Kaelan stood outside the crooked wooden box that he used to call a house. It leaned to the left like it had too many drinks the night before. The roof was a joke, the walls were a suggestion, and the door creaked every time the wind so much as coughed.
He scratched his head. "Alright, House. It's time you stopped embarrassing me."
A blue screen popped up in front of him:
[New Quest: Upgrade Your Sad Excuse for a Shelter]Objective: Use your new creation skills to build a proper house. Reward: +500 EXP, Random Resource Box, and Slightly Less Shame.
"That's fair."
He rolled up his sleeves, even though he wasn't wearing sleeves. It just felt right.
Garka peeked out from around a tree. "You sure you don't want help? Last time you built something, it collapsed when a squirrel sneezed."
"That was one time. Also, that squirrel was strong."
Kaelan summoned the system menu and activated his creation skills. A soft green glow surrounded his hands. He held them out toward the shack.
[Skill Activated: Basic Construction Lv. 1] [Blueprint Detected: Compact Starter Home]
He dragged pieces of fallen wood and stone over with a bit of earth magic and elbow grease. It took a few tries—especially when he accidentally launched a log into a tree. The squirrel inside was not pleased.
"You again?!" Kaelan pointed. The squirrel chattered something that definitely wasn't family-friendly.
"You kiss your acorns with that mouth?"
Ignoring the squirrel's rude commentary, Kaelan started to assemble the new house. Slowly, a proper frame took shape. Wooden beams interlocked. Stone reinforced the base. It didn't look like a mansion, but it didn't look like it might collapse if you sneezed near it, either.
Garka wandered over with a handful of berries. "This isn't bad. Still looks a little crooked, though."
"That's called rustic charm," Kaelan said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Ah yes, rustic. The word people use when something is ugly but they're too polite to say it."
Kaelan grinned. For once, it felt like things were going well. He attached the final plank to the roof and stepped back. The house—small, neat, and actually waterproof—stood proudly in the clearing.
[Quest Complete: Upgrade Your Sad Excuse for a Shelter]+500 EXP! +1 Random Resource Box! +Title Unlocked: Amateur Architect!
[New Skill Unlocked: Furniture Crafting Lv. 1]
"Wait, does that mean I can make chairs now?" Kaelan asked aloud.
A new quest window popped up:
[Main Quest Unlocked: Interior Designer Time] Objective: Build at least 3 pieces of furniture. Reward: Comfier Living + Small Boost to Popularity
Kaelan looked at the empty interior. Dirt floor. No bed. No chairs. Definitely no toilet.
"Yeah... I live in a square box. Time to make it a home."
Garka stretched beside the finished house. "I call dibs on the softest corner."
Kaelan stared at him. "There's only one corner."
"Exactly."
Later that evening, Kaelan sat under the stars, the faint glow of his new house behind him. The squirrel was back on the roof, probably judging him again.
But for now, he smiled. His hands were sore, his shirt was torn, and he probably smelled like sweat and regret—but he had built something. With his own hands.
"Not bad for a guy who used to be actual trash."
The squirrel dropped a nut on his head.
"You too, buddy. You too."