Chương 1: I. Level 1 [Farm Girl]

Pa once told me that an honest job was better than selling your soul to pay the bills. Pa's dead. The family farm was 1, 000 gold in debt. And the crops wouldn't grow. I should have been praying to Flora that my common hoe wouldn't break while I planted my last carrot seeds. Instead, only one thought came to my head. I didn't want to be a [Farm Girl]. But what choice did I have? Ma tried to save up for my education, saying 'Ashley Hart, don' ya settle for bein' a [Commoner].

A girl oughta use her hands, her head, and her heart–make herself into the woman she oughta be. You put your hands in an [Expert] trade, not the dirt." Ma died of Dragonpox because Pa couldn't afford the physician - 5 gold - and the clerics didn't feel the need to show Amaril's Mercy to a [Housewife]. And my books and learning meant little to the world since I ain't a fortunate daughter, no child of a hero. Pa was a simple man who praised Flora for the morning dawn and the evening rain.

When Her priests came about asking folks like him for the tithe, he was more than happy to pay – even took Ma's savings from underneath the floorboards. He said if we did right by Flora, Flora would do right by us. Her people would provide. I hadn't seen rain in the farmlands for awhile now, so it would be no problem at all if Flora would do right by me. But I know she works through her [Hero] -types, so it'd be mighty swell if one would walk by and give me just a little bit of [Rain].

I'd be happy with just a douse of [Water], if [Rain] is asking too much. I did petition the Mage Guild for help, of course. But with how tight money was, I couldn't even afford the cast. Just for some water. Pa's well had gone dry. I ain't halfway as good of a [Craftswoman] as he was, and it took him a month to make one – not including the time we had to learn how to [Douse]. And I never did pay attention when he tried to tell me how to farm. I was still a Level 1 [Farm Girl]. A Common Hoe, and carrot seeds.

That was all I was allowed to use. Carrots sell for 5 silver, and a bag of nine seeds is only 8. I'd only have to grow two for a return on investment, and my [Farm Girl] [Quest] just needed me to grow nine. If Flora would make one grow. The wooden shaft splintered against my fingers. I stopped squeezing so tight, while I blinked back awake. The hoe's head wobbled, leaning precariously towards me. It wasn't really meant to be used for too long, after all.

Most boys would be usin' one while his Pa handled the farm, being taught as it goes. But Pa had no sons, just one 'worthless daughter that cain't even find no man.' Ma chided him for that, twisted his ear till he cried. Told him straight 'Ashley Hart ain' no [Farmer] - she's gonna be our pride an' joy. She's gonna get a real education, and might even be a doctor someday!' Thanks, ma. I pushed the wooden hoe down again into the clay-like dirt.

The topsoil stuck like weeds grasping around roots; it would have to be fed. Pa never even bothered to turn the crops. Simple trick I learned from Fenwick's Almanac for Soil-Tenders. Some crops are feeders and others are growers. Like people. Some people grow the crops, and others just eat it. The soil is the same way. Eventually, you need to grow the crops, and the soil needs to grow too. I suggested he grow [Green Clover] in the Fall after the [Corn] was harvested; give the soil a chance to regrow.

Or even ask a Floran to do a [Soil Restoration], since we were growing all that [Corn] for them!

'Cept good ol' Pa didn't want to listen to his daughter's advice. Only ever listened to Flora.

'Soil Reparation happened as the winter blanketed the fields – besides, we needed to grow some crops for ourselves. That way, we could get some extra money to give to the Tithes!' Rhyvesta, I'm glad he's dead. The hoe struck the dirt, shifting soil aside. It raised to the sky, but my arms jutted all the way back. It cracked. The metal head of the hoe snapped off, arcing backwards and smashing against the cottage wall. The splinters on the hoe encircled my fingers, a few poking deep enough to draw blood.

