The sun peeked over the trees. Sylas stretched and looked at his small field. The carrots and onions were ready. The green tops stood tall, and the dirt around them looked loose.
He pulled out a carrot. It came out clean and fat.
"Perfect," he said, grinning.
He worked fast, picking all the carrots and onions. He wiped sweat from his brow, then placed everything into two large baskets.
His hands were sore, but he felt proud.
"I grew all this myself," he said to no one, then started walking to the village.
At the village market, stalls were already open. People were setting out bread, cloth, and tools. Sylas found an empty spot and laid a cloth down. He placed the carrots and onions on top, stacking them in neat piles.
Soon, people came to look.
"These carrots are bright," said a woman holding a basket.
"They're fresh. Just picked this morning," Sylas said.
She nodded. "I'll take ten."
Others followed. A man from the tavern bought twelve onions. An old man bought a small bundle for soup. The coins clinked as people paid.
Sylas smiled. This was going better than last time.
By noon, he had sold it all.
[System Message]
Crops sold: 25 carrots, 20 onions
Base coins earned: 135 copper
[High Roller] passive skill activated
Total earned: 270 copper
[New Coins]
Copper: 295
Silver: 1
Gold: 0
Sylas grabbed a loaf of bread and some dried meat from another stall, then walked home.
He sat under a tree near his house, eating slowly, thinking.
"Selling crops is good," he said, "but it's not enough. I want to build something bigger."
He looked at his small field. It was neat but small. He needed more space, more people to help, and better tools.
Then, an idea hit him.
"A company," he said. "I'll start a small business here."
He got up, went to his workbench, and wrote on a scrap of paper:
Hollow Harvest Co.
Grow. Sell. Build.
He stared at the words and smiled.
Over the next few days, he stayed busy. In the morning, he watered and cared for the new crops. In the afternoon, he talked to villagers.
He visited Garen, the blacksmith.
"I'll trade food for tools," Sylas said.
Garen laughed. "Deal. Your carrots are the best I've had."
Next, Sylas talked to Mira.
"Can you dry some onions for me?" he asked.
She nodded. "Of course. You're building something, aren't you?"
He smiled. "Trying to."
Later, he saw a young man watching his field.
"You looking for work?" Sylas asked.
The boy stepped back. "Maybe…"
"I'll pay you," Sylas said. "You help me plant. I'll teach you."
The boy paused, then nodded. "Alright."
Sylas shook his hand. "Welcome to Hollow Harvest."
Each day was full. They dug, planted, and planned. The field grew bigger. Sylas marked out spots for storage and even talked about a cart.
At night, he lay in bed, tired but happy. He opened his system window:
[Sylas – Warden of the Hollow]
Level: 7
Health: 100
Mana: 60
Stamina: 120
Passive Skills:
Greenthumb: Crops grow faster
High Roller: Double coins from sales
Creation Spark: Helps build things better
Coins:
Copper: 295
Silver: 1
Gold: 0
Quests:
Make a working farm (In Progress)
Grow the village (In Progress)
Start a company (Started: Hollow Harvest Co.)
Sylas closed the screen and smiled.
This was only the start.
But it was a good one.