Chapter Two
'Kardia' appears in fading letters before her.
The shift of water runeys has almost vanished. Instead, the air feels cleaner. Sharper.
Free.
;;;
The field is a mess. Weeds both alive and dead reach up to their knees, branches are strewn every which way, and rocks too big to carry threaten to trip unsuspecting wanderers.
As soon as Mist steps a foot on the field, an Orc shows up.
"You did it!" the blonde cheers, clapping her hands. Clover is currently trying to get over the fact her bruises fade near-instantly. Do monsters have weapons that work the same way hers do on them? "Now that it's gone, we can plant these Radish Seeds!"
"I'm going to head to the bathhouse," Melody smiles, ignoring Clover's 'don't leave me' eyes. "I'll be sure send the mayor your way!"
Betrayer, Clover sighs and turns to Mist. She takes the offered watering can, eyeing the hoe suspiciously, "How about you tell me what to do?"
Mist tells her all she needs to know.
;;;
Stamina is RP and HP. "There should be bars at the top of your screen."
You get warped to the nearest clinic whenever you faint. "Like monsters return to the Forest of Beginnings, we return home!
Radishes are an easy Spring crop in Kardia, because Kardia sells them as a hybrid of Mist's favourite crop. "… they don't sell turnip seeds here."
The whole not needing to eat or drink is normal for Earthmates. In fact, most of what Clover can do is normal for powerful Earthmates. "But if you say your not one, I believe you."
Money is made by putting things into the shipping box. "Rosetta will update your shipping chart and leave you money in the house!"
Does Clover have to farm? "…No. But I am giving you the field to use if you want to."
;;;
The house is practically empty. Clover doesn't want to be mean, because she is getting this place for free and it does look livable. It's just not a home. A bed, dusty shelves, and a notebook. The calendar is overused since seasons are thirty days and the weeks six days long. There is never a need for a new one.
"Sometimes merchants have things," Mist says, giving her blessing for the taller woman to make this place roomier.
Clover sighs. This is more than she had a few days ago. It's not much, not even officially hers, but she's dealt with worse circumstances. "Thank you, Mist."
The young woman smiles, the world seeming to sparkle around her. "Would you like to meet the townspeople?"
Clover would like a moment to collect herself, but it would be rude to open the menu in the middle of a conversation. "Sure. Lead the way."
She has a whole house and time-pausing powers. All she needs is to get through the day afternoon.
;;;
Today is a holiday, so many shops aren't open. Clover is very interested in seeing the library tomorrow. The clinic is next door, and they missed its hours. Mist claims the general store is using their closure day to order the rest of their summer supplies. Across the way, the pub is closed though the bartender greets them with a smile and introductions.
Emmett is friendly, and Clover makes a mental note to see if he'll let her come relax here. His menu promises real food and even though she doesn't need to eat or drink, Clover yearns for the familiarity. That she has no money is the problem.
Lady Ann owns the inn, and Clover makes sure to get on her nice side if she ever needs a place to stay at night. Lady Ann's kids, Tori and Zavier, are respectively the same age and younger than Clover. They barely stick around to say hello. For most of the introduction, Tori avoids eye contact and Zavier whines about how this delays him going adventuring.
When her kids are gone, Lady Ann assures Clover that, "He hasn't been given a pass to the dungeons, so he won't be in danger."
The blacksmith's is closed. While Mist rattles on about the benefits of upgrading tools, Clover is hoping he'll make silverware for when she finally scavenges enough to eat.
Mist drags her to the beach, where two children play on the sand. Celica is twelve, and somehow Clover manages to not blink twice at her elf ears. Nicholas is nine, and his mother Sabrina practically forces a fishing rod into Clover's hands. "You'll need to do something while those crops grow!"
"I like this stone a lot!" Celica says, clinging to Clover and Mist's side as the tour continues. The woman feels her stance relaxing a little as she takes the offered, shiny rock. "It glitters different colours when it's wet!"
"It's very lovely," Clover comments, handing it back. Celica smiles like she's been given the world.
"Ceci!" Nicholas calls, running past them. "Come on! We were going to do the thing."
"Right!" Celica straightens and bounds forward. With a graceful twist, she waves. "Bye! Come collect rocks with me soon!"
Mist waves, Clover nods. The taller woman eyes the blonde as they follow the kids to a-
…church…
"Of course," Clover mutters, following her new landlady in. Because of course there's probably some kind of magical religion she's likely expected to learn. Not going to happen, but just… of course there's a church.
If this is where she gets quests from, Clover's out.
