The morning was quiet. Only the soft sound of leaves moving in the wind filled the air. Sylas stood over the pile of wooden beams. His hands felt steady. His mind was clear.
This was his first real project.
He grabbed the first beam and placed it on the ground. Then another. He used his skill, Woodworking (Novice), to line them up. Each movement was simple, but he made sure to get it right.
> [Skill Activated: Woodworking (Novice)]
+5% speed
+5% structure strength
The frame slowly began to rise.
By mid-morning, the base was done. Sweat ran down Sylas's face, but he didn't stop. He nailed beams into place, tied ropes for support, and checked everything twice.
> [System Message]
Shed Progress: Frame Complete (1/3)
+20 EXP
+5 Building Skill EXP
He smiled.
"Not bad," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
He grabbed a plank and worked on the walls next. Hammering, fixing, adjusting. The hours flew by.
Mira arrived near noon. She carried a small basket of bread and stew.
"You've been out here all morning?" she asked.
Sylas nodded, sitting on a rock to take a break. "I'm almost halfway done."
She handed him the food. "Don't skip meals. You'll fall over before the shed does."
He chuckled. "Thanks, Mira."
As he ate, he glanced at the structure. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. Solid. His.
After resting, he got back to work.
By late afternoon, the shed had walls. It stood tall beside his home, like a quiet guard. All that remained was the roof and the door.
> [System Message]
Shed Progress: Door Installed (2/3)
+20 EXP
+5 Building Skill EXP
Sylas leaned the last door plank into place and nailed it down. The hinges creaked a little, but it worked.
Now, the roof.
He climbed up using a wooden crate, then carefully laid out the wooden boards for the top.
A few birds watched him from the trees. Somewhere nearby, a squirrel darted between bushes.
He nailed the roof down one plank at a time. The sun was getting low, but he refused to stop.
> [System Message]
Shed Progress: Roof Complete (3/3)
+50 EXP
+10 Building Skill EXP
Quest Complete: Build the Storage Shed!
Reward: 2 Silver, +1 Passive Skill – "Builder's Focus (Lv. 1)"
Sylas blinked as the message glowed in the air.
> New Passive Skill Unlocked:
Builder's Focus (Lv. 1)
– Slightly increases accuracy when building
– Reduces resource waste by 10%
"Nice," he said, jumping down.
He opened the door and stepped inside the shed. It was small but sturdy. Enough room to store tools, seeds, extra supplies.
He already had plans. This shed wasn't just for storage. It was the start of something bigger.
Later that night, Sylas sat by the fire again. The shed stood strong outside his window, lit softly by moonlight.
He checked his system screen.
> [Status – Sylas]
Class: Warden of the Hollow
Level: 7
EXP: 230/300
Coins: 3 silver, 25 copper
Passive Skills:
– High Roller (Lv. 1)
– Greenthumb (Lv. 1)
– Builder's Focus (Lv. 1)
Active Skills:
– Woodworking (Novice)
– Appraisal (Basic)
– Creation (Basic)
Quest Log:
– [Ongoing] "Gather Allies"
– [Available] "Expand the Farm"
– [New] "Form a Company (Locked)"
His eyes paused on the new quest.
"Form a company, huh?" he whispered.
He wasn't ready yet. But he was getting closer.
With the shed done, he had storage. With crops growing, he'd have trade. With time, maybe even partners.
He closed the screen and stood.
Tomorrow, he'd start preparing the farm for expansion. More carrots, more onions. Maybe even try another crop soon.
He didn't know what the future held, but each step built toward it.
Sylas looked out into the night.
A shed.
A home.
A dream.
And it was only the beginning.