I wobbled in place, and then collapsed into the dirt. My body refused to turn and acknowledge the damage. At the minimum, that was 5 silver. And an Hour's walk! Sure, Nathaniel wouldn't actually charge me, and could repair it right quick, but… Tears burst from my eyes. My hands raised quickly to stop them, but couldn't make it halfway before collapsing again. My stomach rumbled, and the pantry was just empty. If I didn't get this solved fast, I'd begin to starve. My stomach knotted, and I quickly embraced myself.

Muscle spasms. No focus. And my Health would be cut in half per day. Eventually, that pain would become far too much to sleep, to rest, to do anything but close your eyes permanently. Even roots would be pleasant at that point, just to feel something inside as your body ate itself. Solve the immediate problem first then, Ashley. Which was food. I took a deep breath and cleaned up my face. The cottage might still have something preserved, even if it was going to be [Rotten] by now.

The door creaked open slowly; long awaited light intruding upon this forgotten place. I only got here, and my first goal was to get the carrots growing before I stepped into that house. That failed. How… expected. I wiped my face as I entered. Nothing was out of place. The hearth was stained black by the embers that once burned there. The cauldron hung from its hook. Ma's Paprika, Garlic, Cayenne Peppers were still in the pantry. And so were two cobs of corn. A dry smile formed on my lips as I suppressed the laugh.

Of course it was corn. Two little nubs that wouldn't keep my belly full for too long. There was some good kernels on the cob; not too dry and not too moldy. It was like tugging at a stubborn root, but I managed to acquire half a bowlful. It wasn't enough for a stew, so I could only boil the kernels. Maybe if I were lucky, they'd pop. But I didn't have any oil. Ma always flavoured them with garlic and cayenne - said it kept the [Night-Things] away and gave a little kick.

I placed the spiced kernels at the center of the hearth, and brought the coals together. Ashley casts [Spark]! A Magician's Flint and Tinder A cantrip was no scholarly pursuit. Even Ma could [Spark] or [Mend] if she had need to. Pa could manage the entire farm for himself. But me? Ashley casts [Mage Hand]! Through Force of Will I was a singular note in the Symphony; cicadas chirping to the uncaring din of the world around. A real [Wizard] had her own song, and the very best moved the Symphony with them.

At least the wooden bowl moved towards me. The roasted kernels smelled divine, though, sadly, none of them actually popped. I grabbed a handful and devoured them all – even the pericarp, as it held just a bit more energy. I couldn't be picky. The cottage was small. Ma and Pa's bed was on the ground floor, and the ladder leading to the alcove Pa made for me was covered in spiderwebs. Above, my own straw mattress had been desecrated by wild animals – at least, I assume that's what that foul odour was.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Thankfully, my books were safe. As I walked towards it, my foot caught on the loose floorboards. I swallowed, glancing at Ma and Pa's bed. The floorboard gave away easily, and exposed… … a book. No pouch of rainy day money, no inheritance or the school fund Ma had been saving for me. Nothing. The book was plain and black, and untitled. I flipped through the pages to see neat, cursive writing. Ma.

"pH levels of soil 5. 4—recommending change to more acidic crops""Potato harvest reaching average quality. Will have to add more compost."

"He's listening to the Florans again—they need a lot of corn. Won't pay to repair the soil. It's all dying."

"... I'm setting some money aside for Ash. I'll ask the neighbor boy to watch over her. Maybe he can look after her?"

"Dead rabbit warren underneath the mounds. Consumed carrot crop. Matthew says it's fine, corn is what Flora wills." I stared at the words. They were becoming harder to see as a tear fell against the fading ink. She was 'fine' when I left for school. So was Pa. I rubbed my eyes again, and forced myself to breathe. Amelia Hart didn't raise no quitter. I might have been a lousy [Farm Girl], but I was a smart one, darnit. The kernels were running low as I chewed on them, but that wasn't important.

My study was dusty, and the lamp had no oil, but there was Amaril's Gaze. There were books. I could solve this. Ma's journal was black, but I had always preferred green. I pulled out the crisp green notebook and placed it flat on my desk. It was still clean, wrapped in fabric and gold-coloured twine. The fields were dead. Nothing was growing. The hoe was broken, and even if I made a hole into that mess, I was digging into a clay pit. Ain't no birds peckin for worms or slugs.

