to me. "And this one, no."
"So only the job?"
"Yes," she confirmed.
Without another word, I pinned the job ad to the board. "Welp, that's all. Thanks, Luna."
"You're welcome. Have a great day!"
"You too!"
Outside, I hit upon a new idea: paying local vendors to advertise both the jobs and the new railway. I realized I could simply hire people for 20,000 Eris to spread the word. Since I had become quite famous, people would be too fearful to reject my offer - besides, 20k was 20k.
I used this strat in every civilized place that had a train station in it.
Finally, I teleported to the Oasis Fortress, plucked some cherries from the special Love tree, and took the tram back toward Everwil - The Snowfield Resort. My mind raced with possibilities - I could even start a mail business using the stations. But that sounded like a lot of work.
Why even bother?
I wondered. Then again, if I just start, I'll finish eventually. God, I'm lacking direction. Where is my motivation?
The uncertainty felt heavy on my chest. I could feel my brows furrowed and my eyes wandering.
The train passed a grassy field, each blade brushed by the wind, the sky dark and moody. It was such a peaceful picture. Suddenly, my eyes widened as I made the connection between the world outside and my own inner world. It was revealed to me what I actually craved: to create beauty. Everything I had done so far was for the sake of beauty. My creations gained meaning through it; after all, what I truly desire is to build a heaven.
The tram slowed at a roundabout near Axel as another train passed. It was a lovely sight - everything working exactly as intended. I lay down on the couch and closed my eyes for a quick nap.
The sea breeze hit me - a sensation I hadn't felt in a long time. The sun was brilliant, and the horizon felt wide and free. A smile crept onto my face; I couldn't help it.
I visited an ice cream stand run by an old friend from back home. We traded greetings, and though I paid for one scoop, he gave me two. I wandered through the town, one hand swinging at my side while the other held my treat, occasionally taking a bite.
Ahh... The wind... and the sun...
Then I ran into my grandmother and a few of my cousins, who insisted on playing a game. We settled on hide-and-seek. I was the hider for the first round - which I decided would also be the last. After all, how could they find me if I went somewhere far away? I leaped to the roof of a distant building, then another, and another, until I was far, far away.
What am I even here for? I wondered. Oh, right. To go home.
I made my way to a nearby train station where a few friends - Iris and Vanir - were waiting, along with my wife, Eris. When the train pulled in, the conductor checked our tickets, and we stepped inside to find our cabin.
Once we found our compartment, we settled into our seats and prepared for the long journey home.
"Welp, this is depressing... vacation's ending already," I muttered, staring at the floor.
"Now, now, don't get all gloomy! We can always come back," Eris chirped, looking thoroughly refreshed from her break. "Besides, we had a wonderful time, didn't we?"
She seemed remarkably cheerful - likely because she'd enjoyed a full week of not having to manage the afterlife, spent instead in a picturesque seaside town. I stared blankly out the window for a moment before turning to Iris.
"So, Iris, how was it for you? Enjoy your break?"
"Very much so! Not having to worry about my usual responsibilities is quite the blessing... Thank you for inviting me," Iris replied with a radiant smile. She looked just as rejuvenated as Eris. Honestly, the two of them were remarkably similar when it came to their "work-life balance" struggles.
Then, I glanced over at Vanir. "Hey, mask-man. You're unusually quiet. Deep in thought?"
Vanir turned his head slightly toward me. "Not at all. And yes, I did enjoy myself. Who would have guessed there would be so many life-weary souls at the beach ripe for a little... emotional harvesting?" He chuckled darkly, leaning back against the plush velvet of his seat.
A heavy silence followed. It became awkward enough that I did what I used to do back in school: I slumped over and rested my head on the table in front of me.
"Feeling carsick?" Vanir teased.
"Feeling bored..." Then, a spark of inspiration hit me. "Wait, do we have Monopoly?"
"Ah, there it is! The scent of impending frustration!" Vanir smirked. He reached into the train's overhead cabinet and pulled out a board game that was - or at least resembled - Monopoly. The properties looked strangely familiar, yet slightly off.
"I'm in," I said, straightening up. I looked at Eris. "Wanna play?"
