Rowan clapped his hands together, pulling the children from the intense battle planning back into the sunlit reality of the farm kitchen.
"Alright, strategizing can make a man thirsty," he declared, catching Lilly's eye. The little swordswoman-to-be was still staring intently at the section of the map where the juicy red strawberries were marked. "Before we decide on the main assault, let's stock up on some ammunition for a refreshment. Lilly, I noticed you were eyeing the red hearts on the map, the berry patch. How about we pay them a visit?"
Now that they had breakfast and were motivated by his speech, the little ones were stocked up with energy. It was the perfect time to show them the charm of his farm.
Lilly's eyes, full of battle fire moments before, instantly softened with delight. "Yes, Daddy! Strawberries!"
Rowan scooped her up onto his hip, giving her a gentle bounce. "Strawberries it is. And we'll grab some lemons too. A proper swordswoman needs some fruits to grow strong."
The group, Rowan, Lilly on his hip, and the four other children trailing behind walked out of the cool, dark comfort of the house and back into the blazing midday heat. The contrast was immediate, but the air around the farmhouse remained bearable thanks to the massive, humming cooling circle Rowan had installed.
With how hot this drought had become, he was glad he made the investment. Though the cooling along with the defensive circles had cost him most of his military early retirement fund, it was totally worth it. He couldn't imagine letting his young ones face this heat indoors.
Regardless, he hoped the people of the neighboring lands, even his fellow villagers, could make it past this drought. If things truly got bad, he would help. He was letting them strive on their own as most people don't appreciate help that comes too early. He waited till they were in dire straits. Only then would his help be worth something.
Rowan wasn't being selfish. He was just looking out for his interest. Even with his abundance, he had siblings and parents who were working in the nearby town or studying at a nice school. That racks up quite a bill too. And now he had 5 kids, he had to give his all too. So he really had to play it safe.
The group walked past the golden wheat field that shimmered like a precious treasure under the sun. The scent of ripe grain was thick in the air, a testament to Rowan's magical farming skill.
"See that, kids?" Rowan pointed to the field. "That's all enchanted wheat. It grows fast, it's hearty, and it's what keeps this fortress running. Your mothers won't be able to resist the bounty for long. Especially when they have more of my home-baked bread."
He led them further east, past the patch of young, light green barley, until they reached a sprawling, low-lying field that was a riot of color and fragrance. It was the berry patch.
"Here we are," Rowan announced, setting Lilly down.
The patch was an explosion of low-growing plants, meticulously segmented into rows. One section was dedicated to the bright red, heart-shaped strawberries. The fruit, plump and glistening, peeked out from under large green leaves, radiating a sweet, earthy perfume.
Adjacent to this, tall, elegant bushes drooped under the weight of deep blue-purple clusters of blueberries, looking like scattered amethyst jewels. Finally, a small, separate hedgerow held the vibrant yellow and green of the lemon bushes, their fruit hard and intensely fragrant, ready to be picked.
There were 11 rows of blueberry bushes, 7 rows of lemons, and 9 rows of strawberries. Each row stretched out for a 7-minute walk.
"It's beautiful," breathed Alexia, her eyes wide with appreciation. Even Alex, the often-tired accountant's son, managed a small, impressed nod.
"These are vital resources," Rowan said, taking on a teacher's tone. "They're a triple threat: sweet for the spirit, tart for flavor, and packed with nutrients. The strawberry and blueberry plants have a minor growth enchantment on them, but the lemon bushes are purely natural. Your mother, Artemis, loves these strawberries more than anything, and the blueberry tarts are one of Nexia's favorites."
Rowan's mind wandered for a bit as he remembered when he used to make these treats for his beloveds.
Lilly was already crouched down, her hands gently investigating a large, perfect strawberry. "Can we pick them, Daddy?"
"That's why we're here," Rowan smiled, handing a small, woven basket to Lilly and a slightly larger one to Darius. He gave each kid a different sized basket. His parents had brought them years back in anticipation of having grandkids.
"Lilly, you and Lucia focus on the big, ripe strawberries. Darius, you and Alexia handle the blueberries. Pick only the darkest ones. Alex, you're the keeper of the lemons. Grab about six of the nicest ones you can find."
Darius is an amped child while Alexia has more acumen. He was sure her eyes for blueberries would be better than that military induced kid. Nexia must have taught her about how to identify the quality of ingredients. That potion obsessed woman was always the best at picking from his fields.
