The Heartwood Village hummed with a new kind of energy, a blend of disciplined training from the Barracks and the quiet, persistent work of cultivation. The morning air, cool and fresh, carried the earthy scent of tilled soil and the faint, sweet aroma of growing things. Alex stood near the Farm Plot, observing the diligent efforts of Lena and Sarah, the Farmers, whose movements were becoming increasingly efficient. The Genesis Core pulsed with its steady, reassuring rhythm, a constant reminder of the life it nurtured.
He reviewed his System UI. His Evolution Points stood at 25.2 EP, a sum that would slowly climb as the village produced and scavenged. His raw food reserves were at 95 kg, a number that needed to be consistently managed with their growing population. Raw materials were stable: 1200 Wood (Common) and 2450 Stone (Common). Other vital resources, like Tanned Leather, Glowmoss, and Crystal Shards, were also on hand. The nine Heartwood Defenders and three new Villager Militia were active, either training or assigned to production.
The Farm Plot, a large, rectangular area of rich, dark earth, was now fully operational. Rows of Heartwood Seeds had taken root, their tender green sprouts pushing through the soil in neat, disciplined lines. The subtle influence of the Genesis Core's "Minor Terraforming" ability was evident here, making the ground unusually fertile and responsive to cultivation.
"It's a good start, Alex," Lena called out, her voice bright with satisfaction as she carefully removed a stubborn weed. "The Heartwood Seeds are thriving. We'll have our first proper harvest soon, enough to make a real difference to our food stores."
Sarah nodded, her hands deftly turning the soil. "And the new water collector is a blessing. No more hauling buckets from the stream. It's all about efficiency now."
Elara, whose leg was now fully healed and who moved with renewed vitality, knelt beside a patch of curious, glowing moss at the edge of the Farm Plot. Her Herbalist class provided an intuitive connection to the land, allowing her to understand the subtle energies of Aethelgard's flora. "The Heartwood Seeds are promising, yes," she confirmed, "but Aethelgard offers so much more. We shouldn't limit ourselves. I believe we can find plants that not only supplement our food but also provide unique medicinal or even alchemical properties. The diversity of life here is astounding."
Lena and Sarah eagerly listened to Elara's guidance, their discussions turning to ideal planting times for various native plants and methods for pest control using natural repellents. Over the course of the day, as they painstakingly tended the growing crops, Elara directed them to examine wild patches just beyond the cultivated area. Their efforts quickly bore fruit. By noon, Lena excitedly presented Alex with a handful of sturdy, orange-hued roots.
"Elara thinks these are Sunken Roots (Common Food Resource)," Lena explained, her voice bright. "They grow abundantly in damp soil and are highly nutritious. We could cultivate these in the wetter parts of the plot, or even just harvest them from the wild. They taste... earthy, but filling."
Sarah, not to be outdone, held up a collection of broad, deep-green leaves that shimmered faintly. "And these are Gloom-Leaves (Common Herbal Resource). Elara says they have mild analgesic properties. Not strong enough for serious wounds, but good for aches and minor irritations. She thinks they could be a base for new salves."
Alex nodded, impressed by their initiative and Elara's expertise. The integration of native flora was crucial for long-term sustainability. "Excellent work, all of you. These Sunken Roots will diversify our food supply, and the Gloom-Leaves will free up some of our more potent Healing Salves for serious injuries, allowing us to save those for our combat units."
While the Farmers delved deeper into the botanical wonders of Aethelgard, Elara shifted her primary focus to the Alchemist's Hut. With the discovery of Venom Sacs (Rare) from previous monster encounters and the ample supply of Glowmoss (Common), she could finally begin producing more potent remedies – the Minor Healing Potions she had discovered the blueprint for.
The Alchemist's Hut, with its bubbling flasks and intricate retorts, became a sanctuary of arcane science. Elara meticulously crushed the glowing moss and carefully extracted the potent toxins from the Venom Sacs, blending them with other collected herbs. A soft, green light pulsed from within the hut as she worked, the air filling with a faint, medicinal aroma.
[Elara (Herbalist) has successfully crafted 'Minor Healing Potion' (Uncommon Item) x1!][Cost: 1 Venom Sac (Rare), 2 Glowmoss (Common)]
Elara managed to produce two Minor Healing Potions by the end of the day, a process that consumed two of their three Venom Sacs (Rare) and four of their seven Glowmoss (Common). These would be vital for faster recovery from injuries, especially among the new militia recruits and Heartwood Defenders who were constantly training.
As dusk settled, casting long, soft shadows across the Heartwood Village, Alex surveyed the day's progress. The Farm Plot was a verdant promise of future sustenance. The Alchemist's Hut now held valuable, potent remedies. The Barracks continued its rhythmic thudding, forging stronger units. The Small Storage units were orderly, and the Basic Dwellings provided much-needed comfort.
Current Resources (End of Day):
Evolution Points (EP): 25.2 (No change from start of chapter, as no EP was spent or gained significantly outside of passive accumulation)
Food (Raw): 105 kg (Increased by 10 kg from Sunken Root discovery, offset by daily consumption)
Wood (Common): 1200
Stone (Common): 2450
Tanned Leather (Uncommon): 2
Glowmoss (Common): 3 (Used 4 for potions)
Crystal Shards (Uncommon): 6
Rock-Beetle Chitin (Uncommon): 8
Venom Sac (Rare): 1 (Used 2 for potions)
Tough Gloomfang Claws (Common): 15
Aethelgardian Fangs (Common): 20
Bone Shards (Common): 10
Basic Defender's Charm (Common): 1
Sparkle-Bloom (Uncommon): 10
Aethel-Berries (Common): 15
Stone-Crawler Chitin (Uncommon): 5
Root-Fiber (Common): 10
Ancient Aethelgardian Data Crystal (Rare): 1
Healing Salves (Common): 6
Minor Healing Potion (Uncommon): 2 (Newly crafted)
Sunken Roots (Common Food Resource): 10 kg (Newly discovered and harvested)
Gloom-Leaves (Common Herbal Resource): 5 (Newly discovered and harvested)
The village was growing more self-sufficient with each passing day, adapting to Aethelgard's unique environment. The constant need for more resources and stronger defenses remained, but now, Alex had a robust system in place to meet those demands. The path to a true dominion was being forged, one sustainable harvest and one potent potion at a time.