Milestones and Militia

The dawn light filtered through the trees as Kayl led Duran, Tessa, and Rael back to his camp. The clearing came into view, the small wooden shelter standing as the centerpiece. The peasants continued their tasks, gathering wood, stone, and other materials, working in a rhythm that Kayl had come to appreciate. It was efficient, quiet—almost peaceful.

"Here it is," Kayl said, stopping at the edge of the clearing. "It's not much, but it's safe for now."

Duran grunted, crossing his arms as he looked over the setup. "Could be worse," he said, eyeing the peasants. "Could be a lot worse."

Rael looked around with wide eyes. "This is amazing. You've already got a system going."

Tessa remained quiet, her face still wary. Kayl didn't blame her—trust was earned, not given freely in a place like this. But as long as they worked together, that trust would come in time.

Kayl turned to the group. "I've got food and a shelter. You're welcome to share what I've built, but we're going to need more if we want to survive long term. I could use your help with gathering resources and defending the camp. You saw what's out there."

Duran looked thoughtful. "Fair enough. We've been on the run long enough. It's time we settled somewhere."

Tessa finally spoke, her voice low. "If we help you, what's in it for us? You're the one with the system."

Kayl paused, understanding her hesitation. "I'll be honest—I don't know how far this system goes or what's out there. But if we work together, we can build something that lasts. We'll share the resources, and once we're stronger, we can defend ourselves against whatever else is out there. And if I unlock more abilities, they'll benefit all of us."

Tessa considered this for a moment, then nodded, seemingly satisfied for now.

"Alright," Duran said, stretching his arms. "Point me to the wood, and I'll start chopping."

Kayl smiled, relieved that they were on board. "You can gather wood and stone from the forest. If you see anything dangerous, don't hesitate to fall back to the camp. There's food stored inside the shelter. Help yourselves."

As Duran and Rael set off to gather resources, Tessa remained behind, watching the peasants with curiosity. "They're… different," she remarked, glancing at Kayl.

"They're summoned," Kayl explained. "Not quite like us, but they're smart enough to follow basic commands and handle tasks without much guidance. They're the backbone of this place."

Tessa nodded, still watching the peasants work. "If they can handle that much, we might have a chance."

Kayl hoped she was right. The camp was small now, but it was growing. They were gathering more resources than he could have alone, and the small group of survivors had already made a difference. Now, he just needed to figure out the next steps.

The First Milestone

After a few days of steady work, the camp began to take shape. The shelter had been reinforced with stronger wood, a second storage hut had been constructed, and more resources were being stockpiled. The new summons had proven invaluable, and Duran, Tessa, and Rael contributed as well, each taking on tasks that suited their strengths.

But Kayl couldn't ignore the looming question in the back of his mind: Defense.

The peasants were hardworking and efficient, but they were not soldiers. And while the forest had been relatively quiet since his encounter with the Grifflet, Kayl knew that peace wouldn't last forever. The creatures in this world were dangerous, and it was only a matter of time before something larger and deadlier came their way.

As if answering his thoughts, the system chimed in his mind.

"Milestone Reached: Camp Development Level 1."

"Your kingdom has reached a milestone in development. Unlocking new units: Militia, Wooden Guard Tower, and Wooden Palisade."

Kayl's eyes widened as the new notification appeared, followed by brief descriptions of the Militia unit and the two new defensive structures.

"Militia: Basic combat unit. Equipped with leather armor, a poorly made shield, and a basic sword. Effective in small skirmishes, but limited in combat prowess."

"Wooden Guard Tower: A simple defensive structure that provides a high vantage point for lookouts or ranged units."

"Wooden Palisade: A basic wall constructed from sharpened logs. Provides basic protection around camps or settlements."

His heart raced with excitement. Militia, guard towers, palisades—this was exactly what they needed. He had been thinking about defenses, and the system had just handed him the tools to build them.

Kayl quickly opened the system menu, eager to explore the new options. The Militia units were now available for summoning, each costing a small amount of copper and basic resources, and the Wooden Guard Tower and Palisade could be constructed for a moderate amount of wood and stone.

He still had a decent amount of 50 copper from completing the earlier quests, so he didn't hesitate.

