The first rays of sunlight streamed through the trees, casting golden hues upon the abandoned village. Kaito stretched his stiff limbs, having spent the night in what remained of a house with half a roof and a floor covered in moss. It wasn’t the most comfortable arrangement, but he had endured worse back in his corporate life—though those nights had been on a stiff office chair rather than a bed of leaves.

Thalos was already awake, watching the village from atop a crumbling stone wall. "You slept surprisingly well for someone who just claimed a haunted village."

"Haunted?" Kaito’s brow furrowed. "You could’ve mentioned that before I dozed off."

Thalos snorted. "Relax. If there were any spirits here, they’d have left the moment they sensed your magic."

Kaito sighed and dusted himself off. "Well, whether ghosts like me or not, I’ve got work to do. First things first—water."

He approached the well in the village square, peering into its depths. The pulley system was long broken, and the bucket lay shattered at the bottom. With a sigh, he placed a hand on the stone and reached out with his Worldweaver magic.

The earth responded. The worn-down bricks shifted, aligning themselves, while vines receded from the cracks. Slowly, the well reconstructed itself, the stones fitting together as if time itself was reversing. Kaito concentrated, feeling for the underground spring that once fed this village. He guided the water upwards, filling the well with fresh, clean liquid.

"Not bad for a beginner," Thalos admitted.

Kaito wiped his brow. "Step one, complete. Now I just need shelter, food, and a way to keep monsters from turning me into a snack."

As if on cue, rustling echoed from the trees. Kaito turned, tensing, as a figure emerged—a young woman with wild, untamed red hair and wolf-like ears. Her golden eyes locked onto him, sharp and wary.

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"Well, well," she said, crossing her arms. "Looks like someone’s trying to claim my territory."

Kaito blinked. "Your territory? I thought this village was abandoned."

The woman smirked, her tail flicking behind her. "Not anymore. I was thinking of settling here myself. Now, should I chase you out or see if you’re useful?"

Thalos let out a deep chuckle. "Oh, this just got interesting."

Kaito remained still, assessing the situation. He had expected to be alone for a while longer, but perhaps this was inevitable. If he wanted to rebuild this village, he had to accept that others would eventually come. The real question was whether this newcomer would be a threat or an ally.

"Before you decide to chase me out, maybe we should talk," Kaito said carefully. "This place is big enough for more than one person."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Talk? I prefer actions over words. If you’re strong enough to prove useful, then I might consider it. Otherwise, you’re just another burden."

"Then let’s test it another way," Kaito proposed. "Rather than a fight, let’s see who can contribute more to making this place livable. If I do more, I stay. If you do more, I’ll leave."

The woman considered him before grinning. "Fine. But don’t cry when you lose. Name’s Lyra, by the way."

Kaito gave a small nod. "Kaito. And I don’t plan on losing."

Lyra turned her gaze toward the dilapidated buildings. "Then let’s start. Shelter is priority number one. You take half, and I’ll take half. We’ll see who gets their side fixed up faster."

Thalos laughed. "This is the most ridiculous way to build a home I’ve ever seen, but it might just work."

Without another word, Lyra vanished into the ruins, leaving Kaito to plan his approach. He surveyed the buildings again, looking for the ones that were structurally salvageable.

Using his Worldweaver magic, he reinforced the foundations, wove together cracked walls, and patched roofs using available materials. He lost himself in the work, the village slowly beginning to resemble a place of life rather than ruin. As he worked, he caught glimpses of Lyra moving with incredible agility, carrying logs and reinforcing structures with raw strength rather than magic. It seemed they both had their own strengths.

By nightfall, the village looked different. A few buildings stood properly restored, roofs replaced, walls patched. Kaito wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing at Lyra. She looked exhausted but satisfied.

"Looks like we both made progress," he admitted. "I’ll call it a tie."

Lyra huffed. "Fine. But tomorrow, we see who can hunt better. You ready for that, magic boy?"

Kaito chuckled. "Guess I have no choice."

As the stars appeared in the sky, he felt something stir within him. This place was no longer just an abandoned village. It was becoming home.