"Sure!" she replied. Iris, naturally, joined in too; this was a completely new experience for her.
We began by rolling to determine the turn order. Vanir rolled an 11; Iris got an 8; I got a 7; and Eris... Eris got a 3.
Is she suppressing her luck or something? I wondered. No matter; the game was afoot.
"I shall act as the banker for convenience' sake," Vanir announced, distributing the starting funds. He handed each of us 1,500 Eris - the standard amount.
"Are we playing with any special rules?" I asked, looking around. We all agreed to keep it strictly by the book.
Vanir went first. He rattled the dice in his hand and tossed them into the box lid. "Eight..." he noted. He moved his piece - a tiny silver top hat - to Vermont Avenue. It cost 100 Eris. Without a word, he bought it.
Then came Iris. She rolled a 6, landing her piece on Oriental Avenue. "I'll buy it!" she said enthusiastically, handing 100 Eris to Vanir.
It was my turn next, but I had a deal to make first. "Vanir, I'm offering 150 Eris for Vermont Avenue."
"Straight for the throat, hmm? Attempting to trade before the dice have even settled..." Vanir smirked, resting his chin on his hand as he pretended to deliberate. "I suppose I shall be generous just this once. However, I want 200 Eris for it."
"Done." I handed him two 100-Eris bills.
With the trade complete, I rolled and landed on Connecticut Avenue, buying it for 120 Eris.
Eris rolled next: an 8.
"You've got to be kidding me! I literally just started and I'm already paying rent?" she complained, though her "outrage" was clearly for dramatic effect. She leaned over my shoulder to check the price. "Six Eris? Fine." Still leaning against me, she counted out a five and a one and handed them over.
Back to Vanir. He tossed the dice: 10. St. James Place.
Vanir observed as he purchased the property. "I shall take it."
Iris then rolled a 7, landing on States Avenue. "Oh, I'll buy this one too! It's near the Jail, so maybe I can catch people as they're being released."
"Solid strategy," I encouraged her. It was my turn again. I rolled a 2, landing on St. Charles Place. I bought it for 140 Eris.
"My turn!" Eris announced. She threw the dice: a 10. It led her straight to... St. James Place.
She took a deep breath. "I suppose I'm just here to be a tenant."
"The rent is 14 Eris, by the way," Vanir said, his smirk widening. He was clearly trying to bait her. Considering she wasn't the most forgiving Goddess when it came to demons, she just silently handed over the cash.
Vanir rolled a 6, landing on the Chance space between the red squares. "Let us see what fate has in store. Just kidding - I already know." He drew the card.
"Advance to St. Charles Place," he read aloud, a sharp, delighted chuckle escaping his mask. "If I pass 'Go,' I collect my two hundred. And it seems I'm paying you a visit, Svetislav."
He slid his piece across the board, landing it right on my newly acquired pink property. Before I could even state the price, he flicked a 10-Eris bill toward me. I gave him a flat look.
Atleast be respectful, bruh.
"Can I roll now?" Iris asked, glancing between our mini-staring contest.
"Yes, of course."
Iris rolled an 8, landing on Kentucky Avenue. "It's better if I buy it," she decided, paying 220 Eris.
Then it was my turn. I rolled an 11, landing on the same Chance space Vanir had just occupied. I drew a card: "Your building loan matures. Collect 150."
I nodded, pocketing the cash. "Thank you very much."
"The rich get richer, I guess," Eris sighed, shrugging.
"You probably have your luck turned off, but you forgot to turn mine off," I teased.
"I did turn it off, though!" she replied with mock innocence. I just smiled and mimicked her shrug, earning a sweet chuckle from her.
She rolled an 8, landing her on Illinois Avenue. "Finally! Some prime real estate." She bought it without a second thought.
The dice returned to Vanir. He rolled an 11, landing on Chance yet again. "Now, this is truly tragic." He flipped the card around for everyone to see: Go to Jail. He moved his piece directly to the corner space.
Iris giggled and took her turn, rolling a 12 - a double. She landed on Community Chest. "Life Insurance Matures. Collect 100!"
"I'll take it!" Iris beamed, adding the bill to her growing stack.
