A cool breeze flitted across the desert sands, tossing a tumbleweed passed the woman's feet. Her long purple dress brushed at the sandy path, but the wind was not on her mind. She dug through her bag, searching for the final item she needed. I know it's in here somewhere… Ah hah! The woman flicked a green lock of wavy hair out of her face as she inspected the object: a bright blue sphere, a perfect specimen of aquamarine. She placed it on the counter in front of the dark-skinned woman before her, a fellow merchant. But this woman dealt in jewels and geodes; Spectra was more interested in gold. She swept the aquamarines off the counter and hoisted a large bolt of linen in their place. Spectra lifted the roll of fabric and adjusted her bags, gave a small bow, and said, "Thank you, Azelle, always a pleasure."
The desert merchant man offered Spectra a wide smile and returned her bow. She walked to the camel that pulled Azelle's cart and gave his head a quick scritch before turning to her own traveling cart.
Spectra didn't particularly care for the sand or the heat, and she always wore a hood outside to protect her from another nasty sunburn. But she enjoyed her visits to Calico Desert nonetheless. Azelle could be counted on to provide a variety of rare and unusual items, and though neither spoke the others' language, there was a mutual friendly affection between them. Of course, the desert also had Sandy, the wild red-head who owned the Oasis. Spectra had met Sandy some years ago, when she first set out with her traveling cart and her pet pig, Peridot. He'd still been a little piglet then, but now he was a huge, pink, silly thing. Spectra had learned to live with a 700 lb lap-pig, and had perfected the art of slinking her way from underneath the large pig out of necessity. She'd been pinned under his snoring form one too many times.
The merchant woman returned to her cart, parked not terribly far from the Oasis. Sandy's shop was a tall building, stacked in a way that reminded Spectra of a wedding cake. It stood starkly against the beiges and browns of the desert. Its bricks were a bright pink, and the ceilings were made of glass. Spectra smiled fondly. Only someone like Sandy could think of a building like that.
Spectra's cart was made of hardwood, a long rectangle, with one end featuring hitches for Spectra's bicycle. She had been meticulous in carving small swirls and designs into the wood, imbuing her cart with a few protective talismans and lightening sigils. People who saw her pulling the thing marveled at her strength, and she'd smile to herself, instead taking the comments as a testament to her magical abilities.
The other end of Spectra's cart featured a heavy, sturdy door, carved intricately and painted with suns, moons, stars, and curving vines. With one hand, she dug into the pocket of her dress and retrieved a set of keys, flicking through to the large, ornate brass key. She slid it into the lock and turned, opening the door to her little sanctuary.
The scent of incense wafted out to greet her. She'd forgotten she'd lit a stick of sandalwood before she left. She breathed in the smell and grinned. Peridot was a large bubblegum form in the corner of the small room. Spectra had requested the largest dog bed Marnie could find, and it still only barely contained her friend. She kicked the door shut with her foot, and it slammed louder than she had intended. Peridot, in response, snorted out and twitched his ear, before returning to his even pattern of snoring. Spectra chuckled, "Some guard pig you are."
She laid the bolt of fabric on a small table, then splayed out her bags of goodies from Sandy. Spectra picked up a few books and loose papers that had crowded the table and carried the small stack to her "bookshelf." When Robin said she was getting rid of an antique wardrobe, Spectra couldn't pass up the opportunity. She'd traded her a wheel of goat cheese and a large jug of fresh maple syrup in exchange for the mahogany piece, and promptly nailed it to the wall of her cart. Spectra described, starry-eyed, how she was going to add slats for shelves, and thankfully, Robin offered to help. Spectra was sure she would've done a decent job on her own, but she slept much easier knowing that the shelves would withstand the weight of all of her books.
Spectra took the opportunity to remove her boots and place them by the door. She walked back to the table and reveled in how the worn red rug felt under her feet, soft from years of use and care. She unraveled the bolt a few times, inspecting the linen. Flawless, as always. Tomorrow she would set out for Pelican Town, nestled in Stardew Valley. But tonight was for rest. She clicked on a few dim, warm lamps and lit candles around the cozy space. Unpacking her bags from the Oasis, she felt a nudge against her calf. "Took you long enough," she smiled a warm expression to Peridot, nosing at her for his dinner. She pulled an assortment of cave carrots, corn, and dandelions from various barrels and burlap sacks scattered around her space, and laid them out on a large platter for her friend. He waddled over and tucked into the dinner, snorting happily as he chewed.
She returned to her shopping bags and organized her spoils. Spectra knew there would be plenty of fresh produce in Pelican Town, so for today, only a few treats to tide her over. A large glass jug of lemonade, a bag of candied cactus, and, her guilty pleasure, a frozen pizza. She carefully lifted her small clay oven with both hands and walked towards the door. Realizing her mistake, she groaned. She closed her eyes a moment and flicked her head, and the door swung open obediently. Gingerly, she made her way down the steps and set the oven on the sand. After a few minutes, a stable fire crackled happily in the oven, and Spectra slid the pizza into place. Now, we wait. The sun was setting, painting vibrant red, oranges, and pinks into the expanses of sand around her. She glanced at the Oasis, now mirroring the color of the warm, cotton candy sky.
Why do I always wait until the last possible moment to do this? The merchant shuffled her goods on top of and under her counter, organizing them for the easiest possible access. She didn't have to look at her clock; she knew she was running late. She'd arrived in Cindersap Forest just after sunrise, but she'd taken her time enjoying her leftover pizza and tea and lost track of time. Horrible habit, really, being late all the time. Spectra chastised herself. But I suppose there are worse.
