The Tower of Infintium

The sun cast a golden glow over Greystone Village as Miguel made his way back to the orphanage. His mind was focused on the repairs still needed—rotten beams to replace, loose tiles to secure, and the faint creak of wood that warned of weak structural spots.

Miss Anya greeted him at the door, her expression lighter than it had been the day before. "You're back early."

"Wanted to finish the repairs before the next rain," Miguel replied, hefting a bag of nails and planks. "No child should have to sleep under a leaking roof."

He worked through the day, replacing damaged beams and reinforcing the walls. Lio, ever curious, stayed by his side, quietly handing him tools and watching each careful movement. The bond between them grew with every small gesture—a shared silence that didn't need words.

By late afternoon, the repairs were finished. The orphanage now stood sturdier, safer, and warmer than it had in years.

[Quest Complete: Shelter for the Lost]

[Rewards: +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity]

As Miguel packed up his tools, a new idea sparked in his mind. The children had so little—just fixing the building wasn't enough.

That evening, Miguel returned to Garrick's forge and set to work on a personal project. He crafted small wooden toys—simple things at first: carved animals, small figurines, and tiny swords for play-fighting. His hands, seasoned by years of real-world labor, moved with precision and care.

[Skill Progress: Carpentry - Level 3]

[New Skill Unlocked: Fine Craftsmanship]

[+1 Dexterity]

The next morning, Miguel brought a small sack of toys to the orphanage. The children's eyes lit up as he handed out the gifts, each child clutching their new treasure with wide-eyed wonder.

Lio, holding a carefully carved wolf, looked up at Miguel with a rare smile. "Thank you… Can I help you make more?"

Miguel knelt beside him. "Of course. I'll show you how next time."

Word of Miguel's kindness spread quickly through Greystone Village. Shopkeepers offered him small discounts, farmers shared fresh produce, and the villagers greeted him warmly as he passed.

One afternoon, as Miguel repaired a broken wheel for Bren the farmer, the village leader—an elderly man named Ealdred—approached quietly.

"You've made quite an impression here, Miguel," Ealdred said, his voice low but steady. "Not many outsiders take the time to truly care for us."

Miguel wiped his hands on a cloth and nodded respectfully. "Just doing what feels right."

Ealdred studied him for a moment, then placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "If you're willing, there's more to this village than meets the eye. Perhaps we'll talk soon."

Meanwhile, back at the facility, the staff monitored Miguel's progress. Eos's voice echoed softly across the control room.

"Subject Tañon continues to display unusually high levels of emotional engagement."

Daniel frowned at the data charts. "His connection with the villagers is growing stronger than any of the other testers. It's… impressive, but could become problematic if he loses perspective on the game's reality."

Sarah leaned closer to the screen. "Or it could mean the AI's learning algorithms are functioning beyond expectations."

In the game's public chat, the younger testers continued their dismissive chatter:

"Still wasting time playing village handyman instead of grinding levels."

"Bet he'll get stuck on the first real challenge."

But Miguel paid no attention to their words. His focus remained on the people of Greystone and the connections he was building—connections that were starting to feel more real than anything the real world had offered him in a long time.

And as Lio quietly followed him through the village, watching and learning, Miguel couldn't help but feel that this was where he was truly needed.