Reborn in the Survival Adventure Game-Chapter 48: Glass and Blood

The sun sat high above the trees when Caelen finished his late lunch. Things were finally coming together—corn almost ready, houses standing strong, and golems still patrolling. But something still felt... unfinished.

He opened the interface and typed:

[Search: How to make glass]

The answer was simple: melt sand with something like ash or limestone at very high heat, shape it while soft, let it cool.

He sat up. "Dorgrim!"

The old dwarf was half-asleep in a chair outside his hut, but he groaned and stood. "What now, boy?"

"We're making glass."

Dorgrim scratched his head. "You mean like... windows?"

"Exactly. I've got bags of river sand, and ash from the furnace. We can do this."

Dorgrim squinted. "You sure it'll hold?"

"Let's find out."

They fired the furnace up hotter than ever before, sweating in the heat as they took turns mixing ash with sand and feeding it in. After a few tries, they managed to pull out clear, flat sheets—rough, but usable.

They fitted the glass into each hut's windows. Caelen held the panels, and Dorgrim sealed the edges with clay paste. Zira helped too, dusting off the smudges with a cloth.

She stood back and looked at the sun shining through her new window. "It's like the sky came inside," she whispered.

Caelen smiled. "It's simple, but sometimes simple things change everything."

Just as they finished the last house, Caelen heard something—fast, heavy footsteps. freēwēbnovel.com

He turned toward the trees.

[System Alert: Nearby lifeforms detected – 37 goblins – 15 male, 22 female – Status: Injured, Malnourished]

His chest tightened. "Zira. Something's coming. A lot of them."

Everyone dropped what they were doing. The dwarves grabbed their tools. Garin reached for his axe.

Then the trees opened.

Dozens of goblins stumbled into view. They were limping, coughing, some bleeding. Most wore rags or old leather armor. Their eyes were sunken. They looked terrified.

Zira stepped forward, her face pale. "Wait. They're not here to fight..."

One older goblin looked up. Her eyes landed on Zira—and she fell to her knees.

"Zira... Daughter of Chief Harnok..."

The other goblins gasped. One by one, they dropped to their knees. Some bowed their heads. Others whispered prayers.

Caelen stood frozen.

Zira looked overwhelmed. "What's going on...?"

Then, from the crowd, a young boy pushed through. He was thin and dirty, but his eyes were bright. Around his neck was a worn strap with a small green stone.

Zira stared at it. "That necklace..."

The boy gave her a shaky smile. "Green means you're alive. I knew it."

Her breath caught. "Tilo?"

She ran to him and wrapped her arms around his small body. He clung to her like a child who had nothing left.

"I thought you were dead," she whispered.

"I never stopped looking," he said. "I told them you were alive. When the stone changed, we left. We walked for days."

"Through goblin and orc lands?" Caelen asked, stepping closer.

Tilo looked at him, tired but proud. "They're all fighting. We slipped through. Some stayed behind... some didn't make it."

Zira cupped his face, her voice trembling. "You shouldn't have come. It was dangerous."

"But I had to. You're my sister."

The rest of the goblins stayed quiet, watching them.

Caelen lowered his voice. "Were you followed?"

Tilo hesitated. "I... I don't know. There was fire. Smoke. Screaming. We just ran."

Dorgrim grunted. "They're in no shape to fight."

"They're barely standing," Garin added.

Zira turned to Caelen. "They're all that's left of our village. We can't turn them away."

He looked at the goblins—scarred, starved, silent—and then at Zira, still holding her brother.

He nodded. "They stay."

Tilo blinked. "Really?"

"We'll feed them. We'll build for them. Just... rest for now."

Zira hugged her brother tighter. "Thank you," she said quietly.

Caelen walked to the shed, pulled out bags of dried corn and jerky, and handed them to Zira. She passed the food around as the goblins slowly sat down, eating with shaking hands.

Rena and Miko peeked from their hut. Rena looked at the crowd, unsure.

Zira turned. "It's alright. They're just scared. Like you were."

Tilo smiled at them. "Are you goblins too?"

"We're orphans," Rena said. "We live with Caelen now."

"Me too," Tilo said softly. "I think."

Borin scratched his beard. "This village's gettin' crowded."

Caelen chuckled. "Then it's time we build a new row of houses."

Dorgrim nodded. "By the stream. I'll handle it."

Borin smirked. "You plan it, I'll make it stand."

"I'll use my magic to shape the land," Caelen added.

Zira wiped her eyes. "They'll need blankets. Warm food. A place to sleep."

"We'll do it together," Caelen said.

Tilo looked up at Caelen. "You're not like the stories... the ones about humans."

Caelen didn't answer right away. He just glanced at the glass windows catching the evening light.

"Maybe the stories are wrong."