She'd been giddy at the thought of returning to Pelican Town. Most of the citizens here accepted and welcomed her, a greeting she did not always receive in other towns. Pierre, the owner of the general store, considered a little friendly competition good for business and didn't feel threatened by her presence. Spectra rolled her eyes at the thought of…Goodness, what was his name? The man from Joja Mart, the one wearing that horrendous gray suit and bowtie. He'd visited her once that awful convenience store had been built and offered to buy her cart. Spectra had responded by telling him exactly where he could shove his offer. She'd promptly forgotten his name after the exchange.
Spectra was not exactly open about her magical abilities, as she never knew how people would respond. But, in Pelican Town, there were a few who were as fascinated with the mystical as she was. There was even a resident wizard not too far away! He lived a short walk from Spectra's spot in Cindersap Forest.
Spectra's stomach flipped once at the thought of the residents of Pelican Town. The day before, Sandy mentioned that her girlfriend Emily had said there was a new face in town. A woman, the last farmer's granddaughter, had taken over the old farm that sat right outside of Pelican Town. It'd been unoccupied for years, increasingly overrun with nature and falling into a state of disrepair. Spectra had pressed Sandy for details, but, as it was second-hand information, she didn't have much to tell. Curse the unreliable grapevine! Sandy did remember, however, that the new farmer had cleared a good-sized section of the farm and was selling crops regularly. She must be a hard worker. Hard workers are good, honest people, right?
A lump formed in Spectra's throat. Meeting new people could be…uncomfortable; while she did enjoy it to some extent, and she cared for her friends dearly, she preferred keeping others at an arm's length, especially new faces. She took her grimoire off the table and stowed it in a small cabinet near her hammock that hung in the corner. She touched her ears, making sure she had put both of her gold hoop earrings in, took a deep breath, and flung open the windows, ready for business.
What she was not ready for, however, was the scream that greeted her. She jolted and screamed herself, and that seemed to scare the first screamer, who screamed again. They screamed together for a moment before the ridiculousness of the whole situation hit both of them, and they stopped. The woman at the window laughed loudly, but Spectra couldn't bring herself to do the same. With wide blue eyes, she realized, with horror, that she didn't know who this woman was. She knew everyone who resided in Pelican Town, with varying degrees of closeness, and this woman was a stranger to her. It must be the farmer. Great. Great first impression, Spectra.
"H–Hello! And welcome to Peridot's Peculiars!" She lifted her arms, and her shawl threatened to slip off her shoulders. She grabbed at it awkwardly, realizing this whole introduction was quickly spiraling into disaster, if it wasn't already there. "I have a wide assortment of goods, if you'd like to take a look!"
The brunette woman in front of her offered a wide smile and spoke, "Thank you!" There was warmth in her voice, if not also a tinge of…hesitation? Nerves? Spectra couldn't tell, and she knew better than to trust her judgment of social interactions; she always assumed the worst. But who could blame her. I greeted her with a scream.
The farmer ooh'ed and ahh'ed over Spectra's wares. The merchant fidgeted with her shawl, and she took the opportunity to inspect her customer. She was wearing teal overalls and a white shirt, lightly stained with the browns and greens of honest farm work. Her brunette hair was pulled back into a low bun, with a few pieces falling loose around her soft face.
"Can I pick this up?"
The farmer's voice startled the merchant. Her brown eyes met Spectra's, but the merchant quickly looked down, both to break the contact and to see what she was talking about. She was gesturing towards a long and full duck feather. Spectra managed a small "Go right ahead," and the farmer smiled. She twirled it between her fingers, and Spectra noticed the bandages on her hands.
"What happened here?" Spectra asked before she could stop herself. "I–If you don't mind me asking," she quickly added.
"Oh, these?" She held up her hand. "I'm still pretty new to farming, haven't got my calluses yet. I don't know how many times I swung that ax yesterday! I think I managed to cut down…" the farmer thought for a moment, "four trees?"
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I didn't really want to, but all my space right now is used for crops, and I'm hopin' to put in a coop soon!"
"A chicken coop?" A note of excitement permeated Spectra's voice.
"Hell yeah! I love animals! My favorite are donkeys, but Marnie says she ain't met a donkey salesman in a while, so I guess a few chickens will just have to do for now." She adopted a jokingly dramatic tone, until a more sheepish look came over her face. "Well, that is, when I can afford it. It's more of a…long-term goal."
"That does sound expensive." Spectra offered a small grin to the farmer. "You'll get there, I can tell."
The farmer smiled a cheerfully wide smile and exclaimed, "Thanks! I almost have enough materials for Robin, just gotta get the moolah for it, you know? But hey, at least I've been getting to work on these!" The farmer flexed her arms and let out a playful roar.
Spectra's eyes widened, unsure what to say. She hadn't been expecting this friendly, joking demeanor from the farmer. In return, the brunette woman in front of her let out a few laughs, much higher in pitch than before, and had a somewhat panicked look in her eyes. She averted her gaze down and continued to look at the merchant's wares. Spectra couldn't discern the meaning of what had just happened, so she forced the farmer's expression from her mind.
The farmer was looking at the duck feather again, twirling it between her bandaged fingers. It shimmered in hues of greens and blues, but Spectra was inspecting the farmer again. Her fingernails were dirty. She smells like fresh dirt. The earthy snect brought a small smile to Spectra's lips. She must've been working this morning. Her eyes trailed from the farmer's hands to her arms. They did, indeed, look quite strong.
