Forty animals surrounded Jonn, with only the village’s actively deployed horses absent. Among them, Annabelle alone had achieved level 2, while fourteen others had surpassed the halfway mark toward level 2. The remainder lingered at level 1’s beginning stages, some still lacking mana cores.
The ones nearest to achieving level 2 included Ice, Roulf, Mimosa, Luna, two horses, a rooster, and two hens. Having already supplied Ice with two crystals during their journey, Jonn decided to allocate the remaining crystals to the village bull, both cows, and one rooster.
It’s time to initiate breeding programs, he contemplated. We’ll temporarily sacrifice egg production from breeding hens and milk yield during the cows’ final pregnancy weeks, but the long-term benefits justify these short-term losses. Expanding our animal population takes priority.
However, we must be strategic. We can’t have both cows pregnant simultaneously, nor over three hens brooding eggs at once. Such timing would too severely impact village production.
Jonn surveyed the assembled animals while cradling Annabelle, the animal queen, in his arms like a house cat. After gently setting her down, he indicated his selections: Mimosa, Luna, and one rooster.
He distributed crystals to these three chosen beasts, reserving the final one for Roulf, to be delivered after completing his daily village duties.
“Annabelle, I’m eager to see your offspring. Get to work on that for me,” Jonn instructed the hen, who regarded him with an air of comprehension.
Without waiting for a response, Jonn began his meticulous examination of Annabelle—a process he would repeat for each animal in the village. The rest of his day would be devoted to this task, including presenting Roulf with his well-deserved Aether Tear.
Jonn planned to augment his efforts by employing his {Spells} on the animals, particularly [Magic Breath] and [Mana Manipulation] to accelerate their development.
Among all his initiatives for the village, the animals’ progression was the area where his direct involvement could yield the most immediate results. Driven by the urgency of his own warnings, Jonn found himself still immersed in his work at the animal enclosure as night fell.
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By day’s end, Jonn reflected on the progress.
Five more animals ascended to level 1. The four beneficiaries of the Aether Tears earlier had successfully advanced to level 2, aligning with my expectations.
However, these newly advanced beasts didn’t exhibit the same chatty abilities as Annabelle. Is this a unique trait specific to her, or will the others develop similar capabilities over time?
Jonn emerged from the animal enclosure into the embrace of the night, tired from today’s work. His muscles smoldered with fatigue, his stomach growled in protest, yearning for a steaming plate of food. Even his eyes, typically sharp and alert, now ached subtly, silently pleading for more than the scant hours of rest he’d been allowing himself lately.
Yet he continued. He allocated his five new attribute points to [Wisdom], momentarily setting aside the fact that he had recovered another point in the [Save the Eternal Village] that afternoon. With it, he was only one point away from being able to improve again with this quest.
In the days to come, there was a promising outlook for multiple attribute point gains. This was mainly because of the animals’ progress in the [Magic Farm] mission. With the next harvest just a few days away, Jonn awaited the chance to expand his fields and provide precious Aether Tears for his animals.
This prospect kindled a smile on his weary face as he entered the expansive greenhouse, his mind already mapping out the next phase of his plans.
Post-harvest, he mused, I’ll accompany Petyr to rendezvous with the merchants on the Royal Road southwest of here. Upon our return, I’ll finally tackle the [Exotic Animals] quest.
To Jonn’s relief, the situation with the creatures west of the village had remained almost the same during his weeks of travel. The village guards maintained their daily patrols, and while evidence suggested creatures beyond the Triceratops, these beings had ventured no closer to the village than previously observed.
The signs were concerning, and those involved in western surveillance grappled with heightened stress levels. Yet, this afforded them time to address other pressing matters.
I must push myself to reach level 3 before then!
Jonn considered what it would take to deal with those creatures, then redirected his focus to the thriving plants and the nutrient-rich soil where the village’s coveted green mana crystals flourished.
Before indulging in his much-needed meal and rest, Jonn meticulously inspected the greenhouse, completing his assessment after weeks away from the village.
To his satisfaction, everything was fine. The farmers had executed their plant care routines with diligence, setting the stage for what promised to be a record-breaking harvest for the Eternal Village in mere days!
