"Alright then, let's get to work."
…............
Forty-eight hours later
Orion's hands worked tirelessly, precisely cutting and sewing each piece of material to the right size, all while Saria shadowed his actions, mimicking them after a few trial-and-error attempts.
The time he'd invested in teaching her the process was paying off handsomely, as he now had an extra pair of skilled hands to assist him. Her tirelessness, comparable with his own warrior's endurance, proved invaluable in speeding up the process far beyond his expectations.
Moreover, the availability of all the materials, except for the metal pots and rods, significantly facilitated their work.
Regardless of the initial struggle, they had managed to carefully cut and sew each piece together, turning disparate components into a cohesive whole.
Over the span of seventy-two hours, their hard work had paid off. The fabrics were now skillfully tied and joined with the basket. Orion had personally crafted 80 baskets, while Saria contributed to the rest, resulting in a grand total of 146 baskets — a number that surpassed their requirements for the quantity needed for the plan to take shape.
Additionally, Orion was starting to sense the toll the prolonged work was taking on him. While Saria could afford to pause briefly and rejuvenate herself through her tree nymph's nature, he couldn't quite follow suit. Unlike her, he needed actual rest, and being a warrior only help alleviate the mental strain a little.
There were moments when he found himself dozing off intermittently during his tasks, only to jolt back awake with a slightly less fatigued mind, before resuming his work.
Also, his sole driving force stemmed from the promise of substantial rewards awaiting him. Knowing that considerable reward awaited him kept him going. If the plan proved successful, he might even seize the opportunity to capitalize further on his relationship with the Village Chief.
After ninety-six hours, a concerning piece of news reached Orion's ears; Anara still hadn't awakened or responded to any of their calls. This information left him with a sense of uneasiness, especially considering it had been four days since he had begun his intense work here.
The situation took a slightly worrisome turn as the Village Chief came to inform him that the rumours they had been circulating as part of the plan had caused quite a commotion. They could no longer wait and had already decided to schedule the gathering for tomorrow, leaving him with limited time to test his construction. Now, his only option was to trust in his own abilities and hope that his creation would work as intended.
However, upon discovering that they were able to delay the plan for up to five days instead of the initially expected three, Orion couldn't help but feel a sense of appreciation toward the Village Chief for his foresight in planning for potential delays.
Nonetheless, Fifi had also come to see him and relayed the news back home that he was okay and still working. Unfortunately, he had to fabricate a rather tough lie as this was something they didn't need to know about.
Regardless, it warmed his heart to know that eager faces were waiting for him to finish his work and return home in time.
Orion couldn't help but smile as he began using the ropes to arrange the metal pots properly. These pots had four bent metal stands which he used to connect them securely to the basket on top, fastening them together to the point where he was confident that none of them would come loose.
"Lighter than I expected," Orion murmured as he hefted a piece of the construction material. He set that thought aside, focusing on the task at hand—assembling the components one by one. With Saria unable to assist, he was committed to seeing it through until morning.
When the fifth day arrived, Orion finally took a step back to admire his creation. However, he inadvertently collapsed onto his back, his breath coming in rapid, ragged gasps as he struggled to regain his composure.
Simultaneously, he battled the overwhelming urge to succumb to sleep's embrace.
"Are you alright?" Saria's concerned voice reached Orion's ears as she knelt beside him. Her gaze lingered on the young man who had been tirelessly toiling in the warrior's garden.
Having learned so much from him during these past few days and having spent time together, she was genuinely curious to understand what kind of person he was. She had even discussed talking with other tree nymphs to find out, only to discover that this was the famous Orion, the talk of the village, the one who had awakened a six-star potential for inner strength.
In a nutshell, if she had merely been curious before, now her interest was fully piqued. To the point that she had observed him diligently as he worked on fixing the metal pots and rods, not daring to blink for fear of missing out on some crucial insight into his character.
"I'm alright," Orion managed between heavy breaths, using his arm to shield his eyes from the rising morning sunlight. "I just need a bit of rest."
Saria nodded in understanding and rose to her feet, taking in the view before her. Countless 'baskets,' a term she had learned from Orion during their time together, were spread out in front of her. They ranged in size from small to large, laid out on the ground. Among them, one stood out as the largest of them all.
"So, you're saying these things can actually fly?" Saria's curiosity was piqued as she directed her gaze toward the odd-shaped fabrics they had cut and carefully adjusted.
They had fastened them to the sides of the baskets using thick ropes. Her attention shifted to the metal pots and rods also connected to the baskets. While the whole setup seemed strange and she harboured doubts about its flying potential, her fascination with the concept grew, and she couldn't help but wonder how it would manage to achieve such a feat.
"Definitely, these will not just fly, they'll soar," Orion expressed, lifting himself up from his resting position on the ground.
His gaze swept over the collection of hot air balloons, each displaying its striking shape and size. His attention, however, was irresistibly drawn to the largest balloon among them—a hot air balloon that he intended to share with his family. How could he have spent all this time away from them without bringing back something as amazing as this?
However, he knew that he would have to reveal his surprise a few days after the gathering, providing him with a plausible explanation for how he had acquired such an extraordinary creation.
"Next up, we're focusing on the woods, and those heated stones should be arriving any time soon, by the Village Chief," Orion added.
He recalled encountering these special stones while assisting Alya in preparing the Village Chieftess's bath. His only wish now was for this makeshift contraption to take to the air and prove its capability.
