Kaelan sat on a stump, looking at the lighted Village Core Fragment in his hand.
"So…" he grunted, examining it like it was some treasure. "This is supposed to be the brain of the village, huh?"
The Core seemed to pulse ever so slightly, as if it were attempting to respond to him.
Garka, who had been examining the squirrel (now sporting an acorn crown and reclining on a bench), glanced up. "Did you just address the stone?"
"Yeah." Kaelan shrugged. "Thought it might offer me some advice."
The squirrel, as if prompted, squeaked and leapt off the bench, running circles around Kaelan's legs.
"Looks like someone's attempting to steal the spotlight," Garka said dryly.
Kaelan looked down at the squirrel, who was attempting to scale his boot. "I need to find a way to keep this thing from being so. ambitious."
Garka's eyes grew narrow. "I think it's plotting a coup."
Kaelan rolled his eyes. "Well, it's not going to happen."
Kaelan figured it was time to activate the core. He had no clue how, but the system had assigned him the task. Surely, it couldn't be that difficult, could it?
DING!
> [Quest Unlocked: Create a Village Core]
[Objective: Put the Village Core in a central spot. Don't let it roll away or get eaten.]
The system was a master of language.
"Okay, okay," Kaelan grumbled. "Central spot… where would that be?"
He gazed about. The fire pit was already half a bit too full with his increasing collection of misfits. The bench? Too bumpy.
And then, as if by destiny, he saw it.
The ideal place for a "central location"—a big, flat stone close to the center of their little clearing. It would be seen from nearly every angle.
"Done!" Kaelan exclaimed, setting the Core in the middle.
DING!
> [Quest Update: Establish Village Core]
[You've successfully placed the Core!]
[Reward: 10 EXP]
The ground beneath the rock rumbled slightly. A small gust of wind stirred the air. Kaelan squinted as the village center seemed to… glow?
"Well, that's. nice," he said, a bit unsure. "Looks like it worked."
Of course, the moment he spoke, Brunna showed up.
She eyed the glowing stone. "I like it. It'll work."
"What, the village?"
No," Brunna said, cracking her knuckles. "The squirrel. It's a wonderful mascot."
Kaelan blinked. "Brunna, we don't have a mascot."
"Well, it certainly appears as though you've got one now."
He looked at the squirrel, who was already sitting atop the Village Core like a little king. It was licking its paws contentedly.
"Fine," Kaelan sighed. "We have to get some things organized. This is a village now. We can't have a. whatever that is, in charge."
The squirrel chirped as if it got it. It then leapt off the rock and ran towards Kaelan's feet.
"Can we not do this later?" Kaelan grumbled, massaging his temples.
Garka shrugged. "You wanted a village. Can't be choosy."
"Right," said Kaelan, attempting to get things back on track. "Okay. First things first. We have to get a system established. A work schedule. Task assignments. You know, all that boring nonsense."
A couple of hours later, Kaelan had scribbled down a basic list on a piece of waste paper (because he didn't have a chalkboard yet).
It looked like this:
Work Schedule:
Brunna: Guard work. Keep the Core safe from anything that would interfere with it. Perhaps the squirrel.
Lio: Repairing carts. Hopefully, he doesn't break any more of them.
Noko: Mushroom maintenance. And no chatting with mushrooms that aren't yet ready.
Squirrel: Napping. And being the "mascot," it seems.
It was a beginning.
Near noon, Kaelan drew everyone to the Village Core. Garka was at his side, arms folded. The squirrel, who had gained the status of "mascot," now sat atop Kaelan's hair, a little, furry crown.
"Okay, team," Kaelan started. "This is our village. We've got the Core established. Now we just have to not have it blow up, be eaten, or become a monster.
I vote for the monster," Lio said, cradling a half-repaired cart wheel. "At least that'd be interesting."
Kaelan glared at him. "If this village gets invaded by a monster, it's your fault for not repairing that wheel right."
Lio sighed.
"Let's get back on track, people," Kaelan said, attempting to get things back on track. "Brunna, you're defense. If anything comes at us, I want you to make it regret it. Got it?
"Got it," Brunna replied with a smile. "Although, I might have a little too much fun with that."
"Just don't destroy something we require. Okay?"
Kaelan was exhausted by the end of the day. The village wasn't much different, but it was a village now—there were people, a hub, and a bed to sleep in. That was something.
"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself, staring at the night sky, "we build more. Maybe get some beds."
Garka sat next to him, watching the stars.
"You did good today," she said quietly.
"Yeah, well, this village is still held together by a squirrel and a prayer."
She laughed. "That's probably the most accurate thing you've said today."
He grinned and settled back, watching the pulsing core that now designated the center of his village. It was perhaps a tad strange, but it was his. And that was worth everything.
The squirrel chattered from his hair, obviously in accord.