From The Ashes.

Chapter 23

I raced after them, following Zak as he made his way to the carved door at the end of the hallway. I couldn't help but smile when he double checked I was behind him before heading up into the Attic Garden.

"What are we doing up here?" I asked once we made our way to the glowing crystal. It was lighting up the area so well that it was almost like someone had turned on a light blue lamp.

"Help me with this." Zak said, indicating a massive pile of logs piled along the wall and when I said massive, I meant the size of the trunks themselves. They were wider than I was.

"I am not going to be able to pick that up." I instantly said as Zak made his way to one three times my size.

"You don't have to, just help me push it." It seemed kind of silly, after all what in the world was he going to do with such a large log. Still, I rolled up my sleeves and pushed with all my might until, working together, we'd managed to push it to the work table.

"Can you open the window for me?" Zak asked, pointing to a large crank attached to the wall. It looked like a really large version of a car window lever. It took all my strength to get it to move but once I did, I couldn't help but stare at the deep orange of sunset blasting into the attic by the massive, floor to ceiling window I'd just opened up. You could see the entirety of Fortitudine up here. You could even see over the wall, the great expanse of snow covered forest that stretched out in front of us left me speechless.

"Thanks, the air can get stuffy if I try to do this without it open." I turned to see Zak securing the log in place with some wedges before he took a large hand saw from the desk and began sawing into it. I frowned as his muscles bulged under the strain.

"Wouldn't that be easier with an electrical saw?" Zak paused and blinked at me.

"Princess, haven't you realised electricity doesn't work here?" I looked at him. To be perfectly honest, it had never occurred to me.

"Uh, I guess not. I was already used to the no lights thing because it's the same in Quelia and I didn't earn enough to afford internet at my place so I was already used to no having it. The only electrical appliance I used regularly was my phone but the only person I spoke to was Rachel and she's not allowed to use her phone when she's visiting Ceres' family. So, I guess I just never noticed a difference." Zak shot me a strange look before continuing to saw, his voice straining as he spoke.

"Well, that wasn't what I was expecting. I thought you'd interrogate me about it. There is a magical barrier around the forest that prevents humans from spotting us. It makes electrical appliances stop working." I tilted my head, going to sit next to Cody who was still focused on his drawing.

"So, even if I was to check my phone, it wouldn't turn on?" I asked. He nodded, wiping some sweat from his brow. Raising an eyebrow, I leaned forward, biting my lip as I tried to figure out what he was doing.

"I'm going to make a table so we can eat in my room." He announced, smiling at the look on my face. I frowned, staring at the massive tree trunk.

"From that?" I exclaimed and he chuckled as he continued to saw.

"Yes, from this. As a kid, whatever time I had free from Alpha classes I'd spend up here learning how to carve things from wood." That was impressive, I had to admit as the saw finally fell with a clunk to the ground and a large piece fell from the log. Zak hefted this onto his shoulder and carried it to the desk where he started to sand it down. He was doing everything by hand and I was starting to realise why he seemed so physically fit.

"What kinds of things do you normally make?" I asked as Cody stretched and rested his head on my knee before returning to his drawing. Zak didn't reply for several moments as he focused on the work in front of him but eventually he paused and looked up at me.