Caelen sat on his handmade chair, staring out the door of his cabin. The forest was quiet, but he knew better. Somewhere out there were goblins, wolves, and maybe worse. Underground? Who knew.
He tapped his fingers on the wooden table. His eyes drifted toward the mine entrance across the yard. The tunnel he'd dug wasn't deep, but according to Google Brain, there was a cave nearby—and a chunk of iron.
A smarter version of himself might have sprinted straight in to grab it. But after days of barely surviving, inventing a toilet from scratch, and eating roots that may or may not have been edible, Caelen had learned one thing:
Rushing gets you killed.
Step 1: Don't Die Instantly (Armor)
He stood up, stretched, and opened his Google Brain.
Search (4/20): "How to make simple armor with no metal?"
[Bark chestplate, reinforced cloth or leather wraps. Mobility: low. Protection: minimal.]
He sighed. "Well, it's not fashion week."
He headed outside, peeled bark from trees, shaped it into rough plates, and tied them together with vines. It barely fit over his tunic and creaked when he moved, but it was better than running in with a T-shirt.
[Crafted: Bark Armor – durability: low. Still better than nothing.]
Step 2: Food Doesn't Grow in Caves
He checked his food stash—two smoked meat strips, some salted mushrooms, and dried berries. Not bad, but he wasn't sure how long he'd be in the cave.
Search (5/20): "How to store food underground?"
[Dig into cool ground, insulate with leaves or stone. Create cover to prevent animals.]
The cellar he'd made under his floor worked fine, but he needed something portable. He packed a small pouch with rations and salt. Enough for a day or two, no more.
He double-checked that his food cellar was sealed tight, just in case a squirrel with a taste for smoked meat came sniffing around.
Step 3: Let There Be Light
Search (6/20): "Best way to light caves without dying in a fire?"
[Simple torches: cloth + fat/oil + stick. Burn time: 15–20 mins.]
He wrapped old cloth around sturdy branches, soaked them in leftover cooking fat, and left them to dry. The smell was... aggressive. Sparkfin fluttered out of the room.
[Crafted: Basic Torch x3]
He added one to his belt, the rest in a bundle by the door.
Step 4: Mental Prep
He sat at the table and laid out what he had:
Bark armor: scratchy but usable
Copper pickaxe
Torches
Food pouch
Full Google Brain (14/20 left)
"Still feels like I'm forgetting something," he muttered.
He stared at the corner of the hut where the toilet was. Then nodded. "Nope, that's covered too."
Sparkfin landed on his shoulder, chirped softly, and settled in. The bird seemed to know something was up. Or maybe it was just annoyed by the torch smell.
Tomorrow
Caelen looked out into the trees, the sky darkening behind them. He wasn't scared. Not really. But he wasn't in a rush either.
The cave could wait one more day.
Because this time, he wanted to walk in prepared—and walk out alive.