The morning sun spilled over the land that would soon be called Asterion. Mist still clung to the forest edges, but inside the walls Damian had raised, life was beginning to stir. The makeshift homes built from rough timber and stone stood in uneven rows, smoke curling from their chimneys.
Damian stood at the center of it all, arms folded, eyes scanning the rising settlement. His black undershirt clung to his frame, marked by dirt and sweat. Behind him, Selena walked gracefully, her silver hair catching the light, a sharp contrast to the dusty ground.
"Not bad for a week," she said, lips curved in a faint smile. "From nothing to… this. You really don't waste time, do you?"
Damian exhaled slowly. "It's not enough. Walls and roofs are one thing. But a city… a city breathes. It needs food, tools, water systems, protection."
The AI's voice in his head was calm, clinical, and precise.
Damian muttered, "Yeah, I figured. Farming has to start now."
Selena tilted her head. "Farming? We don't have much equipment, only wooden plows, and those break often."
"That's where I come in," Damian said. He closed his eyes, pictured the tools from his world—iron plows, water pumps, even hand-cranked mills. His chest glowed faintly, threads of mana weaving into shape. In the dirt before him, a sleek, sharp iron plow materialized, sturdier and cleaner than anything the settlers had ever seen.
The farmers gasped, stepping closer. One older man, calloused hands trembling, whispered:
"This… this could cut the soil like butter. We'd be able to plant ten times faster."
Damian handed it to him, steady but firm. "Take care of it. Tools like this will help you stand on your own."
The man dropped to one knee. "Maker Lord… how can we repay you?"
Damian's jaw tightened. "Don't kneel. Just use it well. That's all I ask."
By midday, the fields outside the walls buzzed with activity. The enchanted plows cut through soil like it was air. Irrigation pumps drew water from the river and pushed it into channels that fed into the fields.
Selena walked beside Damian, watching the farmers work with awe. "With this… they'll have food. They'll thrive. You're giving them hope, Damian."
He grunted. "Hope's fragile. What happens if monsters tear through the farms?"
As if summoned by his words, the warning bell rang from the walls. A runner shouted:
"Wolves at the eastern gate!"
Damian cursed under his breath, materializing his spear. The AI chimed in immediately:
"Already on it," Damian muttered.
He sprinted to the gate, Selena at his side. A pack of wolves clawed at the wall, larger and fiercer than normal. Damian vaulted onto the battlements, spear in hand, eyes narrowing.
"Everyone, hold the line! Don't break formation!" he barked. His voice carried authority, firm and sharp.
The settlers froze, then steadied themselves at his command. Spears and shields locked together, forming a crude wall. Damian leapt down, landing hard in front of the wolves.
One lunged, teeth flashing. Damian sidestepped and drove his spear through its chest. Another circled wide, but Selena's blade flashed, cutting it down with precise elegance.
The battle was short but fierce. When the last wolf fell, silence returned, broken only by ragged breaths.
Damian wiped his weapon clean. "This is why we can't relax. Walls aren't enough. We need a guard. A proper defense."
Selena looked at him, eyes glinting. "Then let's train one."
Damian nodded slowly. "Stone and steel. That's what it takes."
The people cheered behind them, voices rising like a tide. They weren't just surviving anymore. They were beginning to believe.