"What's in this bag?"
Spectra jumped and let out a small squeak in response to the farmer's voice.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"
Spectra's cheeks warmed and she mumbled out, "No, no! You're fine, I'm just a bit jumpy, that's all." She waved her hands to dismiss the moment as quickly as possible. "Now, what were you asking about?"
The farmer had been inspecting the assortment of seeds when she found a small burlap sack, tied with a stretch of hemp cord and a paper label, written in small cursive, that read "Rare Seed".
"Oh!" Spectra was thankful to have something concrete to discuss, something she knew about. "This is an interesting one! These are, true to its name, quite rare. You can occasionally find them around this region, and when planted, they grow sweet gem berries! They're really tasty."
"They sound awesome! How much?" The farmer flipped the label over, but her face fell slightly at the writing she found. Her voice was flat, but not accusatory, "Ah. A thousand gold."
A pang shot through Spectra's chest. "Well, it's a fall crop anyways. I'll probably have some when the fall comes!" Spectra tried her best to soothe the farmer's disappointment. For a merchant, Spectra didn't particularly care for this portion of business. Money was a necessity, of course, but she hated seeing people disappointed. Many times, she'd forced herself to walk away from a deal, because the value of an object was just too great to justify an act of charity. I have to value my time, my feelings, my things, and my business, Spectra reminded herself. She didn't know where she would be without her mantras. But she also wanted to make up for her awful first impression to the newest resident of Pelican Town.
The farmer wore that determined look again. "Could I, hypothetically, grow it in my house? If I had a plant pot?"
Spectra considered for a moment. "I–I suppose so. Yeah, I'm almost sure you could, with the right set up."
This seemed to make the farmer less willing to accept defeat and wait for the fall.
The merchant offered, "We could work out a trade, if you'd like."
The farmer quickly slung her backpack over her shoulder and onto the counter. A few tools hung from straps on the sides of the canvas, and they jostled and jangled as the farmer dug through the bag. Spectra now noticed a rusted, but sturdy, sword attached to her belt loop. The farmer pulled out a bag of green beans, a bundle of sticks, three potatoes, and a nugget of clear quartz about the size of Spectra's fist. She held the bag of beans in order to guess the weight, but she truly didn't need to; even by sight, she knew the items in front of her were not enough to offset the price of the seed.
The farmer looked at her, hopeful, but Spectra was not known for being able to hide her thoughts, so she was sure her look was one of apology. She tried to smile at the farmer. "I–I think this is enough."
"No!" The farmer's brow furrowed, but she did not seem angry, at least not about the price of the seed."It's obviously not enough!" She cast her eyes down, her mind turning, before looking back to the merchant. "Are you going to be here tomorrow?"
Spectra considered for a moment. She rarely planned how long she would stay in any town, usually leaving once she did something awkward or just felt the itch to run. She had already decided that she would pack up right after this farmer left, leaving to go back to Calico Desert or off to Grampleton as fast as her bicycle could take her. But looking at the farmer now, she was swayed by the determination painted across her face.
"Yes, I'll be here tomorrow. I'm not sure how long after that, but tomorrow for sure."
The wide, bright smile tugged at the farmer's lips again. "Then I'll be back tomorrow with the money! Believe it!" The farmer thunked a fist against her chest, scooped her things into the backpack, and slung it over her shoulder. She turned quickly and hustled between the trees towards Pelican Town, and out of Spectra's sight. The merchant leaned out the window slightly, watching after the farmer, and kicked herself for not catching her name.
Spectra opened the door to her cart and was almost knocked down by her pink friend, hurrying to get outside. Gaining her balance, she walked down the small steps then stretched in the sunlight and took in a deep breath. She brought her eyes up, and the sun was directly above her. Noon. Her stomach rumbled, and she wondered if Emily had remembered that she was coming today. Should I try to find her in town? Or should I just wait here? Spectra hated these uncertain moments, should she act or wait, what was expected of her? She couldn't always say. She turned to look at her piggy friend. Peridot had waddled to a sunny spot and plopped his round form onto the grass, snoring loudly. There was no moving him now, so she might as well wait here. It's not that there were any predators in Cindersap Forest, at least not in this area. But nonetheless, Spectra didn't love the idea of leaving him out to wander while she was away. So, she resigned herself to staying nearby. She gathered a few dried sticks and leaves and sparked up a fire in short order. She entered her cart and retrieved the large cast iron pot that hung from the ceiling, next to a few pans and cooking utensils. She dipped the pot into a large barrel of crystalline river water that sat in the corner of the room, tied down with both ropes and magics. She roughly chopped an onion, cave carrots, cabbage, and lots of garlic. Dried herbs hung in neat rows on the inner walls of her cart; she plucked from them freely. Spring had arrived, and she was sure she would be in no shortage of them in the coming months.
Spectra sat by the fire for some time, poking and prodding at the fire as it crackled and danced on the dried wood and leaves. As she moved to retrieve her utensils, a clear voice stopped her, "Oh Speeectraaa!" She knew her visitor before she saw her. A warm smile met Spectra's as the woman bounded towards her, arms open. The two caught each other in an embrace, and as they pulled away, the woman gripped Spectra's upper arms affectionately. "Oh my friend, it is so good to see you!"
