A START

"Chu, it's hatching!"

Miki shouted from the barn window on the second floor. Her yells silenced the ongoing epic battle on the ground. Heads popped out from behind shoddy snow forts, turning towards her, as snowballs currently in flight landed across the battlefront.

"She said the egg is hatching!"

"Hey who tossed those snowballs? I'm the eldest here, you know!"

In under a minute, a group of curious children, thawed and dripped in a semicircle while standing around the fireplace. All eyes focused in the center, where the teenaged girl kneeled beside a large egg. Her long, black hair hung loosely down her back, while she chanted words of encouragement.

'The dragon is about to be born.'

Chu thought, as his imagination ran wild. Since he entered the world, this fantasy world, all things seemed possible. The cracking shell fueled his brain, with grand scenes of him riding the clouds upon the large head of a dragon.

"Hey Chu, do you think this bird might be large enough to carry me?"

Ming broke into his thoughts. The snow-covered teen asked seriously while in anticipation. Ming had longed to ride into town on a terrifying wolf, but Dyna scrapped his idea. Even if this bird turned out to be a flightless Inyoni, the stares from villagers would be priceless.

'Crud, I forgot it could also be a bird.'

Chu muttered, remembering that the goblin Shaman had gifted this to Miki during their adventure. He recalled Miki saying that a scouting party which ventured into the southern desert, returned with it. Except for its large size, the egg could hatch into anything from a lizard to a bird.

With a resounding crack, the newborn chick broke free and entered the world. It righted itself and opened the large pair of sparkling red eyes. Like a drenched fowl, the chick ruffled its feathers and sounded a chirp from its silver beak.

"Come to papa, papa will take good care of you."

Ming wasted no time in kneeling down while patting his thighs and cooing. The chick shot a glance from a head facing the clouds, ignoring the boy. It then tumbled down the cushion and hobbled towards Miki. Wobbling, the chick hopped onto the outstretched palm and rode it towards her chest.

"Chu, I don't like the way that chick glanced at me. It reminds me mightily of those three thugs."

The gentle peck and cuddling of the bird, created a riot as the chattering girls descended on Miki and her pet. Chu remained standing gazing at the cracked egg, the size of a football. After the first ruffle of its feathers, that newborn chick had shrunk to a size small enough to fit in Miki's hand.

"What will you name it?"

"The Shaman said the bones call it Alicanto. A beast, worthy of those who covet precious things. I don't understand, but I like the name. Alicanto!"

Chu had a strange foreboding of this train of thought.

"Sounds nice. Did Ms. Sherry also hatch her baby like this?"

Chu tossed any questions he had out the window, as he beat a hasty retreat on hearing the topic of conversation.

***

The winter stormed across the land, with violent snowstorms and hail threatening to bury the earth. Twice the residents had to sortie out for firewood in the forest. The freezing cold doubled the consumption of firewood, as they had to also warm the large stables.

On his next trade with the goblins, Chu delivered the entire quota of grain for the remaining winter. This action also saved him the trouble of hustling in the unpredictable weather. The Champion shed tears, on learning about the amazing term called credit. Poor Pug did not comprehend the bottomless hole he dug for his race.

Who, however, would not be grateful for such wonderful friends?

Pug instructed a goblin party then and there, to brave the winter and deliver a package for the farm. This foresight proved invaluable, for the last month of winter dumped over six feet of snow.

All living things heaved a collective sigh on the advent of Spring. The windmill creaked to life after minor repairs, while the forge belched black smoke continuously. The industrial arm of the farm churned among the patches of melting snow.

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"Chu, the water-logged fields are dry. One week, and I will be ready."

Clod mentioned after dinner, during the daily report. The words created a murmur to sweep the room.

"Boss, we have two ploughs ready for tilling. The hand tools have been inspected and oiled."

"The seeds are airing out. One sack of grain and a few vegetable seeds rotted because of mold. I spoke to Halter to build a room this year solely for storing our grain and vegetable seeds."

Chu listened to Bon and Amanda and then turned to Sakura.

"Talk to Miki, and send a message to the Trading Post. Inform John to sell some stones for us, we need coins. At the end of spring, we should have enough gold ready. I also have some letters to deliver."

Chu had informed Tye of his decision to visit Limerock city. The apprentice drafted a letter to inform the Tower of the plan by the young genius. Unlike most who entered into wealth and flaunted it, Chu operated like an old miser. He ensured Tye included subtle hints as to his needs for accommodation and daily expenses.

