Sunlight filtered into Jun''s cabin through the trees next morning, casting dappled patterns on the wooden floor. Riry was already awake; her Sleeping Leviathan circled slowly near the window, its translucent body flashing rainbow hues of light. Jun stirred himself from his room, rubbing his eyes and biting off a yawn.


    "Morning, shadow boy," Riry chirped from her seat at the workbench, where she was flipping through Jun''s journal. "I couldn''t resist. Your notes are fascinating."


    Jun grunted, padding toward the kettle to make tea. "I thought the unspoken rule of house guests was not snooping."


    "Snooping? Hardly. I''m refining your work," Riry said, holding up a page covered with a rough sketch of a mana conduit. "This? Genius. But you''re leaving open the door to ambient mana absorption."


    Jun poured two mugs of tea and passed one to her as he sat down across from her. "Okay. So what do you have?"


    Riry smiled and began talking over her concept, her hands gesticulating animatedly. Jun found himself smiling despite the early hour. Her energy was infectious, and her insights were, as usual, invaluable.


    Out of doors they stood, by mid-morning, near the edge of Jun''s homestead. He had come up with the idea while he was over breakfast. The great oven and smoker hybrid, said he. It could be an outdoor hearth as well as cook, preserve foods, and even the small, tiny forge for small jobs. Next to this one, he''d have his blacksmithing section-perhaps a shaded work space and also rack for tools.


    An oven that''s also a smoker? Riry raised his eyebrow. Ambitious. I like it.


    It will take work, though, Jun admitted. But if we design it just right, it will last. And it''ll fit the land, not sit on top of it.


    Fit the land? Riry repeated.


    Jun gestured out at the trees and the ground''s slope. Permaculture. Work with what already is there. The land decides the shape of the thing.


    Riry smiled and looked back at him, the look slightly sidelong. "You know, most people just buy resources for a project like this. But you? Foraging out here, building everything by hand? That''s. kinda sexy."


    Jun blushed all the way up and quickly turned to look at another tree, just so he wouldn''t have to watch Riry smirking any longer. "Let''s. just focus on getting materials, then."


    Riry snickered softly. "Whatever you say, shadow boy."


    The two spent the next few hours scouring the forest for what they needed. Jun led the way, pointing out stones appropriate for the base of the oven and clay deposits near a stream. Riry gathered bundles of firewood while her Leviathan helped by lighting up shaded areas with its glow.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "I''m still surprised that you''d actually do this just to avoid a market purchase for bricks," said Riry with a chuckle, tossing the piece of driftwood into the growing pile before them.


    "No, it is not just over the materials; it''s personal if you build like this. Not something dropped there, but with the land in mind," stated Jun.


    With a tilt in her head to study him Riry said "You know you''re way more sentimental than you seem."


    Jun shrugged, his cheeks tinged pink. "Maybe."


    By the afternoon, they had everything they needed. Jun used his shadow magic to move the heavier stones, while Riry employed light-based constructs to reinforce their temporary carrying devices. The teamwork was seamless, their powers complementing each other as naturally as their banter.


    "You''re getting better at this," Riry remarked as Jun levitated a particularly large stone into place.


    "Practice," he said, grinning. "And good company."


    She laughed. "Flatterer."


    The oven came together fast. Jun laid out the stones in a ring pattern and layered clay between them to seal gaps. Riry used her magic and dried the clay faster, making it smooth and strong. The design included two chambers: one for smoking and one for baking, with holes to equalise airflow.


    Beside it, they erected the blacksmithing area. Jun raised a shade for cover using reinforced Ripple Fangcat skins as its roofing. Tool hangers lined one side, and a stone anvil base sat ready to place Jun''s portable forge.


    "It''s… almost cozy," Riry said, stepping back to inspect their handiwork.


    Jun nodded, wiping sweat off his forehead. "Functional and efficient. And it blends in."


    "It''s very you," she said softly. When he turned to look at her, she added with a smirk, "Efficient and a little rough around the edges."


    Jun rolled his eyes, but he couldn''t hide his smile.


    They spent the evening testing the oven. Jun prepared a slab of Prism Elk meat they had smoked earlier in the week, while Riry experimented with Glowroot bulbs, roasting them until their natural sweetness emerged.


    "Not bad," Riry said, popping a piece of roasted Glowroot into her mouth. "You might actually be good at this cooking thing."


    "High praise coming from you," Jun teased.


    They dined under the stars, the shine from the ripple off in the distance casting an odd, glowing air over their supper. Conversation was easy and switched between ideas for future projects to lighthearted taunts. As they finished eating, Riry leaned back in her chair, her gaze aimed at the sky.


    "This place… it feels like home," she whispered softly. "Not just because it''s yours."


    Jun looked up at her and felt that the words became warm between them. He didn''t say, but the curve in his mouth made it known what he wanted to say.


    Jun''s diary entry :


    Today, Riry and I constructed the oven-smoker and added more blacksmithing space. It is in accordance with permaculture principles to have structures fit into natural landscape. I am proud of the oven design, with a double-chambered and shaded forge configuration. They feel like part of this land rather than intruding into it.


    Riry''s insights are precious. She is a very perfect thinking partner to go with this creativity touch in the way of her thinking makes her a great match for such projects. She remarked how rare it was that one is scrounging instead of shopping. That prompted one of her typical sardonic comments. How weird is that how much her nod matters to me. Perhaps not that weird.


    The day ended with a shared meal under the stars. Simple food, good company, and the satisfaction of a day well spent. These are the moments that make everything worth it. Tomorrow we will work on the Ecliptium.