The first rays of dawn, filtered through the tattered clouds, painted the ruined village in hues of grey and orange. Kael awoke stiff and hungry, the growling of his stomach a stark reminder of their empty bellies. Shadow, curled up beside him, whined softly, mirroring his discomfort.
"Morning, buddy," Kael mumbled, scratching behind Shadow's ears. "Looks like we're on our own."
He stepped out of the makeshift shelter, surveying the desolate landscape. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the rustling of the wind through the debris. He'd hoped to find other survivors, someone, *anyone*, but the village seemed deserted. A pang of loneliness struck him. He knew he couldn't stay here. A single Builder, especially a novice like himself, wouldn't last long. He needed resources, he needed allies, and he needed a safer place.
"First things first," he muttered, opening his System interface. "Let's see if we can't find something to eat, and then we need to level up."
He and Shadow began their search, scavenging through the rubble. The System notifications were a constant companion:
**[Stone: 67/100]**
**[Lumber: 32/50]**
He gathered what he could, his eyes constantly scanning for anything useful. He knew Builders weren't fighters. Their strength lay in creation, in building defenses and crafting tools. But a strong fortress needed strong defenders. He needed to find other survivors, people with combat Classes, people he could trust.
As he sifted through the remains of a collapsed house, his hand brushed against something papery. He pulled it out – a tattered, old map. It was brittle and faded, but the markings were still visible. Intrigued, he looked at it closer.
**[Discovered: Ancient Depository Map]**
**[Identified as a potential resource location. Contains remnants of pre-Eclipse supplies.]**
Kael's heart quickened. A depository? Before the Eclipse, this village had been a thriving hub. There might be something valuable hidden away, something that could give him an edge.
"Looks like we have a destination, Shadow," he said, a flicker of hope igniting within him.
The map led them through the ruined streets, past skeletal buildings and overgrown gardens. The village, once familiar, now seemed alien, a graveyard of memories. Finally, they reached a location marked on the map – a nondescript building, half-buried in rubble.
The entrance was blocked by a collapsed wall. Kael, using the System interface, identified the debris as primarily stone. He began to carefully remove the larger pieces, the System tracking his progress:
**[Stone removed: 15/50]**
It was slow, laborious work. But the thought of what might be inside spurred him on. Shadow, sensing his excitement, barked encouragingly.
After what seemed like an eternity, he'd cleared enough of the wall to squeeze through. He entered the building cautiously, Shadow at his heels. Dust motes danced in the dim light filtering through cracks in the ceiling. The air was stale, heavy with the scent of decay.
The main chamber was surprisingly intact. Shelves lined the walls, though most were bare. But in the center of the room, a large, wooden chest sat undisturbed.
**[Discovered: Sealed Supply Chest]**
Kael approached the chest, his heart pounding. He could feel the System's energy radiating from it. This was it. This was what he'd been searching for.
He reached out and opened the chest.