Chapter 4:
As Leo walked, the clay golem lumbered behind him, its movements stiff and awkward.
"Tarra," he said aloud, testing the name. It felt right—simple, earthy. Fitting for his first creation. Focusing his thoughts, he reached out mentally, trying to sense a deeper connection.
A window appeared before his eyes.
---
**\[Minion Status]**
**\[Name: Tarra]**
**\[Type: Clay Golem]**
**\[Level: 1]**
**\[HP: 50 / 50]**
**\[MP: 0 / 0]**
**\[Strength: 8]**
**\[Agility: 3]**
**\[Defense: 12]**
**\[Skills:]**
•Crude Clay Fists
---
Not impressive, but it was a start. A first step into a forgotten art. He needed more knowledge—more power. He recalled Elias' journal might hold more clues—not just about golem crafting, but the long-lost legacy of Golem Makers.
He found a flat rock near the Whispering River and sat down. Pulling the worn, leather-bound journal from his newly accessible inventory, he began flipping through the pages. The ink was faded, the edges water-damaged, but Elias' meticulous script endured. Page after page contained formulas, notes, and musings—until he found a passage written in a hurried, uneven hand:
> *"The Old Ones spoke of a place… a nexus of elemental power… The Emerald Glade. They said it holds secrets… secrets the Council sought to bury. Ancient Golems… more than just clay and stone. Lifeblood… souls… forbidden arts… Find the Glade… uncover the truth…"*
The passage ended abruptly.
**The Emerald Glade.**
That was the clue he needed.
He flipped to the back of the journal and found a rough, hand-sketched map. A symbol of an emerald marked a clearing to the east—deeper into the forest.
Leo stood. "Tarra," he commanded, pointing east, "we go that way."
The golem responded immediately, lumbering in the direction indicated. Hope swelled in Leo's chest. For the first time, he had a direction, a purpose.
They ventured deeper into the shadowed woodlands. The trees grew more twisted, the light dimmer. Glowing mushrooms clung to the bark, casting a ghostly blue-green light. The air smelled of damp rot and old secrets.
Suddenly, Tarra froze.
Its head tilted. A low rumble escaped its throat.
Leo's grip tightened on his **makeshift dagger**. "What is it?"
From the undergrowth, a hunched figure emerged—humanoid, ragged, covered in coarse fur. It had a long snout, sharp eyes, and clutched a **simple wooden stick** in its clawed hands.
---
**\[Enemy Identified]**
**Name:** Rat Man
**Level:** 2
**HP:** 30 / 30
**Attack:** 5
**Defense:** 3
**Weapon:** Wooden Stick
---
"A Rat Man," Leo muttered. Elias had mentioned them—aggressive scavengers, often solitary, but dangerous.
"Tarra, attack!"
The clay golem charged, its fists swinging. The Rat Man dodged nimbly, its stick striking Tarra's chest with a dull thud. Minimal damage—but enough to stagger.
Leo circled behind, crouching low. The Rat Man didn't see him coming until he lunged, jabbing his dagger into its side. It screeched and turned, lashing out.
Leo barely parried the blow with his crude weapon, the force jarring his arm. He stumbled.
But then Tarra roared, slamming a clay fist into the Rat Man's head. The creature crumpled with a sickening crunch.
---
**\[System Notification]**
*You have defeated: Rat Man*
**EXP Gained:** +50
**\[System Notification]**
*Tarra has reached Level 2*
**\[System Notification]**
*Leo has leveled up! Level 1 → Level 2*
---
Energy surged through Leo, raw and exhilarating. The system chimed, and his stats updated:
---
**\[Leo Makjin – Status Window]**
**\[Race: Human]**
**\[Class: Unspecified]**
**\[Title: Golem Maker]**
**\[Level: 2]**
**\[HP: 120 / 120]**
**\[MP: 70 / 70]**
**\[Strength: 16]**
**\[Agility: 11]**
**\[Intelligence: 25]**
**\[Vitality: 18]**
**\[Luck: ?]**
**Skills:**
• Survival Instinct
• Golem Crafting (Lv. 3)
---
Tarra's stats updated too:
---
**\[Minion Status – Tarra]**
**\[Type:** Clay Golem
**\[Level: 2]**
**\[HP: 70 / 70]**
**\[MP: 0 / 0]**
**\[Strength: 9]**
**\[Agility: 4]**
**\[Defense: 13]**
**\[Skills:]**
• Crude Clay Fists
• Rock Throw *(New)*
---
Then came another ping.
---
**\[System Notification]**
*Looting Unlocked!*
*Inventory System Expanded!*
---
He approached the Rat Man's corpse. A small window appeared:
---
**\[Loot – Rat Man]**
• Wooden Stick
• Rat Pelt
• 5 Copper Coins
---
He tapped *Loot All*, and the items vanished into his inventory grid.
---
**\[Inventory – 12 Slot Basic Grid]**
• Elias' Journal
• Golem Crafting Scroll
• Stone Pickaxe
• Makeshift Dagger
• Wooden Stick
• Rat Pelt
• 5 Copper Coins
• Makeshift Spear
*(7 / 12 slots used)*
---
Leo breathed in the earthy air, the scent of blood and moss clinging to his senses. It was messy, real, and dangerous.
But he had fought. He had won.
The path to the Emerald Glade lay ahead—and he was ready to walk it.