malist

This behavior is simply unfathomable to his old acquaintances from Zeruertza.

Time slips away among the wood, stone, and tools. The vacation is about to end.

Our settlement has changed so much just by having you here, Stitch.

Hmph.

I suppose they're worthy of the term 'buildings' now, but they're still an eyesore. I wish I could see Catch's face when he comes back to all this.

Haha.

By the way. I seem to recall you wanting me to build something by a nearby lake?

Yes, but you only have a few more days before you return to Rhodes Island. Wouldn't it be too much to handle that now?

But what if after I leave, someone else just so happens to get inspired to build something crazy there instead...?

Then you can tear it down and replace it with whatever you want, no one would object.

...Can I really do that?

Why not? No one lives there anyway.

I mean...

Forget it. Call over the others and let's get to it.

We're here. This is the lake.

This place...

It reminds me a little of... Zeruertza's 'Great Aquapit.' There's even a natural beach.

I think this is where Acahualla's Durin will develop our entertainment industry in the future, but unfortunately, we have nothing here for now.

Everyone was busy building their homes first, then repairing them, and then all the recent renovations...

But the main reason no one's started work in this area is that the terrain causes the water level to fluctuate. The facilities would be unusable when it's too low, but they'd flood when it's too high.

I'm not forcing you to do this, Stitch. You're exhausted, so like I said, any future landscaping efforts can wait till next time.

Forget next time, I'll do it now.

Oh, if it isn't Stitch? Thanks a lot for helping me renovate my house the other day.

It was nothing much... Are you guys building a sandcastle?

Sure are.

No you're not, <i>I'm</i> building it while you just sit there.

Can you really build one here? I hear the water level fluctuates enough to create waves.

Then I guess we'll see if luck's on our side.

If it is, the sandcastle will be able to stand tall for a good while. If not, the water might just rise the moment you come up with the perfect design—

The lake, which had been calm this whole time, suddenly rises into a wave, battering this early iteration of the sandcastle until it loses its shape.

Soon, after several more waves crash onto the beach, there is no trace of it left.

Why'd you have to jinx it?! And why couldn't you have been right about the good option?!

Isn't this a good thing though?

Back when we still had the Great Aquapit, we had all the time in the world to daydream about what kind of sandcastles we wanted to build, and even got into tinkering with an Arts Unit to teach a lesson to anyone with the nerve to disturb us.

The Arts Unit worked so well that we ended up procrastinating on the sandcastles because we had the luxury of time to think of even better designs. More time than we knew what to do with.

I guess that does make sense...

Sense? This guy's been over the moons from getting a week of free mead, so of course he's actually thinking logically for once!

Mead?

I'm ashamed to say that we made a bet this morning on whether the water would rise today, and if a sandcastle could be built... pffft.

How dare you laugh! You picking a fight?!

The two Durin duke it out on the soaked shore.

See, Stitch? This is what the lake is like. I can't figure out what to possibly build here, and your vacation is almost over. Just relax and we can discuss this next time.

But I've already come up with an idea.

Really? What do you want to build here?

New Zeruertza.

Stitch, did you drink before coming here?

Of course not. We can't solve our resource issue right away, but I can at least correct the aesthetic taste of our dumb friends here.

Oh, you meant a scale model of your New Zeruertza.

You don't have much time left, and what are you even going to build it out of? I can go help you gather materials and craftsmen, if you like...

No need for that. I'll just build it with sand like they did earlier.

Were you napping when those two idiots were fighting?

This is a great place for a sandcastle, even with the water and waves.

You keep saying I don't have much time left, Master Edge. So isn't something that won't require a lot of effort just perfect?

Even if you know it'll soon be washed away by the waves?

Yes.

...Stitch, did you mature? Maybe some kind of life-changing experience? You almost seem like a different person now.

Let him do it, Master Edge.

Avdotya?

Nothing happened to him, but the way he thinks has indeed changed of late.

Really?

Really.

...Stitch, I'll believe you this time, for Avdotya's sake. But be sure to keep your word.

Of course.

Oh, also. Can you tell the others to stay away from the lake while I'm building?

Hmm, that'll depend on how they vote. I can't stop them if everyone wants to come and see.

The Durins vote to not go near the lake for the time being.

Nonetheless, the curious Durins can't help but wonder if Minimalist's sandcastle will be washed away by the fickle waves.

The intensity of their interest is especially evident from Croque's betting business.

A few even try to sneak over to the lake to check out the situation, only to be obstructed by similarly minded people in front of the blockade. Croque takes the initiative to maintain order, keeping them out.

Finally, Minimalist arrives at the blockade the day before he is to leave for Rhodes Island—two huge dark circles under his eyes—and tells the people crowding outside that the sandcastle is finished.

People stop and gawk at the exquisite and concise construction of 'New Zeruertza.'

The City Forum and streets are reminiscent of the old underground Zeruertza, while the roadside buildings sport a clearly personal style quite different to the old designs: simple, smooth, and clean.

The buildings are not a carbon copy of any particular style, and even include a fair number of Acahuallan design elements, making them fit for a real jungle.

The bad-tempered architect standing before them has built an ideal city of sand by the lake.

I can't believe the New Zeruertza Minimalist kept talking about was actually this stunning.

I think we should promote this design style to the Archosauria and Phidia!

So Stitch actually managed to build a model out of sand...! But you can't stay lucky forever, and once the water comes in, there'll be nothing left. What a pity.

A strong breeze causes a wave to rise from the lake, crashing onto the shore.

*splash*

Stitch's city of sand does not budge.

Stitch, are you secretly an Originium Arts expert?

Hmph, I've always been simply an architect.

Another wave surges with even greater force, this time submerging a corner of the city.

To everyone's surprise, the receding water reveal most of the buildings still intact, save for a tiny house in the corner.

The keen-eyed Edge realizes with a glance that while the first floor of the house has been completely washed away, the second floor is still attached to the ground.

Hoh, I see what you're up to—

The lake eventually turns fierce, and the waves, each higher and foamier than the last, batter New Zeruertza incessantly.

A sympathetic cry erupts from the crowd. Stitch's luck has finally run out, and so has the lake's favor.

Edge glances at Stitch, and sees the boy also biting his lip, but with a cocky expression.

Be frank with me. How many times did you remake this?

The lake has been pretty nice to me, but... probably three or four times.

By the time the lake is once again still, Minimalist's sandcastle is bereft of most of its sand, but still stands on the shore.

Everyone can now clearly make out a dense steel framework inside it, its silver-white bars shining brightly under the sun.

The crowd first marvels in amazement, then applauds, and finally bursts into a laughter devoid of any malice.

In their eyes, the bad-tempered architect has finally grown a sense of humor and performed a grand magic trick for everyone to see.

Minimalist says nothing. Slightly reserved, he looks away, rubbing his nose.

Haha! This is the first time I've seen you so smug with yourself, you rascal!

Honestly, I really want to start making that design a reality right away, Stitch.

It seems like our resource shortage has become the most pressing issue then.

Then my work here...