"And since it's a double, you roll again," I reminded her.
"------------------------- you roll again," Iris recited along with me, clearly catching onto the rhythm. She tossed the dice and got an 11, passing "Go"... only to land on Income Tax.
"Wait, no!" Iris cried. "I didn't even get to see the money!"
"Welcome to the reality of the working class, Princess!" Vanir laughed, thoroughly enjoying her negative emotion. Eris gave her a look of pity before shooting Vanir a stern glare.
I tossed the dice: 10, which landed me on North Carolina Avenue, so I bought it for 300.
"The green district. The graveyard of many a fortune," Vanir narrated ominously.
Then it was back to Eris, who rolled a 3, landing on Ventnor Avenue. "Gimme that," she said, slapping the money down.
I chuckled. "Eager much?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied, a competitive glint finally appearing in her eyes.
------------
With the game warming up, I could tell this will take quite a while.
Vanir took a 50 Eris bill and put it in the bank, before rolling to see where he'd go. He rolled a 7 and landed on community chest, he gained 100 Eris from his card. In term making a return of investment.
Then it was Iris. She rolled a 3 and landed on the chance spot, which gave her a 'Get out of Jail for free' card. "Yes!" She said happy to have avoided stepping on my land.
I simply smiled at that as I grabbed the dice and threw them. My smile instantly dropped as I saw what I had rolled - a 6, and this six landed me on the luxury tax.
I cursed mentally.
Vanir grinned. "Such language for a man of your standing! This negative emotion - it's wonderful."
Then I just shrugged and handed the 100 Eris without resistance.
Now it was my dear's turn. She threw the dice and rolled a nine, which landed her on the chance space between the green and dark blue spaces. The card she drew was "advance to the nearest utility - yada yada."
This put her at electric Co. After she has passed through the 'Go' space, gaining 200 Eris. She smiled to herself as she bought it, perhaps she is using her luck... Actually how does luck work? Eh, I will ask her later.
Vanir then rolled an 8, landing on B&O Railroad, which he bought.
Then Iris rolled an 8, landing on the community chest, where Vanir was just at. She got 200 Eris because of a bank error.
Now it's my turn... EIGHT!!! A fucking eight!!! that's what I got. "HOW MANY EIGHTS?!" I asked loudly, handing Iris her rent.
Vanir leaned back and tapped his chin. "The numbers do seem to be repeating. It's as if the dice have a favorite digit today."
Eris reached for the dice, but I raised a hand. "Not yet." I looked at Iris and put 300 Eris infront of her. "Iris, help me out here. I'll give you three hundred for Connecticut Avenue."
This, however, didn't prevent her from leaning and talking. "Don't do it Iris, if he gets a full set we are doomed."
Vanir then chimed in, low and tempting. "Although, three hundred buys a lot of freedom elsewhere. And he is asking nicely."
Iris looked a bit torn. Then looked back at me. "Make it four hundred and I will consider it."
"DEAL!" I said enthusiastically. And what did that mean? I had a full set, the light blues, which allowed me to build houses and hotels... Which also meant 750 Eris into putting a hotel on each of the light blue spaces. Yeah, they are doomed : ).
"So we are 'cooked'?" Vanir asked.
"Yes." I replied.
With that Eris was finally allowed to roll. And what did she get? "EIGHT!" She shouted back at me, though it was more of a laughter. "The dice are broken." She said, moving her figure to the free parking space.
Then Vanir rolled a 3 and landed on water works. "I'm taking it, not that it would matter." He seemed confident in his prediction.
Iris' turn came, and so did her sentence, 20 Eris on Illinois Avenue, which is Eris' property.
Back to me. "And it's an EIGHTTTT~!" I said dramatically, landing on Virginia Avenue. "Nah, I don't want that, y'all can fight for it."
And so the auction began, they bid and bid, and during it all I just sat and spectate. I realized that this is good for me, because whoever takes the property loses more than intended... And the unlucky winner is - IRIS! With 400 Eris for Virginia Avenue.
"Nice work." I said, although this was more ironic, given she just wasted the money I gave her. I suppose she wanted 400 Eris so she has funds to get boardwalk if she by whichever grace steps on it. But now she settled for something a lot lower.
