Chapter 50: Quiet Before the Fire
The sun hadn't risen yet, but Caelen was already outside. The morning air felt cold against his skin. Mist curled low around the trees. Even the birds hadn't started chirping yet.
Inside the town square, Borin rolled out a rough sketch on the table. "Nine rooms. Each fits four. Two shared kitchens. Stone base, wood walls, tile roof."
Everyone gathered around. Zira leaned forward, eyes locked on the layout. Garin nodded in approval. Dorgrim, half-awake, grunted something that sounded like agreement.
Borin looked around. "We'll need stone, iron, wood, nails, clay... maybe even more glass if we've got enough left."
"We'll make it work," Caelen said. "I'll get the golems ready."
[Command: Help]
Four stone golems activated nearby. Their eyes glowed soft blue as they stood at attention.
Garin and Zira pulled materials from the shed—planks, beams, baskets of nails. Dorgrim grabbed his tools and started shaping metal brackets. Caelen shaped the land flat using his magic, then helped lay the first stone base. Dust clung to his clothes. His hands felt sore already.
By noon, half the house was standing. The walls reached shoulder height. Borin smiled proudly. "Faster than I expected."
Caelen cooked with Garin while the others rested. Zira joined in, helping slice root vegetables. They sat on the grass and shared the food—simple stew, warm bread, and some dried meat.
After lunch, Caelen wiped his hands and returned to his hut. He sat in his wooden chair and opened his interface.