Eternal Empire - Kingdom Building

With the small round orb slowly rising from the horizon, the sky gradually brightened. David had packed up and finished his breakfast, shouldering his full backpack. He held his hunting bow in one hand, ready for any dangers that might lurk on their journey.

Laura's backpack was considerably smaller, allowing her to hang her hunting bow on the outside. This made it easier for her to access it quickly if needed. Along with her bow and arrows, Laura had two climbing picks secured to her waist, while David carried a hand axe at his side.

Both had apparent weapons at hand, but they also concealed additional gear. A pistol lay hidden beneath their clothes, and Laura's backpack held a shotgun, ready for emergencies. As an accomplished priest of the Holy Light, David felt assured of their safety along the way.

After saying goodbye to Fording and Mark, David and Laura set out on their journey to Iron Tree Fort.

An hour passed, and as they walked along the riverbank, the green grass released a faint, fragrant aroma. “You know, this trip feels more like an outing,” Laura said, glancing at David. “It would be even better if my backpack wasn’t so heavy.”

David chuckled. “Just think of it as a picnic! It gets boring staying in the village all the time.”

Laura, always restless, thrived on movement. David couldn’t stand being idle either, especially after spending two years feeling trapped with little hope. In recent months, he had found comfort and optimism in the village, allowing him to enjoy their time together.

As they chatted and walked, David lost track of how far they had traveled. At their current pace, they might reach Iron Tree Fort sooner than he had anticipated. Both David and Laura possessed strength beyond the average person, and without a large troop slowing them down, they advanced swiftly.

After nearly a day of walking, David decided it was time to stop and prepare for the night. He looked around, assessing the terrain. The ground was flat and covered in green grass, but there was no shelter from wind or rain. However, a gravel beach by the river offered a perfect spot to start a fire.

“This looks good. Let’s rest here for the night,” he said.

“I'll catch some fish for dinner,” Laura replied, setting her backpack down. “But I need some tools first.”

Watching her pick up a wooden stick over a meter long, David realized she was going to sharpen one end into a spike. “Don’t you have a hook?”

“I prefer this method,” she replied, inspecting her work with a satisfied nod. “Time to catch some fish!”

David nodded, understanding her plan, and turned back to gather firewood. His focus allowed him to quickly gather enough branches, returning to their temporary camp with a pile of firewood.

On the gravel beach, he built a bonfire with stones and placed two treated fish nearby, ready to cook.

“Laura?” he called out, glancing around for her. When he didn’t see her, concern crept in. Had she wandered too far into the river? He stepped toward the water, then noticed her clothes, shoes, and socks casually left on the bank.

“...”

He called her name again. Just as he considered whether to search for her or roast the fish first, he heard splashing water in front of him.

Emerging from the river, Laura wiped her face and greeted David excitedly. “It feels amazing in the water! Don’t you want to take a bath after walking all day?”

“Ah... this…”

The invitation was tempting, especially since it came from Laura, the renowned adventurer known as a goddess by countless fans. Her popularity had consistently overshadowed even the revered figure on various websites.

“What? Are you shy?” Laura swam closer to shore, studying David’s expression with a curious smile.

“How is that possible!” David shot back, keeping a straight face. “I just didn’t bring a swimsuit.”

Laura grinned, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “I didn’t bring one either!”

Plop! A beautiful splash of water erupted as she playfully kicked at him.

“David and Laura aren’t about to have a good time, are they?” Mark commented, stirring a steaming bowl of hot stew while chewing on a piece of pasta. On the table, a laptop played a series—thanks to Laura’s effort in bringing it along.

Fording, seated next to Mark, had already finished his stew but didn’t bother to get up for another serving. Instead, he focused on the episode of Band of Brothers unfolding on the screen.

“David walked to this place before, so he’s familiar with it,” Fording said after a moment, glancing at Mark. “And Laura’s no stranger to the wild either. But the road ahead won’t be easy…”

Meanwhile, a once-plump fish lay abandoned on the gravel, gradually reduced to little more than a skeleton. Its wide eyes seemed to accuse the pair nearby, but David and Laura were oblivious, lost in a playful battle over the last morsel of fish.

