《GOOD MORNING》 《TODAY'S WEATHER: SUNNY WITH GENTLE BREEZE》
《NOW FOR SOME NEWS: Word around town is that the mayor will announce the exact festival contests tomorrow morning. Several travelers have arrived, browsing farms and shops for local specialties.》
《LAST CHAPTER: Anya acquired a chick, built a coop, sold herbs to Odile, learned a new recipe requiring a variant herb, and deepened relationships with villagers and crafters.》
《MARKET BRIEF: EGGS - 45, POTATOES - 12, TOMATOES - 16, ONIONS - 10, RADISHES - 8, TURNIPS - 8, HERBS - VARY》
----------------------------------------
Anya woke early, rolling off her straw mattress with renewed purpose. The days leading to the festival felt charged with quiet anticipation.
She stood by the window, inhaling the morning air. A gentle breeze carried scents of dew and distant hay.
Her farm, still modest, had grown more alive with each passing sunrise. Now she had a chick to care for, crops nearing maturity, and a budding connection to the people of Westshire.
She stepped outside. The chick greeted her with soft peeps, hopping about near the coop's small door.
Anya scattered a bit of feed inside.
《STAMINA: 100/100》
The chick's bright eyes and eager nibbling made her smile. Soon, eggs would follow—an invaluable resource and steady income.
Her fields caught her attention next. Radishes looked ready to harvest. Their leafy tops fanned out, and when she brushed aside the leaves of one plant, a bright red root peeked from the soil.
Perfect. She dug gently and pulled up several radishes, dusting off the soil.
《STAMINA: 100/100 → 95/100》
She ended up with six plump radishes.
《INVENTORY UPDATED: Radishes x6》
That was a good start to the day. She checked the onions. They looked healthier than ever—dark green leaves, thick stems.
The Growth Tea must be working. A day or two more, and maybe they'd be ready.
The potatoes would come later, but patience was part of farming.
Flowers along the fence began showing tiny buds. Not open yet, but soon, she hoped.
A splash of color would give the farm a welcoming feel, something that might impress travelers or festival judges.
After tending her crops and feeding the chick, she decided to head into town. She carried four radishes in her bag, leaving two behind in her storage crate.
She had 11 coin; selling a few radishes might boost her funds. She could buy more feed, or maybe invest in something else.
The festival was close, and more coin meant more options.
The road felt busy today. A small caravan of traders passed by, nodding politely.
Anya recognized none of them, but their presence confirmed that the festival drew near. Westshire would soon bustle with life.
In the square, Colette greeted her from behind the counter. "Morning, Anya. Something to sell?"
"Radishes," Anya said, laying out four. "How much?"
Colette examined them. "Good quality. I'll give you 8 coin each." That was the standard price, and fair enough.
《COIN: 43》
Forty-three coin now—much better. Anya considered her options. She'd need more feed soon, but the chick's feed bag would last a few days.
Maybe she could buy more seeds. Or perhaps she should hold on to coin until after the mayor's announcement tomorrow.
Who knew what special deals or opportunities might arise?
Emeric lounged nearby, strumming his lute under a shady awning. He raised an eyebrow at her radish sale.
"Already turning soil into coin, I see. Good work. Heard travelers whispering about a farmer with a magical cookbook and tidy fields. Rumors spread fast."
Anya chuckled. "Good rumors, I hope."
Emeric winked. "All positive. Some even say you might become a fixture at the guild hall. Speaking of which, I saw Ademar posting a new quest this morning. Might be worth a look."
A new guild quest? She walked over to the guild's notice board, a simple wooden structure near the mayor's office.
Indeed, a new note: "Seeking Variant Herbs for Study. Bring 2 Blue-Edged Herbs. Reward: 25 coin and minor guild rank credit. – Ademar"
Perfect. She needed variant herbs for the Herb-Infused Salad recipe. Gathering them would also earn coin and guild favor.
That was a win-win. But blue-edged variants were rare. She found only one by chance yesterday.
If she could locate a small patch, she might gather enough for both the guild quest and her cooking experiments.
