In a field of golden wheat sat a table of woven white vines, the top of which was a smooth finish. Sitting just behind it was a familiar woman of pristine beauty, face once again resting on her clasped hands, watching Brad approach.
Taking a seat at the table, across from the beauty, Brad saw Mia’s hand written contract sitting on the table. “I guess she was right.” Brad jokingly said.
“That she was. Your parents will be happy to know that you found a capable friend. Well, friend of sorts for now.” She laughed in reply.
“You will tell them of Mia? So does that mean you agree to the terms?” Brad asked.
“Not quite. A message delivered from you is much different from a god letting their followers know of something that may one day evolve into something affecting them.” The god explained to a slightly confused Brad before continuing. “It may sound like a petty difference, but in my realm of power, the difference is major and controlled.”
“Okay… so the contract is not satisfactory?” Brad asked hesitantly.
“I also did not say that. You could say that the details are what matters.” patiently explained, voice gentle. “I am amenable to the majority of what you wrote. I also know what you are willing to give if the negotiations go badly.” smirked the all powerful deity.
“I guessed as much. To be honest, I am pretty sure Mia knew it as well.”
“That firecracker? I assure you that she did.” She laughed. “So, down to business. Due to the location of certain forces and local demands, I am more amenable to proposal 5.”
“Which is-”
“In layman's terms, it is the section offering a portion of your land to be permanently set aside in order to fulfill my requests. I do want an alteration to it though. Instead of the proposed discount of 10 percent market rate, I am willing to only request an 8 percent discount in exchange for the reserved land being expanded to encompass a full half of a land plot with the other half worth of land being reserved to stretch around your land as a wall of sorts.”
“What do you mean a wall of sorts?”
“I want a strip of land surrounding your land to be left to nature. I will also require you to take Fortified Domain as your next domain upgrade.”
“That is quite the ask. That will permanently affect my future progress. I may be losing a major option in the future with this deal, should that not count more towards the deal?”
With a smile the god explained. “It is perfectly in line with your goals. Your goal of staying safely outside of danger’s way while having a visual obstruction against prying eyes. This also starts you along the eventual path of becoming a solid asset in the future. That is assuming that one day I can truly bring you into the fold. Remember, as a druid, you have options in order to serve my purposes. My faction has the best farmers in the world, what you offer me is not what you have. Your value to me is your potential future abilities. Both of my druids are currently on the frontline. Can you guess as to what they do for me?”
“Control swarms of creatures to fight for you?”
With a sweet chuckle the god stunned Brad with her answer, “One cuts apart swaths of his enemies with his weapon, while wading through their lines. The other one summons the forces of the world to turn their surroundings against them. Do you now see your potential value?”
“No, no I don’t. I guess that I’ll be really good at defense?” Brad answered, not quite sure what she was looking for in an answer.
“I have mages and warriors that can do such things with similar results, just different means. What most of the world forgets is that the classes are highly balanced against each other. People swinging weapons are the same, regardless of the flavor. The difference comes down to specialization. Some classes specialize in very unique ways that pair very powerfully with others. So, do you understand now?”
“I believe so. I am something that you lack. Someone to build a ‘bastion of nature’ as that voice said last night.” Brad recalled, the memory easily recalling to the front of his mind.
“Exactly. Your future wants align solidly with what I desire from you. Pledge or not, your family’s path is evident in your decisions. Thus I feel no need to squeeze you dry as you are only now starting to bud. I much rather cultivate you into a ripened fruit before plucking you for service.” The god said with a smile that was both beautiful and incredibly predatory.
“What if I never join you? Will you retaliate?” Brad bravely asked, thinking of Mia and how she might be in danger.
Laughing with droplets of gold gathering in her eyes, the god replied. “Oh heavens no. As I have already said, as a farmer and druid, you will be serving my purposes regardless of if you actually join. The fact that I will have guaranteed managed land in your domain will easily pay for itself. I am knowingly paying more than what the market would require for this type of a bulk purchase contract. I, in exchange, get exclusive rights to your full attention on high value plants. I also get a druid that brings in a new specialty.”
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“So… thats it? We have a deal?” Brad asked hopefully.
“Oh heavens no, but it is all for now. I will also be adding a stipulation that I get first call on all future guaranteed order contracts. As written in Mia’s contract, I am also satisfied with her pricing structure for orders being delivered outside of the local market. You can also inform her that most will stay local, although I would still like them delivered through a network nurtured by you. Her talents would be wasted if not nurtured early.”
“That all seems fair, it sounds like we are in agreement.”
“We are.” the goddess said standing up and offering a soft nod.
“Thank you, my lady.” Brad said, quickly standing and bowing low.
“So child, speak your message.” the goddess gently commanded.
“I wish that my parents know that I always wondered about them. I want them to know that I apologize for the initial anger that I felt learning about my perceived abandonment. I want them to know that I appreciate their sacrifice for me and that I am happy with my life here with Mia.” Brad said with a smile.
