Kaeron
After explaining why they were here, the old man, who reminded me of his name, Themistios, I convinced him to walk with me and fill me in on the latest events. So, as we walked in front of the altar, he began to tell me about the journey they had made to get here.
"It took us a week to get here," he said, his gaze sweeping across the terrain as if he still couldn't believe they had made it. "Seven days of dusty roads, crossing thick forests and difficult slopes. And only today did we see the sea. Some didn't know the coast, didn't even know if it really existed... but they didn't stop."
His voice was grave, though not without a certain warmth.
"Of course, at this point we're exhausted from all the traveling," he continued. "They don't want to tell you yet, out of respect or embarrassment, perhaps, but I know. I see it in their faces. In the way they sit. In the way they breathe. They're pushing their bodies beyond what they should."
I looked at him silently for a few seconds. His words were not a complaint, nor a plea. Just facts.
"And you, aren't you tired, Themistios?"
He let out a short laugh, almost mischievously.
"I'm afraid so, my lord. Unfortunately, my body is not what it used to be. My younger years are long gone... and I'm afraid my knees know it even before I do."
He replied with a weary smile, and I couldn't help but return it. But at the same time, something inside me tensed. It was hard to see them like this. Pushing themselves beyond their limits for someone they just met.
These people... they had been driven from their city. They had left behind homes, families, history. Everything. And they had traveled miles just for me. The mere thought made me uncomfortable. I was the one to blame for these people losing everything and having to travel miles just to avoid persecution.
Themistios seemed to notice my thoughts from the look on my face.
"Don't pity them, Lord Akhon," he said softly. "They believe in you. That sustains them. That gives them strength. They don't want your guilt. They want your guidance."
I didn't know what to say. So I just nodded.
As we spoke, I had placed my hand back on the stone altar. The energy still vibrated beneath my fingers, warm and alive, but different. The echo of the previous blessing faded slowly, as if the golden flames that had enveloped the ruins were retreating toward the center of the world.
The sacred glow that protected us was still there, invisible but firm, and as long as they were here, they would be protected by the veil of safety. However, protection was not home. And that was obvious.
They had no walls. No roofs. No beds. No nothing.
And although they didn't say it out loud, whether out of respect or fear of seeming ungrateful, I was sure they were all waiting for me to do something. To use the power they had just witnessed to reverse, even if only a little, the misery of their situation.
I took a deep breath. I let the silence settle for a few more seconds. Then I stepped away from the altar and walked a couple of steps among the rubble.
The ground wasn't completely flat. There was a gentle slope to the east, which could be useful for drainage. In the distance, I could hear the constant sound of the stream. The water flowed calmly. Low vegetation covered some areas, although dust, loose earth, and fragments of columns scattered among rough grass and broken stone predominated. It was a place that seemed forgotten... but not without potential.
"Let's get started," I said, without raising my voice too much.
Themistios looked at me with a slightly confused expression, as if he didn't quite understand what I meant. But I was already focused.
'[Activate skill: Creation]', I murmured in my mind, and the system reacted instantly.
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⚙️ [SKILL: Creation – Level 1]
Allows you to manifest simple physical objects from divine energy.
☑ Cost: 5–200 energy points per object (varies depending on size and complexity)
☑ Daily limit: determined by current energy reserve and active faith
🔹 Warning: excessive use may cause exhaustion
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I choose something simple. A small house, made of stone and wood. One room, no luxuries, no unnecessary details. Something that can withstand the wind and rain.
I reached out my hand toward the ground.
"[Create: Basic Shelter]," I murmured.
The energy gathered quickly, like water poured into a bowl. The air hummed. A figure began to take shape, stone by stone, fitting together with mathematical precision. Logs solidified out of the void, joining together at firm corners. In less than half a minute, the first cabin was standing.
The group gasped. The old man stared at me with his mouth agape.
"A house... a real one..."
I turned to them.
"One," I said. "Now I need more."
And I got to work.
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✅ [Create: Basic Shelter]
– Energy consumed: 180 points
– Execution time: 27 seconds
– Physical state: stable
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I kept walking around the land, choosing locations. Every time I reached out and activated the ability, I felt a little more of my energy drain away. It wasn't painful. At first. But after the fifth structure, a persistent buzzing settled in my head.
I built a common area. Then two more houses. Then a third.
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⚠ Energy at 48%
⚠ Status: Undergoing slight wear and tear
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"We're going to need a well," I said, not expecting a response. "Water nearby."
I chose a low-lying area where the ground was dampest and dug both hands into the earth. The ability wasn't meant for that... but I could adapt it. I channeled the energy downward. I forced the shape.
The system flickered.