Hell, I bet even the worms avoided this Dying Field. The Dying Fields. I smiled to myself as I penned in the name. MORTIS AGRARIAE. I dipped my quill into the ink. Everything was solvable when you put it into breakable parts, and all parts needed a name. The fields were a mess, but the Academy? That was neat, tidy, and ordered. As my professors used to say, first the facts. Only the truth. — Field Notes — FACTS: The soil is dying. Restoration magic is 5 gold. → Restoration magic is Divine.

Carrots sell for 5 silver. A bag of seeds is 8 silver. I only need two to turn a profit. [Inspect] reveals the field is at 50% quality. Carrot growth chance is 50%. The quill spun around my fingers. Laying the facts out didn't make the situation any less bleak. It was like listing the ways a calf was gonna die right before you had to cull it for its own good. Ma would tell me to stop gawking and think. Pa would say double down and get through it. What else was true? I knew some simple Arcane.

Professors always said the difference was like night and day. Arcane was like tilling a field – Just moving the dirt that's already there. Divine is like the sun and rain – It makes something new grow. It sounded nice, but that was a bit too flowery for a proper journal. FACTS: I know simple Arcane. → Arcane manipulates, Divine creates. The soil is low pH. I have no resources but me. I swallowed. Pa said every [Farmer] gives to his land. Some in sweat. Some in tears. And others? In blood.

INFERENCES: Can I mix my blood with the field? → Yes. It'll raise the pH. → Not drastically. —→ Unless I combine them with [Arcane]… Blood was not lime to make the field fertile again. What I was proposing went against Flora's teachings. Arcane bordering on the Divine. But Flora never did do right by me. All I wanted was some [Rain]. But even if I used blood, that didn't solve the issue. My hoe was broken, and a handful of boiled corn was barely enough energy. FACTS: My tool is broken. My tool is—magic is a tool.

[Mage Hand] Magic, all magic, drew from the Symphony. That was another well of energy I had for myself. Of course, no [Farm Girl] had use for the Symphony when a cantrip had no debt. But [Mage Hand] was the tool of a [Scholar]. When I focused on it, it was the smell of fall and the harvest. The sound of cicadas and the insects chirpin' away. And of him– I shook my head and got up. That was not a thought I wished to explore. I walked out of the house, and found the wooden hoe head embedded against the cottage wall.

That was definitely not five silvers worth of repair. Ashley casts [Mage Hand]! Through Force of Will It was still so minor. The cicadas chirped as the wooden head flew upwards. It floated awkwardly, but when I flicked my hand again – it crashed through the window. Rhyvesta damn it. I concentrated again, and brought the wooden hoe down against the dirt. There was no give of the soil moving, but it moved. There was no tension of the clay beginning to remain, yet it was upturned.

The insects became distant, and my head was becoming fuzzy. But there were nine holes. The splintered wooden hoe still had my blood against the shaft. I could find rabbits. Where are you going to find rabbits, Ash? If this cuts too deep, you'll fall unconscious on your own fields. No one is going to find you. I'm as good as dead anyway. ENOUGH! I closed my eyes and took in three deep breaths. One. Two. Three. Blood burst from my palm and dripped against the splintered shaft.

I bit my lip, until my tooth pierced the flesh. And I dripped the blood on each of the holes. The soil drank deeply, and I tried to wave my - wave my… It was gettin' harder ta think'. I sucked in the oxy-oxy– I breathed the air an' tried notta cry. Ma didn' raise a girl who'd cry over a cut. The blood mixed with the soil. Ashley uses [Inspect]! SOIL Dirt. The humblest of beginnings. GROWTH CHANCE: 80% Now, all I hadda do was get the seeds an' plant 'em. I turned around. [ASHLEY HAS FAINTED!] Darn it.

My head crashed into the tilled dirt, blood escaping from my mouth. My eyes slowly began to close… CLASS UNLOCKED: ACOLYTE [QUEST ADDED] BLOODY HARVEST HARVEST 0/9 BLOOD CARROTS