Eternal Empire - Kingdom Building

David stood at the edge of the forest, gazing up at the towering trees. Why can’t this golden finger just be clear? He sighed inwardly. A system would be so much easier—just a simple prompt interface would do. Why all this complexity? He couldn’t shake the frustration.

“The golden finger is not good enough!” he muttered under his breath.

With Fording beside him, David shook off the distracting thoughts. Now wasn’t the time for pondering rewards or hidden powers. They needed to focus on building a house.

Fording examined the trees carefully, his brow furrowed in concentration. “These are all high-quality wood,” he announced. The paladin’s experience shone through; he had led armies and commanded his men to build camps before.

“Next, we need to cut down the trees,” David said, glancing at the formidable trunks. “But it won’t be easy. We have to clear all the branches and carry the logs back to the village.”

Despite the village’s proximity to the forest, the task loomed large in David’s mind. He eyed a thick trunk, doubt creeping in. Can I even lift that?

“By the way,” Fording interrupted his thoughts, still scanning the surrounding area. “I forgot to ask—what’s the name of our village?”

David paused, caught off guard. “Um...” He hadn’t even considered it. Though the pioneer camp had existed for nearly two years, it had never developed into a proper village. The lack of stability and dwindling numbers had prevented any official naming.

“Because of various problems, there hasn’t been an official name,” David finally admitted. But as he spoke, he pondered what the village should be called. Now that he had decided to persevere, it felt crucial to establish an identity.

The village name was essential for introducing newcomers and would need to be filled out on official documents for the Kingdom. It was a step toward securing rewards in the future.

“That’s right!” Fording had already chosen a large tree. He gripped his axe firmly, ready to work. “You need to come up with a good name.”

“I will think of one,” David replied, pulling out his axe to join in. He swung at the trunk, but after a few cuts, he realized how slow he was compared to Fording.

Despite his decent physical fitness—surviving two winters as a hunter and years of exercise—he felt like a weakling next to Fording, who had been forged in the fires of battle in Azeroth and empowered by the Holy Light.

Fording easily felled a tree, clearing away the branches while David struggled with his first trunk.

“By the way,” Fording said, looking back at him, “there isn’t much food stored in the village. We should gather and store more.”

David acknowledged the suggestion with a nod. He appreciated Fording’s insight and recognized their different strengths. The disparity in their tree-cutting efficiency was glaringly obvious. “Why don’t we split up? You take care of the food while I finish cutting the trees?”

“Don’t worry,” Fording said, a reassuring smile on his face. “This work is easy for me.” He didn’t mind the rough labor. He had decided to embrace an ordinary life, stepping away from the prestige of being the lord of Hearthglen.

David moved west along the forest's edge, focused on his destination. The river is that way, he reminded himself. If I walk along the forest to the riverbank and head north from there, I won’t get lost, and I can spot large animals more easily.

But this route wasn’t without risks. He kept his hunting bow clutched tightly in his left hand, his right hovering above the quiver at his waist, ready to draw an arrow at a moment's notice.

Suddenly, a shadow flickered at the corner of his eye. In an instant, David nocked an arrow and drew the bow, his movements sharp and precise. Everything around him slowed down; the shadow sharpened into focus, magnifying until it was clear.

Move a few centimeters to the left, a voice in his mind urged. That’s the right angle for a hit.

His thumb released the bowstring, and the arrow flew straight toward the target. David felt a rush of confidence—This one’s a sure hit. No need for a follow-up.

The arrow struck true, piercing a pheasant with deadly accuracy. The entire event unfolded in the blink of an eye.

“Good guy,” David muttered, a grin spreading across his face. “My archery skills have definitely improved.” He had suspected he’d gained some ability from Laura, but this leap was surprising. Guess my natural talent wasn’t all that great, he thought. There’s a huge gap between me and someone who can take down an entire organization with a bow.

I figured I had some talent for archery if I wanted to be a hunter, he mused. But with the likes of Laura and Fording showing up to help him improve, his future looked promising.

After retrieving his arrow, he hung the pheasant at his waist and continued his search for food. Besides meat, I need wild vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits to keep my diet healthy. Eating only meat isn’t sustainable.

Luck was on his side today. He gathered mushrooms and berries, feeling content even as he squatted to pick the fruit. Each handful brought him joy.

But suddenly, a prickling sensation made him pause. Something’s off, he thought, adrenaline surging. Without a second to waste, he dropped the berries and dove to the side, grabbing his hunting bow as he rolled to his feet.

Dirt and grass clung to him as he scrambled away from the strong gray wolf that lunged at him. Shit!

David glanced around, spotting more wolves lurking in the underbrush and behind trees. Not good, he thought, shifting his position cautiously toward the riverbank, seeking a safer vantage point.

But the wolves seemed to sense his movement. One gray wolf sprang at him again, hungry and determined.

“Back off!” David shouted, but his words were drowned out by the urgency of the moment. He loosed arrows with practiced precision, firing rapidly, each one finding its mark.

Years of hunting had honed his skills. He could draw three to five arrows at once, shooting them in quick succession, hitting targets the size of a human head with ease. Now, with the archery ability from Laura, he compressed his aim into a target the size of a fist. Time felt distorted; the world around him slowed as he locked onto his target, even as it moved at high speed.

The first wolf fell easily, but David didn’t dare to relax. He swiftly drew two arrows from his quiver, scanning the scene as two more wolves approached from different directions.

His mind sharpened, time slowed, and he saw everything clearly. The wolf on the left lunged, while the one on the right sprinted forward, gathering momentum. Too close, he thought.

This slow-motion clarity didn’t quicken his body but sharpened his judgment. Left first, then right!

With pinpoint accuracy, he shot both arrows in rapid succession. They didn’t kill the wolves, but they halted their charge, giving David a moment to act. In just seconds, a flurry of arrows flew from his bow, finding their marks. Two more gray wolves fell.

Not wasting a moment, David charged toward the first wolf he’d downed, yanking the arrow free. He quickly nocked another arrow and fired again, taking down another wolf with lethal precision.

But as he reached for his arrows, the remaining wolves turned and bolted into the forest, disappearing in an instant.

“Run so fast!” he exclaimed, his heart racing as the adrenaline began to fade.

Taking a breath, he scanned his surroundings, then began gathering the spilled berries. He tied the gray wolf carcasses together and slung them over his back, making his way carefully along the riverbank.

“Thanks, Laura!” he called out, feeling a wave of relief wash over him as he confirmed that the gray wolves had not followed. He couldn’t shake the gratitude he felt for her granting him enhanced archery skills.

David also felt a flicker of excitement. What other magical rewards would Fording or future allies bring?