Chapter 3:
Leo felt a thrill course through him as he read the updated Status Window.
**\[Golem Maker]**. It was real. He held the potential to command power unheard of in this world. But power came with responsibility, and Elias' journal hinted at a far deeper history—a dark secret surrounding the art of golem crafting.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself. He wasn't just surviving anymore; he was embarking on a path, following in Elias' footsteps—perhaps even surpassing him. First, he needed a golem.
He reviewed the scroll's instructions for a basic clay golem. The materials weren't particularly rare: clay, readily available near the river; straw or dried grass for binding; and a spark of elemental energy, which the scroll suggested could be drawn from a specific type of quartz crystal found in rocky outcrops.
He exited the cave, Golem Crafting knowledge swirling in his mind. He decided to start with the clay.
Following the Whispering River back the way he came, he searched the muddy banks. Eventually, he found a rich, dark clay deposit where the river had eroded the earth. Perfect.
He spent hours digging and shaping the clay into manageable lumps, working through the fatigue. His fingers ached. His back throbbed. But he kept going. The cold mud coated his hands, grounding him, reminding him that this was real—not a simulation. This was his life now.
Next, he gathered a bundle of dried grass, choosing only the longest and sturdiest strands. He remembered Elias's notes: straw acted as an inner weave, reinforcing the shape and channeling energy across the golem's form like nerves.
The last item was the crystal. He remembered a rocky outcrop not far from the cairn of stones and made his way there, moving cautiously. The forest was quieter now, almost as if it acknowledged the change in him. The birds didn't scatter at his approach. The fog no longer clung to him with the same oppressive weight.
He climbed the outcrop, inspecting every crack and crevice. Just as he was about to give up, he saw it—tucked deep inside a fissure: a small clear crystal, pulsing with faint, ethereal light.
Leo pried it loose. It felt warm, almost alive. It hummed with an energy that resonated faintly in his bones. He hurried back to the cave, excitement and nervousness twisting in his chest.
Inside, he laid out the ingredients: clay, straw, and crystal. He reviewed the scroll one last time. The incantation had to be perfect. One misstep could mean failure… or worse.
He shaped the clay slowly, methodically. He formed arms, legs, a torso, and a crude head. He reinforced the limbs with the straw, weaving it tightly through the joints and chest. It wasn't elegant, but it was stable. Crude, but solid.
Then came the final step.
He placed the crystal in the golem's chest. It pulsed once. Leo swallowed the lump in his throat.
Closing his eyes, he began the chant.
The arcane words felt awkward on his tongue, foreign yet strangely familiar. As he spoke, the crystal responded. Energy surged through the air. Dust lifted from the ground. His voice grew louder, more confident, as the cave responded.
He felt it—power flowing through the crystal, through him, into the golem. The clay trembled. Cracks formed and healed. Light burst from the crystal, bathing the cave in a pale blue glow.
Sweat poured down his brow. His voice wavered. But he didn't stop.
Then, silence.
The golem stood.
The light faded to a steady glow in its eyes. Its limbs twitched. The straw within tightened and held.
A notification appeared:
> **Golem Created! \[Clay Golem]**
Leo dropped to his knees, gasping. He had done it. His first golem. Rudimentary. Clumsy. But alive.
He reached out. The golem mirrored his motion, its clay hand meeting his.
Then another notification popped up:
> **Main Quest Updated!**
> *Find the Last Ancient Golem and Learn Why Golem Makers Disappeared from History*
> **Description:** The secrets of golem crafting are shrouded in mystery. Legends speak of Ancient Golems—beings of immense power and intelligence. Discover their fate and unravel the truth behind the disappearance of the Golem Makers.
> **Objective:** Locate clues about the Ancient Golems. Investigate the history of the Golem Makers.
> **Reward:** Skill Point x3, Blueprint: \[Improved Golem Frame], Knowledge of Ancient Golem Materials
Leo's breath caught. This wasn't just about crafting minions—it was a legacy. A buried truth waiting to be uncovered.
He opened his Status Window:
---
**Name:** Leo Makjin
**Race:** Human
**Class:** Unspecified
**Title:** Golem Maker
**Level:** 1
**HP:** 180/180
**MP:** 105/105
**Strength:** 16
**Agility:** 11
**Intelligence:** 22
**Vitality:** 18
**Luck:** ?
**Skills:**
• *Survival Instinct* – Increases your chance of evading danger and finding resources in the wilderness.
• *Golem Crafting (Lv. 3)* – Allows you to craft basic golems. Higher levels unlock more complex designs and materials.
---
He studied the golem. It stood silently, awaiting command. Its form was crude—an uneven mix of hardened clay and woven straw—but there was potential there. Powerless on its own, it awaited its master's will.
"Golem," Leo said cautiously, "follow me."
The golem stirred. Its movements were heavy, unbalanced—but it obeyed.
Step by step, it followed Leo toward the cave's entrance.
Leo stepped out of the cave, the morning air sharp and clean. Mist drifted over the riverbanks, and the sun peeked through the trees in broken shafts of light. The forest had changed. Or perhaps *he* had.
The next chapter of his story had begun. He wasn't just surviving anymore—he was building something. And the road ahead, though shrouded in shadow, promised discovery, danger… and destiny.
He glanced back at the golem.
This creature was his first creation—a spark in the darkness. And it was only the beginning.
Leo reached into his satchel and gripped Elias's scroll.
"There's more," he murmured. "Much more."
He would need better materials, stronger designs, and ancient knowledge lost to time. But he had taken the first step.
And the world would never be the same.