As the sun dipped below the trees, Caelen stood up from the town hall table and stretched his arms.
"We'll stop the telephone project for now," he said. "We've done enough for today. Let's rest and continue tomorrow."
Dorgrim wiped sweat from his brow and grunted, "Aye, my back agrees."
Borin cracked his knuckles. "My hands feel like wood. I need food."
Caelen chuckled, then turned to Zira, who was leaning near the wall with her arms crossed.
"Zira. I need you to ask the goblins sothing."
She raised an eyebrow. "Alright. What is it?"
"Go around the village tonight. Just the goblins. Ask who knows how to read and write."
Zira blinked. "Why only goblins?"
"Because they're the only ones I think might know. The dwarves didn't learn it, and the elves never said anything about it. I need to be sure."
"Got it." She gave him a quick nod and stepped out into the cool night.
The village had quieted down. Campfires crackled softly, and the glow from so of the glass windows lit the pathways. Zira walked from house to house, knocking on wooden doors, asking the sa question:
"Do you know how to read and write?"
The answers were mixed.
An older goblin nad Krett scratched his chin. "I can read simple stuff. Used to help a shaman."
Another, a young girl, just shook her head. "No... what's that an?"
So said they had seen scrolls before but never learned the symbols. A few elders rembered bits and pieces from clan days.
By the ti Zira returned, her feet ached, and her voice was dry. She found Caelen still in the town hall, sketching sothing on a flat piece of bark.
"Back," she said, leaning on the table.
He looked up. "And?"
She sighed. "Only a few know how. So of the older goblins. Most don't."
Caelen sat back in his chair and looked at the ceiling for a mont.
"That's what I expected," he muttered. "So it's worse than I thought."
"What is?"
He tapped the wood in front of him. "We have people who can fight, farm, build—but they can't read or write. That ans no notes, no signs, no real learning. If they can't write it down, we lose everything when soone dies."
Zira crossed her arms. "So... what now?"
Caelen looked at her. "We make a school."
Zira blinked. "A what?"
"A place where people learn. Reading, writing, counting... all the basics."
She narrowed her eyes. "And what does that look like? You going to line them up and shout at them like drill golems?"
He laughed softly. "No shouting. Just teaching."
"And you'll be the teacher?"
"At first. I don't have a choice." He scratched the back of his neck. "They need soone who knows how letters work. Soone to start small."
Zira sat beside him. "You're serious about this?"
"I am. I know it won't be easy, but if we teach one, and they teach another... soon enough, the village will know more than it did yesterday."
She tilted her head, watching him. "You really think they'll want to learn?"
He glanced toward the window. "So won't. But others will. The ones who want more."
Zira smiled faintly. "You're strange."
"You've said that before."
"And I'll keep saying it." She stood. "So... what's next?"
Caelen grabbed a piece of paper and started drawing. "We'll make a small building. Just a few benches, a writing board, maybe even a bell."
"A bell?"
"Sothing to let them know class is starting."
Zira pointed at his drawing. "You're really doing this, huh?"
He looked at her. "It's one of the most important things we'll ever do."
That night, Caelen walked over to the town board and pinned a large note for all goblins to see.
New Project: SCHOOL
For others who want to learn reading, writing, and more.
Everyone welco. Co tomorrow morning.
By morning, a small group of goblins stood in front of the new building site. So were curious, others confused.
"What's a school?"
"Do we need to bring tools?"
"Is it like training for magic?"
Caelen stepped forward with a stick in hand and smiled. "It's not for fighting. It's for learning. You'll sit, listen, and write."
One goblin frowned. "Sounds harder than chopping wood."
"Maybe," Caelen said. "But it'll help you for the rest of your life."
Zira leaned against the wall nearby, watching the group with arms folded. "They showed up. That's already a win."
Caelen nodded. "Let's teach them what their future looks like."
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