The hard toil in the fields began in earnest. The residents rested comfortably in winter and primed themselves for hard labor. The tilling of the fields lessened the work but Clod had more than doubled the size of the fields. Chu complained bitterly when he hobbled home with a bent back in the evenings.

"Ah, I see that you've decided to till the entire property, Mr. Thomas."

"Yes, Chief. My adventurer friends helped purchased the lands to retire next year. I plan to give them a head start by sowing the fields."

"So it's your friends who helped rid the bandits? Good, good we encourage adventurers to settle and farm out here. I did see you have also prepared a large field from the adjacent grassland. Just bear in mind that fields without papers are taxed double."

Chu cursed some more as the village chief popped his bubble before riding off.

One evening Ming and Chong returned from a trip to the village. Seated on the trotting horses, the pair of black-haired riders guided the horses along the road to the forge. Thick travel-worn cloaks, leather gloves, and weatherbeaten faces lined with stubble had them portraying every ounce of an adventurer.

They dismounted and racking-up the horses near the well and walked into the empty forge. Bon and his apprentices worked outside, beating a spring lift for a new carriage. Ming removed his gold ring, embedded with a large gem and placed it along with the pouch on the table.

"I can't believe Miki and Dyna pulled a fast one on that Captain. So this was what Pug sent over with that goblin party. Why didn't they let me know, I wanted a slice of this easy profit too you know!"

"Probably that's why they never told you? Forget that, next time you decide to ride into the village with an entire pouch of gems, count me out. We were supposed to let Mr. Pick sort the gems before leaving."

Mr. Pick had the reputation of being the farm's leading authority on gemstones. When the gray-haired man wasn't toiling the fields, he could be found in the windmill polishing gems. Ming walked over to the forge and began stoking the fire.

"Yes, yes, why are you complaining. Don't think I didn't notice your smug smile when John hid his tiny ring. But I can't believe you guys held out on me, it's not like Dyna pays you to... huh?"

Halfway through his sentence Ming paused. His mammoth ring and the pouch no longer lay on the table. He ran up to the table while his head swiveled around. Chong noticed the reason behind the teen's panic, causing his own eyes to open wide. Only both of them occupied this large forge. The sturdy, young man clutched his hair in regret while swaying.

The loss of the bulbous weird ring might cause everyone to breathe a relief. The loss of a pouch filled with gems, however, would create chaos. Sakura kept a strict hold over the farm's finances, meaning this loss could not be hidden.

Worse yet, his name would be smeared along with this idiot. Chong berated himself for following the teen to the village today. As he dropped to his knees while searching the ground he heard one statement which first lightened his heart, and then smashed him into hell.

"Found it, huh... but why is it empty?"

Perched on the nearby chair, a small silver bird the size of a cup opened its mouth and burped.

***

Clod managed his resources efficiently. Within two months the tilling had been completed in the surrounding land. The blond-haired teen worked from dawn till dusk, tending the vegetable garden while sowing the corn.

Early one morning a group of six men stood beside their horses while double-checking their equipment. A wagon laden with supplies for the travel rolled up beside them. After chatting with the surrounding spectators, Chu stood with them in the center.

"I know you guys won't let us down. This is one of the most difficult tasks we need to have accomplished, so take your time. Remember to stock up on potions, and use the letter if you find yourself in a bind."

"Yes, Boss. We will accomplish this task before your arrival in the city. Rest assured."

Doug replied to him. His voice cracked in excitement from undertaking this important task, and also from having to leave this place he considered home. A child stepped out of the crowd.

Like an Empress, she strutted out, with bright green eyes, head held high, and red hair blowing down her shoulders. Chu hit her a karate chop on her head and pulled her closer, shattering the grand entrance.

"Say what you have to say."

With a faint cough, she placed her hands behind her back.

"This Boss hates farewells. Remember, nobody can walk over you except this Boss. If you end up in trouble, wait for me. Take care of Lin, since it's his first time on an adventure. If he doesn't listen, beat the crap out of him."

She glanced at the teen driving the wagon, who twitched under her gaze.

"Singh, you owe me a present when I arrive, so don't skimp on it. Chong, keep those three brats in line. Wait on this Boss."

The entire farm waved them off into the morning. Jim had even returned last night with the members from their village home. They had reveled during the night, chatting and drinking to success. When Doug and his group disappeared, the crowd slowly scattered.

Mrs. Thomas patted Dyna's dropped shoulders before leaving her standing with Chu. Lucy and Sakura stood beside her, holding her little hands. Dyna leaned back on the boy and then looked at him with glazed eyes.

"Don't worry, you can cry with us. I am sure they will be fine. You will see them soon enough. If you need to vent, find Ming. He is due for punishment anyway."