Some time later after A Knight was summoned, within the suitcase...
"Dost thou wish to create thy living quarters here?" A Knight asked, his imperceptible body holding on to his sword.
Isaac, by his side, nodded slightly, his arm on his waist as he looked at the state of his cabin. "That's right. Me and another person had been working on it... Albeit..."
His voice trailed off as he couldn't help but look at the entirety of the cabin that was being built.
Or rather... What was almost built.
'...did Druvis really want to finish this?' He thought, looking at the state at which Druvis had left his cabin at. 'Earlier this morning, she said she'd work on it a bit, but...'
Looking at his cabin now — which he had little contributions to due to how fast Druvis was at building it — all he saw was the semi-finished layout that she had left it at.
The foundation had already been finished, providing a stable and relatively strong base for the whole cabin — it was made using the available sturdy materials in the suitcase that Isaac picked up, topped with the wooden logs. Since the foundation was burrowed to the ground, they didn't need to add additional support to its sides and used the surrounding environment to stabilize it.
Meanwhile, stone pillars stood at various points, serving as supports that anchored the wooden logs serving as the cabin's walls, and framed a wide front for what seemed like a front porch.
Although it was still unfinished, Isaac kind of saw what Druvis was aiming for with what she had designed. Near the front porch, he saw what looked like an unfinished stone chimney, and lying down not far from the unfinished cabin were what looked like wooden railings.
Truly, Druvis had deviated from his plans. He initially just wanted something simple like a small wooden cabin — but with Druvis' addition, it had significantly expanded from his initial plans and started to look like a bungalow.
What surprised Isaac more, however, were the amount of trees cut down while making the cabin. '...doesn't she love nature? Although she did say these trees volunteered themselves, it still feels weird for a druid to cut them down all like this...'
If possible, he'd very much like to do all of this himself so as to not bother her further. But with her insistence, he could only make subtle suggestions from time to time.
Overall, despite his guilt for acquiring Druvis' help, he ultimately felt grateful for her and what she had done.
"It's a bit off from what I initially planned, but it's starting to look nice." He commented. He then turned to A Knight and asked a question. "What do you think? Looks comfy, innit?"
"Someone must admit that it indeed has that charm." A Knight solemnly agreed with Isaac. "If thou wish, should Someone also provide help?"
"Uh..." Seriously contemplating whether to accept A Knight's offer, Isaac momentarily fell into contemplation.
Should he really acquire another help for his cabin? Especially someone who had just arrived here and hasn't even explored outside the suitcase? Even more so, without anyway for Isaac to pay him appropriately?
"..." Isaac looked at A Knight for a moment, the memories of him repaying Druvis flashing through his mind, before replying. "...do you accept food as compensation?"
"Someone doth not need to eat much. But if thou insists, then a simple meal shall suffice." Lifting his bloodstained sword, A Knight caressed it while speaking. "If that is fine by thee, then Someone doth not have any complaints."
Isaac wondered how A Knight would eat because, quite obviously, he didn't have a tangible body. But asking that question may somewhat come out as rude so he refrained himself from doing so.
Perhaps another time.
"You're hired." Isaac lifted a thumb up, acquiring another helper. "This way, Ms. Druvis won't be alone anymore."
Not to mention his cabin would now be completed much faster than he initially estimated. Maybe in the next two days, even.
"Will you be fine working here for a while, though? You're Ms. Vertin's knight, after all." Making sure once more, Isaac decided to ask.
Indeed, A Knight swore loyalty to Vertin, not Isaac. But even then, the role of showing the former around the suitcase fell to Isaac's shoulders since Vertin was suddenly called out of the suitcase to deal with some matters.
He didn't really mind it that much, really, and he was glad that A Knight pledged his loyalty to Vertin like in the game.
"Helping Someone's lord's esquires is also the duty of a knight." A Knight answered, turning to Isaac. Then, as if scrutinizing Isaac's lithe appearance for a bit, he commented solemnly. "Thou hath proved thyself to be a loyal esquire, Someone is sure that you'll turn to be a fine knight too. As such, Someone will gladly help thee."
At his words, Isaac chuckled a bit, finding his words funny. "An esquire? Me? What makes you say that? I'll let you know right now that I'm far from being a chivalric knight, and am quite sinful too."
"Dost thou not bear such qualities, though?" As if genuinely confused by Isaac's words, A Knight hummed. "That is indeed strange. Someone was sure thou was an esquire to lord Vertin with the way thou act. Thou possess attentiveness, keen servitude, and humility to lord Vertin. Moreover, you are also a—"
"Okay, I get it. Stop." Seeing A Knight suddenly start analyzing him, Isaac frowned slightly as he interrupted the knight. Then, breathing deeply, he conjured a light smile. "...I'm touched by your good assessment of me, but I have to clarify — I am not a knightly kind of person nor do I have the qualifications to be one."
Then, smiling wistfully, he crossed his arms. "A genuine knight is someone who pledges loyalty to a lord and swears to protect them 'till their dying breath. To run away as their lord gets attacked is to disregard their loyalty."
As Isaac spoke, his voice turned heavy, as if carrying the weight of something. It wasn't a pained nor regretful one, but rather, melancholic.
A Knight, remaining silent as Isaac talked, finally spoke after the latter stopped speaking. "Thou might not see thyself as such, but Someone sees that quality in you clearly."
"In the past, Someone used to serve a man who later on became the role model of all knights in history. His tale drifted across the lands and later gave rise to what is now known as the Code of Chivalry." A Knight shared his past with a deep sigh. Then, his tattered cloak bent slightly, as if his invisible head nodded. "Someone sees that person's qualities in you, albeit not fully."
Isaac didn't immediately give an answer, and instead smiled lightly for a while, a palpable silence present with only the sounds of the susurrus breeze present.
He had never seen himself as a knight, truly. And even if he does get to be one... he won't be qualified.
Since he already broke the most important rule of a knight — to protect their lord.
Shaking his head, he got rid of his thoughts and turned to A Knight. "Well... Let's leave it at that. C'est la vie. How about we start building now, A Knight?"
"C'est la vie, indeed." A Knight, seemingly nodding, placed down his bloodstained sword. "Very well, let us commence."
And with that, the two started working on Isaac's wooden cabin. With their natural sense of camaraderie, the two of them quickly got to know each other and a new friendship was made that day... along with the cabin of course.
Meanwhile, a certain someone in the main building just finished sketching another layout for the cabin. She seems to really want to finish it.
* * *
A/N:
No chapter yesterday because I fell asleep while writing...