Master Of None

After assigning important mages to watch the cave and also some researchers who could predict the risks of the waters flowing through them based on known weather patterns of the area, Walker was ready to explore a little more.

Terron had not seemed to find anything else that needed his focus, the teams above ground had begun organizing and clearing the land to use it all as materials without waste. Everything was progressing to the first foundation stage well.

Whoever, the things that Walker and a few other of the stronger individuals could handle were exploring the more mysterious wilderness areas nearby. Midnight and Su had both arrived just an hour ago and had gone around to check the perimeter of the entire city lands.

While they would be doing this very carefully, it was a step that needed to be done to ensure that monsters do not encroach from one side while the clearing and organizing groups were working. It was for their safety and the future safety of those monsters as well.

There was not a goal to harm the nearby monster population that would be part of what fed the city in materials and even food once the city was fully built. They had to ensure that the nearby monsters could still live naturally without being over hunted or wiped out entirely. That was just part of the balance nature needed.

Knowing that they would handle that and also venture toward the mud flats nearby afterwards, he focused on an area called the mossy garden by the angels.

The mud flats were a flat area that would flood with water when it rained and become a flat muddy place for some monsters to live. The angels had this small area known to them before the world changed and it even seemed to have grown larger but not more dangerous afterwards. Yet, checking was important.

However, the reason that Walker did not choose it was that the mossy gardens area the angels had recently found near where the city was being built was an entirely new area to them and to Walker’s knowledge.

He didn’t feel that it sounded extremely dangerous, yet, he also wondered what an area called the mossy garden and reported to have hundreds if not thousands of different moss types growing there was capable of. While not a larger area compared to the fields near Genesis or the mud flats a distance away, it was still large enough that it would take hours to walk through the entirety.

An additional point he was focused on, was that he was told the angels had not observed any larger monsters moving through the kissy garden. Hence why the referee to it as a garden.

There didn’t seem to be a larger risk of moving around or through it since there were no monsters. That and the fact that there were many varieties of kids growing in nine area.

There was a slight dampness in the air while Walker approached the mossy garden. Not approaching rain but the natural evaporation of water from the ground as the sun rose. After a little while longer of stepping through the air he noticed the slightly misty area ahead that proved just that.

Knowing that mosses held a lot of water to be able to survive, this didn’t surprise Walker at all. He was surprised by the vibrant colors of some moss he could make out from a short distance away though.

’Orange furl moss

This moss takes in a bright orange hue to attract avian monsters to eat it. In this way, it is able to expose the small roots it uses to latch on to the stones it prefers to grow around.

It prefers to grow closer to the sun to absorb the light mana it needs to survive…’

Another purple curly moss with coiled tendrils also stuck out immediately.

’Leaping purple moss.

And interesting species of moss that gathers decaying dark mana. It does so since it keeps rotten parts of itself attached to small tight springs of currently growing moss. When it rains, it releases the stress and shoots apart. This allows for the decayed nutrients it is attached to to spread with its tiny roots and grow again.

It can be used to make a natural poison that often leads to natural illness…’

Just these two mosses were new to him and easily a surprise he could bring to Remey. They could be useful alchemical ingredients or they could be used in other ways, especially one of the stranger misses that looked more like fur.

’Cats fur moss

This moss is like the fur of a cat, however, it is not as warm as it seems. The reason it grows thin fur like ends is because it can trap the morning dew more easily. So much so that it will often be eaten by wild monsters that need water. It is an amazing survival opportunity for those struggling to find clean water…’

Just this alone was available knowledge for any traveler. Whether it was a merchant or adventurer, this could be used to save their lives if they were lost and dehydrated. This would go right in to many survival guides based in the Sigil continent. Some people might even grow this specifically around trails to ensure people and save water to drink.

The marvel of all these new mosses that had numerous uses caught Walker’s full attention. He could record them all down and share the journal for study later. Plenty of herbalists would love this area.

However, he noticed some movement.

’Crawling moss

This monster mimics the appearance of moss. It’s actually a species of snail that grows moss on its thing and flat shell. This allows it to be hidden from avian monsters and easily able to cover and consume large sections of yellow short moss.

While not dangerous to most, its mucus causes severe itching and rashes in anything that touches it with the out proper protection.

The shell can be used to reflect light mana due to its shiny earthen qualities once cleaned of the moss growing in it…’

There was more movement as the mist rose from the heating moss. The angels had not stayed to study this place closely. They had looked for larger and dangerous monsters. It was clear that they had missed these smaller ones.

’Light froggling

This small tadpole monster is the first growth stage of the moss covered land frog. It uses the light and water in dense moss to hide itself at all times. It will only wiggle out of the moss to absorb light mana so it can grow the moss inside its body.

It is very weak but when it grows the loss it has grown inside its body begins to use earth mana to toughen itself. This allows the moss covered land frog a powerful defense while it still consumes light mana. It will often be found sitting in the same spot unmoving for weeks on end…’

There was so much life in this little mossy garden. Mostly harmless but all very useful and thriving. It was an entire area that would go better left untouched unless it was those with higher knowledge moving through it harvesting from it.

It could be a protected area that the new second city would be able to care for through the generations. A place where the echidna race could harmonize with nature and the peaceful aspects of the area itself.

Just as Walker was considering this, he noticed a flash of blue darting down from the sky. It blended in almost perfectly while diving but Walker’s sharp eyes wouldn’t miss it for a second.

’Blue sky fisher

The blue sky fisher is an avian monster that grew and adapted to hunt in the land when the aquatic monsters it fed on were killed off due to the changes in the world during ancient times. Due to this, the blue color of of its feathers became lighter to better blend with the sky than the deeper waters of the ocean. It uses its tough and sharp beak coated in water to cut through the shells of snail monsters or to skewer different species of frogglings.

Their feathers are used to make amulets and earrings capable of absorbing small amounts of water mana naturally. As it does so that water can cool the body and assist in keeping skin moisturized…’

Another unique monster, even more so because it had adapted when the world had lost its flow and its food source was killed off. Just that alone proved it deserved to be protected even more. Then again, some people would burn it for its feathers.

Yet, Walker could spot a few feathers in the moss where it had just skewered a froggling. Clearly they grew their feathers often to maintain the pure blue color matching the sky they needed to hide from their prey.

”This will be protected.” Saying it out loud was a promise to himself and the world.

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