The kids steal a book right in front of the priest and just- no. Clover drops a hand on Nicholas' shoulder as he attempts to pass. "Give it back."
"Give what back?" he's not good at playing innocent. Celica giggles off to the side.
"Ah, my Holy Book," the priest smiles and walks over. "Thank you for finding it for me, Nicholas."
"Of course, Wesley." The boy hands over the item, shoulders slumping. He sticks his tongue out at Clover, who just rolls her eyes.
When the priest turns from settling his belongings back in order, the kids are gone. "My name is Wesley. I'm a priest of the church."
You don't say, the woman grins with all teeth. "Clover."
"Thank you for returning my book," Wesley sighs. "The church is supposed to be empty at the moment, but I couldn't leave without everything in order."
"The kids take from you a lot?"
"Oh, they don't take. They'll just misplace things from time to time."
Clover stares. Wesley keeps smiling. She narrows her eyes but can't tell if he's being serious or not. Mist takes it as her turn to start introductions and brag about finally having someone in the farmhouse.
"I hope to see you at church on Holidays," Wesley tells them before they go.
It's not going to happen. Clover just grits her teeth and waves.
"Are you not religious?" Mist asks curiously once they're out of earshot.
"I am careful," Clover tries to explain, "of what may or may not exist. Honestly, I've been having such a crisis understanding magic's now real that I've got no time to try and search out old religions from home... not that I want to."
"Believe in yourself," Mist tells her simply. "That's the best kind of belief."
"…Yah. You're right."
Mist tours the rest of the village – all closed due to it being a Holiday – and ends up at the mayor's house. They can hear Melody's chipper voice as soon as the door opens. "She is ready for it! Come on, Mayor Godwin! Just go to the farm and give her a pass."
"This is the mayor's house," Mist says clearly, eyes a little more focused. The obviously long argument screeches to a fault, Melody and the mayor jolting to see the newcomers. "If you have any questions about the town, or need to get a pass for the dungeons, this is where you should come."
"Ah, our new resident," the mayor is a tall man, at least a couple inches over Clover. His long blond hair and earthly outfit gives an almost hippie vibe, and at least he doesn't stroke his goatee like a villain. What he does do, is critically eye Clover.
She sees it because she's always watching. There is a moment before he smiles and holds out a hand. A moment, where he judges and finds her wanting.
It's not as if he's the first one to look at her that way.
"I am Mayor Godwin. It's wonderful to see a new face in the town."
"Clover," she says with a straight back and steel behind her smile. They shake, and she's careful to keep the grip firm in his limp hand. "Thank you for having me. Melody said she would talk about getting me a pass?"
"Ah, yes," he steps back, unfazed the women have him surrounded. "Today happens to be my day off, and you've only been here a few hours. Why, you haven't been able to till the farmland much, I bet."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Melody groans.
"It would show she has the strength and determination," Godwin nods as if that's the final decision. "I can't send off someone with little experience and stamina into a dungeon. If you can't clear out a field, why should I encourage you to go into an infested cave?"
"The town needs help," Melody argues. "I told you, we can vouch for her abilities! There's something in the dungeons, and maybe she's what we need to make sure they don't get overrun!"
"I'm sorry," Godwin says firmly. "I won't give her a pass until I'm sure she's capable."
"And to do that," Clover drawls, hands on her hips, "I have to till the whole field?"
Godwin pauses, eyebrows drawing together. "Well, with Melody's guarantee you can hold your own, let's say you till one-hundred squares and I'll give you a pass."
It almost feels like charity, except both Mist and Melody seem offended. Clover nods hard, "Then I'll see you tomorrow." I look forward to proving you wrong.
He blinks, smiling like he doesn't believe her, "There is no rush. Make sure not to push yourself."
It's hard to tell whether he's being condescending or not. Either way, she's going to till the field and get the pass. If her way home is in the dungeons, then she's got to make it through them. If the world is like a game – with levels and monsters, though life isn't a game – then it's possible she can make money that way as well.
Even if no quest appears, Clover smiles succinctly and lets Melody lead her out with promises of a long bath.
;;;
Mist watches her weed and store Medical Grass in a strangely awed way. Clover was a bit awed at first too with how her hands moved in all the correct ways to pull out the plants, roots and all. It's rather annoying now, tedious in a way that makes her want to burn the field rather then continue to weed it.
"Keep the coloured grasses," Mist advises. Clover turns over the Yellow Grass in her hands before storing it in the pocket-dimension pouch everyone apparently has. Clover's is just a bit more… inventory-like. "They have different effects. Some can heal you, others are better in potions," and just like that, Clover finds herself listening to another tutorial.