Alex seemed to be a well taught child. Rowan knows that Alex's mom is very keen on education. He was sure that she must have taught him how to pick berries correctly since her hobbies besides studying were foraging in nearby forests. Alex should be fine picking on his own.
Lilly and Lucia are the youngest and oldest, respectively. That should make for a good duo. All of this was thought of by Rowan pretty quickly.
It seems all those years of creating teams and squads for the military didn't go to waste.
The five children scattered into their respective sections, turning the peaceful and quiet field into a buzzing hive of activity.
Lilly and Lucia, despite their age difference, worked in surprisingly good harmony. Lilly would spot a promising, large berry, and Lucia, with her small, nimble fingers, would carefully cup it and detach it from the vine.
"Look, Lilly," Lucia said, holding up a monster strawberry the size of her thumb. "Big one for Daddy!"
"Good job, little sister," Lilly praised while patting her sister's head. Then she moved onto the next strawberry.
Lucia is sooooooo cute! I can't believe I have such a cute sister. The kids at camp would be jealous of me.
Lilly could not help but enjoy the company of the silver haired little sister, as the strawberry wasn't as beautiful as her eyes. The strawberry reflecting in those ruby eyes and the sun brightly illuminating her hair, Lucia looked like a baby angel.
I swear to protect my precious baby sister! Lilly made the silent vow in her heart. Artemis had told her to make such a vow whenever she found something worth protecting.
In the blueberry section, Darius, the military-minded son, was all focus. He treated the task like a detailed inventory. "Dark, dark, dark. Only acceptable ammunition," he muttered to himself, meticulously filling his basket.
He only went for the darkest looking of the blueberries as if he was stocking up military hardware. Mother said, 'The darker the equipment, the more explosive it is'.
If Rowan knew his son's thoughts, he would have cursed on the spot. What does the color of the equipment have to do with explosiveness?
Alexia, next to Darius, was more methodical. She didn't rush, carefully selecting the berries and observing the subtle differences in color and size.
"These contain the most vibrant pigments," she explained to Darius, entirely unsolicited. "The magic is held in the deepest color. Don't only pick the darkest ones. They might be too bitter. It's better for the color to be more rounded and healthy."
The boy just ignored his sister. He thought it would be better to stick to his mother's philosophy. So they both picked the berries based on their own values.
Alex, meanwhile, moved slowly through the lemon bushes. He had a look of concentration, as if calculating the exact yield and profit margin of each lemon he chose.
These lemons, if sold in my town, should be at least 2 silver each. I heard the demand is higher in the capital where it is 5 or 6 silver each. Maybe even more now due to the drought.
Alex realised that the quality of everything around is at the highest standard. Which is why he would charge that much for them. Plus, lemons are a rarity, only enjoyed by nobility and wealthy households. If these were of average quality, the price would be halved, and even lower if the quality were bad.
The boy was stunned at how everything his father grows seemed to be unmatched in quality,
He found a small stick and used it to gently tap the lemons, listening for the perfect solid thud. He chose six, all perfectly round and vibrant yellow, and placed them neatly in his basket.
Rowan watched them all, leaning against one of the posts supporting the lemon trellis. He hadn't felt this complete in years. It was a simple, peaceful scene, a quiet joy that no amount of battlefield promotion or magic could buy. This was what he had been fighting for.
It's why he had risked his life to earn money and learn magic. It was all so we could have a peaceful yet bustling life on a farm.
"Are you satisfied with your haul, Lilly?" Rowan called out.
Lilly and Lucia hurried back, holding their shared basket which was now overflowing with perfectly picked red strawberries.
"Ready for some treats, Daddy!" Lilly announced, beaming with pride. The 2 sisters were hopping around at the thought of what their dad would cook up next.
"I want sweets." said Lucis softly. She would always have some sweet foods after breakfast back at her manor.
Can daddy make strawberry cake? The mind of the youngest child was now lost in thoughts about desserts.
Can daddy make strawberry cake? The mind of the youngest child was now lost in thoughts about desserts.
Darius and Alexia returned next, their basket full of deep, dusky blue blueberries. Darius had a proud look as he puffed up his chest. Alexia looked at her younger brother like he was an idiot.
Alex followed, his six perfect lemons nestled securely. Alex looked at his lemons with a satisfied look.
Rowan took the berries and the lemons, his heart full. "Excellent work kids. Now, let's take this bounty back to the kitchen and concoct a secret weapon of mine. It is perfect to take down enemies weakened by this hot weather. I call it Bombastic Berry Lemonade."
