She was obsessed with making the tools for the days after that. The team was a little worried, but they knew how Althea was when she was . They had seen it when she was experimenting with her potions, and they had seen it with her farms.
In the end, they could only make sure she was eating well and having somewhat of a rest (the latter of which was completely Garan's responsibility, which he did without exception even if he had to carry her like a sack).
After days of partial seclusion, Althea managed to create a couple for the group and family, and she reckoned she'd be able to make a few extra to sell in the Contribution Store.
She looked at her small pile with a smile, heart feeling full. After all, each one of these could save her people's life, and that made her feel the happiest.
One day—well after dinner—she gathered everyone in the team to their living room.
This included Winona, who arrived ranting about her intolerable grandmother.
"She's so insufferable!" Winona said with her fist clenched. "She just lazes around all day like she were still the matriarch of a rich clan! She doesn't even help me clean up!
"It was fine if her body was weak, but that woman was still as strong as a bull with the voice of a dinosaur!"
Ansel looked at her with a mix of amusement, mockery, and pity. "I'd hate to sound unfilial, but you can just do enough for her to survive and live well. Do you have to live with her?"
Winona rolled her eyes. "And endure her telling everyone how bad a granddaughter I am?"
"Idiot. Anyone could tell who's right or wrong. People aren't as bored as they were in the peaceful Terran. People have less time for nonsense gossip."
That was not to say, of course, that people didn't like gossip. They just started to easily tire of useless and false ones.
They did, however, love gossiping about Althea, Garan, Gill, Cassandra, and Juni…
What was the best-selling mode of entertainment at this time? It was the puppet show about Althea and Garan's reunion, the events leading to it, and how it ended behind the closed doors of her villa—leaving the rest for imagination.
There was also the love of Gill and Cassandra, as well as Juni's apparent rise as a boss-woman. She even made herself a harem in that story.
As pioneers of the entertainment industry, Ansel and Fable naturally encouraged little shows and stuff, though focusing on those showing solidarity. It was a great way to educate and integrate the masses.
Also, it was a way to make the people less bored and gossipy during their lull time. Maybe, probably.
For instance, Fable and another writer wrote several scenarios that could be turned into plays and puppet shows. They nudged Ansel a lot and requested a lot of papers from him, since paper was still exclusively for admin groups.
The stories they made were quite interesting. For instance, how Alterra saved so and so's lives. How it let so and so reunite, etc. It was all good fun, and Ansel could see the rise of the industry as soon as paper became commercially available.
Anyway, Althea cleared her throat and gathered everyone's attention to her.
Garan smiled. Before calling everyone, she had already showered him with charms. His space alone had at least a dozen. She also gave some to the children as necklaces and put them on their favorite toys, so he knew what this was about.
The group looked at her with curiosity and she felt a bit shy. She cleared her throat again to make her announcement. "You see… I'm officially a magic tool maker!"
Then, thinking they didn't know what it was, "I can make something like aether letters or the voice blocker—but with different functions of course."
"Again, I can only make one type of tool though."
The audience naturally didn't care for it. They leaned over, curious as to what she made.
"What is it, what is it," Ansel asked, scooting closer. He stopped a distance away though, seeing Garan protectively right beside her.
She took out a dozen in front of her. "These are called Protective Charms. They're not that high level, but they can protect you well to a certain degree." She then repeated its functions and everyone brightened even more.
"Here I'll give everyone," she smiled, handing one to each of them. She even gave Eugene another one for Melissa.
This touched everyone's heart and Harold even teared up a bit. "Thank you so much, boss!"
"Sis, you're so awesome!"
"You're the best boss!" Sheila exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the woman.
When she separated, the nurse stared at her protective charm with warmth. She was very touched, however, the image of someone who was much more exposed to danger popped into her mind and then she looked at Eugene who got one for Melissa.
Althea smiled, "I'm making one for all the Terran Mercenary soldiers," she said, "Eagle's will be given to you. You can give it to him."
Everyone looked at her with knowing looks and she blushed in shame. "Boss!"
They all laughed, though their thoughts were still on the magic tools themselves. Their heart filled with warmth, knowing Althea thought of them as she made these things.
They recalled how she locked herself in her lab the past few days—working non-stop and barely eating—and they felt extremely guilty for putting her through such an ordeal.
Althea could see their thoughts on their faces and laughed.
"It's what I wanted to do, and for my own peace of mind," she said, "If you really feel guilty, then just take care of yourself well, and contribute to the betterment of our home!"
This made the others pause and added a couple of tears in their eyes. However, their smiles were bright and proud—happy to be part of this family.