With that, he turned, signaling his group to leave. Their mule cart creaked as they disappeared back into the trees.
The silence left behind was heavy.
The chief's cane struck the ground once more. "You've brought danger to us, Builder," he said, voice low. "The moment you laid your first brick, you painted a target on this village."
Adrian looked at the villagers gathered around him—Elara's determined eyes, Lukas's trembling resolve, Torren's steady defiance.
He clenched his fists. Let them come. I've built cities from nothing. I can build defenses too.
Aloud, he said, "Then we'll build faster. Stronger. Not just homes… but walls."
The crowd gasped, whispers rising. Walls. No village in living memory had walls.
But Adrian's gaze was already distant, calculating. If they want to test what I can build, I'll show them.