She took the quest note. Ademar approached, arms folded. "Think you can handle it? These herbs grow deeper in the forest, not too far, but further than yesterday's mushrooms."
"Is it safe?" she asked.
"Mostly. Small critters, maybe a sprite or two. They're harmless if you're careful. Just bring stamina-restoring food."
"Also, morning's a good time. You'll have plenty of daylight." Ademar gave a reassuring nod.
Anya checked her supplies. She had no stew prepared. She'd need to cook something before heading into the forest.
She had radishes at home, and maybe a spare turnip. A simple Turnip Stew could help.
She had 43 coin now—maybe buying herbs from Odile for cooking would help. But she needed the variant herb for the special salad.
Without it, she'd settle for a normal stew.
She approached Odile's hut. "Morning. I need basic herbs for cooking a stew," she said.
Odile offered Greenleaf Herbs at 5 coin a bundle, enough for several dishes. Anya bought one bundle.
《COIN: 38》
With these herbs, a turnip back home, and a radish maybe, she could make a dish. Turnip Stew required a turnip, water, and a mild herb.
She had that.
Heading back to her farm, she prepared a Turnip Stew on her kitchen stove. 《STAMINA: 95/100 → 90/100 for cooking effort, minor but let's reflect the time spent》
The stew steamed with a gentle aroma. Perfect. 《INVENTORY: Turnip Stew x1》
With stew in hand and scythe at her side, she set out toward the forest. The sun stood higher now, warming her shoulders.
She passed Linus's shack, where the woodsman offered a brief nod. "Looking for rare herbs?" he asked. "Try near the old stream. Heard the soil's richer there."
The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Thanks," Anya said. Linus rarely wasted words.
The forest entrance felt familiar, dappled sunlight and rustling leaves. She moved deeper this time, careful of where she stepped.
Birdsong echoed between branches. The ground grew softer, moss thicker.
A fallen log blocked part of the path, but she slipped around it
. 《STAMINA: 90/100 → 85/100》
She searched under large ferns and near a trickling stream. Ordinary Greenleaf Herbs abounded, but she needed the blue-edged variant.
After several minutes, she found a patch of herbs with subtle blue tints on the leaves. This must be it.
She knelt to pick them.
A rustle behind her. Turning slowly, she saw a sprite perched on a stump, eyeing her gather with suspicion.
This one wore a tiny flower crown, its wings shimmering. She spoke softly: "Just need a few leaves. I won't take them all."
The sprite chirped, fluttering closer. Anya remembered these creatures as mostly harmless, just protective of forest resources.
She offered a small piece of dried fruit from her pocket. The sprite sniffed, then accepted it, drifting away with a soft hum.
Good. Conflict avoided.
《STAMINA: 85/100 → 80/100》
She collected several Blue-Edged Herbs. She needed two for the guild quest, but she gathered four total.
Two for the quest, two for her salad experiments.
《INVENTORY UPDATED: Blue-Edged Herbs x4》
With her main goal achieved, she considered exploring a bit more. The forest might hold other surprises.
But she decided not to push her luck. She still had the festival preparations to consider.
Also, the day was moving on, and she didn't want to be caught too far from town by evening.
On her way back, she paused at the stream. The water looked clear.
She filled her canteen and drank.
《STAMINA: 80/100 → 85/100》
Cool water soothed her throat.
Returning to Westshire, she found Ademar waiting near the guild board. She presented the 2 Blue-Edged Herbs.
He whistled softly. "Quick work. Nice. Here's your reward."
《COIN: 63》
"And I'll note your guild credit. Keep this up, and you'll qualify for higher-tier requests soon."
63 coin now, much better. She could afford another Growth Tea or buy better tools.
Or maybe upgrade her spade. She remembered Rowan's offer of custom work.
Upgraded tools could help her finish tasks faster, saving stamina in the long run. But first, she wanted to try making that Herb-Infused Salad.
With variant herbs and a veggie, she'd get a farming skill boost for a day. If she timed that with her onion harvest, she might get high-quality produce for the festival.
At the farm, she prepared the salad. She took one Blue-Edged Herb and a fresh radish.
