Rise of empire: From gamer to emperor

As they stepped into the village, the familiar scent of fresh bread and burning firewood filled the air. A few villagers looked up from their morning routines, some nodding in greeting, others whispering as they passed.

James dropped to his knees, dramatically kissing the dirt mumbling. "Oh, I missed your warmth and safety!"

Ethan rolled his eyes, arms crossed. "Where's all that bravery from earlier?"

James looked up scratching his head, smiling sheepishly.

Jared shook his head heading towards their hide out with Jordan in tow.

James abruptly stood up, jogging after them. "Wait up!"

Tormund shook his head as he climbed the stairs of his cabin. "Those kids."

Ethan smiled as he watched them disappear from view. "They're quite the lively bunch."

He hadn't expected to care so much. But watching them joke and tease after a near-death trip into the Vale… it felt good. I guess this is what being a leader means.

A baker wiped flour from his hands, watching as Ethan passed. "Back so soon, Chief?"

"Safe and sound," Ethan replied.

A few villagers whispered among themselves. He caught bits of conversation—

"Did they really go into the Vale?"

"They're still alive, so I guess they didn't go far."

Henry looked up from his cart, "Probably didn't reach Point Lancaster."

Hushed murmurs echoed through the square. Before a voice spoke up, "I heard it's at least a three months journey from here, of course he didn't reach there."

Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Point Lancaster? That some kind of landmark?"

Henry hesitated, adjusting his saddle. "Something like that. I heard from my father it used to be an outpost, for adventures mapping The Vale. Folks don't go near it anymore."

"Why?"

Henry forced a chuckle. "Well, you like answers, Chief. But sometimes, it's better to let sleeping ghosts lie."

Ethan frowned. "That serious, huh?"

Henry adjusted his saddle, eyes scanning the treetops. "My father told me stories. Said the first crew to go beyond Point Lancaster never came back. The ones who did after them weren't right in the head."

"Weren't right how?"

Henry hesitated. "They screamed at shadows. Claimed the trees had voices. One of them clawed his own eyes out, said he 'saw too much.' "

Ethan exhaled slowly. "Don't you think that sounds like a bedtime story?"

Henry shook his head, mounting his horse. "I think some stories are better left alone."

Nodding Ethan leaned against the half-built house, watching villagers work. "Sounds suicidal and I intend to live a long life."

Henry clicked his reins nodding. "Aye."

"Safe journeys." Ethan said, watching Henry depart from the opposite side of the village.

He watched as a child ran past, laughing, while her mother pulled fresh bread from a stone oven. Sigrid argued with Romelu over roof beams, and in the distance, James and Jared sparred, wooden swords clashing.

In the game, this was just numbers and stats.

But here? Every person mattered. Every decision changed lives.

And now, those lives were his responsibility.

Exhaling he pushed off heading towards his house.

The next five days passed in a blur of hammering wood, shouted orders, and the smell of fresh-cut stone.

Ethan spent most mornings inspecting new construction, overseeing food rations, and trying (and failing) to ignore Anna's increasingly bizarre habits.

Then the evenings mediating.

On the third day, he had noticed the triplets distinct eye colors—James had a red iris, Jared blue, and Jordan's a pale green.

Romelu and Sigrid finished four new houses, the village looked busier than ever, and Ethan had repurposed Gareth's old home.

___________________________

Ethan stretched, rolling his shoulders as the morning sun bathed the village. It was time.

He turned to Tormund, Romelu, Sigrid, and the triplets, all standing before him. Their eyes held a mix of curiosity and readiness.

"I believe Tormund has briefed you on today's mission?"

Romelu and Sigrid nodded.

Ethan walked towards the horse-drawn carriage, running his fingers along the wooden frame, testing its durability.

Reaching his hands into the carriage he picked up an Axe with a wooden handle and atone head, twirling lightly.

Sigrid smiled. "Best in the surrounding villages courtesy of my father."

Dropping the axe Ethan nodded, "Tommen does know how to work a forge."

Tormund walked over patting the horse before climbing it. "Let's get going people the day isn't getting any younger."

With that the crew, climbed into the carriage.

As they proceeded through the village towards the jungle, the children waved at them excitedly while the adults mumured in hushed tones their eyes carrying a faint sense of unease.

The carriage slowly passed by where Morris, Ludwig and Helen were standing. Morris cleneched his fists muttering. "Godspeed Chief."

Helen nodded, and Ludwig replied, "Aye!"

The villagers watched the carriage disappear into the woods slowly the adults departed the children still stood there watching, a few of the adults admonished them before they scurried.

Staring at the scene, Ludwig smiled then glancing at the sky he muttered. "Jathan old friend, you can rest easy now. Your son is doing well." The breeze blew lightly as if in response to his words.

___________________________

As the horse galloped through the woods, Ethan stared at the system.

[Expansion menu]

[Settlement: Cross (Village)]

[Requirements for village upgrade..]

Houses: 5/200

Town wall: 0/1

Population: 200/1000

Village head house upgrade: 0/1

Meeting hall upgrade to town hall: 0/1

Exp: 10/100

Ethan exhaled slowly, eyes scanning the numbers. 200 houses, a wall and a town hall. Looks like i have my work cut out for me.

[Oh really? I almost thought you were on a vacation.]

Screw you..

Diverting his eyes away from the system before died from another cardiac arrest. He observed the dense jungle waving by.

Soon the carriage arrived at the spot they saw the iron deposit previously. Tormund halted the horse staring around warily, he stepped off the horse crouching as he observed the soil.

Few seconds later he sighed, "Alright all clear now."

Tormund turned around startled as Ethan placed a hand on his shoulders, staring at him he muttered. "You nearly scared me there Chief."

Ethan raised a brow, "Nearly?" Smirking as he walked past him the rest following behind.

Pausing at the rock formation he turned to face them, "Alright crew this is it. Our mission for the day."

Letting the silence linger he continued, "James, Jared and Jordan you three will help with logging and logistics." Facing Sigrid and Romelu. "You two are in construction. And Tormund and I are on guard duties."

Gazing at their faces brimming with determination. "Any questions?— Good let's get to work then."

The triplets walked back to the carriage pulling out an axe each they walked towards three trees, swinging their axe.

Romelu and Sigrid picked out hammers and other tools from the carriage walking towards the rock.

Slowly seconds rolled into minutes then hours as the sounds of wood chopping and rock carving replaced the chirping of birds. Ethan surveyed the site smiling.

The sun began to set casting a golden hue over the site. "Alright people we should start heading back if we're going to get home before nightfall.

With that they rode back towards the village.