“As instructed, we have started building channels throughout most of our farms, so that we don’t have to rely on the whims of nature for a great harvest.”

I shook my head at the man I was put in charge of, Shan was his name. His hands were clean but dirt hid in his calluses, a testament to his climb up the hierarchy to where he was today.

“We do not have the manpower and tools to water all our crops. The whole purpose of the channels is to bring water closer to where we can then water the plants to help combat the weeks without rain.”

“The Sage is wise.” He says, doing a small bow to me. I guess sucking up to higher ups is a skill required to climb from the bottom, even in this uncivilized land.

“How about the ashes and the best wheat I requested to keep from the last harvest?” I ask him. I was sitting in my room, on my chair, as Shan waited at the door.

“Yes, we have started cutting down trees, burning them, and sprinkling the ashes amongst the fields. But I am getting complaints about how difficult it is with seemingly no result.” I shrugged at him and seeing me not speak up, he continued, “And about the seeds. There were some complaints from the elders about you wanting to hoard the best seeds to yourself. The overwhelming majority, especially with the help of the chieftain, had no problem with your request and granted it.”

That was good, I could start my selective breeding of wheat, and hopefully decades from now, we will have really healthy and plentiful wheat for all. I didn’t know how long it would take to see results, but I knew it couldn’t be too short. Certainly no less than a single decade.

I nod at that. “Thank you, Shan. I don’t know how much effort I would have to put into this just to get a fraction of the result, I appreciate it.”

He shakes his head. “Not at all, I am looking forward to the fruits of our labor, and the prosperity of this city. Is there any other request you have for me before I head to the fields to ensure that everything progresses smoothly?”

I thought about it for a bit. I could ask him to talk to the chieftain about the trip to the village, but that would be lazy of me, since I know where to find him if needed. Plus, he was in charge of the farm and farmers, not a servant. It would be arrogance to use him as such. I could ask him to look into fertilizing with feces, but I knew there were caveats to that strategy since there were a lot of diseases in them. They needed to be treated properly before use.

I shook my head. “Thank you Shan, but I think that would be all.” He does a small bow, “Thank you for your wisdom, Sage.” He then leaves my room.

I sighed, It’s been almost a week, and while I was given a couple of days to myself, I was quickly saddled with the task of reforming their whole farming architecture. The chieftain requested that they wait before the assignment, but I guess they were wary of me leaving the city, and wanted to squeeze me dry.

I got up and headed towards the chieftains room. I was long overdue for replying to his offer. I announced my presence and walked in, the chieftain was staring out his window. I look past him and see him watching a bunch of kids running around and playing with each other.

“The children here are the future of the city. We must protect them from the dangers of our world, and horrors of things we cannot control.” He says without even looking at me.

I give him a once over. He didn’t seem all that old, maybe in his late twenties, early thirties. He had no graying hair and wrinkles were just setting in. I didn’t believe he was at the age to lament about the future generation, but perhaps it was a cultural thing?

I nod, “Indeed, without the children there would be no future.” We both stayed there in silence. I approached the table and sat down next to him. I decided I would interrupt the quiet, “I am sorry to interrupt your reflections, but I have come here to answer your offer.” He finally turns to me, I frown. “I would like to accept it.”

He smiled.

* * *

He grilled me about any plans I could extend to the city, which I saw no point to withhold. We talked about farming and what my current and future plans are. I talked about domesticating animals, which he was very much interested in. The city had some animals, but there were only a few, and they were truly unruly. They had some sheep look alikes, that they had to usually physically corner, before they could shear them. That explained the clothing some of the council were wearing. I guess it was their form of luxury.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I also talked about how we needed to form a caravan for the salt. Since that was both a great preservative and could help with wounds in a pinch. He grilled me about other various things I could bring to the village, and after several hours, I decided that it was enough for the day.

“Thank you for giving me an opportunity to brainstorm, but I am tired, and a Sage requires time for his own thoughts.” If he had any displeasure at me so blatantly using my title, he didn’t show it. “Of course, I’m sorry that I held you down. I was simply too excited about the possibilities your wisdom would bring to this city. Although I implore that you take the plague more seriously. Noone knows how those work, and I would rather not risk the lives of my people.”