With that, it was Eris' turn, so she threw and rolled an EIGHT.
I sighed as her figure stopped on Vanir's Water works, which meant she owed 4 times what she rolled - 32 Eris.
Iris chuckled nervously from across the board. "At least it's not a hotel, Eris. Think of it as a very expensive glass of water."
"A very expensive glass of water that I'm going to drown Vanir with the moment I get the chance," Eris muttered, crossing her arms.
Vanir laughed at that and then rolled a four, landing on my North Carolina. "Twenty six, please." I said calmly, giving Eris a glance as if to say that I'm taking revenge for her.
So he gave me the money with a smirk.
Iris then rolls a 7 landing on Pacific Avenue, which was still unclaimed and costed 300. "It's expensive, but I'd rather not leave it be."
"Fine reasoning." I commented as I took the dice and threw them. Getting a five, which landed me on New York Avenue. "I can literally buy this with mortgage." I announced. So I did mortgage the property of which I had no use. I was also getting a bit low on money after buying the hotels.
"A bold move. Give the future to secure the present. But I sense only confidence from you." Vanir commented, his expression unreadable.
Now was Eris' turn. She hyped herself up and, like magic, landed on Park Place, which she bought for 350 Eris.
"Finally some luck befitting your title." Vanir mocked for her previous failures.
She held her cool. "Obviously, I have yet to use my luck to it's fullest."
With that It was Vanir's turn again. And he got a 10, which landed him on the community chest between the brown spaces. He also got 200 because he passed 'Go'. But he was bothered. "Just second place?" He said as he read the card he received. "They clearly have no idea what beauty is."
"I mean, second place sounds about right. Like look at her." I leaned over to Eris and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "She's so beautiful."
Eris stuck out her tongue and mocked Vanir.
Then it was Iris' turn, which she used with Grace, getting double 5s and landing on Board Walk. Which she bought. "I mean, do I have a choice. If she uses her luck and gets two we are indeed 'cooked'."
What have I done to these people...
With that Iris steeled herself, she was approaching the light blue area, which is going to be a hell if she lands on one of my hotels.
So she threw it, the atmosphere dense with anticipation. What would it be?
She got a ten... Which put her on Connecticut Avenue.
Yes, she passed Go and got 200 Eris, but now she has to pay 600 Eris. "S-s-Six Hundred?!" She stammered, as she held her money with shaking hands.
"Ouch." Eris winced as Iris slowly counted the money she would give me.
Iris gave me the land and instantly suffered the consequences.
With that it was my turn, and so I rolled, and that roll landed me in jail. "Welp, I kinda deserve it, those prices are outrageous."
"You see this just now?" Eris commented as she reached for dice. She had this grin on her face, that clearly signalled confidence. And so she threw, and it is an EIGHT! Which landed her on Reading Railroad.
"An Eight! The cursed number returns." Vanir laughed.
Since Eris gained 200 on passing 'Go' and the railroad costs 200. She came out with zero profit, but also zero cost.
And so the game continued, I doninated the board quite well, they didn't get to make houses, until... Iris landed once more on the accused Connecticut Avenue, but because of all the beatdown she's been receiving, she was one her last leg, she could mortgage, but then she got a risky idea.
She looked at my dear and nodded. Sliding over Boardwalk to Eris and Eris gave Iris 400 so she can cover the rent.
But even though Eris had a full set, she couldn't place houses, she was nearing the light blue hell, and if she did build houses she would have to mortgage, sell, all that.
This game of this type of... Cold war. Continued for a while. Until Eris simply got all excited.
The status quo continued for so long in fact, that I decided to fund Eris on her little project, by paying 500$ for electric co. and Indiana Avenue.
And not only that, but right after she places a single house on the dark blues, I landed on Park Place, and I actually happily gave her the rent.
"Finally some competition."
And it remained like this for a while.
I had only the light blue spaces along with the other of whichever colour. Until Iris once more landed on Connecticut Avenue, this space will be the death of her.
Since she had to mortgage a property I decided to offer after this. 440 Eris for the mortgaged States Avenue, and Virginia Avenue.
