Chapter 2: Farmer’s Son
Five years swiftly passed, and Coal was growing into an inquisitive and spirited young child. Nurtured within the loving embrace of their tight-knit village community, he was taught to appreciate the value of hard work and responsibility and soon found himself eager to learn about the productive routines of village life.
Together with his parents, he tended to the family's farm, his small hands brimming with curiosity as they navigated their way around soil, seeds, and various farm tools.
As Coal matured, he decided to refer to the knowledge and skills he acquired as his "stats," which grew and evolved along with him. This unique perspective on personal growth enabled him to track his progress and embrace every learning opportunity that came his way.
With each passing year, his stats changed, reflecting his passion and enthusiasm for cultivating the land, as well as the relationships he built within the village.
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Name: Coal
Race: 99% - Human, 1% - ???
Class: N/A
Titles:
Farmer’s Son - Learns farm-related things easier (+1 Strength/Endurance)
Mana/Qi/Aura: 1
Strength: 5
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 8
Willpower: 5
Skills:
* Speech - unknown
* Farming Tools - unknown
* Agriculture - unknown
* Hunting - unknown
* Archery - unknown
* Spearmanship -unknown
Traits: Blessed by Earth (unknown)
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One sunlit afternoon, Brad took Coal by the hand and led him to the wheat fields, determined to pass down his knowledge to his eager son. With patience and care, he began to explain the basics of wheat cultivation in terms that Coal, still a young child, could comprehend.
As they walked through the fields, Brad demonstrated how to sow seeds, nurture the growing plants, and eventually harvest the ripe wheat. Coal's eyes widened with wonder, absorbing every detail as he listened intently to his father's teachings, excited to apply this newfound knowledge to his own ventures on the family farm.
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What truly fascinated Coal was that his father had not shown him how to grow wheat that fast before. It took mere minutes for his father to explain and go through each of the processes.
"Papa, how'd you make it grow so fast?" Coal asked.
"Well, Coal can you see this brown light right here?" Brad held both his hands together and a small light began to glow. The glow looked like a little dirt person.
"Papa! What's that? It's so cute, can I touch it?" Coal quickly squealed.
"Haha, this my boy is an earth spirit. His name's Rocky, and he and I have been friends since long before you were born. In fact, I've known Rocky since before I knew your ma." - Brad begins telling Coal about the spirits of the world.
"There are many different types of spirits in the world. Most keep to themselves and their own kind, but they exist everywhere and in all places. The most common or at least the ones we see the most are Earth, Fire, Air, and Water as those are the elements we use to live."
"I met Rocky when I was fourteen and working on the farm. He said that he liked how much I cared for the land and offered to form a contract with me. He's only a minor spirit, but I think he might evolve soon." - Brad continues to explain the spirits to Coal, but Rachel tells them to come inside to eat.
As the trio settled down at the dinner table, Coal's mind was racing with questions about spirits and the possibility of forming a contract just as his father had with Rocky.
Rachel, noticing her son's excitement, patiently indulged his curiosity and further elaborated on the nuances of spirit contracts, as well as the importance of respect and empathy when dealing with these ethereal beings.
Coal's enthusiasm grew as he imagined the possibility of having a spirit companion of his own. He eagerly asked his parents if he, too, could form a contract with a spirit someday.
Smiling, Brad and Rachel explained to their son that it was possible, but he might have to wait until he was older and had gained more experience in the world.
They encouraged Coal to dedicate himself to working hard on the farm and learning as much as he could.
They assured him that, through diligent effort and a strong connection to the land, he might attract the attention of a helpful spirit like Rocky.
As the days passed, Coal embraced his lessons on the farm with renewed vigor, driven by the possibility of forming his own spirit contract.
Each morning, he rose before the sun, tending to the crops and animals with care and dedication, constantly seeking ways to deepen his understanding of the land and its workings.
"Coooaaal! Why don't you come to play with us anymore?" asked a young girl in a small voice.
"Yeah come on Coal, is farming that much fun?" asked a boy who looked exactly the same as the girl.
"I think it's fun, but if yall want to play we can go to the spot in a second."
Coal went to tell his dad he was going with Gwen and Gary to play.
"That's good son, I'm happy that you are so eager to farm and get a spirit, but you should know it's okay to go and play. Have fun!"
Coal runs over to Gwen and Gary leaving his dad in the fields.
They run through the village to the forest nearby until they reach a small clearing.
A small little hut made of sticks, mud, and leaves was in the middle of the clearing with a little patch of flowers that they had planted right next to it.
They didn't know many letters, but they were able to spell their names and so they carved them into the bark of some trees with a stone they found.
The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting a warm glow over their secret hideout. Coal, Gwen, and Gary spent hours lost in imaginative play, where they were knights, wizards, adventurers, or monks fighting monsters and saving the world.
As dusk approached, the trio reluctantly took their leave of the enchanted world they had created, returning to their respective homes with dirt-streaked faces and tired smiles.