In their spirited struggle, the final piece was devoured, leaving them both uncertain about who had won, perhaps both claiming victory in their own right.

“I knew it! You’ve been greedy for me for a long time,” Laura teased, glancing at David.

David looked up at the stars, a dramatic sigh escaping his lips. “Boys just want to protect themselves when they’re out here, especially when they’re as handsome and cute as I am. Strong boy, remember?”

Laura rolled her eyes at his self-importance. “I don’t see any signs of that ‘handsome’ child you claim to be.”

His clothes, tossed near the fire, had dried, and he turned to the sky, admiring the view. “The night sky here is beautiful.”

“Back home, I could never see such a starry night,” Laura reflected. “In the modern world, the conditions are just too harsh. Living in the city or even the suburbs, it’s impossible to see so many stars.”

David remained silent, listening intently, but Laura’s next words sent a shiver through him. “You must feel something similar, right?”

“Ah? Why do you say that?” David feigned ignorance, attempting to hide his unease.

Laura turned her head to look at David, her gaze fixed on his innocent face and those 'pure' eyes. If only his hands matched that purity, she might have believed it.

But Laura chose not to dwell on the topic. She sensed that forcing an answer would yield nothing of value, whether true or false. If David wasn’t ready to talk now, perhaps it was better to revisit it later.

She closed her eyes, surrendering to the exhaustion of a long day. When David noticed Laura had fallen asleep, he let his own eyes drift shut.

When he opened them again, the sky was bright, and the sun hung high. They needed time to gather their things, and by the time they set off, it was nearly noon.

“Should’ve set an alarm clock,” Laura grumbled, realizing she’d woken up late, which could affect their journey.

David shrugged, unconcerned. “You needed the rest. You burned a lot of energy yesterday. If you’re not fit to travel, you’ll just slow us down—and it could hurt you.”

“I’m strong!” Laura proclaimed, striking a bodybuilding pose to flaunt her impressive biceps. Then, with a sly grin, she glanced at David. “Could it be...?”

“Don’t you know my physical fitness?” David retorted, his pride evident. He was a hunter, after all, thriving in the wild. Since learning the ways of the Holy Light from Fording, his physical condition had only improved. He could easily take on his past self without breaking a sweat.

Yet, he felt there was no limit to his potential. Under the protective glow of the Holy Light, it seemed he could enhance himself indefinitely as long as he was willing to train hard. At this rate, he’d have a body of steel—albeit a slightly tarnished one.

“Speaking of the Holy Light... I really envy how quickly you mastered it,” Laura admitted. She had learned about the Holy Light from Fording, too, but like Mark, she struggled to grasp its true essence. Was personal experience required for recognition by the Holy Light? She longed to help others, but no one currently needed her aid—not like David, whom she had truly assisted.

“It’d be great if you could share the Holy Light with me,” she said, half-joking.

“What?” David raised an eyebrow, unsure if he’d heard her correctly.

“I mean, it would be great if you could share your Holy Light with me,” Laura clarified, thinking he simply hadn’t caught her words as they walked. “I want to feel what it’s like to have that mysterious power.”

Although she had experienced the effects of auxiliary spells like the Holy Light Shield, those cast by someone else only sparked her admiration for their capabilities.

David stopped in his tracks, pondering Laura’s suggestion. “It doesn’t seem impossible.”

“Huh?” Laura’s surprise was evident. She had mentioned it casually, not expecting David to take her seriously. “Are you for real? There won’t be any problems, right?”

“Probably not,” David mused, weighing his thoughts carefully. He believed there was no hidden danger in his idea. After all, in the world of Azeroth, a group used the Holy Light in similar ways.

Before arriving in this world, David had manipulated his blood elf paladin to uncover geomantic treasures in Azeroth!

“It’s just that the specifics will need careful consideration. We can try it after we return from Iron Tree Fort.”