Magic Space: Struggling to Survive in the Apocalypse

In the afternoon, the base’s broadcast crackled to life again. A gentle female voice announced that the medical team had successfully developed a medication, soothing the residents’ unease. The pharmaceutical and food factories were the first to resume operations. Inside, the workers making protective suits were pushing their sewing machines so hard they nearly sparked.

Meanwhile, the other bases had already delivered salt, taking several truckloads of the medication and its formula with them in exchange.

The medication could be exchanged for supplies, but the bases had a tacit agreement not to hold anything back. They understood that mutual aid was the only way to maintain stability.

The salt they received in trade was quickly delivered to The Undercity and the shelters. That same day, the food in all the cafeterias finally tasted of salt.

Inside the base laboratory, the medical team was developing a disinfectant spray. This spray could directly kill the pathogens carried on the cold wind. After being sprayed, the pathogens would be neutralized. Once that happened, residents would no longer need to wear protective suits to go outside; a simple mask or face shield would suffice.

Evelyn Ford’s life slowly settled into a peaceful routine. When she wasn’t eating or sleeping, she spent most of her time working in her space. The oyster mushrooms she had left by the river had sprouted, growing even thicker and larger than the ones sold at markets before the apocalypse. Evelyn picked a basinful, planning to make chicken and mushroom stew today.

Ronan Kendrick had been very busy lately, too, though he spent most of his time outside. After all, Rhys Chase needed him to come collect supplies every few days. Ronan wasn’t sure what was up with Rhys, but he had grown increasingly worried about a potential earthquake. He felt it was safer to store the supplies in the space. If an earthquake did strike the base, the losses would be immeasurable.

"Why does he think there’s going to be an earthquake?" Evelyn Ford asked, curious.

"A patrol found a large crack that suddenly split open on a mountain outside the base. The management thinks it’s a precursor to an earthquake."

Evelyn was lost in thought.

"I think tectonic plate movement is more likely than a simple earthquake. Of course, shifting plates can also trigger earthquakes. Do you remember? Back when we were living on the island, Zoe told us a bird had said a mountain suddenly moved in a different direction."

Ronan Kendrick remembered, of course. If the tectonic plates shifted, mountains could sink into the sea, and the seafloor could rise to become new peaks. The ground could tear apart, forming vast rift valleys. In all the time Azure had existed, plate tectonics had reshaped the world countless times.

"His concerns aren’t baseless. Storing the supplies in the space really is safer." ’That Rhys Chase... he truly is a man with foresight.’

’Storing the base’s supplies in the space just took up a bit of room. Evelyn and Ronan no longer cared about the twenty percent share Rhys Chase had promised. As they’d said before, if everyone died, what would be the point of this world?’

’You only live once. There are times to be selfish, but when it’s time to lend a hand, you should do so without a second thought.’

"Ronan, let’s go check the mining area in the space for a salt mine. Liam Sterling mentioned the base was short on salt, which reminded me. We’ve stockpiled plenty, but salt isn’t like fruits and vegetables—it’s non-renewable. No, wait, sea salt is renewable."

Ronan Kendrick nodded. "Since there are other ores, we might be able to find a salt mine too."

The two of them slipped into the space and put on masks before entering the mining area.

Evelyn pulled out a high-powered flashlight. The moment she switched it on, the area was flooded with light, as bright as day.

"We should put up some utility poles in the mining area. It’s too dark in here."

Ronan took Evelyn’s hand. "Tomorrow, I’ll ask Rhys Chase for some utility poles, wiring, and lamps. This mining area is huge. We can mount lights facing in four directions on each pole and place one every twenty meters. That should keep it as bright as day."

Evelyn’s eyes crinkled in a smile. "Thank you."

"That’s it?"

Evelyn poked him twice in the waist. "Aren’t you worried you’re going to wear yourself out? How’s your back holding up?"

"And who would know better than you?"

If anyone else had said that, Evelyn would have found it sleazy and disgusting. But when Ronan said it, his expression was completely deadpan, almost gravely serious.

Evelyn cleared her throat. "Your back is just fine. Come on, let’s go find that salt mine."

Who knew what remote nook or cranny the salt deposit was in? Evelyn searched earnestly, heading over to rummage through any pile of rocks she saw.

"Could it be inside one of the larger deposits?" Evelyn mentally summoned a pickaxe from her storage area. She scanned her surroundings and spotted a smaller mountain nearby covered in a white substance. It certainly looked like salt ore. Carrying the pickaxe, she went over and began digging furiously into the rock face.

"That’s not salt ore, it’s lithium ore," Ronan said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Evelyn’s vision was, after all, only that of a normal human. In the oppressive darkness of the mining area, even with the flashlight, it was hard to distinguish between ores of similar colors with the naked eye.

"Lithium ore?" Evelyn put the pickaxe away.

Evelyn sighed. "Is it possible there’s no salt in this entire mining area? We’ve searched all over, and I can’t even smell a hint of it."

"Don’t worry. We’ll find it. Let’s take our time."

Ronan wheeled over a cargo tricycle and had Evelyn sit on it. He then took the flashlight and went to inspect a nearby pile of rocks.

After a long while, Ronan waved at Evelyn. "Evelyn, come over and look at these rocks."

Evelyn trotted over excitedly. "What is it? Did you find it?"

Ronan picked up a rock. "Rose salt."

Evelyn looked from the faintly reddish rock in his hand back to Ronan.

"Rose salt. It comes from high-altitude peaks that are covered in snow year-round. It contains over thirty trace elements beneficial to human health. Because its natural reserves are scarce and difficult to mine, and it has cosmetic, medicinal, and culinary applications, it’s extremely precious. It’s widely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food..." Having recited all this, Evelyn looked again at the rock in Ronan’s hand.

"Something this precious, and you found it with just a glance? I practically crawled on the ground checking every single stone and found nothing. I’m finished. I’ve turned into a total jinx."

Ronan looked puzzled. "A ’jinx’?"

"It means an unlucky person. Someone with terrible luck." Evelyn explained, taking the rock from Ronan’s hand to study it carefully.

"It really is rose salt! We’ve struck it rich! Is this whole pile made of it?"

The pile of rocks beside them was almost a small mountain, probably weighing hundreds of tons. Once refined, it would yield a massive amount of fine salt.

At that thought, Evelyn cheered up again.

"Ronan, you’ve made a huge discovery." Evelyn stuck a wooden stick into the ground, tying a piece of floral cloth to the top as a marker.

Ronan’s lips curled into a smile. "Yes. So you have to reward me."

"Of course I’ll reward you. Come on, let’s check the other corners. We might find even more salt deposits."

Evelyn drove the tricycle at a leisurely pace while Ronan walked alongside, holding the flashlight. With Ronan, her personal good luck charm, by her side, Evelyn was happy to be a hands-off manager.

"Ronan, there’s a pile of rocks over there! Quick, go see if it’s a salt deposit!"

"Ronan, there’s another pile over here!"

"Ronan..."

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