Thanks for your question! :)
Using soul fragments as currency was actually the core mechanic from the beginning. The campfire and the settlement built around it came later.
I still need to work on the enemies to make them more challenging and powerful, so as you said, you'll really fear losing your souls.
The core gameplay, enemies, and other systems are already implemented, but they still need some polishing and balancing.
And yes, I want to make the decisions more emotionally meaningful, so players really have to think about whether to spend their souls on another building or awaken someone new. I'll think more about how to make those choices matter and share updates as I develop the mechanics further!
I've been working on the art lately, but I've just gotten back to gameplay optimizations. There's still a lot to finalize!