"I'll need a few of these," he muttered, selecting the summon option for five Militia units and planning to construct a palisade around the camp and a guard tower to keep watch.

In a flash of light, five figures appeared before him, each dressed in simple leather armor and holding a rough wooden shield and a sword that looked barely sharpened. They stood at attention, awaiting his command.

Kayl stepped forward, inspecting the new units. They weren't much to look at—their armor was worn and patched, and their weapons looked like they would barely hold up in a real fight—but they were soldiers, and that was what mattered.

"Can you speak?" Kayl asked one of the Militia.

"Yes, sir," the Militia soldier replied, his voice firm but lacking much personality. "We await your orders."

Kayl nodded. This was exactly what they needed. "Your task is to defend the camp and patrol the surrounding forest. If you see any danger, report it to me immediately."

The Militia saluted in unison, then set off to begin their patrols. Watching them disappear into the trees, Kayl felt a small wave of relief. They were basic, yes, but the Militia would give them a fighting chance if something came.

Building the Wooden Palisade and Guard Tower

With the Militia now patrolling the camp, Kayl turned his attention to the next step: fortifications. He couldn't risk leaving the camp vulnerable for long, and the Wooden Palisade would provide much-needed protection.

He called over Duran, Tessa, and Rael. "We've just unlocked new defensive structures: a wooden palisade to surround the camp and a guard tower. We're going to need to gather a lot of wood and stone, but it'll be worth it. If we can get this up before anything serious happens, we'll be much safer."

Duran's eyes lit up. "Good call. I've seen those creatures out there. If one of them finds us, we'll need every bit of protection we can get."

Kayl nodded. "Let's get started."

Under Kayl's direction, the group worked quickly to gather the necessary resources. The peasants continued their tasks as well, chopping wood and mining stone with their quiet efficiency. Kayl found the blueprints for the Wooden Palisade and Guard Tower in the system interface, marking out the areas where the walls and towers would be built.

The construction took time, but the peasants and survivors worked tirelessly. As the sun began to set, the first sections of the wooden palisade were already standing, the tall sharpened logs creating a sturdy perimeter around the camp.

Kayl stood back, admiring the progress. This will do.

By the next day, the guard tower was erected on the edge of the clearing, providing a high vantage point for watchmen or ranged units. With the palisade nearly complete and the Militia patrolling, the camp felt far more secure than it had just days ago.

Preparing for the Future

Later that evening, as the fire crackled in the middle of camp, Kayl gathered the group together. The atmosphere felt lighter than it had days ago, a result of the camp's steady progress. They had food, shelter, and now, they had the beginnings of a defense force.

"We've made good progress," Kayl began, looking around at the others. "But this is just the start. The Militia and the fortifications will help us defend the camp, but we need more. More people, more supplies, more protection. If we can expand further, we can start thinking about bigger things—trading posts, farms, maybe even more permanent fortifications."

Duran nodded, his face set in determination. "I've been thinking the same. It's been too quiet out here. We need to be ready for whatever's coming."

Rael, who had been gathering stones all day, perked up. "We could build more towers—keep an eye on the perimeter."

Kayl smiled. "That's a good idea. We can add that to the list."

Tessa leaned forward, her eyes focused on the fire. "If we're going to build something real, we need to find more survivors. More people like us."

Kayl agreed. "I'm working on that. The system gave me a blueprint for a Trading Post after meeting you all. If we can set that up, we'll have a place for trade and maybe even meet others passing through."

He opened the system interface, pulling up the Trading Post Blueprint. It would cost a decent amount of resources, but they were close to having enough. Once the Trading Post was built, it would act as a hub—a place where other survivors might gather, bringing more supplies and potential allies.

"I'll focus on gathering what we need to build the Trading Post," Kayl continued. "In the meantime, we should keep fortifying the camp and training the Militia. We don't know when the next attack will come, but we need to be ready."

The group nodded, their expressions grim but determined. The camp was still small, still vulnerable, but with each passing day, they grew stronger.

As the fire crackled in the cool night air, Kayl felt the weight of leadership settle on his shoulders. He hadn't asked for this, but here he was—building a kingdom, little by little. And he knew one thing for sure: