I wake to early morning light filtering through the cabin window. Donny is already awake, churring softly from his spot near the door.
[Wright] "Morning, buddy."
He churrs in response, tail swaying slightly.
I stretch and head to the small kitchen area. Today's going to be a full day of work, so a good breakfast is essential.
I pull out the bread flour Liora gave me yesterday, along with some honey and other ingredients she included when I handed her the seeds I'd collected so far. She even wrote down the recipes for the dishes Eldrin mentioned, so I'm looking forward to trying the Emberbread. I've never made it before, but the instructions seem straightforward enough.
I grab a flat stone from Storage—one I'd collected earlier for this exact purpose—and heat it over the stovetop with a controlled application of Fire Magic. While it's warming, I mix the flour with water and a pinch of salt, kneading it into a smooth dough. The recipe calls for a touch of honey to balance the earthy grain flavor, so I add a small drizzle and work it in.
Once the stone is hot enough, I flatten the dough into thin rounds and place them on the surface. They cook quickly, developing a light char on the outside while staying soft inside. The smell is earthy and slightly sweet.
While the bread cooks, I slice a few strips of bacon from the leftover Warboar and fry them in a pan. The fat renders out, sizzling and filling the cabin with a rich, savory aroma. I also cut up a Citruspear, the bright citrus scent cutting through the heavier smells of bread and bacon.
Within minutes, breakfast is ready.
I plate a portion for Donny—Emberbread, a generous helping of bacon, and a few chunks of Citruspear. He churrs happily and digs in immediately.
I sit down with my own plate and take a bite of the Emberbread. It's got a rustic texture, denser than regular bread but with a pleasant chewiness. The honey adds a subtle sweetness that pairs well with the salty bacon. The Citruspear is refreshing, balancing out the heavier flavors.
Not bad for a first attempt.
Once we finish, I clean up quickly and head outside. Donny follows, already looking ready for the day.
As we step out into the clearing, I spot Rhevan gathering his hunting party near the forest edge. Donny's head perks up immediately, and he churrs with interest.
[Rhevan] "Ah, perfect timing. We're heading out to gather seeds and hunt for fresh game. Donny, care to join us?"
Donny looks up at me, tail wagging.
[Wright] "Go ahead, buddy. They'll need your help finding the good spots."
Donny churrs happily and toddles over to Rhevan's group. The hunters greet him with respectful nods, clearly honored to have the Forest King accompanying them.
[Rhevan] "We'll return by midday with what we find."
[Wright] "Good luck out there."
The hunting party sets off into the forest, Donny leading the way with surprising speed.
I watch them disappear between the trees, then turn my attention to the field.
The clearing is already bustling with activity. High elves are moving between the barracks and the field, carrying tools, seeds, and supplies. Some are setting up irrigation adjustments, others are hauling soil amendments to different sections of the field.
I'm glad to see them so motivated, though I hope they had a chance to eat breakfast before diving into work.
Near the edge of the clearing, I spot Eldrin making his preparations to depart. He wears traveling robes, a pack slung over one shoulder, his usual staff replaced by a silver sword. A small cluster of high elves waits nearby, likely serving as his escort.
I walk over.
[Wright] "Heading out already?"
[Eldrin] "Yes. The sooner I establish contact with the neighboring kingdoms, the sooner we can set up distribution channels."
[Wright] "Good luck out there. Stay safe."
Hope he doesn't run into any bandits.
Eldrin chuckles, a sound that's both warm and confident.
[Eldrin] "It's been a long time since anyone posed a real challenge to me. Even Rhevan is still inexperienced in my eyes."
Now I hope the bandits don't run into him.
[Wright] "I'll leave you to it, then."
Eldrin nods and turns to his group. They set off toward the forest, disappearing between the trees within moments.
I head toward the field.
—
Liora is already there, standing at the edge of the prepared land with a group of high elves gathered around her. She's holding a detailed layout sketch, gesturing to different sections as she speaks.
She notices my approach and smiles.
[Liora] "Good morning, Wright."
[Wright] "Morning. How's it looking?"
[Liora] "Very well. I've made a few adjustments to the plan we discussed yesterday."
She gestures to the field, and I follow her gaze.
[Liora] "Most vegetables need at least eight hours of sunlight daily, so I've arranged the taller crops—like the Silverwheat—on the northern side. That way, they won't cast shade on the shorter plants during peak sun hours."
She points to different sections.
[Liora] "Root vegetables are planted in the deepest soil sections where their roots can expand freely. The fruiting plants—Golden Grapples, Sunfall Fruit, Wild Strawberries, and Citruspear—are along the southern and eastern edges where they'll receive the most consistent light throughout the day."
She continues.
[Liora] "I've also organized by mature size and growing season. Fast-growing crops like Wild Onions are grouped together so we can harvest and replant them without disturbing slower-maturing plants like Root Tubers and Carrotroot."
I'm genuinely impressed. She's thought through details I didn't even consider.
[Wright] "That's... really well thought out. Though we'll be using magic to accelerate growth, so I'm not sure if it's necessary."
[Liora] "It'll be beneficial in the future once things settle down."
[Wright] "I see. That's very insightful of you. Thank you."
Liora beams at my praise.
[Liora] "It's what I do. The land speaks if you know how to listen."
There's a reverence in her tone, a deep connection to the work she's doing.
[Liora] "We're ready to begin planting."
[Wright] "Then let's get started."
—
The high elves move with practiced coordination. Rows are marked, seeds are distributed, and planting begins. Liora walks among them, offering guidance and adjustments where needed. The process is methodical and efficient.
