Lucian stood at the edge of the valley, arms crossed as he overlooked the growing settlement.
It had only been a few days since the first group arrived, yet already the signs of change were everywhere.
Smoke rose steadily from chimneys. Wooden frames had been turned into proper houses, roofs layered with bark and stone to withstand the snow.
People no longer huddled together in ragged tents, but walked the streets with cautious relief, finally believing they might survive the coming storms.
The sounds of laughter drifted faintly from the workers' quarters. Children, who had once cried through the nights, were now chasing each other with sticks.
For the first time, the valley felt alive.
Lucian allowed himself a small nod. This was only the beginning.
At that exact moment, the faint chime of the system echoed in his mind. A translucent window blinked into view, disrupting his quiet thoughts.
[System Notification: Mission updated.]