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Three weeks after Jonn’s return, the village buzzed with the energy of another harvest. The day prior, Jonn and five others had devoted long hours to the greenhouse, not only gathering ripe produce but also initiating a crucial expansion.
Jonn’s efforts had increased the planted area within the greenhouse to an impressive 260 square meters, with additional plots scattered throughout the village’s walled perimeter. As per his plan, Jonn used crystals from the greenhouse to establish a central planting area in the village’s heart, causing the activation of his designed Mana Reflectors.
This morning, as Jonn awoke, his muscles still tender from yesterday’s labors, he stepped onto his balcony. His gaze fell upon the glistening, dew-covered soil of the village’s new central flowerbed.
Still clad in pajamas, he stretched languidly, envisioning the village’s verdant future—a lush, communal green space for all residents to enjoy, unfurling before his eyes.
With no pressing duties until his midday departure with Petyr to market the village’s goods, Jonn savored this moment of tranquility in his house.
Villagers began to stir, throwing open doors and windows to welcome the crisp morning air. Some elderly residents already ambled around the new flowerbed, exchanging friendly waves with Jonn, who momentarily set aside the system’s persistent notifications.
As foreseen, more animals had ascended to beast status overnight!
Jonn had distributed 18 mana crystals the previous evening, half to creatures on the cusp of becoming level 1 beasts. Their successful transformation allowed Jonn to allocate 9 attribute points: 5 to [Intelligence], 3 to [Charisma], and 1 to [Luck].
Jonn Irondoom
Level 2 (87.5%) (Acolyte)
Health: 369/369
Mana: 935/875 (+60)
Stamina: 329/329
[Attributes]
Strength 30.9 Agility 30.9 Dexterity 31 (+3) (+10) Constitution 36.9 Endurance 32.9 Intelligence 87.5 (+6) Wisdom 75 (+6) Charisma 24 (+3) (+10) Luck 22 (+3)
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[RESISTANCES] Fire (level 2) +20% Fire Affinity [REPUTATION] [Elder of the Eternal Village] +10 CHA [RACE] [Human (Mage)] +10 DEX [Artifacts] [Wildheart Talisman]
+2 LUC, +3 INT, +3 WIS, +3 CHA
[Mysterious Magic Dagger]
+3 DEX
[Spirit Wand]
+3 INT, +3 WIS, +1 LUC
Jonn had significantly enhanced his mental attributes, particularly his [Intelligence] and [Wisdom], in recent weeks, thanks to his diligent efforts to reach level 3. His quests had undoubtedly contributed to this growth, but the previous day’s bountiful harvest and the nourishing food from the village had also played crucial roles.
He made further progress in [Save the Eternal Village], finally recovering all the previous loss. Simultaneously, he advanced to 33 out of 45 in the [Magic Farm] quest—a figure he knew would soon climb to 40, given the steady improvements his animals were showing.
For the village’s harvest and food supply, Jonn reaped far more than he had initially counted on. He had noticed earlier that the animal droppings were unusual, containing traces of mana. As he had envisioned, this magical infusion was already affecting the village’s crops. Not only were they yielding larger harvests than the farmers had hoped, but they also contained discernible traces of mana.
Jonn was now consuming nearly 3 units of mana daily through what appeared to be ‘ordinary’ food—a figure that astounded even him. It was remarkably close to what his fellow villagers had been ingesting, yet without any signs of the dreaded mana poisoning.
While these factors had contributed to his current mana level, Jonn had also absorbed a considerable amount of his various accomplishments in Littlewood over the past few weeks.
One valuable piece of knowledge he gained during this period was insight into the hierarchy of mages!
He had learned from Hewet that there were 15 levels for mages in Valorian. However, until now, he had been unaware of the specific titles given upon mages at each level.
Armed with new information, he had familiarized himself with the names of four distinct power bands within the magical hierarchy.
The magical hierarchy began with the first cultivation band for mages, known as “Apprentice,” which corresponded to level 1. The second tier, “Acolyte,” encompassed levels 2 and 3. The third rank, “Mystic,” was reserved for mages at levels 4 and 5. Jonn’s knowledge of the hierarchy jumped to levels 10, 11, and 12, which all shared the prestigious title of “Sage.” The intervening levels remained a mystery to him.
