I thought long and hard about exiting the game, shutting down my computer, and never looking back. But when I returned to the game I noticed something. The resources hadn’t come in yet, but it would be in 5 minutes. But all of the turtles were gathered around one of the turtle, who had somehow fashioned a fishing rod, and was struggling violently with whatever was caught on his line.

For several minutes, the turtle struggled, and as I watched I clicked on the turtle. The name “Tortua” came up, but otherwise the stats were question marks. I also kept a close eye on Madam Shellton and Young Master Peebles who kept giving Snapper long glances, but they seemed content now to wait.

‘Fufufufu.... Your own arrogance works against you! When I made it a challenge, suddenly you become so dumb.’

I was starting to get the hang of this game. It was less strategy, and more reacting to events and managing subordinates.

Or at least I hoped so. Some of what InnerSectDed13 said to me makes me wonder if it wasn’t just my disjointed sect that had problems like these…

A splash broke me from my reverie. A glittering object shot out of the water, pulled by the line. Promptly, it landed in the hands of Tortua.

Little dialogue boxes with squiggly lines appeared from all the turtles, I assume miming that a heated discussion broke out among the turtles. Then, strangely, little Tortua looked up, directly up, at me, and a line of dialogue appeared.

“Sacred Elder, what is this?”

A small menu with 8 options appeared.

I blinked, then grinned. So I was “inspecting” it, but I was in fact determining what it was… I considered the options.

Crystal of Eternal Winter, Crystal of New Spring, Crystal of Harsh Summer, Crystal of Waning Autumn, Crystal of Dancing Flames, Crystal of Swirling Air, Crystal of Seeping Water, Crystal of Growing Earth.

I hovered over the options, but it didn’t seem like any tooltips were available. So I was supposed to base it just off the name…?

Immediately, I dismissed the Winter, Summer, and fire crystals. Those two seasons were too harsh sounding, and I wanted to be a more economically driven people. And fire… well, it didn’t seem to go along well with turtles.

Autumn and wind were the next options I decided weren’t really applicable. Waning seemed like another warlike crystal. Wind… if the sky was the sea, wasn’t air also just water…?

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Rubbing my eyelids, I wondered if I was overthinking things… No, better trust my gut. That left Spring, Water, and Earth. I suppose it depended on whether I wanted to be land turtles or sea turtles for the elements, and since the sky is a sea…

Earth is out.

Spring would seem to be useful for boosting population growth even further, but if my focus is growing my sect to the point that the sky is a sea…

Then I froze. What was I doing? Why was I getting caught up in the strange game, with its strange rules, and ignoring the obvious benefits that having eternal spring in my village would bring. But I bet a water stone would help too…

I closed my eyes and said a prayer for myself. No, no, must remember that this is a sim game first. Nomological truths are just nonsense.

I selected the Crystal of New Spring, and it immediately turned into an emerald crystal, glowing with a barely perceptible light.

Every turtle looked at the crystal with glittering eyes, impressed by the very important sounding name. Tortua just tossed the crystal from one hand to the other.

‘She’s being rather blase about this, isn’t she…?’ I could now click on the crystal, and did so.

Congratulations! Your village has obtained the Crystal of New Spring. +30% boost to all agriculture in the sect area. Herbs E Lvl 6-8 may rarely spawn. There is an exceedingly small chance of Herbs P Lvl 1 spawning. Healing slightly boosted within 30 m of the crystal.

There was also the information that this was a rank 2 treasure, with roughly corresponded with the 2nd realm, Profound, just relating to items. Which was why there was a small chance that a an early Profound level herb, or P Lvl 1, could spawn.

“What should I do with this?” Tortua asked, once more looking up at me.

I used my mouse 4 button to rotate my viewing angle, but her head turned, following me. Oddly creepy… but I suppose it helped with immersion. But she had an interesting point… Should I take it? I bet all three of my faction people would want to use it, but…

Then I had a burst of inspiration. “Keep it. We are the Red-eyed Turtle Sect! Who would be so craven as to steal a treasure that benefits us all!”

Most of the turtles nodded immediately, as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. Madam Shellton and Dr. Slowand were half a beat behind. Derek Shelley just folded his arms.

But on a strange impulse, I didn’t stop speaking there. “We turtles are not like those Wind Swallows… who are irredeemably lazy, and who do naught but profit off the sweat of others!”

Several cheers rang out, all of the turtles narrowing their eyes in unison.

A notification popped up.

A change has occurred in the Red-Eyed Turtle Sect! After learning of the crafty Wind Swallows, all sect members have developed a deep seeded hatred for their indulgent ways. They will not trust the swallows, and likely attack on sight.

….

Hum.

That sorta backfired. Well at least they can focus their troublesome energy in another direction?

….

Sorry InnerSectDed13.