Glade 3 123
Garr stood in the barn, observing the worn and damaged wooden beams that held the structure together. He sighed, knowing that if left unattended, the damage could worsen, compromising the entire building. The thought of hiring a carpenter crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. After all, why spend the money when he could use his earth manipulation abilities to do the repairs himself? It would be a good opportunity to practice his powers and save some coin. Of course, he had no knowledge about what made for good structural integrity but he didn’t realize that would be a potential issue.
As he rolled up his sleeves, Garr mentally prepared himself for the task ahead. He knew that repairing the barn would require precision and focus, qualities he had been working hard to develop. "All right," he whispered to himself, "let's see what I can do." Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the earth beneath his feet, feeling its energy and connection to him. He allowed himself a small smile as he envisioned the minerals he would need for the repairs.
Meanwhile, a local merchant named Arlen approached Garr's estate, his eyes falling on the slaves working in the fields. Arlen had heard about the quality of Garr's slaves, and he was interested in seeing their potential for himself. He had a rock quarry nearby that needed extra hands, and he thought it would be a great opportunity to test the slaves' abilities before considering a purchase. Garr, deep in concentration, was caught off guard when Arlen hailed him. He looked up, his focus momentarily broken. Irritated, he mentally chided himself for letting an interruption disrupt his efforts. However, as Arlen explained his proposition, Garr's irritation gave way to interest. He thought about the opportunity to evaluate his slaves' performance under different circumstances and decided it was worth considering.
As he directed his slaves to follow Arlen, Garr issued a stern warning for them to behave and work diligently. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern; after all, he had spent considerable time and effort training them. What if they didn't perform as well as he expected? He shook off the doubt, reminding himself that this was an important test for both him and his slaves. It was time to see if his training methods had been successful. Returning to the task at hand, Garr refocused on the damaged barn. He knew that he couldn't afford to let his mind wander any further. "All right, no more distractions," he muttered to himself. Taking a deep breath, he once again connected with the earth, feeling its power surge through him. He carefully extracted minerals from the ground, reshaping and refining them into sturdy supports.
As Garr worked, he couldn't help but think about his slaves and their performance at the quarry. He wondered if Arlen would be impressed or disappointed. It was an odd feeling for him, caring about the opinions of others. He shook his head, trying to refocus on the task at hand. He needed to concentrate on the barn repairs, not on what was happening at the quarry. Gradually, the barn's structure began to look as good as new, the repaired beams seamlessly blending in with the rest of the building. Garr felt a sense of satisfaction as he surveyed his work, pleased with the progress he had made. He knew there was still more to do, but the hardest part was behind him. "Not too shabby," he thought, allowing himself a brief moment of pride. "Not too shabby at all."
Garr continued his repairs on the barn into the afternoon. Sweat trickled down his brow, but he was determined to finish the job before the day's end. He focused on mending the smaller cracks and reinforcing the weakened sections of the walls. It was slow, meticulous work, but he refused to cut corners. He wanted to ensure that the barn would remain sturdy and functional for years to come. Between his efforts, Garr couldn't help but think about his slaves working at the quarry. He imagined them laboring under the hot sun, chipping away at the rocks. Or perhaps they were underground? Who knew? Were they performing up to his standards? He tried to reassure himself that his training had prepared them well, but a nagging voice in his head whispered doubts. It was an unfamiliar feeling for Garr, and he didn't like it.
To distract himself, he began humming a tune he had heard at the local tavern. The melody was simple and catchy, and it helped to keep his mind occupied as he continued to work. He found himself becoming lost in the rhythm of the song, the world around him fading away as he focused solely on the repairs. As the hours passed, Garr's progress was evident. The barn looked better than it likely had in years, and he marveled at how his control over the elements had developed. Garr wiped the sweat from his brow, surveying the now fully repaired barn with a satisfied grin. He had managed to complete the task in a single day, something he doubted he could have accomplished when he first started his training. It was a tangible reminder of how far he had come.
Garr's thoughts turned back to his slaves. They would be returning soon, and he was eager to hear how they had fared at the quarry. He hoped that they had performed well, proving that his training methods were effective. More than that, though, he found himself genuinely hoping that they were safe and had not been injured during their work. As he waited for their return, Garr decided to busy himself with tidying up the tools he had used for the repairs. He wanted everything to be in order when they arrived so that he could focus on hearing their report. With each passing minute, his anticipation grew, and he realized just how much he cared about their success. It was a strange feeling for him, but he had to admit that he didn't entirely dislike it.
Finally, he spotted a cloud of dust in the distance, and the familiar figures of his slaves came into view. As they approached, Garr could see that they were exhausted but appeared to be unharmed. As they drew near, one of the slaves stepped forward to report on their day's work. "Master Garr, we have successfully completed our task at the quarry. We managed to extract the required amount of stone, and the foreman was pleased with our efforts."
Garr listened intently, nodding in approval. "Well done," he praised them. "I am proud of your performance today. You have proven that my training methods are effective, and you have shown that you can be trusted to work independently."
The slaves, despite their weariness, seemed to stand a little taller at Garr's words. They had not expected such praise, and it was clear that it meant a great deal to them. Garr could see the spark of newfound determination in their eyes, and he knew that he had made the right decision in giving them this opportunity. As the slaves dispersed to tend to their evening duties, Garr allowed himself a moment to reflect on the day's events. He had learned valuable lessons about trust and the importance of giving others a chance to prove themselves. He realized that, in order to grow and improve, both he and his slaves needed to be challenged and pushed beyond their comfort zones.
Garr settled down in a comfortable chair with his notes on Traversion spread out before him. He was determined to delve deeper into the intricacies of teleportation and take his mastery to the next level. With a furrowed brow, he began to carefully study the pages, absorbing every word and concept as he tried to make connections and understand the underlying principles. Garr knew that mastering teleportation would not only enhance his personal skill set but also prove to be an invaluable asset in various situations. As he read, he mentally revisited his previous attempts at practicing Traversion, analyzing his successes and failures, and identifying areas that required improvement. He could feel himself inching closer to a breakthrough, but the elusive next level of teleportation still seemed just out of reach.
His eyes moved back and forth across the pages, rereading passages and pausing to reflect on the information. He found himself occasionally lost in thought, envisioning scenarios where his enhanced teleportation abilities could come into play. The potential for saving time, evading danger, or even assisting others in times of need served as powerful motivators for Garr to push through the challenges and continue studying. When he got too frustrated with his notes, Garr gathered his belongings and began the journey home. The day's learnings still fresh in his mind, he walked with purpose, reflecting on his progress and aspirations. With each step, he felt a growing sense of determination to continue honing his skills.