Spectra smiled back, "It's good to see you too, Emily."
Emily pushed back her short blue hair and took a deep breath through her nose, looking over at the pot, now bubbling and steaming with a symphony of smells. "Oh dear, I've interrupted your lunch! I knew I should've come here first thing today, I'm so sorry, I should've come over first thing an–."
Spectra waved away Emily's apology, "No no, it's quite alright! Would you like a bowl?"
"Please!"
The two ladled out their portions of soup and sat beside the now-dwindling fire, and Emily hungrily asked Spectra about her latest magic endeavors. Spectra was a bit embarrassed at times talking about her work. She felt that her spells were at such a small-scale, household magic really, that they were nothing truly to brag about. But she was reminded with every visit to Stardew Valley that she was, actually, quite remarkable in her abilities. In other towns, she kept her magic a complete secret, lest she be run out of town. She understood the fear, to some degree; there were tales and whispers of witches and wizards who caused chaos and small-scale destruction with their magic. Spectra didn't consider herself a witch, just a magic user. I'm not that powerful. But here, in Pelican Town, her magic had been, daresay, celebrated by a few, and Emily was one of them. She always listened intently, wide-eyed and smitten with the topic. She herself had gotten quite good at divination and astral projection, but Spectra could see a hint of envy in her eyes. Spectra was a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, somewhat decent in multiple areas of magic, and discussing the things that Emily dreamed she could do, well…it made Spectra feel a bit guilty. But Emily always insisted, so Spectra would oblige.
Finishing their food, Spectra took their dishes inside and returned out with the large bolt of linen fabric. Emily squealed slightly and grabbed at her own large bag. She dug through it for a moment before pulling out a medium-sized package, wrapped neatly in a large paper bag, folded over and tied with twine. They exchanged their items, and Emily mooned over the quality of the material, running her hands over it repeatedly. Spectra carefully unwrapped her package, sure to save the bag and twine for another project. She pulled out a long, purple dress, similar to what she was wearing now, except the sleeves would sit tight on her arms, unlike the billowy sleeves she wore now. She was relieved to have a replacement for the dress she'd accidentally burned last week in that unfortunate cooking spell mishap.
But the second dress in the bag caught her by surprise. She pulled it out and let it unfurl in front of her. It was lovely, with buttons down the front and somewhat thin straps. Holding it up, she guessed that the skirt would end at her mid-calf. A somewhat simple dress, but it was well-made and beautiful. But what truly surprised Spectra was the color. It was a bright vermillion, sharing a hue with the proudest cardinals that dotted the Cindersap Forest trees. Spectra looked at the dress she wore now, another deep purple, with long sleeves and a skirt that brushed the ground. Much more unassuming than the bodacious garment she now held in her hands.
"Ahh Emily, they're both gorgeous! Amazing work, as always. But don't you think this is a bit…much, for someone like me?"
Emily gave a quizzical look to the merchant. "What do you mean?"
"Well," Spectra laid the dress in her lap and fiddled with an interesting rock she had stowed in her pocket, "it's just that I don't usually wear things that are so bright. Red is such a striking color, and I'm…" Her voice trailed off. She didn't know exactly how to finish the sentence.
"I know you only asked for the replacement, and the purple does look lovely on you, Spectra, really! But it's spring, and soon it'll be summer! Dark purple is nice, but it always reminds me of winter." Studying Spectra for a moment, Emily added, "If you really want, I can dye it again, make it a deeper color! I just thought you could use a change."
Spectra met her friend's gaze, and they shared a warm smile. "No, I'll keep it this way, thank you though." Something nagged at Spectra about the dress, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Just please don't be offended if it takes me some time to build the courage to wear it."
"Of course not!" She laughed. Peridot had finally hoisted himself up and made his way over to Emily, who sat on the ground next to him and scratched his belly. He snorted happily in reply.
Spectra was not particular about her appearance. In fact, if she had her way, she would turn invisible at will. But invisibility magic was risky and intensive, way above Spectra's abilities. So, she resigned herself to more muted colors and an overall less flashy appearance. Her bright green hair got her stared at enough, but the color of her hair wasn't her choice. "Touched by magic," the Wizard had said when he met her, studying her locks. She'd even tried dyeing her hair a respectable brown or black a few times, but she'd always wake the next morning with the inks all over her pillow, as if her hair had rejected the false color.
"I met the farmer this morning." Spectra hadn't been sure how she was going to broach this topic, so might as well come right out and say it.
"Isn't she great?" Emily beamed, still rubbing Peridot's tummy. "I went by the farm the other day, and I left with a bucket of strawberries! She wouldn't let me leave until I'd taken them. She's really turning that farm around. Honestly, I was starting to get a little worried, what with Joja making a move on any open land they can." Emily's face went sour.
Spectra rolled her eyes. "I had my own run in with them. Some man came by a few months ago and offered to buy my cart! Said he could give me more money than I'd ever make selling my 'little trinkets.'"
Emily scoffed and shook her head. "They just don't get it. To them, it's just about money, they don't consider connection, adventure, self-reliance, none of it. Just profit." Emily moved to sit next to Spectra again, smoothing out her dress. The dawning realization hit the merchant. The dress she held in her lap was nearly identical to Emily's; she hadn't immediately recognized it because Emily always wore a pink button-down underneath, with the sleeves and collar exposed. Spectra suppressed a chuckle and wondered if the matching dresses were intentional or not. Well, she does what she does well, that's what matters.
