The guard stands at attention, his presence a stark contrast to the quiet forest around us. I can already feel the difference—knowing someone's watching my back makes everything feel a little safer.
I look at him and try to think of something useful.
"You," I begin, my voice steady but uncertain. "I need you to help secure this area. Patrol the perimeter of the shelter. I'll continue expanding, but I need to know what's out there. What's close by."
The guard nods, his eyes scanning the area, always alert. "Understood. I'll keep watch."
With that, he steps off, moving with purpose as I turn my attention back to the shelter.
---
I can't waste time. The shelter still isn't perfect. It's bigger, but not yet enough to support what I plan to build. I've got gold again, and now I'm considering what to do next. There's always more to be done.
I pull up the system once more:
---
[New Mission: Expand Shelter Further]
Gold Reward: 25
Unlock: Buy Additional Landscape
---
I've got 5 gold. It's not enough to summon another unit or buy a landscape, but I can still push forward with the shelter. I've got the resources from the forest grove, so I set to work. The walls need reinforcement, and the roof needs to be more secure.
I chop down more trees and gather what I can. The process is slow, but each log adds to the structure. The shelter is starting to feel more like a real home. The more I build, the more I realize that this is just the beginning.
---
[Shelter Expanded: Improved Walls and Roof]
Gold: 0
New Mission: Explore Nearby Territory or Buy Landscape (25 Gold)
---
I step back to admire the expanded shelter. It's bigger, stronger. A place where I could stay for a while. It feels like progress. The system chimes in with the next mission.
---
[New Mission: Explore Nearby Territory]
Gold Reward: 15
---
The mission is clear. It's time to explore again. The guard is still on patrol, but I need to know more about the surrounding area. What's beyond the trees? What's the land like further out?
---
I move through the forest, following the same path I took the first time. The air is still, and everything feels peaceful—almost unnervingly so.
After a while, I come across a new clearing. There's something different here—a large, ancient stone circle in the middle of the clearing. The stones are covered in moss, their surface worn by time.
---
[Gold Earned: +5]
New Mission: Investigate the Stone Circle
---
The system pops up with another reward, and I find myself intrigued by the stone circle. It doesn't look like a natural formation. There's something deliberate about it. I approach cautiously, touching one of the stones. The surface is smooth, and there's an odd warmth to it.
I run my hand along the edges, feeling a faint vibration. It's like the stones are humming, as if they've been waiting for something. But for what?
---
[New Mission: Investigate the Stone Circle]
Gold Reward: 20
---
I stay there for a while, wondering what this could mean. The guard isn't far, and I know I need to be careful, but something about these stones feels important. It could be the key to unlocking more about this place—and the system.
---