Construction Mage - Chapter 40: Flush

AN: Just realized we're only 19 chapters ahead of RR release. Must've messed up count somewhere during the extra chapters. I apologize for the mistake and will fix it after the Rising Star run, when I have the leeway to do so. In fact, I plan to go beyond and increase the release rate on Patreon, as long as I can handle it. You can think of it as raising from 4 chapters a week to 4.5 chapters for now, until I'm sure I can handle it long term.

Anyway, thanks for reading!

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“If there was one good thing to come from The Descent, it was the advent of clean water. It turned the filthy rivers near the major cities clean. I no longer had to drink from the same source people shit in. We should’ve dug more wells sooner. No, we should be digging more wells even now! Water scarcity is the new problem with the nobles monopolising everything. People shouldn’t be risking their lives to reach the river to fetch water anymore!”

-Hobb, former farmer, after one too many drinks

***

“It’s still a privy,” Clay explained. “It’s just that I was in the middle of making some improvements to it.”

“Improvements?” Dorgan said as he unapologetically strode uninvited into the bathroom to get a closer look.

Resigned to play the good host, Clay followed after him, which in turn meant the other guests tagged along. Soon, their entire group surrounded the makeshift toilet. It was the younger Delvers’ first time there, so they curiously looked around, paying special attention to the water reservoir in the corner as well.

“At the end of the day, it’s still a privy,” Clay said carefully, his gaze drifting to Sylphira from the corner of his eye.

“No need to mind me.” She smiled encouragingly. “Explain in as much detail as you’re comfortable with.”

Left with no out, Clay shrugged and began from the start so everyone was caught up.

“I don’t like having any waste near my property. I prefer to live in a clean environment free from any stench. That’s why I made this indoor privy.”

“Why don’t you just build an outhouse or use a chamber pot instead?” Nyra, the girl he had rescued two days ago, asked. “That’s how even the nobles keep their estates clean, right?”

“That requires going outside every time, and I’d rather not do that in the middle of the night or when the weather takes a turn for the worse. I haven’t been in Ravenhold for long, but I hear it gets cold enough to snow here in the winter, yes?” The group had no retort, so he continued. “That’s why I built this. An indoor privy that goes straight to a large bucket I buried outside.”

“Yes, but I thought it was already completed yesterday?” Dorgan chimed in as he stood over the toilet bowl, staring intently at it. “You added a whole new layer to it with some fancy pottery work. It’s still a hole that leads to the ground. What’s the difference?”

“Well, the previous iteration of my custom privy worked, but the stench would still leak back out into the house unless I went out to dump it further away. That’s why I had this built to prevent that. Umm, it’s not finished yet, but the last part doesn’t really matter that much. It’s probably better this way, so I don’t have to use up more magic crystals.”

Clay quickly went off on a tangent as he walked over to his water heater and scooped a bucket full of water. He then stepped through the crowd and poured all its contents into the toilet. It made his guests tilt their heads in confusion at his actions.

“You went through all that work to make this out of earthenware just so it’ll be easier to clean?”

Instead of replying right away, Clay simply waited for the water to drain. He couldn’t contain a grin from leaking out when he saw the water settling into a small pool in the toilet bowl.

“Look.” he pointed at the indoor privy with undisguised pride in his eyes. “The ceramic part was for this.”

His words didn’t clear the confusion away for the young Delvers at all, but thankfully, the veterans were much sharper.

Dorgan didn’t hesitate and stuck his hand into the water, feeling the hole at the bottom where the water should’ve gone.

“Is it full already or clogged up somewhere?” he muttered with a frown. “But I don’t feel anything in the way.”

“Of course not. There isn’t anything in the way,” Clay explained. “It’s supposed to be like this. The shape of the drainage ensures it’ll only drain away when there’s enough water to make it rise above the bend inside.”

Everyone around him blinked blankly for a few seconds, trying to parse his words, but to no avail. The S-trap section was already covered up by the bricks supporting it, giving no easy way for Clay to explain it.

“So, what is the point of it?” Sylphira asked with a smile.

“As I said earlier, to address the smell problem. The water here blocks any smell from rising back up. Whenever I finish doing my business here, I simply have to pour more water into it, and it will be flushed away without a worry.”

He retrieved another bucket of water to highlight his point. The water splashed onto the toilet bowl, and most of it drained away as intended until the water level dropped back to the same level as before.

