He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter One Hundred And Forty Three - Saewulf Sigmis

Author's note; There is a little 18+ fun midway.

There were many changes over the next year, not least to the size and scale of the village. Many, many new homes had to be built on the more solid grounds that were scattered within the swampland. Not only were they needed to shelter the newcomers, but the many new families that had formed since the tradition was relaxed and younger men felt more able to woo those coming of age.

Of course, there would be those who opted to chose an Elder as their husband, for this is what they had been raised to believe was right and that an Elder offered them better status and protection. However, there were less Elders pursuing them, as those men's wives refused to allow their husband to add to the harem and others were swayed into following the newcomers ways. Who knew that following your heart could be so romantic? Did those couples not look perfect together? They did not just see Elyas and Seven, who altered his name to 'Saewulf,' but also the mage couple Jenefer and Lewin, who had run away together from the Kingdom and their betrothed to be together!

To speed construction, the earth mages were taken by the warrior hunters to the mountains to collect stone and Leif and Eight would seek fallen, deceased trees and large branches as they traipsed around the forest for ingredients for potions. Eight was now known as Eulalia and was a Witch apprentice. Jenefer and Fleur (Two) had decided to clean the girl up and a delicate rose had appeared from the mess of brambles. Many of the unwed men had sought her out, but respected her wishes when she refused them. She had already found someone who made her feel like summoning vines to entrap.

Herebert suddenly felt cold, but couldn't identify what was causing it, so continued with his daily task of purifying the water in the large nearby lake, hoping that it could eventually be filled with fresh water fish from the underground pools, something that no one had thought about until Lewin had suggested it. It would be a good supplement to their future diets and provide more provisions in the future.

Many of the Elders retained their harems, although Elder Rootfern lost two girls, who actually preferred each other's company to that of a man and Elder Barkridge lost five wives, two men and three women. In fact only his first wife remained as she had born him most of his children before his issues had begun. She now ruled his roost and he had to abide by her wishes or lose her as well. Elder Calarook was basically under house arrest enforced by his own wives to stop his wandering eye and his attempts at disturbing the tentative balance that was already beginning to emerge. So many were happier without the tradition than with and it was already clear to see.

Amongst the first batch of youthful weddings was actually Six, or Samuel as he had come to be known. On the hunting trip to the mountain, he had come to know a warrior called Innis, who was around five years his senior. They had become close during their time in the mountain, Innis was able to subdue somewhat the hyperactive boy and soon had Samuel purring like a kitten at his feet. Whenever Innis was on guard duty or hunting in the mountains, Samuel would be by his side.

Much to everyone's surprise, Elyas and Saewulf also wed, surprise as no one had thought to reveal that Leif had lied about Saewulf's age in order to protect him. No one was surprised that about the marriage itself. They moved into a tall hut made from a huge, old stump that had been discovered in the forest. The rest of the tree was also been brought back by a convoy of warriors and earth mages and Leif. It appeared to have once been caught by a lightning strike, felled and slightly burnt but not completely destroyed by the storm. It had taken weeks to hollow the stump, chunks of rotten wood disposed of, better wood destined to become bowls and plates, but it was tall enough to create a mezzanine for sleeping. The downstairs space had become dedicated as a kitchen, eating space.

Elyas had continued his apprenticeship for a short while under the Village mages, however his abilities outshone the majority of working magi, so he was named a full mage after just three months and worked with other mages keep the fog thick and torches lit.  Saewulf, despite not having magical ability had much knowledge of poisons so worked as an assistant to Leif and Eulalia.  Naturally, Elyas enjoyed returning to his new home and wife the most.