Children came to see the giant. Some tried to climb it. The golem never moved.
At night, moonlight bathed its body. It stood like a knight carved from the earth itself.
Jin stood beside it and whispered,
"Thank you, old power. Even in this new life… I can protect."
And thus, the first golem guard was born.
Silent. Strong. Eternal.
The heart of the gate.
The soul of the city's defense.
And the first of many to come.
The sun rose again.
With each day, the city grew. And now, it needed something else—a place to trade, to share, to connect.
Jin walked alongside two warriors and a builder. They reached a flat, open space in the city's heart—clear of trees and perfect for a market.
"This," Jin said, sweeping his hand across the land, "will be the trade square. Here, people can share food, tools, and items."
Raku, ever ready, nodded. "We will build stalls from wood and stone. Each person will have a small shop."
"But how will they trade?" one warrior asked. "We do not have money."
"We start with barter," Jin replied, smiling. "One person gives something. They receive something in return."
He explained further. "If a hunter brings meat, he can trade it for a knife or warm clothes. If a builder makes pots, she can trade them for fruit or dried fish."
Simple. Fair. And the people agreed.
They marked the square—four rows, ten stalls in each. Raku and his crew worked quickly. By day's end, wooden stalls stood tall, bark signs marked with glowing ink announcing each owner.
Trade began the very next morning.
An old warrior brought dried meat. A young healer offered herbs in return. A woman carrying berries exchanged them for clay pots. Children giggled as they traded smooth stones for sweet bread.
Laughter rang. Spirits lifted.
Jin watched from a stone bench, pride welling in his chest.
"This is more than trading," he thought.
"This is a sign of life. A city must have a heart. And today, our heart beats."
New goods soon appeared. A man crafted shoes from beast leather. A girl painted stone plates with simple art. There was no gold. No coins. Only people giving and receiving.
And it worked.
Even as the sun dipped low, the marketplace bustled. Fires crackled. People chatted, dined, and planned what to bring the next day.
Jin strolled through the rows, speaking to each stall owner.
"You build more than shops," he said. "You build trust. You build a future."
The stars twinkled above. Homes glowed with crystal light.
At the center, the trade square thrived.
Jin looked to the moon, eyes steady.
"This city will live," he whispered.
---
The city stood strong—homes firm, the marketplace alive. But growth required more. The people needed help.
They needed animals.
Not all forest beasts were foes. Some were gentle giants—strong legs, thick fur, eyes filled with calm intelligence. Jin watched them from a hilltop.
"We must learn to live with them," he said. "They can carry wood. Give milk, eggs. Even guard our gates."
He pointed to a large beast—part boar, part buffalo—with short horns, thick brown hide, and slow, heavy steps.
"That one," Jin said. "We will start with it."
He sent a team—three warriors and a healer.
"Do not hurt it," Jin instructed. "Show it food. Be kind. Move slowly."
They carried fruits, roots, clean water. Made soft sounds. Stayed low.
It took an entire day. But the beast came.
It ate peacefully. Did not flee. Did not fight.
Jin stepped forward and placed a hand on its head.
"Now, we give it a name. Naming shows respect."
He smiled gently.
"From now, you are Muro."
The beast gave a deep, soft growl. And followed them home.
A large pen was built near the city's edge, complete with pond and wooden walls. Children gathered to watch.
More creatures followed.
Small ones—doglike but with scales—sharp teeth, soft eyes. "They can guard the gates," Jin said.
Feathered, flightless birds with strong legs were next. Fast runners.
"We can ride these," one warrior grinned.
A hunter named his bird Kai. It listened, followed, carried supplies.
Bit by bit, they tamed more. They fed them, cared for them, named them. And in return, the beasts worked—pulling carts, protecting homes, tilling land.
Not master and pet.
But companions.
One evening, Jin sat beside Muro, his hand resting on the beast's thick fur.
"You are part of this city now," he whispered. "You are family."
Above them, stars shimmered.
And below, the forest no longer felt wild.
It felt like home.
---
The city had risen—stone homes, lively markets, tamed beasts. And yet, something was still missing.
A symbol.
"We need a flag," Jin said. "A banner that shows who we are."
The people tilted their heads. "A flag?" a warrior echoed.
"Yes," Jin nodded. "It's more than cloth. It's pride. When others see it, they will know: This is our land. Our home."
He knelt in the dirt, drawing a design.
"A square cloth. Black like stone. In the center, a golden shape—part shield, part crown. Strong and proud."
The builders moved fast. Traders offered dark cloth. Gold powder mixed with beast oil formed the emblem.
In one day, the flag was born.
Now, it needed to fly.
"Raise it on the center tower," Jin ordered. "Where all can see."
Everyone gathered. Elders, warriors, children—and even the beasts. The sun stood high. The air was still.
Jin held the flag, his hands firm.
"This is our banner," he said. "We began in dirt. We faced monsters. We built with sweat and stone. We found strength in each other."
He lifted it high.
"This flag means we will not run. We will protect this land. We are one."
He handed it to the tallest warrior, who climbed the tower. All eyes watched.
At the top, the flag was tied.
The wind caught it.
Black as the deep stone.
Gold as the morning sun.
It danced.
"Long live the Stone King!" someone cried.
The chant echoed:
"Long live the Stone King!"
"Long live the King!"
Jin stood silently. His heart heavy—not with sorrow, but with pride.
"I never wanted to be king," he murmured. "But I will protect them. They gave me their trust. I will not let it fall."
That night, fires blazed. Music played. Meat roasted.
Under the dancing banner, a new nation took its first breath.