I watch for a while, then notice Nym approaching from the direction of the barracks with a group of high elves dressed in robes. Mages, I assume.
[Nym] "Ready to start with the growth acceleration?"
[Wright] "Yeah. I want to try it out on a small section first. Make sure the magic works the way I'm expecting."
[Nym] "Smart. Better to test on a small scale before committing to the entire field."
I choose a small plot that's already been planted and watered. A cluster of Root Tubers, neatly spaced and covered with soil.
I kneel beside the plot and activate Growth Acceleration Magic.
I start with a small amount, using magic to transform the mana in my body into nutrients, channeling it directly into the seeds. The magic flows smoothly, spreading through the earth like warm light. Oohs and ahhs are heard from the small crowd watching nearby.
After a moment, I activate Appraisal to check the results.
—
[Appraisal]
Root Tubers (Growth Accelerated)
Starchy, dense. Can be cooked or mashed. Growth has been accelerated. Can be harvested in 10 days.
—
Good. It's working, but ten days is still too long. I need to push it further.
I channel more nutrients into the plot, increasing the intensity gradually. The soil begins to shift slightly as the roots beneath respond to the magic, growing and expanding at an accelerated rate.
I check again with Appraisal.
—
[Appraisal]
Root Tubers (Growth Accelerated)
Starchy, dense. Can be cooked or mashed. Growth has been heavily accelerated. Can be harvested in 3 days.
—
Better. But I need it ready by tomorrow morning.
I increase the flow once more, carefully controlling the output to avoid damaging the plants. The air around the plot shimmers faintly with magical energy.
Nym, who's been watching silently, activates her own Appraisal.
Her eyes widen.
[Nym] "You're... using that much mana without even breaking a sweat."
I glance at her.
[Wright] "I do have a larger mana pool than usual."
[Nym] "Root Tubers normally take three to four months to grow. You've accelerated them to ten days with barely any effort, and now you're pushing for even faster growth. Most mages couldn't do this for a single plant, let alone an entire field."
She stares at the plot, then back at me.
[Nym] "And the magic control required for that kind of precision..."
I shrug.
She looks like she's trying to process that, then shakes her head slowly.
I check the plot one more time.
—
[Appraisal]
Root Tubers (Growth Accelerated)
Starchy, dense. Can be cooked or mashed. Growth has been heavily accelerated. Can be harvested in 1 day.
—
Perfect.
[Wright] "Alright. Let's begin casting growth acceleration on the crops to time it so we can start harvesting tomorrow."
Nym nods, still looking a bit stunned.
[Nym] "Right. Let's get to work."
We spread out across the field, moving methodically from section to section. I handle the large-range bursts, alternating between mana and miasma to cast growth acceleration magic across broad areas in controlled waves. Nym and the other high elf mages follow up with precise bursts of magic to ensure even growth.
The high elves continue planting as we work, and gradually, the entire field begins to hum with magical energy. Mana and miasma flow back into the world, helping to sustain life with renewed energy.
By the time the sun reaches its peak, we've covered nearly half the field.
I hear a small growl from Nym. She looks away, embarrassed.
Guess it's time for lunch.
I straighten and brush the dirt off my hands.
[Wright] "Let's take a break. We've made good progress."
Nym looks relieved.
[Nym] "That sounds like a good idea."
We head back toward the clearing where the barracks are set up. Some of the high elves are already gathering, taking a break from their planting work. A few have started preparing food—simple fare, but enough to keep everyone going.
Liora emerges from the field as well, wiping her brow.
[Liora] "The planting is going smoothly. We should have the current sections finished by mid-afternoon."
[Wright] "Great work. Make sure everyone takes a proper break."
She nods and moves to organize the meal distribution.
A commotion near one of the barracks catches my attention. The messy-haired high elf from yesterday stumbles out, yawning widely and looking like she just woke up.
Nym spots her immediately and marches over, arms crossed.
[Nym] "Vesper. It's past midday."
The messy-haired elf—Vesper, apparently—blinks sleepily.
[Vesper] "Is it? I woke up in the middle of the night and started working on a new artifact. I must have gone back to sleep and lost track of time."
[Nym] "You were supposed to help with the morning planting."
[Vesper] "I can't. Too tired. I'm going to eat and go back to sleep."
Nym looks like she's about to say something sharp, then just sighs.
[Nym] "Just... get some food and be ready to work after your nap."
Vesper nods and shuffles toward the food area.
As I head toward the food area as well, I hear a familiar churring sound from the forest. Donny emerges between the trees, and behind him, Rhevan and his hunting party appear, looking out of breath. Seems like they're having trouble keeping up with the little speedster.
Rhevan is still catching his breath as he approaches.
[Rhevan] "We've returned with a good haul."
He activates Storage and pulls out several large sacks. Opening one, he reveals bundles of seeds—a large variety including vegetables, fruits, grains, and root crops.
[Wright] "This is perfect. We'll have enough to finish planting the entire field."
[Rhevan] "Donny led us to the best foraging spots. The Forest King knows this land better than anyone."
Donny churrs proudly, clearly pleased with himself.
I pat his shell.
[Wright] "Good job, buddy."
Rhevan pulls out another sack from Storage—freshly hunted game.
[Rhevan] "We'll continue gathering while you work on the field. If you need more, just let us know."
[Wright] "This is already a huge help. Thank you. Though please make sure to eat first before heading back out."
He nods and heads off with his group to rest and eat.
I turn back to the sacks of seeds. With this much, we'll easily be able to fill out the remaining sections of the field.
Lunch first, though. Then we'll finish the job.