I open my door to a wide open area. The sky is clear and beautiful, another great day to farm. Before me lays neat little rows of my crops, with a scarecrow scattered intermittently throughout the field. I grab my trusty shovel, plow and a bag of seeds. Today I’ll be making another row of plants. A beautiful row of gorgeous gorgeous creations. The more time passes, the better the outcome is. Truly like fermenting wine, in a sense.

Today will be the 952nd row of plants. The day I harvest what I sowed 864 days ago will be a truly great day. Oh… I cannot wait for that time to come! I really must praise Liquesco for the great harvest to come! But first, to begin this new row.

Stretching my hand out, I concentrate and kindly ask the sprites around me for their help. And they kindly come forth! They are simply too kind to help this poor poor farmer. Look at those cheerful faces as they push themselves, fighting for a chance to help me! With another flick of my hand the plow sets off to work, going at the dirt diligently. Oh how their hard work warms my bones.

I’ve always been blessed by the sprites, always so willing to help… I really must go and travel one day to thank the sprite king for his help! When my work here as a farmer is done, of course. It would be simply irresponsible of me if I were to leave without properly taking care of my seedlings no? Yes…

A tinkling can be heard of in the far off distance, ah yes. It must be the man who brings me new seeds to plant. My seed supplier, I should probably go greet them, yes? Yes… I straighten my back, and a sharp crack rings out. Oh my, these dusty old bones of mine… What a dilemma… No matter, I can still greet them. Taking my time, walking through the misty field, truly a beautiful sight, I approach the man in the wagon.

The horse huffs at me and I truly have to smile. No matter how many times I see it, it’s a beautiful specimen, those legs, truly awe inspiring.

“My seeds?”

“In the back.”

I nod at the driver, it’s as per usual. I open the back and a couple of seeds fall out with a thud. Oh deary me, they’re in such bad condition… I lift one up and closely examine it, there are some parts that are falling off but it should be fine. Well, when I plant them I’ll be sure to fix them up, for now, I’ll have to place them in my storage shed.

What does my storage shed look like? Why it’s that cheery building over there. I built it in my free time, and now it’s indispensable! I even reinforced it with sprites, cheery little fellows indeed, always so eager to help. Did I say that yet? Oh my, my memory really is failing me, and I’m only 21! Truly, what a horrific dilemma this is.

Mmm… Yes… Look at these beautiful goods. Look at these beautiful beautiful rows upon rows of good little seedlings. Growing more beautiful by the day. Mmm… Yes… Oh where was I? Hmmm, the seeds have been stored. And the sprites were so kind as to help plant the 952nd row of seeds! How nice, mmm… Truly delightful, it seems I can pass the rest of the day on my nice little rocking chair. With the sprites singing delightful little songs, mmm… Very nice… Oh?

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It seems as if there’s another visiter today. How odd, the seed bringer has already come today… Whoever could it be? Standing up, I slowly make my way to the source ringing, the breach in the barrier that I had set up. It seems to be a small little girl. Aww… Poor little thing, there’s no reason to be afraid of me right? Here, have a cheerful little sprite. Hmmm… That seems to have frightened her more, perhaps she hasn’t seen magic before? No matter, oh? There are two cheerful little sprites around this little girl already? It seems like she’s already being cherished, no need for my own hmmm?

I pick her up gently, little children can be so fragile yes? An accidental squeeze and you might kill them. Gentle handling is crucial for small creatures to survive, yes, yes indeed. Mmmm… Small problem, I’ve nowhere to put her for now, ah… No matter, I’ll use those two cheerful little sprites from this girl to enchant a new bed, yes… Yes… That is a good idea, yes… Mmm…

Cheer up little girl, you aren’t alone. I pat her on the head. Yes… Cheer up, being sad is no good. Smile more, see, I’m smiling all the time. Stop looking like you’re on the verge of tears, tearing up is no good see? I pat her on the head again.

“Cheer up.”

I set her to bed, and pat her on the head again. I can see the sprite that came with her, imbued into this bed, is already curling protectively around her, mmm… How nice, how nice. She seems a bit frightened, so I suppose I should ask her of her situation when I wake up again. Lying down in my own bed, I fall asleep peacefully to the gentle gentle singing of sprites.

Yeah no. My eyes fly open yet again. It seems like today is a truly busy day. I have more visitors! At this rate I’m going to have to check my fences again to make sure they’re doing their job properly. Honestly… These old bones of mine really can’t take this you know? I need my beauty sleep yes? Yes…

Rising from my bed, my the sound of joints popping fills the room. Nothing like a good old stretch no? I stretch my hand out and grab my stave, always have a weapon within reaching distance of the bed is a great idiom. Is that even an idiom? No matter. Words to live by also works.

Opening my modest creaky door I step out to greet the sky. Mmm… Still a beautiful day, with beautiful rolling waves of mist coming and going. Truly beautiful, where was I? Oh right, those visitors. I grow weary of visitors today, I suppose a thwack to the head or two will be enough to dissuade them? Mmmm… I’ve always wanted to do that, be the cranky old man waving a cane. Although in my case, it shall be the young me, only 21 years old, waving my stave at people my age presumably. Mmm… I’m truly most definitely a young man, indeed. A good smack to the head…

Approaching them slowly I raise my hand in a peaceful greeting “Intruders, what is your business?”

“Die! Demon king!”

“No.” With a wave of my hand, the seedlings from my 88th row burst forth from the soil completely in a raging screech. Calmly pointing my hand at the party of four, my beautiful harvest rushes them. In moments they are overwhelmed. No wait, I didn't smack them in the head like I wanted to!  Regardless... Mmm… Truly a beautiful sight.

And look, four nice little seeds.