Inside the forest clearing, Caelen stood with his arms crossed, looking at the two goblin kids. One was a timid girl hiding behind her brother, and the other tried to act brave but couldn't hide the fear in his eyes.
Zira knelt beside them, gently brushing the girl's hair. "It's okay now. You're safe."
"Zira," Caelen asked, "you know them?"
She nodded. "They're from the sa village I am... or was. That place doesn't exist anymore."
The girl clung tighter to Zira's arm. "Our ho... it burned..."
Caelen looked at the broken pair and sighed. He opened his [System].
[Population increased: 4]
[ 2 new residents = 20 search]
[Total Google Brain Searches: 50]
[Search Cap increased due to population growth]
He smiled faintly. "Well... I guess this place really is becoming a village."
With a renewed sense of purpose, he got to work. "Zira, I'll need your help. We're building them a new hut. Stone and log foundation—stronger than mine."
Zira nodded. "I'll chop the wood."
As they worked side by side, Zira glanced over and asked, "Why are you doing all this? For goblins, even?"
Caelen stopped hamring for a second. "Why not? They're kids. They needed help. And I can't stand watching soone else suffer when I can do sothing about it."
She smiled softly, brushing her green hair behind one ear. "You're different."
He laughed, shaking his head. "You keep saying that."
Once the fra was up, they began crafting furniture together. Caelen pulled up his stored blueprints—no need to waste searches. He built a sturdy table, small chairs, and two single beds from smoothed logs. Zira worked on the bedding and carved the legs of the chairs with surprising care.
"Hey," Caelen said as they rested, wiping sweat from his forehead, "you never told . Why do you side with humans?"
Zira hesitated, then looked out at the horizon. "Because I like humans. Even if so hate us. I've seen kindness in them. And cruelty in our own kind. Siding with race doesn't an anything when people are cruel either way."
Caelen looked at her thoughtfully but said nothing. That answer alone told him a lot.
They added a door and small wooden window shutters—no glass yet, but it kept out the wind. The house stood firm, made of interlocked logs and stone, with a thatched roof Zira helped tie in place.
Inside, the kids were already curled up on the new beds, hugging wool blankets Zira had brought from her stash. The girl had stopped crying.
"I hope this helps," Zira whispered as she gently closed the door.
"Hey, Zira," Caelen said, "thanks. For helping."
She turned with a small smile. "I told you I want to stay. So I should help, right?"
He chuckled and looked at his [Google Brain]. Still 50 searches left.
[Search: How to make silk]
He watched as blueprints ford in his vision. Spinning wheel. Silkworms. Mulberry leaves. It was a project for later—but it gave him ideas. If he could craft silk, he could make clothes, rope, insulation...
Back at his own hut, the fire was warm. He looked around, saw Zira sitting near the fla, and the two kids quietly talking by the corner.
A village.
People.
Purpose.
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