The First Civilization

The celebration didn’t last long. By the next morning, everyone had returned to work as if nothing had happened.

The damaged fence had been repaired. The wounded hunters were slowly recovering. Even the children had begun playing outside again. For the first time since Aren woke up, the village felt alive.

As he walked through the settlement, he noticed a small wooden hut unlike the others. Several women entered carrying baskets. Moments later, they walked out empty-handed. Curious, Aren stepped closer.

Inside were stacks of dried meat, wild berries, and sacks woven from tree bark. It wasn’t much. An elderly woman carefully counted each basket before placing it on a shelf. She looked up when she noticed Aren.

"Are you looking for food?"

Aren smiled politely. "I was just curious."

The old woman sighed and glanced around the nearly empty room. "I wish there was more to see. Our hunters did well this season, but winter is coming."

Aren’s eyes wandered across the shelves. Too much food had been piled directly on the ground. Some dried meat looked damp. Several berries had already begun to spoil.

Without realizing it, he walked over and picked up one of the baskets. "This shouldn’t be here."

The old woman blinked. "What do you mean?"

"The floor is damp. If the food stays here, it’ll rot faster."

She frowned. "It has always been stored this way."

Aren stayed silent. He couldn’t explain why he knew. He simply did.

A sharp pain pulsed through his head. The familiar voice echoed once again.

[Memory Synchronization: 8%]

Recovered Knowledge: Food Storage

The pain quickly faded. Aren looked around the room. His eyes stopped on several unused logs leaning against the wall, and an idea came to him.

"We can build shelves."

"Shelves?" The old woman tilted her head.

"If we keep the food above the ground, it’ll stay dry."

She stared at him for a long moment, then slowly nodded. "I’ve... never thought of that."

Before long, several hunters helped carry the logs inside. Using nothing more than wood, vines, and stone tools, they built the village’s first simple storage racks. When the last shelf was finished, the old woman carefully placed the baskets on top.

She smiled. "There’s more space now. And the floor is easier to clean."

Other villagers gathered around, quietly admiring the change. It wasn’t a grand invention, but it made their small storehouse feel... organized.

At that moment, the familiar blue panel appeared before Aren.

[Civilization Progress Detected]

```text

Building Updated

Storage Hut

Condition: Improved

Food Preservation +20%

Village Efficiency +5%

Memory Synchronization: 8%

```

Another line appeared beneath it.

The foundation of a civilization begins with preserving tomorrow’s food.

Aren read the words in silence.

Outside the hut, Chief Rokan watched everything with thoughtful eyes. This young man had changed the village twice without lifting a spear.

The old chief couldn’t help but wonder. Who exactly are you, Aren?

End of Chapter 9