Back inside the cool kitchen, the children quickly washed the berries under a gentle stream of magically cooled water from the tap. Rowan had a giant barrel filled with water in the basement that he had connected with the sink and the cooling spell.
"This is the core of the plan," Rowan declared, taking a deep breath of the combined fruity aroma.
"We use this irresistible temptation, this perfect summer drink, to draw your mothers out of hiding. It hits all their weaknesses: Artemis's need for simple, perfect flavor; Nexia's love for anything magically fresh; Lina's exhaustion needing a quick, natural boost; Yue Ling's demand for wholesome fuel; and Cheryll's appreciation for anything chilled."
He placed a massive glass pitcher on the countertop, easily the size of Lucia.
"Alex, your job is to cut the lemons. The lemons are the core ingredient. We need every drop of that tartness," Rowan instructed.
Alex, surprised to be given such a crucial, solitary task, nodded seriously. He took Rowan's sharpest, smallest knife and began slicing the lemons in half. He did so with an accountant's precision, each slice perfectly centered.
"As expected of my son. Your knife work is perfect." Rowan proudly praised while patting the boy's back. The corners of the boy's mouth turned up just a little. Rowan noticed this too.
Just like his Lina. Doesn't want to smile but clearly likes the compliment.
Seeing their father praise Alex, the other children became eager to help.
"What is my role dad?" Alexia asked.
"Alexia, your job is equally important," Rowan answered. "The flavor must be potent. Use a small water spell to extract the blueberry essence, but don't overdo it. Just enough for a fifth of the pitcher."
Crushing blueberries is too messy. It gets all over your hands and clothes and even messes up your tools. Using magic to extract the berry juice was less work and no mess. Knowing Nexia was most proud of her extraction spells, which she used on herbs, surely she had taught them to her precious daughter.
Rowan wasn't disappointed. Alexia focused, holding her hands over the bowl of blueberries. A faint, shimmery blue aura enveloped the fruit, and a thick, dark-blue liquid began to seep out, collecting at the bottom of the bowl. She stopped the spell just as the berries started to look slightly pale.
Rowan grabbed the lemon halves and a heavy wooden juicer. The juicer was something his father had made for him at his request. The man was excellent at woodwork. He's the one who helped and taught Rowan when he was building this house.
Rowan gave a gentle push of mana to the juicer, causing the wood to vibrate slightly, enhancing the pressure.
"Lemon squeeze, high-speed press!" he chanted lightly, pressing the halves onto the cone. The juice flowed into the pitcher with impressive speed. "This is how we get maximum yield with minimal effort."
The kids giggled when they heard the comical sounding spell their father said. Rowan laughed alongside them as it was intentional. He didn't need to actually chant.
Once the lemon juice and blueberry concentrate were in the pitcher, Rowan added a generous amount of pure cane sugar, which he had made from his own sugar cane.
"Now for the final, most important ingredient," Rowan announced dramatically. He raised his hand over the pitcher and chanted a simple, profound water spell, one he had learned not for the battlefield, but for his farm. "Mana-infused water, maximum chill."
A clear, cold stream of water filled the pitcher, but as it did, the liquid turned cloudy with an intense cold, almost radiating frost. The sugar dissolved instantly in the magical water.
"Lucia, do you want to stir?" Rowan lifted up the young one as she nodded. He gave her a small spoon. She held it tightly with her small, pudgy arms. She stirred slowly until her tiny arms got tired.
Rowan put her down and then let Darius and Lilly take turns stirring. The mixture was stirred carefully until the color was as Rowan liked it.
The result was a beautiful pink-purple concoction, studded with tiny blueberry skins and floating strawberry chunks. The scent was clean, intensely sweet, and sharp with lemon.
Rowan poured six small glasses of the freshly made lemonade.
"Taste test!" he said, handing one to each child and raising one himself.
The children took a sip.
Lilly's eyes went wide. "It's super good!
Darius stood taller. "A perfect morale boost, Father. The sweetness is balanced by the acid. The soldier back at the barracks would love this after training."
Alex, tired no longer, took a big gulp. "It's… very efficient. Extremely refreshing given the temperature."
Alexia simply nodded, studying the glass. "The mana-chill effect is perfectly stable. It will travel well. Maybe we can add some herbs for added flavor or health."
Rowan laughed, a deep, satisfied sound. He took a long drink of his own. It was perfect. The taste of honest labor and family bonding. "Excellent. Now, then, we plan the menu for the main attack, The Mothers' Feast."