Daniel stood up from the bed. His legs were weak, but he could move.
The room was small. There was a table and a wooden chair near the window. A clay jug sat on the table, along with a loaf of bread.
His clothes were plain—rough linen shirt,
pants, and leather shoes.
The door creaked as he pushed it open.
Outside, the village stretched before him.
Children ran barefoot through the streets. Chickens roamed freely.
Daniel took a slow breath.
As he stepped out, an old man approached him. The man had a long beard and kind eyes.
"You're awake," the man said. "Good. You had us worried."
Daniel stared at him, unsure what to say.
The old man smiled. "You were found in the woods, near the river. You were alone and barely breathing. We brought you here to rest."
Daniel nodded slowly. "Thank you," he said.
"No need for thanks," the old man replied. "We help those in need here. My name is Bram. I'm the village elder."
"I'm Daniel," he said.
"Well, Daniel," Bram said, "you're welcome to stay until you recover. We don't have much, but we'll share what we can."
Daniel gave a small nod. "I appreciate it."
Bram smiled again, then pointed down the road.
"If you're feeling well enough, take a walk. Meet the others," Bram said. "They'll be curious about you."
Daniel nodded and began walking down the road.
As he walked, Mono's voice returned in his mind.
[You should gather information about this world. Learn its rules. Observe its customs.]
Daniel agreed. He needed to know how things worked here.
He passed a blacksmith's forge. A man hammered iron on an anvil. Sparks flew with each strike.
Daniel stopped and watched. The tools were basic—hammers, tongs, and a furnace.
"Something catch your eye?" the blacksmith asked, wiping sweat from his brow.
"I've never seen work like that before."Daniel said.
The blacksmith chuckled. "Then you've not been around much. I'm Harn, the village smith."
"I'm Daniel."
Harn looked him over. "You don't seem like a farmer," he said. "Not with hands like those."
Daniel glanced at his palms. They were smooth, unused to hard labor.
"I suppose I'm not," Daniel said.
Harn laughed again. "Well, if you're willing to learn, I always need help at the forge."
Daniel moved on, watching how people worked.
Women gathered herbs in baskets. Men chopped firewood outside their homes. A young boy carried a wooden bucket to the river.
Everything here required effort. Nothing came easy.
Daniel's thoughts turned to what the voice had told him earlier.
"If I start building things," Daniel whispered, "will they even accept it?"
Mono response.
[People accept what improves their lives. But sudden changes can bring fear.]
Daniel understood. He had seen how people back home resisted change too.
Still, he knew this world could be better.
He looked toward the woods beyond the village. A soft wind rustled the trees.
"Mono," Daniel said, keeping his voice low. "What can I build right now?"
Mono answered.
[With wood, stone, and iron, you can create simple tools and structures. Your current skills allow for basic wells, mills, and plumbing systems.]
Wells meant clean water. Mills meant easier farming. Plumbing meant less sickness.
These things were not hard to build if he had the right parts.
And he knew he could make them.
Mono continued.
[You may also unlock blueprints as your knowledge grows. My role is to assist you in shaping these designs into reality.]
Daniel looked back at the village.
He thought about his old world. Clean water. Warm homes. Lights at night. Medicine.
It wasn't perfect, but it was safe.
If he could bring even a part of that here, it would change everything.
Daniel's path was clear now.
He would learn this world's ways. He would earn trust. And then, step by step, he would build.
As the sun began to set, Daniel returned to Bram's home.
He sat near the fire, eating bread and stew the elder offered him.
Bram smiled. "You seem deep in thought," the old man said.
Daniel gave a faint smile. "I'm just thinking about what I can do to repay this village."
Bram chuckled softly. "We always have room for helping hands."
Daniel looked at the fire. It crackled softly, casting light in the small room.
He had died once.
Now, he would live again.
And this time, he would build a new world.
-----
The next morning, Daniel woke early.
The village was quiet. Only the soft sounds of roosters and wind.
He sat up and stretched. His body felt stronger.
The air was cool. He could see his breath.
Daniel dressed in the same clothes and stepped outside.
The streets were empty, but smoke rose from chimneys. People were starting their day.
Mono's voice spoke.
[You should begin gathering materials.]
Daniel looked toward the forest beyond the village.
"I can gather wood," he said.
[Correct. I will mark the nearest trees suitable for harvesting.]
A faint glow appeared in the corner of his vision, showing a small patch of trees nearby.
Daniel grabbed a hatchet leaning against the side of the house. He had seen others use them for chopping wood the day before.
He walked toward the forest.
The trees stood tall and strong. The ground was damp with fallen leaves.
Daniel approached the first marked tree. It looked solid but not too thick.
He placed his hand on the rough bark.
Then, he raised the hatchet and struck.
The first swing was weak. He adjusted his grip and swung again.
The sharp edge bit deeper into the wood.
Swing after swing, he worked steadily. He kept his pace even.
It was hard work. His arms ached, but he kept going.
Mono spoke again.
[Chop at the base to weaken the support. Tilt the cuts to guide the fall direction.]
Daniel followed the advice. He shaped his strikes, cutting at an angle.
Soon, the tree groaned.
With one last strike, it began to fall.
Daniel stepped back as it crashed down, shaking the ground.
He looked at the fallen tree.
It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Daniel spent hours cutting the tree into pieces.
