The Explosion That Revealed the Valley
The dawn in Stardew Valley possessed an almost magical quality that Alaric never failed to appreciate. The rising sun painted the clouds in shades of pink and orange, while the morning dew still sparkled like diamonds scattered across the grass. After completing his morning tasks with the animals - milking the cows, collecting the still-warm eggs, feeding the contentedly grunting pigs - Alaric decided it was the perfect day to witness the long-awaited opening of the summit.
Exiting through the northern entrance of his property, he followed the familiar path leading to the mountains. The morning air carried the sweet perfume of spring flowers mixed with the fresh scent of damp earth. His steps were light, almost silent, as he traveled along the road passing by the spa.
Linus was outside his tent, preparing his breakfast over a carefully controlled campfire. The valley's wildest man looked up and greeted Alaric with a solemn nod.
"Good morning, Alaric," said Linus, his wrinkled face lighting up with a genuine smile. "I heard today is the big day for the summit."
"Yes, Linus," Alaric replied, stopping for a moment. "We're finally going to access the valley's complete view."
Linus nodded wisely. "Some of the best views require patience and a bit of explosives, apparently. Be careful, young man."
Further along, Susan was tending to her small garden in front of the modest house she shared with her grandson. She looked up and waved warmly to Alaric.
"Going to the explosion, dear?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron. "Everyone in the village is talking about it! Even Pierre closed the shop early to watch from a distance."
Alaric smiled. "I'll make sure everything goes smoothly, Susan."
He continued his walk, passing the train tracks that cut through the landscape. The distant sound of a whistle echoed through the mountains, announcing the passage of the 8:15 train. Following the winding road, he soon spotted the summit entrance - and the two figures already working actively at the site.
Clint and Mayor Lewis were positioned near the large rock blocking the passage. The blacksmith worked meticulously on the final bomb preparations, his steady hands adjusting wires and connections. Lewis, meanwhile, seemed somewhat nervous, holding his hat against the wind blowing stronger at higher altitudes while checking his pocket watch.
"Alaric!" Lewis greeted, visibly relieved by his presence. "You arrived just in time! Clint is almost ready to detonate."
Clint looked up momentarily from his work, his face showing intense concentration. "Just adjusting the final details. With the iridium materials you provided, Alaric, I managed to create a perfectly calibrated charge - powerful enough to fragment the rock but controlled to avoid landslides."
Alaric studied the bomb placement with a critical eye. "You positioned the charges at the rock's natural tension points. Smart strategy, Clint."
The blacksmith seemed surprised and gratified by the recognition. "The rock already has natural fissures following a specific crystalline pattern. I just... guided the explosion to follow these paths of least resistance."
Lewis checked his watch again. "All villagers have been warned to keep their distance. We're ready when you are, Clint."
After ensuring everyone was at a safe distance behind protective rocks, Clint took the detonator. His hands were surprisingly steady for someone usually so awkward.
"Three... two... one..."
What followed was a controlled but impressive explosion - a deep roar that made the ground shake like during a small earthquake, followed by a cloud of dust and small rock fragments that rose dramatically against the blue sky. The sound echoed through the mountains, and for a moment, everyone remained silent, impressed by the power they had unleashed.
When the dust settled, it revealed a clear passage where there had once been an impenetrable stone barrier. The sunlight now illuminated a path unseen for generations.
"It worked!" Lewis exclaimed, relieved. "Even better, it worked perfectly!"
The three men climbed together through the newly created passage, their footsteps echoing in the sudden silence that followed the explosion. Then, reaching the highest point of the summit, they were gifted with a view that made even Alaric, accustomed to magical wonders and epic landscapes, lose his breath.
The wooden bench at the top was worn by time but still solid. From there, the entire expanse of Stardew Valley unfolded below them like a living tapestry. They could see the farms organized like a mosaic of different green shades, the river snaking like a silver ribbon, the village's red roofs, and even the ocean shimmering in the distance.
For long minutes, none of them spoke. Lewis took off his hat, holding it against his chest as in a gesture of reverence. Clint seemed to have completely forgotten his usual shyness, his eyes scanning the landscape with genuine admiration.
"Worth every piece of iridium," Alaric finally broke the silence, his voice softer than normal.
Lewis nodded emotionally. "My grandfather always talked about this view. He said it was the closest thing to paradise on earth. Now I understand why he insisted so much on opening the summit."
Clint, uncharacteristically eloquent, added: "It's like seeing the valley for the first time, even though I've lived here my whole life."