Ever since uncovering this information from one tome he gets in Littlewood, the designation (Acolyte) had appeared in Jonn’s status.
Curiously, the same phenomenon didn’t occur with level 2 beasts, leading Jonn to theorize that beasts might be classified under different titles within the same cultivation range as mages.
However, such matters weren’t at the forefront of Jonn’s mind this morning. As he scrutinized his status, he felt a surge of anticipation for his impending advancement to level 3, coupled with a sense of readiness for another expedition beyond the village’s familiar confines.
After observing his people for a while, Jonn changed into more suitable attire for the day ahead. He then descended the stairs to receive his morning meal—a fresh egg, warm bread, and creamy milk—from one of Betta’s diligent assistants.
The village’s enhanced livestock had led to a remarkable increase in production. They were now yielding 54 eggs and nearly 100 liters of milk daily.
These magical beasts defied the logic of ordinary animals, their bountiful output sustaining the Eternal Village with unprecedented abundance.
Complementing the milk and egg was the artisanal bread crafted by Arnald’s wife. She had taken to producing this staple once or twice a week, employing skills she had honed during her time at a tavern in Littlewood.
Jonn savored his breakfast, the flavors of home-baked bread, farm-fresh egg, and rich milk mingling on his palate.
With his appetite sated, he set out from his dwelling, ready to confer with those who would maintain the village in his absence.
As Jonn stepped out into the crisp morning air, he spotted Elia emerging from her house almost simultaneously. Without hesitation, he approached his fellow traveler, who would accompany him and Petyr on their journey today.
“You look energized this morning,” Jonn remarked, noticing an unusual sparkle in the warm-faced girl’s eyes.
Elia had a unique condition that caused her to appear flushed almost constantly. Jonn and the entire village had grown accustomed to the perpetual redness of her cheeks. However, today her eyes seemed to smile at him, gleaming in the early daylight as if she were harboring exciting news.
“And I truly am,” she confirmed, falling into step beside Jonn. “I adore traveling. One day, I still hope to venture beyond our borders, perhaps even to the neighboring Barren Hills of Deepshadow, to sell our village’s produce.”
“You’re remarkably brave, Elia,” Jonn said, regarding her with friendly praise. “The outside world can be chaotic and fraught with unsavory elements.”
Their relationship had undergone a significant transformation. Before old Hewet’s passing, they had been nothing more than rivals, thrust into competition by the village’s dynamics. Now, however, after sharing many experiences and challenges, they had set aside any lingering antagonism.
While they still occasionally disagreed on certain matters, their interactions now resembled those of close friends and fellow villagers united in their concern for their people, rather than feuding youths vying for position.
“These past two years, safeguarding the village alongside you, have taught me a valuable lesson,” Elia reflected, her tone a mix of experience and acceptance. “Trouble has a way of finding us, whether we seek it out.”
Jonn chuckled, a wry smile playing on his lips. “I can’t argue with that logic,” he conceded as they approached the warehouse.
A wagon laden with an assortment of food, weapons, and metals for trade stood ready for their journey. Three sturdy horses were already harnessed to the vehicle, while Petyr awaited their arrival.
The red-haired man, clad in armor that diverged from the standard village guard uniform, greeted them with characteristic directness. “We’re almost completing our stockpile for sale,” he reported. “If you have any unfinished business in the village, I’d suggest tending to it promptly. We’ll be departing in an hour’s time.”
The merchants who were supposed to buy their goods were already waiting for them in the region southwest, nearly a day’s journey from the village. Eliot and Asher had already gone to the area to wait for the group, and one of the two had returned at dawn to alert the village.
This information, known only to Petyr, had prompted him to advance their departure time, ensuring an early start to their expedition.
“Understood,” Jonn nodded, his mind already mapping out his remaining tasks. “You finish up here. I need to have a word with old Tim and Betta before we set off. I’ll return shortly to depart with you.”
His primary concern lay with Betta, given that Annabelle, the revered queen of the village animals, had begun incubating one of her eggs just the day before.
The thought of anyone disturbing this delicate process filled Jonn with apprehension.