He tied the logs together with rope he found in the village.
Then, he dragged them back toward the village square.
People watched him as he passed.
They whispered to each other, curious.
Bram met him near the well.
"You've been busy," the elder said, eyeing the pile of wood.
Daniel wiped sweat from his forehead.
"I plan to build something," Daniel said.
"Oh?" Bram asked, raising an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"
"A better well," Daniel replied.
Bram looked surprised. "Better than what we have?"
Daniel nodded. "Cleaner water. And easier to draw."
The village well was just a hole with a bucket and rope. Simple, but not safe.
Bram stroked his beard. "And you know how to do this?"
"I do,"
Bram thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Very well," the elder said. "If you believe you can improve it, we won't stop you. But be careful. We can't afford to waste what little we have."
"I understand, Daniel said. "
Daniel spent the rest of the day preparing.
Mono guided him step by step.
[You will need stones for the foundation. You can gather them from the riverbank.]
Daniel followed the path to the river.
The water was clear and cold. Small stones lined the shore.
He picked the best ones—flat, smooth, and strong.
One by one, he carried them back.
It took many trips.
He worked until the sky turned orange.
By nightfall, Daniel had a pile of wood and stone ready.
He sat by the fire again, eating another meal of bread and stew.
Bram sat across from him, watching with quiet interest.
"You worked hard today," the old man said.
Yeah I did, Daniel replied .
Bram smiled. "Most folk here work their whole lives and never think to change things," he said. "But you... you have strange ideas."
Daniel looked at the fire.
"I just want to make things better," he said.
Bram chuckled softly. "We could use more like you," he said.
Daniel gave a small smile in return.
That night, as Daniel lay on his bed, he stared at the ceiling.
Mono's voice came again.
[You made good progress. Tomorrow, you will begin construction.]
Daniel closed his eyes.
He had taken the first step.
Tomorrow, he would start building.
-----
Morning came with soft light and a cool breeze.
Daniel rose early, before most of the village stirred. He ate a quick meal of bread and a few berries left by Bram, then stepped outside.
His pile of wood and stone waited by the well.
Mono:
[Begin by clearing the area around the well. You need space to work.]
Daniel grabbed a shovel from near the house and started digging.
The dirt was dry near the well, but it loosened with steady work. He moved slowly, lifting the soil.
His hands blistered from the rough handle, but he kept going.
After some time, Bram approached, watching in silence.
Daniel paused and looked up. "I need space for the new structure," he said.
"I'll have a few men help move the dirt,"Bram he said.
Soon, three more villagers came with shovels. They worked together, clearing the area faster.
Daniel guided them without raising his voice.
"Dig here," he said, pointing to spots.
"Pile the dirt there."
The men obeyed without question.
By midday, the ground around the well was clear.
Daniel moved to the next step.
Mono:
[Lay the stone foundation. This will keep the structure stable and prevent sinking.]
He placed the first stone carefully at the base, pressing it deep into the earth.
Then, he placed another beside it, locking them tight.
The villagers watched with curiosity as he worked.
Daniel kept his focus. His hands moved with care, fitting each stone.
Hours passed as he built the circle of stones around the well.
By evening, the base was complete. Solid. And Strong.
---
That night, the villagers gathered around the fire near the well.
Bram addressed them.
"Daniel has begun building something new," he said. "He says it will bring cleaner water."
The villagers looked at Daniel.
A woman spoke first. "Is it safe?"
Daniel answered calmly. "It will be safer than before."
Another man asked, "How do you know it will work?"
"Because I've seen it work before." Daniel stated.
There were murmurs.
Bram raised his hand.
"Let him finish," the elder said."
---
The next morning, Daniel continued.
He built a wooden frame above the stone base.
The frame was nice and sturdy. Four thick posts supported crossbeams above the well.
Mono:
[Now install the pulley and crank system. This will allow the bucket to be raised and lowered with ease.]
Daniel carved the pulley wheel from hard wood, shaping it with a knife and file.
It took time, but he worked patiently.
Once the pulley was ready, he set it in place above the well and attached the crank handle.
He wound a thick rope around the wheel and tied it to the bucket.
Then, he tested it.
The rope lowered the bucket smoothly into the well. With a few turns of the crank, the bucket rose, full of water.
The villagers gathered again, watching closely.
Daniel turned the crank with ease, then poured the clean water into a wooden trough.
He looked at the crowd.
"No more pulling by hand," he said. "Anyone can do it now. No more spilled water. No more wasted effort."
The villagers stared at the device in awe.
One man stepped forward to try it. He turned the crank slowly, lifting the bucket.
"It's so light," he said, amazed.
A woman tried next, smiling as the bucket rose with ease.
---
By the end of the day, the entire village had gathered to see the new well.
Smiles spread across their faces. There was laughter and relief.
Bram approached Daniel, eyes shining with respect.
"You've done it," the elder said. "This well is better than anything we've known."
"It's only the beginning," Daniel replied.
Bram chuckled. "Then I look forward to seeing what comes next."
---
That night, Daniel sat alone by the fire, watching the flames dance.
Mono:
[You have completed your first project. The villagers now trust your skill.]
Daniel looked up at the night sky. The stars were bright above the village.
"I'll need more tools soon," he said. "And I'll need to teach them."
He had many more ideas—and a whole world to reshape.