"I promise, I won't build houses on the pinks." I reassured, although there was an intentional loop hole in my promise, Vanir instantly caught it.
And so, after a moment, Iris folded and gave me ownership of her pink properties. Which meant, the pink is now a set.
After enough time Eris gathered enough to place a second row of houses on the dark blues. Which was quite the trouble.
Vanir, who had just bought the small lane Railroad, got double 1s and landed on Park Place. Owing Eris 500.
"I'll take that five hundred, thank you-" and so Eris just grabbed five one hundred Eris bills.
Then he rolled a nine. And landed on Oriental Avenue, owing me 550.
"This has got to be a cruel joke..." He laughed although it was more pained. "Now I know why people hate this game." He cursed under his breath, hurriedly counting my money.
He was officially left at 5 Eris.
Iris then rolls a 10, landing on Atlantic Avenue, which is Vanir's. She gave him 22.
"A drop of water for this, dying of thurst, man." Vanir joked, returning to his normal self.
Now it's my turn...
"My love..." I said quietly. She turned to look at me, just to see me slowly rotating my head to glance at her. Without another word I placed Hotels on the pink spaces.
"I'm sorry everyone." I turn back. "But no I accept pay in property."
Iris stared at the board. "B-But you promised!? You said you wouldn't build houses on these spaces."
"And houses I did not build." I replied. "Although it hurts me as a man to speak so half-baked promises, capitalism seems to like such people."
Eris took a deep breath and threw... Threw her and Iris' entire plan out the window that is. She got double 2s and landed on Oriental Avenue, owing me 550 Eris.
Although there was resistance, she gave me the money. And then she proceeded to roll a 7 and land on Stares Avenue, owing me 750 Eris.
"You planned for this, didn't you." She asked pointing a finger at me accusingly.
"I did, and luck did play in my favour this time. Sorry love but you began becoming too much of a threat."
"A threat? You call everything that will stop the status quo a threat?" She crossed her arms after she gave me the money... She had to sell all her houses and nearly mortgage all her property.
"Yup, but don't worry about it. I think I found a solution fit for everyone." I leaned over and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, she however turned her back, pretending to be upset at me.
With that the game continued, I slowly but surely began to claim over the entire board, until finally. "Alright, time to implement the heaven plan." I said dramatically as it came to be my turn. I didn't touch the dice, instead I demolished the houses and began to pick away at my own property, leaving for me only one of each color.
"I felt the fun of having everything, now let's have the fun of theoretical eternal growth."
"What are you doing?" Eris asked confused.
"I said I had a plan, didn't I?" I replied with a smirk.
With that I began distributing the land, now that I had fulfilled this power fantasy.
A blink later, my head was resting on my bicep. I looked out and saw that my tram had stopped in the train station of the snowfield resort.
"Man, I actually fell asleep, how long has it been..." I stood up, rubbing an eye and yawning, since my ear's had gone numb from the pressure.
With a slow walk I began moving out the tram. The storm had gone quiet, although there is a gentle mist that rolls down with the howling wings.
I need to fix a few more stuff. Before the guests arrived, I completely forgot about the machine that grooms the snow. And not only that but I need to make a route for it before people actually appear.
Did I even send out the train that connects the Snowfield resort to the rest of the railroad?
I looked over and saw that it has indeed not sent. I'm glad I'm slow occasionally.
Before my dear appears, I will do these things, make a clock for the snow grooming cycle, which will set free the machine to fix the tracks at night so the morning the tracks are fine.
Hmm... It's actually pretty easy given my understanding of this machinery.
Anything else... I don't know.
The resort now has got: restaurants, water pressure, warmth, stuff making(ski and snowboard). Uhh... Staff will be here soon, like healers, reception, waiters...
Yeah, that's all. The snowfield resort isn't really an inn, was never meant to be...
Hmm, that dream, reminds me of the other one, with Velina? Velina? Was that her name?
I haven't had such vivid dreams in a while...
...
I don't know, but I kind of enjoy the modernistic consumerism as an aesthetic, the philosophy is terrible, but the aesthetic. Desire given form...