I shook my head, “There is no need to worry, and if it does reach here, I am sure I could find the cause and get rid of it.” His face was laced with worry, and it seems that my comforting words didn’t reach him. Deciding that I was excused, I left his room.

As I was walking through the hall I thought about how I wanted to farm some herbs. I was given a small plot of land for myself after my success. Walking into my room I looked through the collections of herbs I had. I would plant two types of plants. One being the ones that tasted the most similar to tea, since that was the only past time I currently had. Second being the couple of fever reducing ones.

The fever reducing herbs were important since it seemed like that was the main symptom among this prehistoric world. Everyone and their child got fevers. Infections and food poisoning seemed to be the most common cause of sickness here.

I headed towards my own little plot I was assigned to, this one being much better than the first one I got, thanks to agreeing to the offer, no doubt. I even got my own farmer, who would tend to this “farm”, which was simply one giant garden.

Off to the side, was a small clearing where I was planning to build my place of residence. The chieftain tried to insist on giving me one near the city center. But the buildings they had were cramped, and the buildings that actually were big enough for me were from some of the core members of the council, so there was no chance I was getting one of those.

In the end, I insisted on having one built to my height, with enough room to have a living room where I would greet any guests I would have. Sectioned off would be my kitchen area, an office, where I would record keep once I could figure out paper, and my bedroom. It would take a few days to get together a crew but I wasn’t in any rush.

I observed my garden and shook my head. I wouldn’t be able to grow any herbs here. All the herbs I had relied on shade from the forest to protect from the heat and the sun. I would need to build artificial shading, since growing trees takes an incredibly long time. Maybe once everything was settled, I would plant a tree, so that once I was older I had a nice little forest patch all to myself. But for now, a little scaffolding would get the job done.

Once I was done inspecting my property with nothing there, I headed to the main fields, where I would need to talk to Shan about planting the best seeds. I walked and asked around for Shan before I finally ended up finding him overseeing a water channel. What surprised me was that he was also working on it, digging in with the tools I introduced.

“Hi Shan, can I talk with you for a bit?”

“Of course, Sage, give me a second to wipe the dirt off myself to look presentable.”

He quickly drops his tool, where he then heads up the channel so that he could access running water from the river, and quickly splashes water on himself to get rid of most of the dirt on him.

“I am ready to assist to the best of my abilities” He says as he approaches me, “How may I be of service?”

“I want to discuss the seeds we were able to keep thanks to you,” He kept a completely straight face at the compliment. What a tough nut to crack this guy will be. “When the channels are done and we start the planting process. I want you to plant the best seeds we were able to gather in three separate fields. Some in the poor fields, some in the average fields, and some in the best fields we have. Make sure that you separate them from the rest of the field however you like. Whether it be with a fence or simply a line, so that we can observe them, and we will keep the best of the seeds from each field to replant them in the same quality of fields.”

He looks at me curiously, “How come, if you don’t mind me asking? Wouldn’t it be for the best to eat the best of our labor instead of leaving them to waste in the field?”

I patiently explained to him, “Do you notice how kids look similar to their parents?” He thinks about it before nodding, “I do, but what do the kids have to do with the plants?”

I continued, “Well, when a parent is tall, their kids are usually tall, and they usually have the same eye color, not always, but usually.” He continues nodding as he listens. “Well plants are similar, you take the best plants, plant from the best harvest you have, and the plants, in this case wheat, will have a higher likelihood of being better, then other plants..”

His eyes widened at the revelation. He excitedly continues my thought process, “And if we repeat that multiple times, the whole field will be the best.”

I nod, “That’s right. It might take a few decades, but the kids will be eating well if we do this right.”

With a serious look in his eyes, he does a bow. “If what you speak is true, you have done us the biggest favor of all, ensuring that our offspring will live without hunger. For that I thank you.”

I nod at that “There will always be tribulations that will hunt us, the least I could do is take away some of the tribulations, giving them more spare time to work on the ones we can’t fix by feeding people.”

Done with the explanation, I head back to the town hall, where I would try my best to mingle with the council, since I was stuck here for a while. Approaching the building, a man rushes out once he sees me.

“Sage, thank goodness you’re back so soon.”

I frowned, “What happened”

He takes a second to catch his breath before replying. “Another family has come from the north.” My heart slows as I realize where this is going. “They are also running from the plague.”