“Interesting. I’d love to have one in my place as well,” the noblewoman stated in no uncertain terms. “Wouldn’t you girls like one as well?”

The platinum blonde Nyra and the only other girl in her party, Talyra, nodded their heads like little ducklings.

Meanwhile, the guys exchanged looks and didn’t seem too interested. It was what Clay thought to be the normal reaction, considering they were already used to the routine they had grown up with. He had no idea why the girls were interested all of a sudden.

“So, Clay? Do you think you can help us make our own as well?” the dark-haired woman asked with intense silver eyes.

“Umm, I can share the drawings with you, so you can get the same thing from the craftsmen.”

“If it’s okay, we’d prefer if you do it. This matter isn’t something a lady should be openly asking around for, is it?”

Pressed by the sharp gaze of the three women, Clay shrank back as he struggled to come out with a reply. He wanted to say no, but also didn’t want to offend a powerful Delver who was a noble. Saying yes would mean having to spend the precious time that he could be spending on other home improvements. For example, his next goal was to set up windows and proper flooring. The cold earthen bricks weren’t exactly homely, and he didn’t want to be wearing his boots all day.

He also wanted to get a proper kitchen installed. For too long had his body had suffered from the lack of proper nutrients. As the saying went, ‘muscles are made in the kitchen.’ If he continued to neglect himself, he would only grow weaker. He needed enough calories and protein intake to maintain a healthy body.

Just as Clay closed his eyes to focus his thoughts, a voice suddenly silenced everyone. 

“If you’ll be creating more of these indoor privies here, then I’d like one as well.”

The man who spoke sounded so casual that it made people think it was a normal conversation between long-time friends. However, it didn’t escape these Delvers that this person had appeared from nowhere, catching them all off guard.

Everyone turned to the intruder in an instant, with weapons drawn. The two veteran Delvers were naturally the first to react, but that only meant they were the first to balk upon laying eyes on the unexpected visitor. That was because they caught sight of the intricate clothing worn by a young man with dull blond hair. He wore a bright red cape over white fitted clothing that had golden highlights. 

The engravings were so detailed on his clothes that they reminded Clay of all the extravagant decoration within the church. There was even a sigil of some sort sewn onto the man’s chest.

It only took a second for Sylphira to process all this new information, and her eyes widened as a result.

“Sheath your weapons!” she uncharacteristically cried out with urgency.

***

“You imbeciles! What do you mean he’s wandered off? The guards at the fourth ring let him through already, right? How many times have I told you to remove any distractions on the way?” the middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair shouted as he slammed a stack of parchment against the wooden desk before him.

He plopped himself forcefully into his seat and impatiently reached out to take a sip from his cup. Only then did he calm down, relaxing into the backrest and adjusting the monocle on his left eye.

“Enough of your excuses. Deploy more men to keep watch of our prince’s movements and clear away anything else that may draw his attention. Report back as soon as he comes. I want no mistakes.”

The kneeling servant rose upon receiving his new commands and bowed.

“It will be done, sir. I’ll personally ensure none of our men reveal themselves or disturb the prince in the process.”

“Good. Now go!”

As the servant rushed out of the room, two men wearing gleaming plate armor strode in exchange. Both appeared young, walking in with a confident gait, and their helmets under their arms. The short-haired blonde, following one step behind, likely had not reached twenty yet, while the other appeared to be in his mid-twenties and sported shoulder-length, sky blue hair. They both brought their hand to their chest and bowed.

“My Lord, you called for me?” the older knight asked.

“Lucan, the reception has been delayed. The prince has wandered off.”

“My Lord? Do you wish for me to go escort him back to you?”

“Send those who are well-rested and tell them to simply keep watch over him. They are not to obstruct the prince in any way. You and those who accompanied you into the dungeon can rest for now. I’ll send someone to get you when the prince arrives.”

“Understood. Will that be all?”

“Yes. You may go.”

The two knights then stood tall, bowed their heads, and thumped their chests twice. During this formality, the younger knight exchanged a meaningful glance with the lord. It caused the older man to grimace, but he hid it quickly before the other man caught on.

When the two knights were gone, Count Talon, Lord of Ravenhold, couldn’t help but slump into his seat. He reached out for the cup again and hesitated before opting to go for a bottle he had hidden under his desk instead. After taking a swig of it, he let out a sigh that contained a myriad of emotions.

“Why can’t things ever go as planned?” he muttered to himself wearily.

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