Chapter 4 - Building Foundations 1

Waking up to the sound of birds singing was something Khisa was starting to get used to. He immediately ran outside, greeting everyone along the way. His cheerful demeanor was infectious, and the villagers responded with smiles and waves.

He made his way to a group of children he had befriended over the past few days. Learning their names had made things much easier, and now he had a solid group to work with—ten kids in total, six boys and four girls.

They were young, energetic, and full of curiosity. The best way to change things was to start with those who weren't set in their ways. The children, still filled with wonder, were like a blank slate, ready to absorb anything as long as it seemed fun.

"Good morning! Do you guys want to help me build something?" Khisa asked, flashing a bright smile.

"I want to play," Naliaka, one of the girls, said stubbornly, crossing her arms.

Khisa grinned. "It will be fun. And after we're done, I promise to teach you some cool new games."

The kids exchanged skeptical looks, but Khisa's innocent smile and confident tone convinced them.

"Okay, kids, we need clay—a lot of it. Do you know where they get the clay for making pots?"

"I know!" Ndengu, one of the younger boys, piped up. "I went with my mother yesterday."

It took two hours to gather all the clay they needed. Despite their age, the children were strong and healthy, a testament to the village's abundance of food. Still, Khisa knew that things could change in an instant. Disaster could strike at any moment, and planning for every possibility seemed impossible. But what else could he do except try?

"Khisa, I'm tired," Naliaka whined, slumping onto the ground. "You promised we'd have fun, but all we're doing is working."

Khisa sighed internally. Working with children was never going to be easy. He had to admit, though—they had worked longer than he expected. A reward was definitely in order.

"What are we making? Are we making pots like my mom?" Ndengu asked eagerly.

Khisa looked around. All of them were covered in mud, their clothes stained beyond saving. He could already feel the headache forming from the scolding they'd get.

"Let's go wash up at the river before our parents see us like this," he suggested.

The mere mention of bathing sent the kids into a frenzy. They screamed and ran in all directions, trying to escape the inevitable. Khisa burst out laughing.

It was strange how carefree he felt here. Maybe this was what childhood was supposed to be like—running, laughing, playing without a single worry.

By the time they made it to the river, their planned activity was long forgotten. They splashed, chased each other, and played until the sun dipped lower in the sky.

The next morning, Khisa woke up determined not to get distracted again.

'Ayaan, I'm sorry for getting sidetracked yesterday. From today, I promise to get serious about development,' he said with a cheeky grin.

[You can do whatever you wish. It is your new life, after all.]

Khisa frowned. 'Why do I feel like I'm being scolded?'

He sat up, stretching as he recalled all the clay they had gathered. 'I collected a lot of clay yesterday. What do I do next?'

[I suggest building a small hut. This will allow the villagers to see your skills. I will now upload brick-making, beginner-level engineering, and basic architecture to your mind.]

Khisa barely had time to react before a sharp pain shot through his head. Suddenly, knowledge flooded his mind—new words, images, techniques. It was overwhelming, but at the same time, it made sense. He wouldn't be able to use it all at once, but this was a start.

'Thank you, Ayaan. Also… can I learn self-defense? I have a feeling I'll need it eventually. The world out there is tough.'

[Would you like to start with martial arts or swordsmanship?]

Khisa's eyes widened. 'Wait, I can learn swordsmanship?'

[Of course. Anything you wish to learn is available in my database.]

"That's so cool," Khisa whispered to himself.

His excitement grew. 'What's the best path? Should I start training myself first or teach the kids too? It would be great to have an elite team I can trust. And maybe I should teach them to read and write as well. So much to do…'

For a brief moment, Khisa thought back to his old life. He'd been just an ordinary man, leading a fairly unremarkable life in the city. Never did he imagine he'd be reincarnated like this, leading a group of children, building huts, and preparing for something greater. His old life seemed so distant now, like a dream he was slowly waking from.

[As you are still young, I recommend focusing on physical conditioning first. Strength training for 45 minutes, agility for 30 minutes, stamina and endurance for another 30 minutes, unarmed combat for 30 minutes, and light weapons training three to four times a week. This will prepare your body for more intense training later.]

Khisa jumped into training right after breakfast. It was harder than he expected. Despite being a strong kid, a structured exercise regimen was an entirely different challenge. His muscles burned, sweat dripped down his face, and his lungs screamed for air.

The other children, curious about his intense movements, watched for a while before deciding to join in. Of course, they got bored quickly and ran off to play, but Khisa enjoyed their company anyway.

In the afternoon, Khisa shifted his focus to making molds for the bricks.

He wanted to start with something the village was already familiar with—a small play area for the children. If they enjoyed it, maybe people would be more receptive to other new ideas.

A small smile tugged at his lips. Ever since reincarnating, his days had been filled with happiness. Living a day at a time seemed like the best approach.

By sunset, he had finished about a hundred molds. It wasn't nearly enough, but it was a start.

As he stood back, stretching out his sore muscles, he heard a voice behind him.

"What are you making, son?"

Khisa turned to see his father watching him curiously, arms crossed over his chest. The chief's expression was unreadable.

Khisa grinned. "Something fun."

Before his father could respond, a small voice piped up.

"Khisa! Are these for us?"

Ndengu ran up, eyes wide as he touched one of the molds. "Are you really making something for us to play with?"

Khisa nodded. "Yeah. A whole area where we can play, run, and have fun."

Ndengu gasped, turning to the other kids who had gathered. "Did you hear that? We're getting a special play area!"

Excited murmurs spread among them, and before Khisa knew it, the children were asking questions all at once.

"How big will it be?"

"Can we help?"

"Will there be swings?"

Khisa laughed at their enthusiasm. It was working.

His father gave him a long look, then nodded approvingly. "Keep at it. I'll be watching."

As the chief walked away, the children crowded around Khisa, their excitement infectious. He had expected resistance, but instead, he had their full support.

People were starting to notice.

And maybe—just maybe—this was only the beginning