The recipe mentioned combining them raw. She chopped the radish finely, mixed it with shredded herb leaves, and added a pinch of Greenleaf Herb for flavor.
The result was a crisp, fragrant salad with a subtle glow.
《COOKING SUCCESS: Herb-Infused Salad x1 (Farming Skill Gain Boost + Stamina Recovery)》
She tasted a small portion.
《STAMINA: 85/100 → 100/100》
Delicious.
A mild energy coursed through her. She felt more aware of her fields, as if she could sense the soil's texture from here.
The Farming Skill Gain Boost effect would last until the next sunrise, according to the cookbook's cryptic notes.
She should use this day to perform farming tasks, maybe plant more seeds or improve soil quality.
With coin to spare, she headed back to town to see if Colette sold higher-quality seeds. The festival was soon; maybe quick-growing seeds could still yield something.
She found Colette with Flora arranging seed packets.
"Got anything special?" Anya asked.
Flora smiled shyly. "We have high-quality onion seeds and a few seasonal seeds that mature faster if you have good farming skill. They cost more but produce better crops."
High-quality onion seeds for 20 coin a packet, or maybe try another crop. But onions were already growing.
Maybe variety would help. They had a special "Leafy Greens" seed that supposedly matured in just a few days and sold decently.
They cost 15 coin for 5 seeds.
With the salad's farming boost, even a short growth crop might turn out well. She decided on the Leafy Greens seeds.
《COIN: 48》
This would give her something extra to harvest right before the festival. If they matured in time, she could present them as well.
She thanked Flora and Colette, then visited Crispin's forge. Crispin looked up from his work. "Need something?"
"I've got some coin now. Could you improve my spade?" she asked. "Make it more durable, or till a bit faster?"
Crispin considered. "For 20 coin, I can upgrade it to a sturdier Iron Hoe, which is more efficient for tilling. It'll save you stamina and time."
《COIN: 28》
He took her spade and after some hammering and adjustments, he returned it.
《TOOLS UPDATED: Iron Hoe (Durability 10/10, Better Efficiency, Slight Stamina Reduction on Tilling)》
Anya felt pleased. Efficiency mattered. With boosted farming skill for the day and a better hoe, she could prepare new soil patches quickly.
Back home, she tilled a new section of land with her new hoe.
《STAMINA: 100/100 → 95/100》
The soil turned easily. She planted the Leafy Greens seeds and watered them.
《STAMINA: 95/100 → 90/100》
Perfect. With the salad's boost, these greens might mature faster and yield top-notch produce.
The chick peeped, reminding her of its presence. She checked the feed dish—still enough for tomorrow.
Egg production wouldn't start yet, but it seemed healthy and happy. She considered building a small fence around her garden patches to keep critters out.
Maybe tomorrow.
Evening light stretched across the fields. She returned to her farmhouse and opened the cookbook.
It reacted to her new salad-making:
"Congratulations on using variant herbs wisely. With this, your understanding of farming and cooking grows deeper. Experimentation leads to mastery."
"Soon, you may discover dishes that enhance not just stamina or skill, but even the quality of harvested crops. Keep improving your farm, meeting villagers, and exploring."
"The festival awaits."
Anya wondered if she could combine multiple ingredients for advanced recipes. Maybe when she had onions, she could try onion-radish salads or stews.
For now, she'd focus on quality and timing.
She rested on the porch, watching distant silhouettes of travelers entering the village. In a few days, stalls would line the square, music would float from Emeric's lute, and the mayor would judge produce for prizes.
Her onions should be ready by then, hopefully of excellent quality thanks to Growth Tea and her boosted farming skill.
The leafy greens, if they matured on time, would provide variety. The flowers might bloom as well, giving her farm a welcoming charm.
Rowan appeared at her gate again, lantern in hand. "Working late?" they asked softly.
"Just finished planting something new," Anya said. She explained about the Leafy Greens seeds and her new hoe.
Rowan smiled. "A good hoe makes a farmer's life easier. I've been practicing forging small farming tools myself. Maybe I can craft a watering can attachment next time you upgrade.
Something that sprinkles wider."