The sun is setting as she dumps the weeds into the shipping bin. Mist hesitates, and then hugs her before returning to her own home. Clover takes out the hoe and gets to tilling, determined to never have to go through this again.
"Why'd you stop me?" Nicholas asks from where he kept up to the edge of the field. Unfortunately for him, Clover saw him coming. She doesn't falter as the farm tool hits the dirt.
"Why would you steal from," shoot, she forgets his name already, "the priest?"
"I wasn't stealing," the boy grumbles, hands going on hips. "I was going to give it back."
"Sure you were," she drawls, counting another square tilled. "Of course you weren't going to hide it somewhere around town. Maybe even forget about where it was in a few weeks when no one finds it."
"I wouldn't forget!" he shakes a fist. "It's Wesley's favourite book! I wasn't going to hide it from him forever!"
"It still wasn't nice," Clover wipes the sweat off her forehead as she breaks to catch her breath, fifty down. "How would you have liked it if someone hid your headband?"
He gulps and covers the feathers, nervously stepping back. "How'd you know it's my favourite, huh?"
"Who made it for you?" Clover asks instead. "It's very beautiful, and I've never seen those feathers before."
Nicholas drops his hands, smiling brightly. "My mum! She's the best! She hunted down the feathers just for me!" He tilts his head, eyeing the woman. "Are you like her? Did you live near the beach a lot?"
"No," Clover chuckles and gets back to tilling. "Well, I lived a few hours a way. I'd have to plan my whole day around playing at the beach."
"That doesn't sound too bad." He pauses, a thought suddenly striking. "Hey! We were talking about you ruining my fun! Don't change the subject!"
"You think stealing is fun?"
"I wasn't stealing!"
Clover pauses to look over. Really looks. "You're bored around here, huh?"
His lip juts out and he kicks at the ground. "Nuh uh. I'm not bored cause I've got Celica and mum and Wesley and… and Neumann to play with!"
Who's Neumann? Clover blinks. Best not to bring that up now. Not when she sees the kid and knows from past experiences what could happen to him. There's desperation hiding behind his eyes, and he doesn't know it. He's too young to understand the feeling, but most people always have some and Clover has experience recognizing it. It's why she stops and gives him a fond look, careful yet not pressing, "If you stop hiding people's things, I'll play with you too."
"Really?" He's conflicted. Nicholas uses that mischief as a source of constant fun. It's dangerous to allow it to continue, but he's not her kid. She's not the one to be rearing bad habits. Does it really take a village to raise a child?
"Really. But," she holds up a finger, "you'll have to ask your mother. I am a stranger after all."
He blows a raspberry. "She trusts you because Mist trusts you."
"Make sure you ask," Clover shrugs, arms crossed and leaning on the hoe.
"…I will," he puffs his cheeks out and turns away. "You won't tell her about the book?"
"I won't." Clover leans back.
He relaxes after a peek at her face. "Okay. Right. Well, bye."
"Before you go…" He's tensed again. Clover knows not to feel bad, "Celica says she likes stones, but what do you like?"
"Stew, strawberries," Nicholas turns halfway, sneaking a glance, "…grasses?"
She hands him the yellow grass.
"Thank you!" he practically jumps with joy as he stuffs it into his subspace pocket. "Wow, I love the yellow grass! Yippee!"
Then he's running off.
Clover gapes for a moment, and then glares at the tool she's leaning on, "Kids."
So much energy in them. She tills until there's twenty squares let, aching only slightly as using the tool bites into health bar. She collapses into bed, not hungry and wishing for food. There isn't even an outhouse around, that's how crucially this strange magic has affected everyone. The night is quiet, the air still as crisp as when they arrived in town. Like in Trampoli, it is unsettling for someone used to the constant hum of city life.
"Oua?"
Clover flails around, startled. She manages to bend upright, blinking into the mostly-dark room. On the floor near her bed is a blue blob.
"Oua!"
Clover screams.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
Thank you, Blaise Welshman, for your review! She'll learn… probably. My favourite is how the Camping Skill in this game is literally setting up camp in a dungeon. Again, thank you so much for your review, and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Thank you, kalmaegi, for your review! Same here; I had almost accepted never hearing about a RF5. Clover is going to need a lot of luck for what's to come. Thank you so much for your review, and I really hope you enjoyed the chapter!
I hope the chapter was enjoyable (for a tutorial/introduction chapter). Have a fantastic day