Emily continued, "But you're not like that! People and adventure, they matter to you. It's more than money. I think that's what I like about the farmer, too."
"I get that sense too. She told me she was saving up for a chicken coop, but from the sound of how much work she's doing, I figured she would have enough by now."
Emily laughed and threw her hands up. "It's because she keeps giving all her stuff away! I mentioned off-hand that I like strawberries, and the next time I was there, she'd planted six bushes! Jodi told her that she needed to stop at Willy's to get some bass, and Canis stopped her later that day with three fresh ones. We all try to pay her, but she just waves us off and goes, 'Nawww naw naw naw.'"
Spectra chuckled at the impression of the farmer, but then stopped. "Canis?"
"Yeah, that's the farmer's name. I thought you said you met her?"
Spectra's cheeks pinked and she looked away, "We, ahh, we didn't exchange names." Didn't really think about it when we were screaming at each other.
Emily gave her a look of understanding. She knew how reserved Spectra could be. When she'd first started coming to Pelican Town, Emily could sense her unease, but she felt drawn to the woman. She went out of her way to make the new visitor feel welcomed, and had since become Spectra's closest friend in Pelican Town. She placed her hand on Spectra's and squeezed.
"I'm sure you two will get along. You're very alike." Emily smiled, then her eyes widened realization and she pulled her watch up to her face. "Great Goodness I'm going to be late for my shift!" She grabbed up the bolt of fabric and her bag, giving Peridot a few last pats. Emily called out as she ran off between the trees, "Remember, you're always welcome to stop by the saloon! I'll be there!"
Spectra began her ritual of settling in for the evening. A few lamps lit, the floor swept, her protective talismans checked, and Peridot fed. She began brushing out her hair, but a pang of guilt twinged her chest. Once again, she hadn't taken Emily up on her offer. She never did, she wondered why Emily even bothered asking her anymore. Another pang. She didn't deserve Emily as a friend, someone who was so ready to make her feel included and accepted. What kept Spectra away? Her mind flashed to earlier this afternoon, walking out of Pierre's shop with a few necessities and literally bumping into George.
"H–Hello, Mr. Mullner!" She gave a small bow.
In response, the old man had given her a disgusted grimace with a sharp "Hmph" before rolling away towards his house, mumbling a prayer to Yoba.
Spectra's eyes misted at the memory. The reminder that she was an outsider, different, and others didn't like her. It was what kept her from stepping foot into the Stardrop Saloon. It was, at least partly, what kept her traveling.
Spectra leaned on the counter and tapped her fingers, more out of nerves than irritation. She looked out at the lake, some 50 yards in front of her cart. It was shifting from a dark blue to a reflection of the light pink sky above. It was almost sundown, and the farmer hadn't shown up yet. Spectra had seen her look of resolution, and she knew that the farmer would show up today. The merchant turned away from the window and began to sweep the floors, keeping herself busy. Finishing the sweeping, she started on a row of her bookshelf, organizing them by topic. That is, until a long, loud call perked her ears.
"Hellooooooo! Pleeeeease don't be closed!"
She returned to the window and leaned out, and spotted a blur of teal overalls weaving between the trees. The farmer ran to the cart and skidded in front of the window, then she doubled over, one hand on her knee and the other holding onto the counter, panting for a moment. Spectra silently watched the farmer regain her composure, and she felt a nudge at her calf. She waved the pig away. I'll feed him in a minute.
The farmer stood in front of her, a wide grin on her face as she placed her backpack on the counter. "Hi! You still got that rare seed?"
Spectra gave a small smile and pulled the burlap bag out from under the counter. "I do."
The farmer's mouth was an open smile as she rummaged through her backpack, making an ecstatic "heeeh heh heh heh heh" sound. She pulled out what she'd been searching for: a sack that jangled with gold coins. "I counted 'em twice! But you can count 'em again if you want, I don't mind." She placed them on the counter towards the merchant.
Spectra's brows raised a bit. Judging by the size, the sum in front of her could've very well been more than one thousand gold pieces.
"No, I trust you. But I have to ask, out of curiosity," Spectra tilted her head, "how'd you do it?"
"Welp! After I left here yesterday, I went fishin' for a while down by Willy's shop, sold all the fish there. Then when it got dark, I went over to the mines and found some geodes! But I couldn't get to Clint's until this morning, and even sellin' the gems, it wasn't even quite enough! So then I fished some more and sold 'em to Pierre. And by that time, it was almost sundown! I was afraid you'd close up and leave, so I had to run here. But I did it!" Spectra noticed that the farmer's eyes were darting around as she spoke, only occasionally glancing at the green-haired merchant before zooming somewhere else.
"Well, color me impressed," the merchant smiled a small grin at the farmer, handing the small burlap sack with the single seed inside. Upon hearing the word 'impressed,' the farmer's cheeks balled up in a big smile and pinked ever so slightly.
The farmer held the sack and let out a triumphant laugh, then an "Oh!" She put the sack down and pulled another bag out of her backpack. She placed it on the counter. "I found these in the caves too! I saw you had some, so I figured you'd want these."
Spectra blinked a few times and undid the drawstring, revealing about a dozen fresh cave carrots. She felt another nudge at her calf, surely due to the smell of the carrots. She ignored him as best as she could. "Are you sure? I can give you some gold back if you w–"
"Nawww naw naw," the farmer waved off the rest of Spectra's sentence, and the merchant couldn't help but chuckle quietly. Emily's impression had been spot-on. "It's a gift! I'm not sellin' 'em, I'm just givin' 'em to you!"
