The Master Builder System

Finn walked beside Xabi, their steps quiet as they made their way through the village. In their hands were a few food supplies that they had taken from the Food Production's buildings.

They were heading to Xabi's cottage. It used to sit in the heart of Riverwood, somewhere in the center. But now, with the walls pushed farther west, it didn't feel so central anymore.

Finn had already updated the system.

The village was now divided into five sections—Central, West, East, North, and South.

He planned to organize it better from now on. Each section would have its own purpose.

The West would focus on food production. East, maybe education and training. South could be for economic growth. North, still undecided. And Central would stay as the village's heart, where most of the homes were, and of course, the Village Hall and other things related to management.

Still, Finn had another thought for housing, he believed it would be better to keep it even in each section when the village grew. No section would be favored more than the others. And later, he'd add barracks in every area, so that the warriors could respond quickly if anything went wrong.

It made sense. At least in his head.

He was still thinking about it when Xabi's voice snapped him out of it.

"We're here."

Finn looked up. Xabi's cottage stood quietly between two older trees. It was larger than Finn's, with stronger walls and a higher roof. It had a proper stone step and a wooden bench near the door.

"Your place is nice," Finn said.

Xabi shrugged as he opened the door.

"My father built it himself. Said warriors should sleep well if they want to fight well."

Inside, it was warmer than Finn expected. A wooden stove stood in the corner, and the bed looked better than the straw mattress Finn was used to. Not luxury, but comfortable.

Xabi dropped his knife belt near the door and stretched his arms.

"Make yourself at home," he said.

Finn stepped in and glanced around.

There were small touches everywhere. A few wooden carvings on the wall. A faded cloth banner hung above the bed. A shelf with old journals stacked neatly.

It felt lived-in. Not just a house, but a place with memories.

Xabi walked to the stove and began to stir the coals back to life.

"Hungry?"

Before Finn could answer, his stomach let out a loud growl.

Xabi chuckled. "Guess that answers it," he said. "Wait here. I'll cook something good for us."

He moved toward the shelf near the stove, taking out a pot and a small bundle of dried herbs.

"I learned a few things from my mother," he added casually. "She was a great cook."

But just as he was about to start, a knock came at the door.

Xabi paused. "I'll get it."

He walked over and pulled it open.

And froze.

Standing there was Lisa.

She had a small basket in her hands and a soft smile on her face.

"Hey," she said gently. "I am looking for Finn. Is he here?"

Xabi's mouth opened, but no words came out.

Lisa tilted her head, confused.

"Are you alright?"

Xabi blinked, still quiet.

Lisa leaned a little closer. "Xabi? You okay?"

Finn's voice came from behind. "Is everything alright?"

Lisa looked past Xabi and brightened up.

"There you are, Finn!" she said, stepping forward. "Can I come in?"

Xabi, still frozen, gave a small nod and stepped aside.

Lisa walked in, and Xabi slowly closed the door behind her. Then he stood there for a moment, heart pounding, before forcing himself to walk back toward the stove.

Lisa turned to Finn with excited eyes.

"I've been reading since morning," she said. "I didn't want to stop, but my head was starting to spin. I figured it's better to ask you directly."

Finn smiled. "You've read a lot already?"

Lisa nodded quickly. "So much. Beasts, humans, heroes, rituals… even about wild zones and old wars. But I want to make sure I got it right. Can we talk about a few of them?"

"Of course," Finn said, already eager to hear more.

Lisa placed her basket down and began explaining what she had read, moving from topic to topic with excitement in her voice. She talked about how some wild beasts used to rule over entire regions, how certain animals could evolve if they survived long enough, and how old warriors of the past marked their growth by levels—though the exact details were still a mystery.

She also mentioned strange altars called Hero Altars, places where powerful individuals once went through some sort of ritual to become Heroes. The scrolls didn't explain everything clearly, but they hinted that only the strongest ever returned changed.

"And there's something about territory too," Lisa said. "Like… the stronger the beast, the wider the land it claims. Some villages in the old days were destroyed just because they were too close to a beast's zone."

She leaned forward a little. "It's all so fascinating. There's so much we don't know. I want to read more, but my head was starting to spin."

Then she smiled at Finn. "I figured it'd be nice to talk it out. You seem like someone who understands these things better."

Xabi sat down nearby and watched her in silence.

He wasn't just listening to her words.

He was stunned by how much she had learned.

Then he finally asked, "Wait a minute… all this? You learned it from the… what did you call it? Reading Hut?"

Lisa nodded. "Yes. The one next to Finn's cottage."

She looked at the two of them. "It's amazing. We should get more people to learn. I'm happy to teach if needed. It's too valuable to keep to ourselves."

Xabi turned to Finn.

His look said everything.

Teaching. Learning. A place for it.

Finn met his eyes.

And right then, a soft chime echoed in his mind.

A system message appeared in front of him.

=====

[New Mission: Teach the People – Part 1]

Objective: Begin the education path for Riverwood

• Build a Village School

• Recruit 5 villagers to become teachers

Rewards:

• 500 EXP

• 10 Free Attribute Points

• 50 Builder Points

• 20 Hero Points

=====

Finn couldn't help it. A small smile formed on his face the moment the system screen appeared before him. The words were clear. A mission about teaching. About building a school.

Xabi noticed the shift in Finn's expression right away. He leaned back slightly, a knowing look on his face. He didn't say anything, but Finn could tell—he understood.

Lisa, on the other hand, looked puzzled.

"Why did you just smile like that?" she asked, tilting her head.

Finn glanced at Xabi for a second before answering.

"If I could build a school," Finn said slowly, "would you want to be one of the teachers?"

Lisa's eyes widened.

"Wait, are you serious?"

Finn nodded.

She lit up. "Yes! Of course! I'd love that. Teaching others? Helping people grow? That's exactly what I want to do."

She sat straighter, her voice gaining excitement. "I was already thinking of asking around to see if anyone wanted help reading or learning more. But an actual school?" She looked at both of them. "That would change everything."

But after a few seconds, her excitement gave way to confusion.

Her brow furrowed.

"Wait…" she said slowly. "What do you mean by build?"

Finn froze for a split second.

Lisa stared at him, searching his face.

"Wait a minute," she said again. "Do you mean you're the one…"

She didn't finish her sentence. Her voice just trailed off.

Xabi groaned quietly and covered his face with one hand.

Finn sighed.

So much for being careful.