We did, in the end, take apart the trains. They were relics of the past, another world where things hadn't gone well for humans. We replaced everything with the 'modern' technology of this world, the magic crystals, though we still used the generators to charge the lightning rods.

They had been altered by Medea and James, and used to create magic crystals from basic tungsten silicide created through chemistry, which became a good portion of our economy. People were under the impression we had a Dungeon under the mountain that we hunted for the crystals in, and we didn't dissuade them of that thought, as it was easier to explain than the truth.

The extra steel went to a number of projects that James and Helen had little fights over, which Clark 'Refereed'. Still, the mill for the grain that the Blue River Clan farmed and we sold to them, that was a big use of steel, and the ballistae that Johann made and planted everywhere on the Wall around the village was another huge use.

All our buildings were made of stone, despite how small the village was, but because we didn't have a stone wall, we weren't considered a Fort. It was a weird law.

The Temple Organ was finished by the second winter of our placement here, and James and I were usually happy to play some churchy music on it every few days, for people's enjoyment.

The outside of the temple was polished and clean by that point as well, but the inside... I'd completed it instantly with the Hard Light Magic, and just as instantly regretted it; it felt cheap, and worthless. There was no craft to it, just imagination and creativity, which, while important, were useless without Craft.

So, I began slowly and carefully pulling stone in and carving the walls myself, as I'd originally intended. The back half of the mountain was slowly carved as well, though it was a 160ft tall faceless man in a doctor's jacket with a Caduceus and a Grimoire, because that was legitimately all I could thing about for a God of Healing. Clark was slowly designing the interior, not nearly fast enough for my tastes, but I understood he wasn't an artist, so I gave him time.

Time was something we had in abundance, I learned quickly; with our hobbies and passions as our jobs, we didn't feel like we were working, and as such didn't get tired of our 'jobs' like normal people would. So we used our spare time to branch out, and discover new things.

The Council got its situation together, and the 1/4th of the Council who'd taken part in Avaldi's attempted Coup were removed. Their clans were broken up and scattered around the other clans, their creations and wealth awarded to different people. For Mine and Rhea's part in stopping the Coup, we were given Avaldi's many gem mines, the source of her great wealth, and though we didn't care about their material worth, they were extremely valuable to us as chemical components. Medea and Cassidy were capable of creating an entirely new Suite of Alloys, which made the weapons and items we made much more varied and specialized, expanding our crafting capabilities.

The second Longhouse was converted into a market, selling all our creations year-round, though obviously there was a slow season in the winter. We offered to refine any material down to its basic, pure form, and that was the basis of most of our economy, after a little bit.

We made our peace with never going home, for the most part, after a while. Medea had easily figured out how to get back, now that she knew how to alter and manipulate space-time, but we were logical about it, despite all we'd left behind. We knew the Wars and Dangers that would come if any government learned that there was another world, full of untapped natural resources; oil that'd never been drilled, Coal that'd never been mined, diamonds and gems and Magic? I didn't even want to consider what a government agency would do with Magic.

Medea managed to send and receive an Internet Signal, and Helen took an interest in the Stock Market, so after selling our respective homes or businesses and all that, we gave the accrued capital to Helen to play with; this allowed us to keep tabs on our few relatives, such as Medea's father, who was too sick to be moved anywhere, as well as access a variety of stuff we didn't have... such as smutty books and video porn. Medea attempted to cover that one up, but we were all too busy laughing and agreeing that that did count as a necessity to pay her embarrassment any mind. I also maintained my Netflix subscription, because I needed to catch up on various shows that'd put out new seasons.

Eventually, Rhea's wish for her family overpowered logic briefly, so we made plans to contact her loved ones and bring them here, if they so chose, but only after Medea had devised a sort of Geas; they wouldn't be able to tell anyone about this world or any contact they'd had with us, if they refused to come here. Of course they agreed, (though I was told there were an understandable number of raised eyebrows involved, from Rhea's Wife, when Rhea explained her permanent, extramarital, polyamorous relationship with Luna and I,) and a date was set.

It was an event, and a big one; we chose the middle of winter, the big eclipse and lunar event, and then threw a massive festival, inviting the entire Blue River Clan and Luna's Clan as well. But while everyone was partying, we had some wood heated to 98.6 degrees to make sure the energy and biological mass trade was smooth and even, and opened a doorway to another world. It was very spooky, and I approved. Rhea's family came through the glowing doorway into the temple with a bit of trepidation, but they weren't given time to think too hardly about it before being swept up into the festival, with James' fireworks and my (vegetation... sigh) stew, and even Eggnog, because it was essentially Christmas.

Rhea's suite, situated right next to mine, was expanded to include the one next to it, where her two children claimed spaces next to Nick. At now Two years old, Nick was three and four years younger than them, but he was happy to have more people to play with, so that was nice.

I did get around to telling Luna what Christmas was, and giving her a present. I wore a red bow made of silken rope, she didn't wear much at all; it was a nice evening.

With that, our lives stabilized, for the most part. We had money, food, political support, and a blossoming variety of business opportunities. Also, women were able to have kids together in this realm, with a simple application of healing magic, so that was definitely on the to-do list, soon.

Like Luna had said so succinctly a while back, in my embrace; I was happy I took the train that day, too.