With that I moved to the last floor and opened the door to the luxurious apartment. Truly, consumerism is beautiful, but it is very hollow, everyone - a hollow shell of what they were meant to be. Is this the luxury I desire to provide to her?
No, no...
I desire peace, and consumerism has a way with it, but I will not be bound by this weak ass philosophy, I refuse to be taken down by my own desires. For I created them and so I shall rule over them. Like all of my machines, a part of me, with a function, but under my rule.
I like that... This life is nice... And for that I will create my own personal Heaven!
So now, it shall be finished. My many hands shall build. And hands they become. All the artificial life that isn't bound by shape, turned into hands. Which hands began to slowly shape the machine into reality, a new vehicle which will be given a manual for how to drive and then be given a path to follow each time the clock strikes midnight. After it's job is done it shall return to it's home, a garage. Which I now say, be built. Quickly I lead the process with my thoughts, a garage doesn't need to be complex.
I achieved a state of flow, which I rarely witness. Truly this is the joy of creation?
...
💡
Why not make a vehicle that uses the biodiesel I make. But I might want to try and find a rubber tree... Eh, easy works. People probably know about rubber in this world, no?
Oh yeah, I don't know how exactly to make an engine that works on biodiesel... But I do know how to test the liquid's properties so I can engineer around it.
As I think of the possibilities, I reminiscent of an actual road. Sad how I never actually got to drive on a normal road, although the cobble streets are similar to some of the roads and streets back in Bulgaria...
A flick of my hand later and all is done. I placed one of my many selves into the track caretaker. And so it knew how to drive, a simple machine, like a tractor.
So now to map out everything...
Continue forward, do a U turn, continue. Then Go to the start of this track and a start grooming the snow there, then there, and there and there. And in the end, the set path is ready. Like an invisible string that the artificial life must follow. A simple implementation of code.
So now I can relax... No, that dream... I want that car. So let's go to the desert and start working on figuring out how to use the biodiesel, because I can use it for just burning, I want actual production... And maybe, just maybe, some day actual roads to ride on. But until then I may face changes in myself, so I'm even that is not for sure.
Now with this goal I got to working. How does it burn, can it combust, can it be sprayed, how does it react with the temperature, whether cold or warm.
Mhhm... Mhhhm.
Just as I expected. Yeah, it's good. Aight, I'm out, I'm hungry. I teleported back to the snowfield resort and went to one of the restaurants. But then I saw, it was still not sunset... So even though there was food Infront of me, I stopped myself so that I may eat with my lovey-dovey. She will appreciate - I get some favour, maybe, and company while eating if I wait.
So I waited, and waited, but at some point I got a lil push, I needed to go to the restroom, so I did, and the moment I returned, what did I saw? Eris sitting across from me.
She smiled when she saw me and waved. "I'm back." She said cheerfully. Something inside me snapped, I couldn't contain my own joy for seeing her again.
A smile crept on my face. "I'm happy to see you again." I replied.
"Likewise." She replied.
I sat down across from her, still smiling. "So... How's your day been?" I asked as I handed her the menu.
She sighed. "Exhausting. I enjoyed our adventure earlier quite a bit."
"Just a bit?"
"A lot." She laughed, waving it off. "And I really have been thinking about how life would be once I'm free from this responsibility."
"Yeah..." I replied, getting all dreamy. Although while in that hazy state of mind, another thought surfaced, of that dream, with Velina... The way it connected earlier, with Eris' personality in the train dream.
If Eris is free, we would probably be spending all our time together, and since I have already automated quite a lot of stuff, I'd be gathering an immense amount of wealth... In all honesty, I would like to give people jobs and give back to the economy and the people... Just like in the dream, I played for a while with the whole board claimed, helping out through a loophole in the rules. And then just gave it away so that everyone has a piece...
"You seem quite thoughtful." She said, after she had placed her orders by pressing the buttons on the mechanical menu.
"Oh, just a dream I had while travelling back. We were playing a board game."
"Like chess?"
"No... Uh... I don't know how exactly to explain it, but it's based on the concept of buying everything on the board and then draining the other player's resources."
She nodded.