Alaric felt a particular personal connection to the moment. His own grandfather, the original owner of the farm, had often spoken of this view with a nostalgic tone that Alaric now understood completely. Though the summit hadn't been closed for as long as Lewis's family tales suggested, the decades of inaccessibility had made it legendary among the valley's older residents. His grandfather's stories of watching sunrises from this very spot, of seeing the first spring blooms painting the valley in color, of tracing the river's path through the changing seasons - all these memories flooded back to Alaric with new meaning.
After some time, Lewis and Clint said their goodbyes and began their descent, leaving Alaric alone atop the world. The mayor needed to return to his administrative duties, and Clint had to mind the shop. The mage sat on the bench, closing his eyes for a moment, simply feeling the fresh breeze on his face and the sun warming his skin.
It was then that he heard a soft noise behind him - the sound of someone stepping on dry twigs and trying to retreat silently. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was; his magical perception had identified the familiar presence even before the explosion.
"You can come out, Sophia," he said without opening his eyes, a playful smile forming on his lips. "I know you've been there since before the detonation."
A pause, followed by a resigned sigh. Sophia emerged from behind a rock formation where she had hidden to safely watch the explosion, her face flushed like a ripe tomato.
"I... didn't want to disturb," she stammered, wringing her hands nervously. "I just wanted to see the explosion and... well, the view."
Alaric finally opened his eyes and turned to face her. "The only thing that could improve this view is sharing it with someone." His eyes scanned her charming face before adding: "Especially with someone as beautiful as you."
Sophia's face turned even redder, but she seemed simultaneously flattered and less nervous. She walked to the bench and sat beside him, maintaining a respectful but not excessive distance.
For a few minutes, they simply enjoyed the view in silence. Alaric discreetly observed how Sophia's eyes scanned the landscape, marveling at each new detail she discovered.
"It's even more impressive than I imagined," she finally whispered, as if afraid to break the spell of the moment. "Watching the explosion was amazing, but this... this is breathtaking."
"Some things are like that," he replied equally softly. "Reality surpasses imagination."
She then turned to him, her curiosity apparently overcoming her usual shyness. "Can I ask you a question about the Spirit's Festival?"
"Of course."
"Your costume... those wizard robes... they were real, weren't they? I mean, they weren't just a costume."
Alaric raised an eyebrow, impressed. "What makes you think that?"
"Well," she began, her fingers tracing patterns on the wooden bench. "I've been doing cosplay for years, so I know the difference between common fabrics and... well, whatever that was you were wearing. Plus, there was an energy coming from them. Something... different."
He laughed softly, surprised and amused by her perceptiveness. "They're my service robes from the army. Or were, before my retirement."
Sophia's eyes shone with excitement. "I knew it! I've never seen anything like it - not even in the best cosplays. Do they have... enchantments?"
"They do," he confirmed, amused by her enthusiasm. "The standard robes come with basic protection enchantments, but I enhanced them significantly. Rune specialization has its advantages."
"How powerful are they?" she asked, leaning forward with genuine interest.
Alaric considered the question for a moment before answering: "Once, during a particularly unpleasant mission, I let an abyssal dragon blow fire directly on me for about fifteen seconds. Not a single hair got burned."
Sophia's eyes widened, and she looked at him with an expression of pure admiration that almost made Alaric laugh. "That's... incredible! You're like one of those anime wizards I admire so much, but in real life!"
The joke came out before he could think better of it: "So you'd be my waifu?"
The effect was instantaneous and hilarious. Sophia turned completely red, opening and closing her mouth without making any sound, looking like a fish out of water. Her wide eyes mixed shock, embarrassment, and... something else Alaric couldn't immediately identify.
Seeing her reaction, he quickly added: "I'm joking, Sophia. No need to be like that."
She seemed to recover a bit, taking deep breaths a few times. "I... well... that's..."
Alaric rose from the bench, stretching casually. "But perhaps," he said with a smile that was both relaxed and loaded with meaning, "perhaps I'm not completely joking."
He began walking toward the descent path, but stopped after a few steps and looked back. "See you later, Sophia. Enjoy the view - you deserve it, after bravely watching the explosion from so close."
She remained seated, her face still flushed, but now with a small smile trembling on her lips. "See you later, Alaric."
As he descended the newly opened path, Alaric felt his own smile widen. The explosion hadn't just opened the summit - it seemed to have opened much more interesting possibilities. His grandfather's stories had finally come to life, and he found himself thinking that the old man would have appreciated both the view and the company.