30. First Construction

This day had been exhausting for Nexha.

His body ached, his eyes were heavy, and his mind could no longer think straight. Too drained to stay awake, he returned to the nest and curled up in the most comfortable corner, falling asleep instantly.

He only woke up the next day, stretching lazily while rubbing his eyes. The deep sleep had left him even hungrier, and the first thing he did was grab his bottle— a habit he had developed in this new world.

As he drank, he felt his confidence returning. It was funny how having a full stomach made everything seem less problematic.

Stepping out of the nest, he found Lilay trying to play with Zhaelor.

— Go, catch! — Lilay tossed a small rock at the cachalot, who didn’t react at all. The stone gently bounced off his head and fell to the ground.

— Hm? — Zhaelor turned his head, confused.

— You don’t know how to play? — Lilay grumbled, crossing his arms.

— I do! Just not with useless little rocks.

— Useless?! This is a super rare stone I found yesterday!

— …It just looks like a rock.

Lilay huffed, frustrated.

Nexha chuckled at the scene but then noticed something odd. Zhaelor was sleeping… out in the open.

The cachalot had spent the night in the middle of nowhere. That made Nexha frown. He looked around, observing the forest of moray kelp growing all around them.

He had specifically bought these plants as building material. They were strong, flexible, and really resembled bamboo. A perfect resource for constructing a permanent shelter—or even a city in the future.

If Zhaelor was sleeping outside, that was on him.

Without wasting time, he returned to the nest and grabbed his knife—the same one Luna had helped him with. With the sharp blade in hand, he swam to one of the kelp stalks and made a firm cut.

The reaction was unexpected.

The plant shot up toward the surface as if it had a mind of its own.

— What?!

He frowned and pulled the rest of the kelp, examining it. The stalk was hollow, with tiny air bubbles trapped inside its segments. That explained why they stood upright in the water so effortlessly.

Nexha narrowed his eyes.

— Ah… I see how to fix this.

On the second try, he made small holes between the segments before cutting. This way, the air escaped in tiny bubbles, and the plant didn’t float.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

He smirked, satisfied.

With the technique mastered, he began cutting the kelp to the same size and planting them in the sand like pillars. However, he quickly noticed a problem: they fell over with any movement of the water.

— Tch… this won’t work.

Thinking fast, he grabbed a rock and started hammering the stalks down until they were firmly fixed into the ground.

Little by little, the foundation of the structure began taking shape.

Lilay and Zhaelor, who had been focused on their game, soon noticed what Nexha was doing.

— What crazy thing is my brother inventing now? — Lilay tilted his head, curious.

Zhaelor watched in silence, his eyes glowing.

When Nexha started tying the stalks together to create a makeshift floor, the cachalot’s curiosity turned into excitement.

— Young master seems to need help.

Without waiting for permission, he swam over and began assisting.

With his strong fins, Zhaelor could snap the stalks to the exact size Nexha needed. But then, another problem arose.

The stalks floated.

Zhaelor furrowed his brows, watching the kelp disobediently drift upward.

— Why?! I did it right!

He pouted, his frustration growing.

Nexha chuckled.

— You look like a whining child.

— How cruel, calling your elder a child! — The cachalot huffed.

— If you keep acting like one, you deserve it.

But his disappointed face was the very definition of a sad puppy.

That’s when Nexha had an idea.

— Let’s do this: I’ll make the holes so they don’t float, and you cut and bring the stalks.

Zhaelor’s eyes sparkled.

— Yes, young master! You’re so smart!

— Not really. You guys just don’t think much.

Lilay, who had been watching from the sidelines, decided to join in.

— I’ll tie the stalks together, then!

— See? That’s how you use your brain. Good job, Lilay.

— Hehe, I’m as smart as my brother!

— That’s right, Lilay!

Nexha patted his little brother’s back approvingly, making Lilay beam with excitement.

He grabbed some smaller kelp strands and used them as ropes, securing the stalks tightly together.

And so, the three of them started working as a team, each fulfilling their role.

With their combined efforts, the platform began taking shape.

The stalks were firmly in place, the bindings were secure, and the floor was becoming more stable. The project was actually working.

As they worked, the three of them chatted and laughed.

— Nexha, why didn’t we do this before? — Lilay asked while tying another stalk.

— Maybe because I was busy trying to survive?

— Oh, right. — Lilay laughed.

Zhaelor let out a satisfied sigh, seeing his master in good spirits.

Nexha glanced at him.

— Have you never worked with anyone before?

Zhaelor hesitated.

— Not like this. Stars usually don’t do this kind of thing.

— And what do they do?

The cachalot smiled.

— Nothing. Their mere existence changes the sea for the better.

Nexha averted his gaze, feeling something strange in his chest. He thought about it—wasn’t that exactly what the system had done? Just by existing, it had changed this place.

But… maybe it wasn’t just Zhaelor building something new here.

Maybe he was too.

Maybe, just by being here, this place would become more advanced. Sometimes, it made him feel like the system was much bigger than he had ever imagined—like he was just a piece of something greater.

Nexha shook his head, pushing the thought away. The system had already raised too many questions in his mind.

After a few hours, the structure was finished.

The base was solid, the stalks were tightly secured, and the space was large enough to fit all of them. They still needed walls and a roof, but it was already a great start.

Nexha looked at their completed work and smiled.

— Not bad.

Lilay jumped onto the platform.

— What is this?

— A foundation for the new nest.

— But we already have one.

Lilay looked confused.

— Zhaelor doesn’t.

— He looks fat… won’t this break?

Nexha slapped a hand over Lilay’s mouth before he could insult the cachalot any further.

Zhaelor sighed in relief.

— Finally, a place where I can fit!

Lilay giggled.

— Ah, now you don’t have to sleep like a homeless crab anymore!

— Hey!

Nexha just laughed, giving up on correcting Lilay.

It was a start.

But for the first time, he truly felt comfortable here.

Like, somehow, he was on the right path.