The morning sun shone brightly over the city of Garnolith. The strong stone walls stood tall, casting long shadows. Lizardmen walked proudly through the streets. Their city, once just ruins and forest, now pulsed with life.
Jin stood in the center of the city, facing a new building.
It wasn't a house.
It wasn't a hall.
It wasn't a tower.
It was something new.
A school.
He raised his voice so everyone could hear.
"Today, we open the Academy of the Stone," he said.
The lizardmen gathered. They stood quietly, listening with wide eyes.
"This is a place to learn," Jin continued. "Here, we will teach magic. We will teach building. We will teach how to grow."
He looked at the young ones. Their arms were strong, but they did not understand mana. Many had power but didn't know how to control it.
That would change now.
Inside the school, the walls were made of smooth stone. Chalk was made from crushed white rock. Books were written on large leaf-paper. There were no desks, only stone benches. It was simple—but it was a start.
Jin called for his top mages and builders.
"You will be the first teachers," he told them.
A tall green-scaled builder stepped forward. "But… we're not smart like you, Lord Jin."
Jin smiled. "You don't need to be smart. You just need to share what you know."
Another asked, "What if they fail?"
Jin shook his head. "Then they will learn. Failing is part of learning."
He remembered his past life. Back then, he was just a golem. He had no school—only battle. But now, he could give more.
He entered the first classroom. Young lizardfolk sat waiting. Jin picked up a piece of chalk and drew a circle on the stone board.
"This is a mana circle," he said. "It helps control your power."
The children leaned forward. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity.
For the first time, Jin wasn't just a king. He was a teacher.
Outside, workers carved a sign above the door. One word stood in bold letters:
ACADEMY.
As the first lesson ended, the sun rose high in the sky. The children laughed. Some tried magic—sparks flew and small winds blew. Others shaped stones with shaking hands.
Mistakes were made. Mana fizzled. Rocks cracked.
But no one gave up.
Jin looked to the sky and smiled.
"This," he whispered, "is how we build more than walls. This is how we build a future."
---
The next morning, Jin walked to the east side of the city. A wide open field stretched before him.
"This place," he said, "will be for warriors."
Lizardmen fighters stood in rows. They held spears, swords, and axes. They were strong—but not skilled.
"We will build a training ground here," Jin announced. "We will train every day."
He gave orders to the builders.
"Place wooden dummies here. Put target posts there. We need places to fight—and to learn."
The workers moved quickly. Some dug the ground. Some carried logs. Some laid stones.
By evening, a sparring arena stood ready. It had a dirt floor, tall wooden poles, and straw dummies tied with rope.
Jin stepped forward and picked up a wooden sword.
"Watch my feet," he said.
He moved slowly, showing balance.
Then quickly—dodging, striking, blocking.
The warriors watched closely.
"Now try," Jin said.
They copied his moves. Many stumbled. Some fell. But they got up again.
Jin helped a young warrior to her feet.
"You fight with heart," he said. "Now learn to fight with your mind."
Training went on for hours. Sweat dripped. Laughter echoed. Their movements grew sharper.
Jin gathered his best fighters.
"You will become instructors," he said.
A strong female warrior knelt before him.
"I will teach," she said. "In your name, My King."
Jin felt proud once more.
He raised the training sword.
"From today, this is the Warrior Grounds!"
The soldiers cheered. And from that day on, they trained daily—becoming faster, smarter, stronger.
Jin stood on a nearby hill, watching.
"This," he said, "is how we protect what we build."
---
A few days later, Jin stood atop the eastern wall. The wind moved through the trees. The forest was quiet.
"For now," he said softly. "But danger will come again."
Two lizardmen mages stood behind him, holding stone tablets covered in glowing runes.
"We will make the walls stronger," Jin said. "Not just with stone—but with magic."
The mages nodded. "Yes, Stone King."
Jin placed his hand on the wall and closed his eyes. He spoke an old rune word. The stone glowed briefly, then faded.
"Here," he said. "This is where the glyph goes."
One mage carved a glowing symbol—a sun-shaped circle.
"This is a warning glyph," Jin explained. "It will glow red if enemies come near."
They moved down the wall, placing glyphs every fifty steps:
—Warning glyphs.
—Strength glyphs.
—Mana shield glyphs.
Then, they placed "golem eyes"—small stone faces with glowing eyes.
"These eyes will see danger," Jin said. "They will alert the glyphs."
Over the next days, they upgraded all four sides of the wall. From above, the city looked like a glowing square.
One night, a beast crept near the west wall.
A red light flashed.
The golem eyes had seen it. The glyphs had warned the guards. Soldiers rushed to their posts. The beast ran away.
Jin smiled. "It works."
He called the people together.
"These are no longer just walls," he said. "These are magic walls. They see. They speak. They protect."
The crowd clapped. Jin touched the stone once more.
"You are strong," he whispered. "Guard our home well."
---
One morning, the sun rose over Garnolith. The sky was clear, and the trees danced with wind.
Jin stood in the city square.
The walls glowed softly. The houses stood strong. The people were safe.
"We worked hard," he said quietly. "Now it's time to smile."
He raised his hand.
"I declare today… the First Festival of Garnolith!"
Cheers rang through the streets. Children laughed. Drums beat.
The city came alive.
Tables were filled with food—roasted meat, sweet fruits, and spicy roots. The smells filled the air.
Jin walked among the people. Children played with small stone golem dolls. Some wore cloaks with the city's crest—black stone and gold.
Music filled the air. A lizardman blew a horn made from beast bone. Others clapped and danced.
Old warriors sat near fires, telling stories of the first battles.
"He is not just a king," one elder said. "He is our heart."
At noon, the Academy opened its doors.
Students showed their magic—floating fire, moving stones.
The crowd clapped and cheered.
Later, at the Warrior Grounds, friendly matches were held.
Weapons clashed, but no one was hurt. They fought with respect.
As the sun set, torches lit the streets. Everyone gathered near the citadel.
Jin stood on the steps, with the great stone flag waving behind him.
"Today," he said, "we are not just survivors. We are builders. Dreamers. Garnolith was born from stone—but it grows from your hearts."
The people cheered.
Jin raised a stone cup.
"To the past that made us strong.
To the future we will build together.
And to the home we now call ours."
Everyone raised their cups high.
"To Garnolith!"
The festival lasted into the night. There was dancing, singing, and joy.
And above it all, the stars watched in silence—
as a new kingdom found peace and pride for the very first time.