"Hmm, okay, well then," Spectra rummaged under the counter again, and retrieved what she was looking for. She held up the green and blue duck feather between her thumb and forefinger. It shimmered, even in the limited light of the sunset. "This is for you."
"WHAT!" The farmer exclaimed and carefully took the feather from the merchant, wide eyes inspecting it as it rotated between her fingers. "Are you sure?"
"Yes! Like you said, it's a gift."
"Thank you so, so much. You don't know how much trouble you've just saved me." The farmer stuck out a hand, and Merchant Spectra took over and grabbed the farmer's hand, giving it a firm shake. "Pleasure doing business with you, Canis."
The farmer's hand stopped moving, but she continued to grip Spectra's as her head tilted and she looked quizzically at the merchant. "How did you know my name?"
Great Goodness, Spectra, she didn't introduce herself. You're going to seem creepy.
"Oh! Umm, well, Emily came by yesterday, and I realized that I didn't introduce myself or get your name yesterday. I asked her." That's…kind of what happened. Easier to explain that way. "Sorry about not introducing myself, by the way. That was quite rude of me."
Canis looked surprised at Spectra, face slightly flushed. "What! Rude of you? I'm the one who's new around here! It was rude of me to not introduce myself!" She looked down and realized she was still gripping the merchant's hand. "Well, since we're already here," she shook her hand again with a wide smile, "I'm Canis! What's your name?"
"I'm Spectra."
"Nice to meet you!" They released their hands, partially due to the increasingly-demanding nudges of Spectra's leg that threatened to knock her off her feet. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah yeah, I'm okay! Just…" A smile formed over Spectra's face, and she dug a few carrots out of the bag. She handed them to Canis and said, ""Hold on to these for a moment."
Canis, though confused, held the cave carrots in her hands.
Spectra gathered a handful of corn and a few carrots of her own, and moved to open the door to the cart. With loud snorts, Peridot followed her down the steps and outside.
Canis let out a long gasp at the sight of the pink giant. "NO WAYYY!" She squealed and squatted down, holding the dark brown carrots out in front of her, making kissy noises at the pig. Peridot trotted over and began devouring the roots. Canis laughed the same breathy noise of excitement from before, holding out carrots with one hand and scratching the pig's ears with the other. When the carrots were gone, Spectra poured the loose corn into the farmer's cupped hands, and her sounds of delight continued as Peridot lipped the corn up into his mouth. "What's his name?"
"Peridot. He's a little over three." Spectra watched the two and smiled. Canis was singing an impromptu song about "Pretty Peridot" and "Perfect Peridot." He is a show-stopper. He rolled onto his back, and Canis rubbed his belly dutifully, all the while telling him what a "handsome little man" he was. Glutton for attention is more like it!
After some time, the bubblegum beast rolled back over and waddled off towards the lake. Canis stood and watched after him before turning to Spectra. "I didn't know you had a pet pig!"
"I think he was sleeping when you came by yesterday, or I would've introduced you two." Spectra smiled after Peridot, now leaning down and drinking from the lake. "He's been with me since he was a piglet."
"I bet that was so cool seein' him grow up! How big was he when he was a baby?"
Spectra cupped her hands, only a few inches apart, and said, "About this big."
Canis's voice squealed up high again, exclaiming about the "little cutie pie" he must've been. She wasn't lying when she said she loves animals. The farmer looked at Spectra with determination again, an expression she seemed to wear very often. "I'm gonna find him all the cave carrots in the world."
Spectra chuckled quietly and said, "He'd love that."
Canis looked up at the darkening sky and sighed loudly. "Welp, I better head out. Gotta make sure I catch Shane before he leaves the saloon."
"Shane?"
"Yeah, it's his birthday today, and yesterday I just harvested a bunch of garlic. Thought I'd give him a braid of it."
Hearing this surprised Spectra. From the short two days of knowing Canis, and the three years of knowing Shane, their personalities weren't exactly a match made in heaven. Canis seemed so cheerful, and Shane was…well, Shane was Shane. Blunt, terse, and overall unfriendly.
This puzzlement must've shown on the merchant's face, because Canis continued. "He's kind of an asshole. But kill 'em with kindness, that's what I say!"
Spectra laughed out much louder than she had intended, and clapped her hands over her mouth at the outburst. She speaks so frankly, it's so…so refreshing.
The outburst made Canis's mouth split into a bright, toothy grin. She clapped the merchant on the shoulder and said, "It's been real good talkin' to you, Spectra! Any idea how long you're in town for?"
Spectra righted herself after the slightly-too-hard clap and thought for a moment. She looked out at the forest and the lake, now reflecting the first stars poking through the dark night sky. Peridot was waddling back towards them now. She turned back to Canis. "At least a few more days. And if you happen to have any leftover garlic you don't know what to do with, I'd be happy to buy it from you."
"Yeah?"
Spectra nodded. "I'm always looking for fresh produce. As long as I have the gold, I'll buy it from you."
"Fantastic! Pierre will probably be upset that he's not getting all of my good stuff now, but oh well, he'll manage. It'll be our secret." Canis nudged her shoulder into Spectra's.
Spectra chuckled at the ground, and then brought her eyes and her smile up to Canis. The farmer's face changed slightly and she coughed. "Well, yeah I better head out and catch him. I'll come by tomorrow with some stuff for ya."
"I look forward to it."
