"So we are all stuck in this new timeline because of your mistake?

" Al asked in a calm voice, scanning the reaction of the archmage with his calm eyes.

"That's one way to put it,

" Layn replied, lowering his head.

"For that, I can only apologize. It wasn't my intention whatsoever. What's more, I believe this nuclear thingy is also the reason behind your appearance in the first place,

" Layn admitted, once again lowering his head.

He could be an overlord's successor, one of the strongest if not the strongest mage of both his original time but also in the time he currently resided in. But if he failed at something and caused the lives of others to drastically change because of his own failure, then it was all up to him to mend his own mistake.

"Well, stuff happens in life,

" Al said, only to instantly reach with his hand to the side and grab Ation's hand. At this moment, Al proved that his instincts were no worse than Layn's or Markus's' given how Ation only attempted to stand up right when Al grabbed his arm.

"Brother, I know how you feel. We have been unreasonably torn apart from our fates, but it's not like we can blame this new friend of ours for it,

" Al said, glancing over to Layn's side.

"I know,

" Ation wrestled his hand free before casting a hateful look at Layn.

"I know,

" he repeated as the look in his eyes mellowed a bit.

"He didn't do it intentionally. The chances are, if not him, someone else would do it later. We just happened to be unlucky to get caught up in a mess,

" Ation said, shaking his head with every word.

"But please, do not expect me to be all buddy-friendly with him now!

" Ation shouted before turning around and leaving the place.

"And there go your brains,

" Markus muttered, watching how Ation slammed the simple doors shut on his way out.

"At least he had the decency to close the doors after leaving,

" he added before laughing out loud.

For a moment, both Layn and Al, not to speak about Sitra, sat in silence, confused by Markus' reaction. But after a mere moment, the two men started to laugh as well, leaving only the poor slavian girl out of the loop.

"Well, now that we have this cleared up, let's talk real business,

" Al said after a prolonged moment of clearing up the atmosphere.

"In terms of my request, I wish to take care of the military side of things. Whether it is about kicking some unruly assess in the city you guys are going to build or protecting its borders, you can leave it to us,

" Al stated before leaning back on his chair, indicating that he was already done talking.

"What about using your men as manpower for building and working?

" Layn was quick to ask. 'Without them to help out, our progress will be too slow,' he thought, already trying to come up with means of closing the gap that just appeared between reality and his plans.

"Why do I get the feeling that you see us not as your ancestors but free men to do the heavy lifting for you?

" Al sneered lightly only to laugh out once again.

"For now, it's okay. I know that everyone needs to do their absolute best to survive here. But I don't want this situation to remain forever. Once more, people start to flock into this place...

" Al said, cutting his sentence short as he raised his eyes on the archmage.

"I understand. I think that's a fair deal. What about you?

" Layn said, turning his eyes to Markus.

"I'm game,

" he nodded his head before suddenly shaking it.

"Wait, let's not settle anything before we all express our ideas,

" he added before pulling out a rarity among rarities in the camp, a sheet of real paper with some kind of map drawn on it.

"This is how I projected the layout of the town for the time being,

" Markus said, hovering his hand above the sheet.

"Your academy would take this area. I left it empty to make sure you would be able to design it to your own liking. But in terms of the town, I think this general look would be the most efficient, all things considered,

" Markus said, moving his hand to the part of the map further east, closer to where the true desert was.

"Any reason for such placement?

" Layn asked, moving his eyes between the project and his friend's face.

"I can see that you need the water for the city, but wouldn't it be better to put it closer towards the forest?

" he asked, already keeping the deal with the local overlord in mind.

"Wouldn't that be dangerous?

" Markus asked, opening his eyes wide.

"I know that you made a deal with it, but are you sure you can uphold it? Are you sure that overlord won't try to go back on its word?

" Markus asked the very question that plagued Layn's mind just a few hours ago.

"That's a good point. But there is one more thing I think we need to discuss before agreeing on the layout,

" Layn said with a small smile before turning his face to the Sitra, who sat silently in the corner.

"Did you bring the thing I asked you about?

"

"Yeah, I have it right here,

" Sitra replied as quickly as she realized she was the one put under the fire of Layn's question. But instead of paper, she pulled out a strange, square device.

Once thrown to the table, it started to open itself up, as if some kind of hidden springes acted up under the force of impact. Bit by bit, the entire piece would split into four parts that would next open up to the outside. Once the process repeated itself five times, the original thick and small box turned into a thin sheet of wood nearly twice the size of the table.

And from the looks of things, what was drawn on the picture was nearly an exact copy of the design that Markus came up with on his own!