Seth had been woken as soon as daylight was hitting the ground, he looked at himself in the mirror. He was much younger now, than what he had been on earth. He was maybe in his late teen's early twenties, short dark brown hair, blue eyes and pale skin. He had gotten a new start in life and wanted to do the most of it, and living on a farm for a while don’t sound too bad, right now. He had a feeling that he wanted this, but he could not remember when he started to want the change.
Seth felt free again, no need to think too much about what needs to be done, just follow the flow, and he did not have to compare his life too everyone else anymore, because of a lack of social media.
He had so many questions about this worlds system, what was his limitations, what did
But the most important right now was; what did Harold want from him. He was not stupid, helping someone in dire need is one thing, but offer him a place to live as long as he helps out on the farm. He had managed without him so far and it would be easier too simply hire someone for the small jobs he could help with or just do them yourself. But still he did not feel any ill will from him or his wife, his daughter on the other hand.
After breakfast Harold, Helga and Seth took the wagon too the fields, the fields were huge. They were going to do it all by hand and he could not believe it was possible. The fog was still there but it was higher than yesterday so he could at least see the fields but not much more.
It was then Seth saw a skill being used for his first time, Harold had a scythe in his hands, and with one movement he cut down the barley around him, everything within 15 meter around him was cut down and as if magic; everything collected itself in a big pile, with all the barley ready to be bundled.
Helga started bundling them up and Seth started filling the wagon. It did not take more then 30 minutes before the wagon was so full that anymore and it would just fall off. Helga jumped up on the wagon and Seth followed, back to the barn where it was put through a machine which separated the barley and hay and even drying in instantly. It’s was very fascinating and Seth started imitating what he saw almost without any commands from Helga. And so, the first day went like that, Seth Could feel his lack of stamina and strength. And so, he bought two skills for Tinkerer called “Farm Worker” and “Minor Stamina Boost” and added the rest of the points to strength, constitution and dexterity. From what he saw today they will be doing this for at least a week or two.
The next day started the same. But today Seth was less focused on work and the weather was perfectly clear if not a little cold. This place was so familiar and so distance at the same time, you could see the great mountainsides on each side of the valley, the farm was located close to one side of the valley and walking to the other side should take days, but this was almost like a small paradise; if not for the a small stream of fresh and cold mountain water, he had to wash in at the evenings.
It was supposed to be colder soon, and the mornings was already close to freezing.
The next 9 days passed and soon they had finished the fields. Seth had leveled Tinkerer up to Level 12, only skill bought was
This had been relaxing in a strange an exhausting way. Helga and Harold had been like parents for him this last week. And as long as he did what he could, they were happy with him, even starting joking with him. Like the time Helga dropped him in the silo, she had told him that something was wrong with the bucket and rope up there, next thing he know was that he was swimming in barley and someone was laughing their ass off.
Seth and the family were sitting having breakfast at the table. “Seth can you take Sarah with you up the stream today? She really likes the sound of the water rushing down the mountain” Helga asked, “Sure, but” Seth answered almost saying that Sarah hated him. He could not think of a reason to refuse, but it was still strange, or was it? They most likely wanted some alone time, right? if he had a wife like Helga, he too would want a taste of it. “But, could you pack a little lunch for us before we leave” Seth continued.
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“Of course, something special you two want?” Helga responded
“Sweets” Sarah blurted out.
“Something to drink?” Seth asked, remembering that he had only been drinking water since coming here.
Helga just looked at them both and nodded to Seth and answered Sarah “I will put some in the backpack for you Sarah, but share with you”
Seth and Sarah Started walking off hand in hand, or nails in hand to be more precise. Sarah was holding his hand and digging her nails in it at the same time. She really did not like him.
Sarah’s mother had packed a lot in the backpack, a book, knitting supplies for Sarah, Sweets for them both, blanket's, a lantern, some fruits that looked like oversized blueberries and a bottle with two mugs.
Walking alongside the stream was pleasant, almost like a romantic walk, even Sarah’s nails had stopped trying to piers his skin, she had stopped after the first nail had drawn blood. But Sarah keep quiet and something felt out of place. Seth was still finding everything a little out of place.
They had walked for a little over an hour it felt like, before a small waterfall was seen, and looking back he could see the farm far downhill. “Is this place okay?” Seth asked, “looks good too me” Sarah said, with a little spunk in her voice. Seth had gotten used to her bad jokes by now. But it did not have the same animosity to it today as it usually did.
Seth started unpacking and placing a blanket on the ground, Sarah felt her way on to the thick blanket. He took out two more, one for each of them and they were just sitting there for a while.
“what’s did mother pack” Sarah asked. Seth took out everything and let her feel it. As soon as she got the knitting stuff, she said out aloud “42, 74”.
“what do it mean?” Seth asked,
“it’s how far I gotten” Sarah replied.
“I see” Seth said.
“Ehm, can you do me a favor?” Sarah asked after a while,
“what?”
“Can you read the book to me out loud? I think it’s a book mother have been hiding from me” She said with a strange look on her face.
So, Seth took out the book and started reading, this was a nice and relaxing experience, looking down at the farm while reading, sitting close to a girl and enjoying a blueberry cider, with sweets and blueberries. As hours went by Sarah moved closer to Seth while the temperature was dropping and the sky darkened. The book was about a girl fighting her way to save her lover and how everyone tried to use her for their own good.
Hours past and the lantern was lit, giving of a little heat. Sarah had stopped knitting, her head resting on his shoulder breathing slowly. Seth too had started being sleepy, maybe it was the cider? he stopped reading and just looked down at all the lights he could see in the valley. It was a mesmerizing view.
Sarah blanket started falling. So, Seth let her down gently, and did the same besides her. They both had a large thick blanket, that easily defended against the cold. But still in her sleep she started moving her hand until she found Seth, Pulling him closer to her. Laying down he could still see the valley below them.
Seth started feeling his eyes closing, While Sarah was using his arm as a pillow. Snuggling her way into his cover. He could feel her warmth and her breathing. But they needed to make their way back, but this was too cozy. So, his eyes slowly closed. ‘Something had to have been in that cider’, was his last thoughts as a world even stranger than this one took him away.
When he opened his eyes the sun har risen from behind the mountains, giving everything a shadow light. Sarah was waking up too, still in his arms. ‘What had happened yesterday?’ Seth asked himself, he remembered everything, but it was so out of character of them both. He did not feel drunk or anything like that either yesterday.
“Good morning” Seth almost whispered.
“Good morning” He got an embarrassed reply back.
But she did not move away from him, instead holding on to his cloths making him unable to move.
“can you continue reading?” She asked him, in a sweet voice, only girls wanting something can make.
“maybe later, we should get back, I’m starving” As Seth said that both their stomachs rumbled.
It was then he heard footsteps, they were coming closer and before he could do anything Harold saw them in each other's arms, under a blanket.