Chapter 4 – The Change That Was Needed

That morning, the Andora village hall was filled with the scent of dust and unrest. Empty buckets piled in the corners, the occasional sound of children coughing echoed softly. Villagers sat in a circle, their eyes tired but hopeful.

Wonho stood at the back, head down as usual. In front of him hung an old map of Andora—a crude painting on animal skin, its colors beginning to fade.

Belinda pointed to a river path on the map. "This… used to be the main flow from the Elmyra Mountains. But two years ago, the water just stopped."

Wonho stared at the line for a long time, eyes sharp though his body remained still. His hand gripped the edge of his shirt tightly.

Hyunwoo, standing beside him, whispered, "You see something, don't you? Come on, Wonho. They need you."

Wonho exhaled. "A river doesn't just stop... not without a reason."

Silence fell over the room.

"The flow from the mountains can't disappear without interference. There might be… something redirecting it."

Murmurs began to rise among the villagers. Wonho stepped forward, slow but steady.

"I want to trace the old river path. If something's blocking it—I'll find it."

The next day, Wonho left with Taeyang and two village youths. They followed the dead riverbed: cracked rocks, withered tree roots, and split soil. Mountain winds swept over the ruins of old buildings.

"This used to be the rain ritual site," one of the youths said. "Now... just snake nests and bad memories."

Wonho kept the information in his mind.

After a few days, they found something unnatural: a large metal pipe, neatly buried underground, leading eastward. Wonho knelt, touched it, and tapped it gently. A hollow metallic echo rang out.

"This tech… it's not from the village. It's too advanced."

Taeyang followed the pipe's direction with his eyes. Not far off, they saw a strong artificial river flow… going away from Andora.

"Thalveran," Taeyang muttered angrily.

Wonho clenched his fists. "They… monopolized the mountain's water source."

That night, Wonho sat alone at the inn. In front of him was a rough sketch on old deer hide: a drawing of a waterwheel, dirt channels, and a simple filtration tool. But his hands kept trembling.

Hyunwoo arrived with a cup of hot tea. "You've worked hard. But don't burn yourself out."

"I'm not like you guys…" Wonho muttered. "Can't fight, can't lead… I can only think."

Hyunwoo smiled. "But when we're angry, you're the one who stays calm. And that's worth more than a thousand muscles."

Wonho looked back at his sketch. Slowly, his eyes began to light up.

"If they can steal water with tech… then I'll steal it back with brains."

The days that followed were full of hard work. With makeshift tools—old wood, cart wheels, scrap metal—Wonho began building a simple waterwheel to draw water from a small spring beneath the ruins of an ancient dam they found. The place once called "Dragon's Land" was now a new source of hope.

Wonho also built a water pressure detector using bamboo, sand, and dry leaves. When the device signaled vibrations, they started digging.

And finally, water.

Drop by drop, then forming a small stream.

"This isn't a big river," Wonho said with a small smile, "but it's enough to bring Andora back to life."

Cheers erupted from the villagers. Children danced around the flowing water. Belinda couldn't hold back her tears.

Wonho returned to the village, where all the villagers were waiting at the gates. They greeted him with loud cheers. He froze. For the first time, he… was recognized.

"I don't need to be a hero," Wonho thought, "just someone useful."

That afternoon, as water began flowing into the village through Wonho's simple waterwheel, Andora changed drastically. Children ran around soaked in joy, the laughter of villagers echoed through bamboo walls and now-damp packed earth.

But before they could truly relax, Taeyang brought up a new suggestion.

"What if we also build irrigation to the fields?" he asked, pointing west of the village. "If we channel the water to the crops, our harvest could double."

Wonho nodded slowly, but didn't answer yet.

Hyunwoo joined the discussion. "You're right. But I have something to add. The land at the mountain's base is sloped, right? How about terracing it?"

Taeyang looked thoughtful, then his eyes sparkled. "Genius idea! We get more farmland without risking landslides!"

Wonho opened his notebook and began sketching terracing patterns while listening. "I can help build the water channel system… but we'll need a lot of manpower."

"The villagers will help," Taeyang replied confidently. "They've already seen what you can do."

While the men discussed agriculture, Yerin sat with Belinda and a few village women by the community house hearth. Some of them were sewing patchwork clothes that looked years old.

"Clothing stock in the village is limited," Belinda said softly. "Fabric from the city is expensive, and we don't have a loom."

Yerin observed carefully. "But you have skillful hands. What if we start a small project?"

Belinda turned to her, curious.

"I've learned basic medical sewing and crafts," Yerin continued. "If we gather materials—leather, fiber, or old cloth scraps—we could start a barter system. Trade fabric for food or labor."

One of the women looked excited. "We could make clothes for kids, winter jackets… maybe even sell them outside the village."

Yerin smiled. "Exactly what I was thinking."

Belinda nodded. "I'll gather those who can sew. This could be a great beginning."

That night, after a long discussion, Hyunwoo stood alone on a small hill, watching the village slowly come back to life. Lantern lights glowed from every home, and distant laughter echoed through the night.

Wonho approached from behind. "You're not sleeping?"

Hyunwoo shook his head. "Just… thinking."

"More problems?" Wonho asked.

Hyunwoo turned, then gave a faint smile. "Not problems. Plans. We might be living here longer than I thought."

Wonho didn't reply, but he could feel that Hyunwoo was holding something back. Something big.

And he knew—it wasn't just about water or farms.