3rd person pov : Seikaku and Mireina
The Korvath Mining Site stretched before them like a wounded giant. Scorch marks scorched the walls, collapsed scaffolds littered the ground, and jagged debris reflected the chaos of the kobold occupation. Seikaku stepped lightly across the stone, bow in hand, scanning every shadowed crevice, every ledge above the tunnel entrances. His movements were calm, deliberate, precise—a predator in a haunted forest, not a man, but a calculating machine.
Mirina trailed slightly behind, her pink hair tucked under a scarf, silver and blue robe dusted with grit. Her eyes flicked over the rock faces, reading the subtle mineral changes that most would overlook. In her hands, she held a small vial containing a shimmering catalyst—one of her many inventions designed to detect hidden veins of ore and minerals. Though she carried no weapon, her presence was far from passive; every gesture she made radiated purpose and thought.
"Nothing unusual on the north ledges," Seikaku muttered in his clipped, calm tone. His voice carried no emotion, but the soldiers around him understood—it was approval. "Lower tunnels. Collapse risk moderate. Use caution."
Mirina nodded, kneeling beside a cracked stone outcrop. "I think I can test for structural integrity here. If there's a hidden cache, I'll know before anyone digs blindly." She uncorked the vial and dripped the catalyst along the seam. The substance shimmered, then pulsed faintly, revealing the outline of a small vein of high-quality stone hidden beneath rubble.
Seikaku's eyes flicked toward her work, a rare acknowledgment of her insight. He moved silently to the ledge above, nocking an arrow as a precaution. From his vantage point, he spotted two kobold stragglers attempting to scavenge remnants of metal scraps. Without hesitation, he let fly. The arrows struck true—silent, swift, and fatal. The creatures fell without a sound.
Mirina's hands moved deftly, combining smoke vials with small clearing charges to coax hidden threats into view. Her movements were methodical, each one designed to disrupt potential ambushes without damaging the surrounding stone. Seikaku's eyes never left the periphery; he guided her with a tilt of the head, a measured glance.
By midday, the initial clearing was complete. Workers and Dargath soldiers moved into position, following Seikaku's silent but precise instructions. Guard points, safe digging zones, and archer perches were arranged like a chessboard, every position calculated to minimize risk while maximizing output. Mirina, meanwhile, supervised the extraction of stone from the hidden cache she had located. The vein was surprisingly rich, each block pristine enough for defensive walls and city fortifications.
"You found quite a prize," Seikaku said finally, voice quiet but approving. Mirina's lips curved in a faint, tired smile. "Not much, but it will help. Korvath can use it to rebuild stronger than before."
As the hours passed, the mine hummed with quiet activity. Workers hammered and chiseled, the echo of their efforts mingling with the whisper of wind through the tunnels. Mirina moved among them, occasionally sprinkling minor alchemical solutions to strengthen stone and prevent collapses. Seikaku remained on the cliffs and ledges, surveying the site, eliminating small threats that dared linger in shadows, never wasting a single arrow.
By late afternoon, the first wagon carts were loaded with stone and ore, each heavy with the promise of reconstruction. Seikaku descended to help secure the loads, his calm demeanor a stabilizing presence among the bustling workers. Mirina checked each wagon's cargo, ensuring the stones were intact and the ores properly separated for easy transport.
"Ready to return," Seikaku said succinctly, stepping back to let the wagons move. Mirina nodded, brushing dust from her robes. "Korvath will have what it needs," she replied, her voice carrying quiet satisfaction.
As the convoy began its slow march back to the city, Seikaku remained vigilant, bow in hand, scanning the horizon. Mirina walked alongside the first cart, eyes bright despite exhaustion. Behind them, the sound of hammers and chisels faded, replaced by the rhythm of rolling wheels and the faint clatter of stone.
By the time the sun dipped low, casting a warm amber glow over the mining site, the wagons were fully loaded. Stones stacked high, ore securely packed—Korvath's first tangible step toward rebuilding. Seikaku and Mirina rode at the head of the convoy, each silent in their own thoughts, but united in the quiet satisfaction of a job done efficiently, cleanly, and correctly. The road back would be long, but with these supplies, the city's walls would rise again.