Chapter 14: The House That Refused to Be Built

Kaelan stared at the empty patch of dirt like it had just insulted his ancestors.

The system's new quest hovered in front of him in glowing letters:

[Main Quest: Build Your House]

Reward: Shelter, Pride, and Maybe Fewer Mosquito Bites

"I don't even have nails," Kaelan muttered, kicking a rock. "Or wood. Or… talent."

From a tree branch nearby, the squirrel chattered with laughter.

"Oh, shut it," Kaelan snapped. "You live in a hole in a tree. Real impressive."

He sighed and opened the system menu. There was a new tab: Blueprints.

It had one entry: "Basic House (Unimpressive)"

Kaelan tapped it.

A ghostly outline appeared in the clearing—a tiny one-room hut with a crooked roof and a door that looked like it might fall off if someone sneezed near it.

"…This is the deluxe version?" Kaelan muttered.

Still, he had to start somewhere.

He gathered sticks first. That was fine. Easy even.

Then he tried to chop down a tree.

The tree didn't budge.

He kicked it.

It didn't care.

The squirrel dropped a nut on his head.

"I swear I'll cook you."

[System Message: Skill Unlocked – Tree Slap (Rank F)]

Congratulations! You can now slap trees slightly harder than average.

"Gee. Thanks."

Hours passed. Kaelan sweated, tripped, swore, and somehow managed to collect enough wood for a single wall. Garka showed up halfway through, holding a bundle of herbs and humming like he hadn't just slept with his arm around Kaelan's waist.

"You look busy," Garka said, grinning.

"I'm fighting for my life against plywood and squirrels," Kaelan groaned.

Garka dropped the herbs and started helping without asking.

He didn't talk much—just worked beside Kaelan, handing him sticks, tying things with vines, occasionally pointing out when Kaelan was hammering something upside down.

Kaelan found it annoying. And also weirdly… nice.

By sunset, they had three standing walls and a roof frame.

It was crooked. And barely standing.

But it was something.

Garka wiped his hands on his pants. "We did good."

Kaelan looked at him. "We made a lopsided shack."

"We made it together."

Kaelan snorted and looked away. "…Whatever."

Garka smiled softly.

Then the system dinged again.

[Quest Update: Progress – 75%]

One wall short of greatness.

That night, they sat by a small fire in front of the almost-house. Kaelan chewed on grilled mushrooms. Garka leaned against him slightly.

Neither said much.

Until Garka suddenly asked, "You gonna stay?"

Kaelan blinked. "Stay where?"

"Here. With me."

"…You asking me to move in? Because I already did."

Garka chuckled. "Guess I am."

Kaelan tried to ignore the way his chest warmed at that.

It was the fire. Definitely the fire.

Later, Kaelan woke up to find Garka had rolled closer in his sleep, their legs tangled.

"Seriously?" he whispered.

The squirrel was on the roof, staring at them. Judging.

Kaelan threw a stick. Missed.

Garka mumbled in his sleep, "Don't throw things at our son…"

Kaelan stared.

"…What."

Morning came. Kaelan stood in front of the last unfinished wall.

Just one more push.

He took a breath, lifted the final plank, and—

CRASH.

The wall fell.

The squirrel laughed again.

Kaelan roared, grabbed it, and threw it into place with all his strength.

It held.

Barely.

[System Message: Quest Completed – Build Your House]

Reward: +1 to Earth Magic Affinity, Shelter Acquired, Pride Restored (kinda)

[New Skill Unlocked – Mud Shape (Rank E)]

Shape earth and mud into basic objects. Now you can make even more ugly furniture!

Kaelan collapsed onto the grass, panting.

The squirrel leapt down, landed on his chest, and squeaked.

Kaelan stared at it.

"…Don't say it."

The squirrel squeaked again. Sounded like: "Finally."