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🔧 [Modification: Create Underground Water Source]
– Requires manual calibration
– Estimated cost: 190 points
– Risk: interruption due to early exhaustion
▶ Confirm: [Yes] / [No]
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"Yes."
The ground shook. A jet of murky water emerged at first, but quickly cleared. It stabilized into a clear stream, enclosed by a stone frame that formed around it. The exiles rushed to fill broken jugs. One of them knelt and drank directly from his hands.
"It's clean. It's clean water."
Someone laughed. A short, dry laugh. More out of relief than joy. The exhaustion on their faces began to ease.
I staggered a little.
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⚠ Energy at 35%
⚠ Status: Moderate fatigue
🔸 Creation performance decreased by 20%
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The old man caught up with me, holding out a hand to steady me.
"My lord... that's enough for today."
"No," I said, panting a little. "There's a warehouse missing. And tools. At least a smithy... or a small workshop."
"But—"
"You need a starting point. If I stop now, you'll be dependent on me. I want you to be able to manage on your own if I leave."
I held out my hand again.
"[Create: Multipurpose workshop — basic]"
The air seemed to resist. As if the world itself was hesitating. But the structure began to form anyway. Slowly. Unstable. I knelt down and forced the energy, controlling it with precision. One mistake and everything would collapse.
When it was finished, I let myself fall backward onto the ground. I was breathing heavily. Notifications were pouring in.
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✅ [Basic Workshop Built]
⚙ Includes: workbench, rustic forge, storage space
⚠ Energy at 5%
⚠ Status: SPIRITUAL EXHAUSTION IMMINENT
▶ Immediate rest recommended
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"That's it..." I whispered. "For now, that's it. With this, you'll be able to create the necessary items for fishing and farming."
The group gathered around me. For a moment, I thought they would rush over to praise me or ask for more things. Surprisingly, that wasn't the case, as they approached with concerned looks on their faces, as if to make sure I was okay.
"Of course it must be a shock for them to see a god get tired. If I were in their place, I would be too, hehe," I thought.
Then, among them all, I saw a child approaching. I recognized him immediately. It was the same one I had defended when they tried to lynch him for stealing food. He was wearing a somewhat tattered blanket, which he had probably taken from the ruins.
He approached silently, taking short steps, until he was standing in front of me. Without saying another word, he covered me with the blanket carefully, as if afraid of breaking something.
"Thank you, Mr. Akhon," he murmured. It was barely a whisper.
I wanted to answer him, but my eyelids were too heavy. I didn't fall asleep right away, but I didn't make the effort to stay awake either. I closed my eyes and simply let the energy flow, letting it stabilize inside me. Like when you need to stay still so you don't fall.
I couldn't say how much time had passed. When I opened my eyes again, the sky was already tinged with red and gold. The sun was setting behind the hills, and the air had that warm calm that heralds the end of the day.
The sanctuary... it was no longer just ruins, it was different now, thanks to me. There were structures. Shapes. Straight lines where before there had only been fallen stones. Now there were houses lined up, a central well, a small workshop. Dirt roads marked with makeshift stakes. And people going about their normal lives, as they should be. Walking. Laughing. Repairing. Cleaning.
There were no statues. No new columns. No grandiose symbols. But there was activity and teamwork.
Not far away, I heard voices. They had left me lying under a makeshift shelter, but the sound came through clearly.
"How about we call it Vireios?" one asked.
"Too similar to Vireón, the city that kicked them out," replied another.
"True... then something more symbolic. Something that doesn't remind us of what we left behind..."
"Maybe something that sounds strong. Something that says 'we survived.'"
Themistios interjected in his slow voice: "We can discuss it, but it has to be a name that unites us. One with roots."
I opened my eyes as they continued to deliberate. They didn't notice right away.
The system sent me the notification:
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🏘️ [Settlement Founded]
Name: (To be designated)
Status: Primary – Autonomous Refuge
Population: 14
Sustainability: Low, but growing
▶ Suggestion: Name the settlement. (Example: "Kaeron")
▶ Suggestion: Designate a temporary civilian leader
▶ Suggested resource: create an identifying symbol or emblem
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I didn't stand up. I just spoke from where I was, interrupting without warning.
"Call him... Kaeron."
The voices stopped abruptly.
"It means 'new attempt' in an ancient language," I added as I slowly stood up. Everyone turned to look at me.
Themistios looked at me with a mixture of surprise and relief. One of the men bowed slightly, almost reflexively. The rest said nothing, but there was something in their eyes. A sense that, for a moment, they had forgotten who I was... what I am.
And yet no one questioned the name.
Kaeron.
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📛 Confirmed name: Kaeron
🧱 Increased authority +5
🔹 Access to new expansion features
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