Eldric's New Spot and More Planning For the Next Few Weeks

After his discussion with Caspian, he was about to return to the cavern when he remembered there were more things, he wanted to speak with the Elders about. He made his way to the House in search of Evander. He decided he would speak with Evander and leave it to him to complete. 

It was no surprise, but Eldric found Evander inside the House in one of the rooms. Eldric greeted him and spoke in a soft voice, "There is a few things I think we should do." he explained and took his place next to Evander. 

'Firstly, I think as we are about to create more lodgings for more people, we should make around 10 of the same type of buildings. What do you think, would it be possible?" Eldric asked curiously. 

"It may be, but that would mean we would need to expand beyond our borders to gather the resources. Is that fine?' Evander spoke with caution. "Mm" Eldric pondered and spoke almost without any delay, "If we want to expand and grow stronger it will be inevitable" he muttered. "Very well, we can proceed with going past our borders," he said. 

"Aye, then it's definitely doable," Evander said. "It would take a while but there is no need for any other resources except for those already at our disposal but Patriarch I must caution you. We can't really go on like this, it's fine now if we build our own buildings but they are not really up to standard. In time we would need to hire expert builders" Evander voiced his concern. 

"Yes, but for now we can continue on like this. When we are settled, and we have the necessary strength and money we can hire expert builders to rebuild the whole House." Eldric reassured him. 

"Good! Since that's settled the other thing, I wanted to talk to you about is we have mapped a substantial area, but I think we should map out further out in the next 6 weeks (about 1 and a half months)." Eldric suggested. "If we do that, we can possibly gather more trading options if there are cities or towns nearby. That would enable us to expand more rapidly and if we can get more trading done in more cities it means more connection not to mention we can look for any resources we could use that is left." 

"If possible, I want to see if we can trade with every town in our region. I know it may take a while considering we don't have much stock left but once spring comes around, we should be able to have more resources." He spoke softly and voiced his ideas. 

"Mm, what is Patriarch's target range for the mapping?" Evander asked curiously, "I know we mapped a whole region around 30km (about 18.64 mi) out if I remember correctly, let's see if we can expand the region to 50 km (about 31.07 mi) all around Mount. Crown, if that's possible." Eldric suggested hesitantly. 

"It can be done" Evander agreed, "But it will take a few weeks to complete the route, if we are lucky we can finish in six weeks, but it would be around 8 weeks (about 2 months) tops, before we finish" Evander assured, "Great, then I will the projects to you to supervise if you need anything you know where to find me," Eldric said in relief and walked out. 

Eldric wanted to cultivate but instead of going to his cabin, he ventured to the farthest point on the western side of the cavern, where a breathtaking sight awaited him—a majestic waterfall cascading down from the ceiling high above, glistening in the subdued light. Yes, he went to the area where it all began. 

 The cavern echoed with the soothing sound of water, and as Eldric approached, he felt the fine mist on his skin. The river below the waterfall split into two streams, one flowing gracefully towards the entrance of the cavern, leading to the outside world. The other stream meandered towards a medium-sized lake; a tranquil oasis nestled in a small, forested area within the cavern. The lake was the first area he and the Elders had spent their time in and during that time he found a beautiful place, but he never used it, today it would come in handy. 

 The surface of the lake shimmered with a mesmerizing palette of colors, reflecting the enchanting hues of the cavern walls. The subdued glow of phosphorescent fungi on the walls cast a gentle radiance on the water's surface, creating a dance of light and shadow. The reflections played on the water like a living canvas, with hues of emerald, azure, and hints of ethereal violet. 

 Beside the lake, nestled in the shallows, was a beautiful small rock formation. Smooth and weathered by time, the rocks formed a natural seat for Eldric as he prepared for his cultivation. He settled into the cool surface, the gentle lapping of the water providing a soothing background melody. 

 As Eldric closed his eyes and entered his meditative state, the sounds of the waterfall, the rustling leaves, and the symphony of the cavern harmonized with the internal energy he sought to cultivate. The subdued colors of the cavern, the tranquil lake, and the rock formation beneath him all contributed to the serene ambiance, creating a sanctuary where nature and cultivation seamlessly intertwined. 

 In this hidden corner of the cavern, as time passed unnoticed, Eldric immersed himself in the profound connection between his practice and the untouched beauty that surrounded him.