The aroma of roasted meat and unfamiliar herbs still lingered faintly in the air as Ray and Clara settled down for their first proper evening in Aethelred's Reach. The Aetheri moved with quiet grace around their small camp, some tending the fire, others preparing simple sleeping arrangements for themselves woven from large leaves and branches.
As they ate their fill, the initial tension of the Aetheri's sudden arrival had eased, replaced by a cautious curiosity. Ray found himself observing their fluid movements and the seemingly innate understanding they had of their surroundings. Clara, too, seemed more relaxed, occasionally asking Lyra about the strange plants they had gathered.
Once the meal was finished and the camp settled into a quiet hum of activity, Ray turned to Clara, intending to discuss the day's extraordinary events and their next steps. But as he looked at her, he saw her eyelids drooping, her head resting against a woven leaf pillow one of the Aetheri had provided. The day's unexpected excitement and the physical exertion of exploring and helping with the initial camp setup had clearly taken their toll. She was already drifting into sleep, her breathing soft and even.
Sighing softly, Ray decided to let her rest. His own mind was still racing, trying to process everything the Aetheri had told them. Unable to fully relax, he mentally accessed his Regional Chat interface. The stream of messages had slowed considerably since the initial chaotic outpouring, but a steady trickle of updates and questions continued to flow from the other lords within their shared region.
He scrolled back, focusing on the conversations about the first mission – the perimeter exploration.
Ray noted the varying experiences. Some lords had struggled with the exploration, encountering hostile creatures even within the initial protection. The number of Aetheri received as a reward seemed inconsistent, ranging from a single individual to the five mentioned by SwiftArrow. It seemed his own "First Lord's Favor," granting him ten Aetheri, was a significant advantage.
He continued to read, gleaning valuable information:
Ray mentally ticked off the rewards they had received: the ten Aetheri (thanks to the bonus), the Basic Survival Kit, the Initial Resource Pack, and the access to the regional and continent chats. It seemed their rewards aligned with the general pattern, with the Aetheri count being the notable exception.
The repeated mention of the "monster wave" sent a shiver of unease down his spine. It was a looming threat that they would need to prepare for. The Aetheri's knowledge of this world would likely be crucial in understanding and surviving this event.
The reference to ancient ruins to the east, also mentioned by Kaelen, sparked his strategic curiosity. These ruins could hold valuable resources, knowledge, or even powerful artifacts, aligning with the higher being's cryptic announcement.
As he finally closed the Regional Chat interface, a sense of the larger game began to solidify in his mind. He was not alone in this strange world. Other lords were also establishing their territories, facing similar challenges, and sharing information – albeit fragmented – through the network. The Aetheri were a key element, providing the initial workforce and crucial local knowledge. The coming month would be a race against time to build a foundation strong enough to withstand the impending monster wave and perhaps even begin to explore the deeper mysteries of this new realm.
Beside him, Clara's soft breathing continued, a comforting sound in the face of the unknown. He had a helper, a burgeoning workforce, and a network of distant, unseen rivals and potential allies. The successor's gambit had truly begun.