“The message will be delivered when they return to safety tonight.”
“Thank you… thank you for this.” Brad smiled, honest gratitude showing.
“As a final seal to our business dealings, I fully authorize your bloodline to be utilized without your pledge with the sole stipulation of you never working against my cause. You can stay neutral, but never against.” The god finished with a hidden storm rumbling through her soft final words.
Feeling the air compress around him as she finished, Brad hurriedly responded, “Of course, we recognize that it would be bad business. We also recognize the danger.”
And with a final quick nodding smile, the goddess faded into the golden stalks encompassing his sight.
After a few moments of stunned silence, Brad sighed in relief. “Wow, that went way better than expected. I can’t wait to tell Mia!” he spoke aloud.
“You did well for your level, but be sure to learn the folly of negotiating with Gods, young one.” The same echoing voice, from the day prior, rang out across the fields.
“What do you mean by that?” Brad asked aloud questioningly.
“It is not for me to mention, but do mind words. Words contain great power when spoken in divine terms.”
“Are yours divine?” Brad asked, genuinely curious.
“Mine are fact and truth, nothing more or less.”
“Who are you?”
“I am here to guide your ascension to the copper tier.” The voice stated.
“So you are the system that guides everyone?”
“No. I guide those with choice.”
“What does that mean? Doesn’t everyone have a choice?”
“Fewer choices than yourself, although some have more, most less meaningful.”
“So what are my choices? Lets tier up, I doubt you will tell me much more if I asked.”
“Very well.”
Suddenly a menu appeared ahead of Brad.
Copper tier upgrade commencing
Mental and Physical abilities increased
* Upgraded to Copper tier
Bloodline: Gaia’s Will
* Full authorization granted
Ability awarded: One with Nature
* Allows one to sense ailments in the land
Bonus trait awarded: Domain Cultivator
* Effects granted by the domain ability are increased
* Effect strength currently at x1.05
* Additional Domain level granted
```Notice!```
Domain level automatically assigned
* Fortified Domain
```Resuming tier upgrade```
Copper tier ability selection for Druid Class, Choose one of the following:
* Poison Spray
* Shoots a spray of poison at a target
* Staff of Thorns
* Summons a staff made of thorns to use as a weapon
* Air Cutter
* Allows the user to gather a blade of air to hurl at an opponent
* Nature’s Army
* Call forth limited utility servants of similar origin to your familiar
* Nature’s Authority
* Imbues temporary divine authority at great cost
* ```WARNING!!! THIS WILL CONSTITUTE A PLEDGE!```
Copper tier ability selection for Farmer Class, Choose one of the following:
* Quick Growth
* Plants require less time to reach full maturity
* Enrich
* Allows user to raise soil quality
* Efficient Work
* Working on farming tasks requires less stamina
* Animal Magnet
* Animals are more likely to feel comfortable around you
* Epic Cultivation
* Increases the quality of all plants grown
* Increases the success rate of guided plant mutation
```WARNING```
* Abilities that are rejected two or more times are lost for future selection resulting from tier upgrades.
“Were the new abilities offered a result of my actions?” Brad asked the surrounding land.
“That is correct. Your prior actions and selections curated your current choices.” The voice responded.
“Well, I don’t really need combat spells.” Brad thought to himself. “That leaves the two ‘Nature’s’ abilities… but only one actual choice. As for the farmer abilities, there are a few good ones, but I think Epic Cultivation is the no brainer here. Mia would kill me if I didn’t choose it.”
“Okay, I’ve chosen my abilities. What now?” Brad asked aloud.
“Nothing, just be warned that all new abilities start at Stone 1. To increase tier, you must raise all known abilities to the start of the next tier of capability to gain the full benefits of a tier upgrade. You may alternatively upgrade your tier when starting abilities reach the next tier. It is important to note that this results in reduced power and potential.”
“ Reduced how?” Brad asked.
“It will permanently reduce your capability to reach higher tiers. In order to continue raising your level, harder and harder feats will be required. Your ability to accomplish such feats with reduced tier benefits will make leveling almost impossible, absent extreme circumstances.”
“That makes sense. Oh! I’ve been wondering, what is the maximum tier?”
“Go find out.” The voice said plainly.
“Really?” Brad asked with a disappointed voice.
“Yes. And with that, your tier upgrade has completed. Congratulations, have a wonderful day.”
“Thanks, I guess have a good day yourself.” Brad added.
“Thank you—”
~~~
Squinting against the bright light, Brad slowly awoke. The sun shining brighter than before, the changes to his sight were obvious. Visually, everything was crisper. Audibly, sounds were less muddled. And then there was the thing making his heart race uncontrollably… Mia drooling on his shoulder, pressed against him in a hugging embrace while deep asleep.
“Life is good.” Brad thought, not yet aware of what the voice had meant with its warning.