Anya's eyes lit up. "That would help a lot. I'll remember that."
A comfortable silence settled between them. Rowan's presence felt calming.
She caught a subtle warmth in their gaze, a hint that they admired her dedication. She wondered if friendship might lead to something deeper over time, but set the thought aside.
The festival came first, and trust and bonds would grow naturally.
After Rowan departed, Anya realized she had not eaten dinner. She had used the salad earlier.
Maybe a simple meal from the inn would help end the day on a good note. She grabbed her coin pouch (28 coin now) and walked to Westshire under the stars.
At the inn, Mildred greeted her warmly. "You look tired and accomplished," she said. "Care for a hearty stew? 10 coin, but it'll fill you right up."
10 coin was steep, but a good meal might boost her mood, if not her stamina. She had 28 coin, that would leave her with 18.
With the festival near, maybe it's worth indulging. Or she could save coin.
She decided to spend 10 coin on the meal.
《COIN: 18》
The stew tasted rich, made from local vegetables and herbs.
《STAMINA: 90/100 → 95/100 》
She chatted briefly with Mildred about the festival.
Mildred hinted that a famous traveling judge was expected. Impressing them could lead to better trade connections.
Emeric entered the inn, lute in hand. "You always appear where good food and company gather," he teased.
Playing a soft melody, he asked, "Are you ready for the festival's spotlight?"
Anya smiled. "I'm trying. Harvesting good crops, doing guild quests, even got a chick for eggs. I want to show Westshire I'm here to stay."
Emeric nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit. If you need a tune or a bit of moral support, let me know. I might sing about your farm if it wins a prize."
After some laughter and good conversation, Anya returned home under a canopy of stars. The farmhouse felt cozy, the chick asleep, fields resting in moonlight.
The day had been productive: she earned coin, fulfilled a guild quest, cooked a special salad, planted new seeds, upgraded her hoe, and ended with a good meal.
Tomorrow, she might harvest onions or at least check their progress. If they matured under the skill boost's lingering effect (which lasted until sunrise, so maybe not tomorrow), maybe they'd still benefit from her improved skill due to residual practice.
Even if not, her routine and techniques had improved.
As she prepared for bed, she considered her relationships with the townsfolk. Crispin and Rowan offered tool support, Emeric gave moral support and information, Odile provided herbs and recipes, Colette and Flora sold seeds and bought crops, Ademar gave guild quests, and Godric and Alice sought rare ingredients.
Even Beatrice and Linus guided her with wisdom. She was weaving herself into the community's fabric.
She lay down, thinking of the bright radishes she sold today. They were her first profitable crop since the turnips.
The festival prize might bring rare seeds that would unlock new recipes and farm expansions. Maybe she could raise more animals later: cows for milk, sheep for wool, even bees for honey.
The possibilities felt endless.
A distant owl hooted. The chick murmured softly in its coop.
Anya closed her eyes, satisfied. Each day stacked upon the last, bringing her closer to a thriving farm and a respected place in Westshire.
----------------------------------------
《STAMINA: Will reset closer to 100 by morning》
《COIN: 00018》
《HARVEST: Radishes harvested (6 total, sold 4, kept 2), Onions maturing (improved quality expected), Potatoes growing, Leafy Greens planted, Flowers budding》
《LIVESTOCK: 1 Chick, feed sufficient for a few more days》
《NEW ACTIONS THIS CHAPTER: Completed variant herb quest for Ademar, earned guild favor, cooked Herb-Infused Salad (boosting farming skill), upgraded spade to Iron Hoe, planted new seeds under skill boost》
《TOOLS:
Old Watering Can (10/10)
Iron Hoe (10/10, upgraded from spade, more efficient)
Old Scythe (Sharpened, 8/10)》
《INVENTORY: Rope, a few Wood scraps, Turnip Stew (used), Herb-Infused Salad (used), Blue-Edged Herbs (used), Greenleaf Herbs (some used, some may remain), Radishes (2 left), Onions (not harvested yet)》
《SKILLS: Farming Level 2, Cooking Level 1, additional guild favor earned, possible skill improvement due to herb salad effect》