So I continued. "And it got to a point where I had every space on the board, but I didn't make it so I would be taxing everyone too much money. So we continued playing, when someone got low on cash I gave them some, then after a while I had a lot of fortune, so I decided to test another way of playing the game, by giving away land for free. This way, no one actually had the capability to be greedy, which allowed everyone to prosper and gain money on average. Actually I don't know how this connects. But I was thinking of how to give back to the economy, given I hold a vast amount of reaources."
"Approved." She gave a thumbs up.
"Just that."
"I am not really into this business thingy, you know. I'm a small trader." She replied cutely, a lot like Chris. "Besides, it's your job. I don't understand your plans to their fullest."
"Fair..." I nodded.
And so silence settled.
...
...
"Beside the dream, how'd your day go?" She asked.
"Very good, I actually managed to make another thing to make the resort better, the track groomer. It's less difficult to sink in groomed snow, you know. And I also made a clock... A schedule for the machine that will go and do all these things..."
"How does it work?"
"It drives through the snow and compresses it with the rollers behind it. This way we won't be sinking when we fall down." I replied.
"Mhhm." She nodded as the food, which was already prepared, soup, began to lower on the elevator platform. From which she placed Infront of herself.
With that I finally began eating.
"So, yeah, my new project after these is maybe a new vehicle, cuz the old one is getting, well, Acat is good but, I want to actually engineer something complex for transportation."
Eris gave me a weird look. "Complex? Isn't the train already complex enough."
"No! I want more."
She just chuckles and shakes her head as she stirs her chicken soup. "Well then, no reason in stopping you. Besides, I do enjoy how you treat me like your passanger peincess. Driving me around and stuff." She said, the otherworldly part in an exaggerated tone that mimicked one of women of the nobility.
"That's what you get. Besides it's nicer with you around."
"I love you too." She replied sweetly as she finally sipped soup from the spoon.
"I love you too."
So we continued eating.
"Truth is, I don't find all this luxury thing from back home appealing. I wouldn't mind it, but I do like more cozy stuff. Like a normal home, home cooked meals and such peasant stuff."
"Peasant stuff..." She seemed a bit offended. "I cook for you and you call it peasant stuff."
"No!" I quickly raised both hands Infront of my chest. "I don't mean it like this. I love it."
"Loving it and calling it peasant stuff. You know how hard those poor people live."
"I slept on the street for a good while when I came here."
"Fair. But still."
"Yeah, bad phrasing."
"Forgiven." She replied in a bit of a bossy attitude, but it was more jockingly than anything. "But calling normal stuff 'peasant' stuff isn't nice. What, you became so high and mighty all of a sudden?"
"My bad, my bad, please, don't make me sleep on the couch."
She laughed at what I said. "Don't worry about it. I'm just correcting you."
And so she forgave me. We continued eating.
"So, what other 'luxury' do you have in store for me today?" She asked, leaning back against her chair.
"Wanna go to a spa?"
"The one below the complex, sure."
I raised an eyebrow as it seemed that she knew about it already.
"What? I can see everything that is happening in this world... Well, except thoughts and stuff like that."
"I mean, I knew you had some type of presence, but not this."
She simply shrugged and stood up after stacking her plates one on top of the other and pressing the button for the elevator to send them back to the kitchen for cleaning.
And so we moved to the neighbouring building, opening the door, which triggered the ambient music to start playing. "Oh yeah, I also made this thing today."
She just nodded as we moved to the top floor to the luxurious apartment. It was spacious and sterile, everything prepared for the guests that would be using it, in this case - us.
I grabbed a bathrobe and changed into some more appropriate for swimming.
"..." She just looked at me. "I don't have a swimwear."
I made a weird high af face and created her swimwear out of mana condensed into physical stuff.
"It's nice how convenient everything is, but it's kinda boring." I said as I returned to my normal self.
"Can't say, you are pampering me." She replied smugly as she began changing.
I went to sit on the couch and wait for her.
"So, once we test everything. Even though I know it's working properly. Imma send out the train that would connect the resort to everything else."
"Thinking about work, even now." She was a bit dissapointed, which was clear in her voice.
"This ain't even work, I have been playing minecraft create mod irl for the past few months."
She just gave me a weird stare as she finished up putting on the swimwear and then the bathrobe.
