Jack sat up and yawned. Rubbing his eyes, he saw Claire reading and Jill looking out the window. "I'm getting better at this waking up early thing." As he gets up, he continues, "How long have you two been up?"

Jill glanced at Jack from her vantage point at the window. "Half an hour, I think." Simultaneously, Claire, without looking up, answered, "An hour, now."

"Tsk, I'm never going to water those plants, am I?" He adjusts his cap. "You guys beat me to it, again."

Claire closed her book on her finger. "Not today. It's raining."

Jack shrugs. "I still feel I could do more."

"Well," Jill started, "you two should get out more. You don't have much of a life here yet." She quickly adds, "Just saying."

"Speaking of getting out more," Jack grabbed the hoe from the pile of tools, "I'm headed back to the mine. Claire?"

"I'm planning of checking out the East side of the valley. No hard feelings."

"How about you Jill?"

"I need to wait for Mayor Thomas."

"Right, the wood and stone." Jack tied his bandana around his neck. "Let's go."

Jack waited for Claire to change into a pair of orange overalls ("I can't possibly look like you now!" she said.) before the pair ran down the path to the village, splitting up just before the bridge.

Immediately after crossing the bridge, Jack stopped suddenly, his speed and the weight of the hoe causing him to fall over. In front of him, the almost-familiar sparkles of a returning Harvest Sprite shined purple before a Sprite in a dress shirt and purple cap appeared.

"Tell me what today is?" He asked, panicked.

"Uh, Spring 6th." Jack sat cross-legged so the sprite was about eye-level.

"Oh!" The sprite exclaimed, relieved. "I didn't miss it."

Jack's curiosity piqued. "Didn't miss what?"

"Let me show you." Purple sparkles began to swirl around the pair. Not this time.

"Can we just walk?" Jack interrupted, the sparkles now fading.

The sprite shrugged. "Very well."

Several minutes later, Jack and Harvest Sprite Roller were standing inside the Sprite Company Tree. There were mushrooms growing from walls, some of them glowing an unearthly blue but that was not what Jack was focusing on. Roller was standing in front of a section of wall, if it could be called that. Then, with a bright flash that blinded Jack for a few seconds, a doorway and stairs appeared.

"Follow me." said Roller before heading down the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, three round tables were set up as well as a counter in the corner of the room. Two sprites were already inside, playing a card game.

"Tep! Hop! I see you got back before me." He waved at the two sprites before turning back to Jack. "Before we got sent, Guts suggested we allow Harvest Sprites to get hired with medals, which you can only get here. Welcome to the Casino!"

"Sounds interesting. How does it work?"

Roller points towards the counter. "You buy medals from me." He turns, still pointing, and faces the sprites playing a card game. "Then you can play the Sprites and get more medals." Roller stops pointing and turns to face Jack once more. "Then you can talk to Guts to hire sprites or come to me and buy prizes. Simple, right?"

Jack nodded. "I have something to do though; I'll play a round or two another time."

Jack crossed over the bridge and passed Vesta's Farm, hoe on his shoulder. The rain's starting to let up. Slowing his pace to a walk, Jack soon reached the entrance to the mine. Just before he could enter, he heard Flora speak.

"Carter, I'm making Curry Rice for dinner. Is that okay?"

"Does it have to be Curry Rice?" Carter responded.

Flora was upset by this. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just... Just make the Curry Rice."

Jack heard footsteps and Flora walked out of the mine. "Oh, Jack. Here to join the dig?"

He paused for a moment, registering everything and Flora's question, before responding. "Y-yeah."

Entering the mine, Jack blinked a few times before his eyes adjusted. Carter watched him enter from opposite the site before continuing to dig. "Hey, Jack. Good for you to give us a hand."