"Damn… am I stupid?"I muttered, banging my forehead with my hand. "How did I forget the most important thing? Fire!"
I hurriedly began gathering dry herbs, my heart pounding in my chest. Every step reminded me that even a small mistake in this world could be deadly. I collected handful after handful, but soon faced a new problem — I had nowhere to put it all.
I looked at the scattered piles and sighed:"Great… the first managerial challenge in my kingdom is a bag."
I smiled despite my exhaustion and decided that "crafting a bag" would top my next priority list. But for now, survival came first.
I dampened the herbs slightly with river water so they would stick together, then tied them with makeshift threads, creating a temporary rope. It wasn't strong, but it was enough to secure my first spear.The spear was primitive, yet it felt like a small symbol of something bigger beginning.
I stood by the river, contemplating my next move."Hunting… or fire?"The choice was obvious — fire first, for it was life.
I began searching among the rocks along the riverbank. Some were rough, some shiny, but one caught my attention:A dark gray stone, smooth as if rain had polished it for centuries.
I lifted it in my hands, feeling its weight and chill, as if it carried a whole history of survival."This is… flint."
A small sigh of relief escaped me, then I continued searching for an iron-rich stone, one dark in color with a coarse texture. I found one near the roots of a bent tree at the water's edge.
I returned to the base, exhausted, as the sunset painted the sky with fiery and cool tones.I sat before the pile of dry herbs, placing the two stones in my hands, and began striking one against the other.
Tick… tick… tick…Nothing happened at first.Tick… a tiny spark flickered, then vanished.I kept trying, my hands trembling from cold and fatigue.
Then… suddenly, a real spark ignited!The pile of herbs slowly caught fire, smoke rising lightly, and a small dancing flame appeared.
I stepped back, staring at the fire as if it were a miracle.Its warmth brushed against my face, the orange light reflecting in my eyes.I couldn't contain myself — I smiled, and a warm tear rolled down my cheek.
"Yes… this is the warmth I've been searching for."
I sat before the fire, watching it grow brighter and brighter, listening to the crackle of the burning herbs.That tiny spark was the beginning of my first kingdom — a kingdom of light amidst a cold and desolate world.