Machinist of Mana Chapter 131 Foundation

“Found another one,” I announced to the small group who'd come with us, pointing at a tiny plant trying to survive in the barren soil.

We were taking a week, and only one, to stop and do reclamation on the island. I was a bit surprised that the elves were so invested in such a thing, being that they seemed more industrial than your standard fantasy elves, but they saw the value in trying to preserve the local ecosystem, or at least what was left of it. To that end we were scouring the whole place for every seed, every shoot, anything that survived the bombardment that might be helpful.

It was distasteful to hear, but someone had also gone and opened up the bellies of the dead goblins. After all, they'd no doubt eaten some of the vegetation, and if there were seeds in their guts those could be useful too. Everything was being handed over to a priest who was doing what he could to grow the plants, but it wasn't going to be a fast process.

Carefully I got a small flag I'd brought along and marked it. Not wanting to move, and potentially damage the plant.

“You're surprisingly good at this,” one of the soldiers said.

“I've got good eyesight, hearing too. Shame that I don't hear anything but us here. The people who did this were thorough.”

“Yes indeed.” Most of the soldiers who spoke my tongue were extremely formal, though as it wasn't their first language that shouldn't strike me as too odd.

“Why though? The goblins perhaps they hated for some reason, but the animals? The plants? Seems excessive.”

“Wanted to make sure that even if any survived they didn't have anything to eat. At least that's what one of the officers said when we discussed it this morning. Something always survives though, even if it's just a few small plants here and there.”

This wasn't my forte, even if I liked nature it wasn't like I spent much time in it. There were no machines or mechanisms here, only barren soil and sprigs of growth. Neither did I think it would work completely, no the whole ecosystem was gone, and there'd be no rebuilding all of it. The best we could go for was saving a few of the species that were left and potentially bringing in something similar from elsewhere, though nobody here could even describe what was lost, and some of it was almost certainly unique.

“This place will never be the same,” I said to him as I moved on, continuing to scan the soil.

“No, but it can be something. At least I hope so. We'll do what we can, and then maybe call in some people from the mainland to get to the business of actually fixing it.”

“Have to do something about the soil too. No roots with the wind and rain? It'll be carried off before too long.”

“Make a note when we get back, in case someone hasn't already thought of it,” he advised.

Greta was back on the ship, having ceded most of the operation to others. Physically she was fine, taking care of her child and focusing all her energy toward him. Mentally though I worried, postpartum depression was common enough in people who hadn't seen their ancestral homeland and most of their species wiped out, and she was very clearly going through a lot. I didn't even see her much, the girl having mostly retreated to her quarters and holing up there. What should have been a happy time for her reduced to something horrid and destructive.

As the sun set and our teams returned to the boats I went to see her. It wasn't hard to locate her on the small vessel, and I was glad to see that she'd actually made her way to one of the decks where she sat with her child by a small window.

“We've found quite a few species there, and they're being regrown quite fast. You could come and see tomorrow if you wanted,” I told her while I sat down, not really sure where to start.

“Perhaps, perhaps not. I find that place... distressing? Yes, I think that's the right word.” Her voice was quiet, reserved.

“I know, I'm sorry. There will be help for you and yours at least. The elves seem dedicated to that.”

“Their leaders feel responsible, and told me as much. Did you know all of their countries used to be united under the Atali leadership? They broke away slowly as time went on, wanting their own independence, but they were allowed to. Seems like their leaders view this as something like their child doing it.”

“I'm bad at this you know.”

“You're trying, and that's something,” she replied, not even looking at me.

“Do you think it's okay for me to leave you here with them? Your sister and mine are friends, and I'd feel bad if something happened to you.”

She chuckled just a bit at that. “I don't think they mean me ill. Now that he's gone I see it, how Father manipulated us, always withholding his help and affection to those who did just what he wanted. These elves are weird, and dangerous, but they're not like that, they don't really want anything from me. Condescending, but true, I don't have anything they need. So I don't think they're trying to manipulate me at least.” Her child awoke, making a few noises before she coo'd to him and settled him down.

“You never told me his name,” I said, looking at the little green baby.

“I haven't given him one yet. Still thinking on that.”

The next day she did come to the island, looking at the small patches of green and few flowers that had been magically boosted from the seeds and shoots we'd found. It wasn't much, just a speck, a beginning.

As we went to leave for the night she moved up near me.

“I decided on a name.”

“Oh?” I said.

“Yes, I will call him Aris. I think it's a good name.”

“It's a wonderful name. I'm sure he'll grow big and strong.”

“I'd like to ask your thoughts on another name too,” she added.

“Name for what?” I asked.

“The island, we can't well just keep calling it 'the island with goblins' can we?”

“And what were you thinking we should call it?”

“Foundation.” It was a rather simple name, but lots of names were like that, often that got lost as language drifted but places stayed the same.

“I like it. If that's what your people want to call it I'm sure nobody will object.”

“We will then, I'm sure my people will like it, and if they don't, too bad.” That got me to snort, a bit of the playfulness creeping back into her voice was something I'd almost missed.