Spectra ushered Peridot inside, and he collapsed down onto his comically-large dog bed. She pulled her shawl around her and loaded her satchel up with a variety of supplies and her grimoire. She grabbed a sturdy walking stick and pulled on her boots. The sun had set a few hours ago, and now it was time for her to visit the wizard.
The smell of fresh pine tickled Spectra's nose, and the moon peeked out between the branches above her. She walked along the lake, dark waters slightly sloshing, reflecting the starry sky above her. Most forest creatures had gone to sleep by now, save for the frogs and toads that now sang out to her in a chorus of chirps. Spectra smiled at the sound. Most of her "ports" were cities and towns that were not as embedded in nature as Pelican Town was, so she soaked up the lush natural environment when she could. Cindersap Forest felt alive, even in the quiet evening hours. It was alive with magic and secrets, both dangerous and delightful.
M. Rasmodius was a peculiar man. He lived in Cindersap Forest, a detail that had played a role in where Spectra parked her cart. He'd constructed his tower out of brick, mostly through magical means. Strange noises could be heard coming from the tower almost at all times. The wizard preferred this air of mystery and magic, as it kept nosy neighbors and mischievous kids away from his tower, and from his work.
She tried to visit the wizard each time she was in the valley, but so often he was gone, he was too busy, or Spectra had gotten the itch to leave town before she got the chance to see him. But she'd said she'd stay put for at least a few more days, and she could certainly make the time on this trip. However, Spectra knew this visit would be different than their usual; she could count on one hand how many times she had been specifically summoned for something, other than an errand to run. It didn't matter where in Ferngill Republic she was; countless times now, she had seen a crow land on her cart with a small scroll tied to its leg. Neat, script hand-writing would read: "Get me void essence," or "Bring me a prismatic shard," or sometimes simply, "Fiddlehead ferns." She would roll her eyes, but she'd always make sure to bring him what he needed. He was a gruff man, but Spectra was thankful for the opportunity to learn from him. And she certainly had! Her first visit in the valley was the first time she'd been summoned by him. The first crow to land on her counter, squawking loudly until she retrieved its message. That time, it had been directions to find the tower. These instructions included a revealing spell, something Spectra could now cast in her sleep. But back then, three years ago, she'd sat in the forest, shouting the spell over and over, until finally the path to his tower opened up and the camouflage shimmered away. She smiled at the memory as she passed the boulder she had rested on between attempts. Sometimes it was hard to recognize her progress, so she appreciated it when she saw it.
But this time, there had not been a "request" (More like a demand.) for any spell components. This crow met Spectra as she had rolled into town, landing on the handlebars of her bicycle and riding with her until she parked. The message read: "Come and see me, promptly." His messages were always short, but the ambiguity of this one made Spectra feel uneasy. He usually at least hinted as to what the nature of the visit would be. Her stomach flipped once as she climbed the steps, the tower looming above her, and knocked on the large wooden door.
The door creaked open smoothly, and swung shut behind Spectra. To her left, a huge cauldron sat, its liquidy contents rolling and emitting a green light from deep underneath its bubbling surface. To her right, a large diagram had been chalked onto the wooden floorboards. The room was dim, floating candles danced above and sconces spattered the walls between overfilled shelves. Books, loose scrolls, and quills were strewn about, ink pots tipped over or else forgotten and dried. As she continued into the space, she heard mumbling coming from behind a curtain. She drew the fabric back and revealed the wizard. He was faced away from her, slowly waving his hands over a huge, translucent chunk of amber sat on a large pedestal before him and he mumbled a language she only caught bits and pieces of. The wizard stopped and sighed, dropping his arms to his side and cutting his eyes over his shoulder.
"I thought I told you not to interrupt me when I am working."
Spectra shrugged her shoulders. "You're always working."
The wizard gave a loud "Hmph" and clapped his hands, the room illuminating to its full light. Spectra was so often a shy woman, afraid of coming off rude, or silly, or awkward. But her mentor had given her plenty of opportunity to get over that with him. She hadn't understood it all when she first met him; he invited her to his tower, he brought up the idea of teaching her, but then argued when she asked, and then acted like it had been a huge inconvenience when she visited! Even when she was bringing him materials or showing him her grimoire and progress! The first year or so of working with him had been all half-mumbled apologies and backing away at his abrupt manner of speaking. He'd made it clear that he didn't care about hurting her feelings in the beginning, but over time, she'd gotten tired of the treatment and was unafraid of barking back. Though he never admitted it out loud, she knew, looking back, that he had been trying to toughen her up, get her to strengthen her backbone. And she certainly had, towards the wizard. The problem was that this backbone hadn't quite transferred to everyone else yet.
Rasmodius beckoned her to follow him as he led her to a long desk, covered in papers and books. He lifted a particularly large tome and it slammed onto the wooden surface, a puff of dust flying from underneath it. Spectra peered at the cover: forest magic. A flick of his hand and the pages fluttered open, settling on sketches of short, round creatures with little arms and legs and a single antenna. Wide-set eyes peered up at Spectra from the aged papyrus.
"What are they?" The wizard quizzed his apprentice over his shoulder as he dug through a pile of scrolls.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to remember what he had told her in one of their lessons. She remembered taking the notes, she'd even drawn these exact sketches in her grimoire…and she doodles little trees around them! Okay, what were they called… Jumois? No, no. Jominos? The memory hit her and she said, "They're Junimos! Keepers of forests and protectors of nature." She smiled, sure that she was right.