"It's a game I used to play back home. Man, if only we got you a computer."
She tried to hold back her laughter at my childish enthusiasm of turning her into a gamer. "I could probably get myself one."
"I don't recommend it though, would be too distracting."
"I have self control, I will be fine."
(Flash back to the first week after the.)
"Yeah, nah." I stood up and walked to the front door.
"I mean if that game inspired you to make all of those creations then what will happen to me if I tried it?" She questioned as we began moving down towards the spa centre.
"I don't know honestly, you might become an engineer like me. Or not, the possibilities are many."
"Speaking of possibilities." She said with a confident smirk.
I just laughed. "I love you..."
"I love you too." She replied, her smirk turning into a gentle happy smile.
Unlike the pools of the other world, these didn't need chemicals and stuff, the water is literally summoned, and then recycled, in fact this means I am making a positive on energy... Wait, I forgot about the slight tax. Digestion of energy. If the transmutation isn't spiritual>x(variable), the tax applies. In term, as an example, a transmutation from heat to sound applies the tax, because is the short version of heat> mana>sound.
But still, my pools are chemical free.
"The place is pretty busy. There's little places to choose from." I said jockingly as I tossed my bathrobe on one of the lounge chairs and then dived head first into the pool.
"Oh, definitely." She replied before doing the same, but she didn't really dive, more like a practical dip.
The pool was quite deep on this side so she was forced to swim, and with her height.
"Carry me." She demanded, which earned a laugh from me.
"With pleasure." I replied as I moved to her and carried her on my back. And so I carried her to the shallower side.
After that we just sat for a bit before we began playing, splashing at eachother, I even made us a ball and I taught her how to play volleyball. Too bad there's a ceiling... Actually nah, I'd rather have that than winds that blow the ball around.
After some time we got to the steam baths. Which I explained to her the benefits of which I were aware. Then back in the pool. Then the sauna, which was mostly torture.
"Legit, I don't even have to explain what this does, it's literally a big drier. You can use it to dry your laundry, dry yourself."
"Can we go home after this?"
"Sure."
"I'm thankful that you want to show me 'luxury', but I don't actually... like it. I'd rather we just be doing stuff together and... enjoying the quiet moments."
"Honestly though, I also don't like it, too purposeless. So today, while I thought about the dream I had I remembered about the other one, with Velina, aka you, but alternate. We actually didn't do much, we just went around a just... vibed. Even though I could have had every 'luxury'."
"There you have it." She replied, presenting with a hand towards me. "So, do you want to cuddle after this?"
"We do that every day, I don't think that's even a question."
"You are right, it isn't."
And so we stayed for a bit to dry out, even though we were going to shower, and then headed back up to actually chill in the spacious apartment.
"So, any plans for tomorrow?" She asked.
"Eh, if I stay up late I would be sending out the resort's train out at midnight. Why?"
"Do you want to go to a quest tomorrow? You haven't done that in a while."
"I'm not that desperate."
"But you do like the thrill." She said with a knowing smirk.
"Hmm..." I looked away as we walked down the hallway towards our room, then at her. "I can't deny that."
"So, what about it?" She asked, her eyes filled with excitement.
"Sure, let's do a quest date." I replied, after a second of fake pondering.
After this we did what we usually do before sleep, but sleep was far for me... Maybe an hour or so.
But it's alright, after all my dear is keeping me company. Besides, she's actively keeping me from falling asleep by shaking me awake. I'm glad I told her about what I'm waiting for. The clock hitting midnight and releasing the track fixer.
All until she shook me and pointed out the window. "Look, It's doing it's thing."
I quickly jolted away from the couch and looked outside, the machine was indeed active and grooming the snow. "That's what I'm talking about." I said. "Aight. Chop, chop." I clapped with my hands twice.
After a few seconds the faint sound of moving metal was heard, the outside was quiet in that moment.
"It's working..." I said quietly as I headed towards the bed, slowly speeding up as I leaned forward. Reminds me when I jumpscared my pillow when I was a child. "Good night, babe." I said as I closed my eyes.
"You aren't even tucked in bed... But good night, my love." She said gently as she followed my lead.