Alden Crest woke up to the smell of smoke and the sight of a sky split by purple cracks of magic.
He pushed himself off the ground, dazed, as embers drifted around him like fireflies.
This is not my bedroom," he muttered.
The ruined fantasy village around him proved the point: burned homes, cracked stone paths, and a leaning watchtower that looked one sneeze away from collapsing.
Then a shout cut through the chaos.
HEY! Move.
A young knight sprinted toward him armor dented, hair messy from battle, and eyes bright like sparks against the smoke. She grabbed his wrist and yanked him aside just as the tower collapsed where he'd been standing.
Alden blinked. "Uh thanks."
She exhaled, relieved. "You're welcome. And sorry for pulling you so hard."
Alden's cheeks warmed a little. She wasn't much older than him maybe 16 or 17 but she had a sharp, confident energy that made her seem like a hero from an adventure game.
"I'm Lira," she said, brushing ash off her shoulder. "Trainee knight of the Eastern Watch. And you are.
"Alden,he replied. "Alden Crest."
Then he looked around helplessly. "…I really have no idea what's going on."
Before she could answer, a glowing blue screen flashed into existence.
ARCHITECT'S CORE ACTIVATED.
New Realm Builder detected.
Initializing Blueprint Module…
Alden jumped. Lira nearly drew her sword.
She stared at the floating window, then at him. "…Did you just summon that?"
"No! I swear I don't even know how Wi-Fi works half the time!"
But the system didn't care.
Structural Analysis unlocked.
Touch a building to view full blueprint.
Lira crossed her arms. "Go on then. Touch something."
Alden hesitated, then reached out and placed his palm on the burned wall of a ruined house.
A flash of knowledge hit him measurements, cracks, stress points, structural history like his brain had become a living blueprint machine. He stumbled back.
Lira grabbed his arm again, steadying him.
Her fingers were warm.
"You alright?" she asked, voice softer.
Alden nodded quickly, heart beating faster than he liked.
"I think… I can see how things are built," he said. "Like… really see."
Lira's eyes widened with interest and something else.
A spark of curiosity. Maybe admiration.
She stepped closer. "That's… incredible."
Then the system displayed a full 3D map of the entire village, floating between them.
Lira stared. You're showing me everything? Even the damaged parts.
"I guess so," Alden replied. "I'm not trying to flex or anything."
Lira smiled a little a tired, surprised smile that made Alden's stomach flip.
"You might not be a knight," she said, "but this could save everyone."
The villagers were scared, lost, unsure where to run.
Lira's shoulders slumped as she looked at them.
"We can't defend the village in this state. The wells are poisoned. The walls are broken. If monsters come back…"
Alden felt her worry like a weight.
He wanted to help. Not because he had to but because she believed he could.
The system chimed:
Blueprint Mode now available.
Design a structure to stabilize the village.
A floating pencil icon blinked.
Alden reached out…
and his hands began to draw in the air.
Lines formed a base.
Curves became rune channels.
Shapes became a purification and protection tower with:
Clean water filters
Magic powered defenses
A beacon for safety
Lira watched him, cheeks slightly pink.
"You're… amazing," she whispered.
Alden pretended he didn't hear that so his brain wouldn't explode.
The blueprint materialized above the ground like a miracle.
Blueprint accepted.
Deploying 5 FORMAS…
Tiny glowing creatures popped out of the air and dove into the earth, building the tower at impossible speed.
Villagers gasped.
Lira stared with awe and a little smile meant just for Alden.
In minutes, the magical tower stood firm and shining.
Clean water flowed. A barrier of light rippled across the village.
Lira stepped up beside Alden, standing close enough that he could feel her presence.
"You saved them," she said softly.
"I just drew something," Alden replied.
"And it worked," she said, nudging his shoulder gently. "That matters."
He blushed again. Great. Fantastic. Wonderful.
The system chimed once more.
GREYMOOR VILLAGE: STABILIZED.
New Title:
THE YOUNG ARCHITECT OF MIRACLES.
Alden looked out at the village, then at the girl who kept looking at him like he was someone worth believing in.
Maybe this world wasn't so bad.