While it had not been long since Walker and Onyx had been to the water territory of Genesis, he had not gone in to the lake that had been made primarily for the water elves. They had been controlled by Lust and that had caused their home within the lake they kept to fall to pieces and degrade way too far to be livable.
Therefore, this lake was made with Current as the controller of all the water leading to it. This allowed for a better flow of water mana and also so that Current could add his own resting area to the depths here.
What was new to the pair was that the water elves had been busy building much more than what they expected. Even outside of the lake there were homes made that relied on the flow of the nearby canals and the connection to the river.
While they were not just the water elves there, it was clear that these were people who were very close to their affinity to water. Surprisingly, there were quite a few gray haired spider race members living nearby.
This would have been fine if it was a forest environment where the gray haired spiders had lived in tandem with the goblins. But to take the water affinity that some of them had and completely shift environments to focus fully on it, was impressive.
The gray haired spiders were even using their webbing to make small floating rafts align with using them to fish in the areas of the lake that were put aside for small species of fish monsters that could easily grow and breed here to be used as food. But the skill in doing so was what Walker felt was interesting.
The manipulation of water mana and the spider silk was perfectly in unison which allowed them to make the silk move in to the water without causing ripples. From there it was just about wrapping and trapping the monster to eat for later. It was very advanced and a perfect show of higher control of water mana as a whole.
While this was just a part of what Walker and Onyx saw as interesting and new, they also noticed that the lake had been altered. The shores that were not full of small cottages were made oddly.
The water elves had carved out the softer soil on the shore to make back and forth trenches. They were only about a foot deep but upon nearing them, Walker could see the small bits of algae that had begun to grow. There were also small sprouts of lake weeds and other edible herbs that grew underwater.
It was not a major amount but it was an effort to make some additional food without changing the entire area in to a farm or relying just on the rest of Genesis for food productions.
"Some of these herbs are also purifying the water here so that it is easier to live in. This is reducing all waste and making sure that all the canals and the rivers are not poisoned. They are improving everything very well." The compliment had just been Walker making sure that Onyx and him were of the same mind.
However, when he looked up he saw a small group of water elves and a few echidna who had noticed him and seemed to have heard him. They looked proud of the area. They didn't say anything but Walker and Onyx both understood these were some of the hard workers who put in the effort to ensure that where they lived was safe and healthy along with what everyone else had to deal with in terms of this water.
Once they had made it in to the water, the changes in the homes were more defined. Then underwater crafters had managed to incorporate some fresh water corals to enhance the strength of each home while also adding color and more water filtration. It was very interesting to notice that the coral and plants under the water here were just as vibrant if not even more vibrant than what was on land.
There was yet another similarity amongst all elves regardless of affinity. They all preferred to have high amounts of herbs and plants growing within their village to be used or generally bringing nature closer to them. Since many echidna with water affinity were here, they were also partly to take the credit since they were always more in tune with natural mana and nature as a whole. They would certainly wish to help add to the bonding of nature and where every race lived.
It was harder to bargain at the shops here since the ways that those who lived under the water spoke required skills naturally occurring in them. But with the way the system and the world had adjusted to everyone communicating had been made easier and translated for them. This was just one reason that this underwater market both Onyx and Walker moved through was thriving.
Adding on to that boon, there were also the merfolk here who lived in the area but also were used to being inside and outside of the water. The water elves actually seemed to prefer to be in the water more than the merfolk at times. Yet, that was part of their beliefs, that they needed to always be striving to become closer to their water affinity.
As it was not appearing any issues were here, Walker moved toward the edges of the water elf territory. The places where canals connected that either moved deeper in to Genesis or were connected to the nearby river for travel.
There was no surprise when he or the guards at the canals saw him and he saw them. They understood that any representative worried about traveling the canals and river trade routes could come to examine them for safety.
The river trade routes had nearly connected paths to every single kingdom. All kingdoms had some form of moving water nearby. It was a necessity for their people's growth.
Even the dwarves' kingdom had nearby water sources, but where theirs was different from others was the fact that they had them under the ground. This meant that the merfolk had the advantage since they could breathe under the water.
Overall though, the fact that almost every water way, and major river, had been handled to be safe for merchants showed the extreme determination of the merfolk.
They had once lived in the deep of the oceans and seas, however now they possessed a singular city as their kingdom in shallower waters. With the right leadership taking over for them to represent their race within Genesis, they had anchored themselves as a force that could stand as a figure of awe. They could improve others lives while also growing their own.
"Brother, I can sense the flow of mana above, I believe we have a delivery of ores coming." It wasn't odd at all that Onyx knew what was coming or could sense it.
He had been around when these larger shipments of elemental ores had arrived from the Dwarven mines. They were usually of one or two mana affinities so that their quality was better preserved. Specifically, Onyx had picked up on some dark mana affinity ores.
As the two surfaced and saw the boat being checked, they were able to see the underwater guards examining the bottom of the boat as well. Checking for any monsters or other dangerous plants that might be attached to the bottom from travel. It was also a way to check damage and market for repair.
This was a part of their duty since they could point the merchants to the right water ways to repair and deliver goods.
The ores themselves were called false iron, an ore that would seem the same as black iron or that might be infused for other dark metals. However, it was weaker and better used for adding in to an alloy to allow a lighter and better dark affinity to the final alloy.
The amount was larger but perfect for the continued crafting that was going on within Genesis. The alloy being made right now would go right to the armor for various dark affinity guards who lived within the dark territory and followed Mordant's rule.
They had needed more armor since his dragonkin had begun to reach the methods of combat to younger guards of other races. It was both a way to show unity and also to improve the overall strength.
While the plants within the water elf territory were amazing, Walker knew that the garden they had come to see would be the focal point. Leaving behind the curiosity he had for merchants and trade routes, and and Onyx made their way to the underwater elven garden.
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