"Yes, that's right." It was more matter-of-fact than congratulatory. But Spectra preferred to think that it was because he expected her to be right. It's not like he's going to say something like, 'Of course you got it right, Spectra! You're a genius and a master of the arcane!'
The wizard pulled a thick scroll out from the pile and laid it out across the desk, placing glass paperweights on the corners. The paper had long rows down its length. Upon closer inspection, the rows were made of loops of varying sizes, with expanses of small swirls, dotted with larger swirls, some sporadic, some evenly spaced in patterns. After a moment, Spectra recognized what she was looking at. Rasmodius had invented a device to measure fluctuations of the magical activity in Stardew Valley. It worked almost as a pendulum, with a suspended pen drawing the loops on a long scroll as the paper was pulled very slowly. This meant that one could look for patterns in magical ebbs and flows, and cross-check it with a multitude of different information. With the realization of what was before her, she examined it with new eyes. Small fluctuations were normal; magic is integral to nature, so usually spikes around things like storms or full moons, for example, weren't uncommon. But what caught Spectra's attention was a burst of large loops a few rows up. Judging by the pace that the device drew, she estimated that this magical burst only lasted seconds, a minute at the most. But the size of these swirls is what surprised her. Storms or full moons usually only increased activity by doubling or tripling the loop sizes. But this strange section signified that the magical flow during that time was approximately ten times higher than a normal given day.
Spectra's brows shot up, and she turned to her mentor. He hadn't spoken, allowing her time to evaluate the data in front of her. She spoke first, "Any idea what this is?" She gestured to the anomaly.
"Hm, well, I have my theories. And there's some strange occurrences to be considered." He stroked his purple goatee. He was similar to Spectra in the way of unexpected hair color; he was a master of the mysterious, and dabbled in darker magic. As such, his hair had a deep purple sheen, on the verge of black.
"What do you mean, coincidences?"
"Take a look again." He gestured to the scroll. "How long ago did this happen?"
A few moments passed. "Around three weeks ago?"
The wizard nodded. He clasped his hands behind his back and began to pace the room. "Correct. These markings were made overnight about three weeks ago. When I saw them the next morning, I traversed the valley in search of anything that could have caused this, but I found nothing. However, a few days later, the new farmer, Canis, showed up in town. Now, it may be unconnected, but I don't believe in coincidences." He stopped at the desk and paused his monologue, giving Spectra time to absorb what he'd told her. After a few moments, he removed the scroll, revealing the book beneath. He pointed to the cute creatures sketched onto the pages. "Junimos never left Stardew Valley, but most of them have been in hiding for many years now. However, they have revealed themselves more frequently as of late, even to Canis herself."
"Really?" Spectra's eyebrows knit in confusion. Junimos, like many magical creatures, were very selective of who they revealed themselves to. Usually only magic users or those pure of heart, like children, could see them. She'd even heard Jas, Marnie's young niece, talk about seeing "little forest guys" every once in a while.
"Indeed. I was surprised as well, but with these events both connected to the farmer and occurring in a short time span, it is nothing to be ignored. She has communed with me a few times on the matter, and we believe that her work with the Junimos will improve the lives of all in the valley. I'd like you to help her in these endeavors."
Spectra sputtered her words a moment before forming her response. "M-my magic ability isn't near what she would need for this though. You'd be much better sui–"
He held up a hand, and his face had softened from his stoic, analyzing look he wore earlier. "Please, Spectra, I have told you to not speak poorly of yourself in my company." He lowered his hand and put it back behind his back. "And I'll tell you this to ease your mind. The magic component of this will likely be minimal. Your skills as a merchant, however, could quite possibly be the key to this whole endeavor."
Spectra looked at him quizzically. What did her trading have to do with any of this?
"A Junimo colony has formed in the Community Center. That is where they revealed themselves to her. I take it you haven't been inside?"
She shook her head.
"It warms my heart to hear that my student has not taken up the hobby of breaking and entering, as the building has been locked and thought to be empty since before you came to the valley."
Spectra never knew what to do in these situations. Rasmodius was usually so serious, and then would throw a light-hearted quip into their conversation with his same stoic voice. Once, she had laughed at one of these moments, and the silence that followed felt uncomfortable. She'd wondered if he didn't mean to be funny? Either way, she now responded with silence, sometimes having to look away if she had to stifle a laugh.
The mentor continued. "The colony requires items strongly tied to Stardew Valley to regain their magical abilities. These items will mostly come from nature, spanning the seasons. By our figuring, we can provide all of these to the Junimo within a year, though it is expected that this process will exceed that time." He handed Spectra a folded piece of paper. "I would like you to find what you can from this list. Work with the farmer, find out what she has given already, and help out within your power." The wizard's stern facade weakened again for a moment before he continued. "I know this is not how my usual assignments go for you. Usually I have you practicing incantations or rituals, not giving you a shopping list."
Spectra looked at him. Again, she couldn't tell if he was joking or not. She thought back two months ago, when she woke to a crow tapping on her window shutters at dawn to deliver the message "Bat wings (20)." He did have her practice her magic, but she sometimes wondered if she were just a glorified delivery service.
She looked at him and mustered the response, "Yeah, totally different. I'll do my best."
Rasmodius gave her a nod and stated evenly, "Now go. I must return to my ritual." He moved towards the large chunk of amber, and Spectra wondered if she imagined the hint of smile as he turned away from her.