The first rays of dawn broke across the village as Roland stood at the edge of the main path, Sol at his side and Brontus pawing lightly at the earth, ready to move. The villagers had gathered quietly, weary but smiling, as Pine and Rowan lingered near the edge of the square, eager to watch.
Roland patted Sol's head and whispered, "Stay safe, boy. Keep helping the village." Sol barked softly, tail wagging, before bounding ahead.
Brontus snorted and shifted, golden eyes bright. "Ready when you are," the great bull said, his voice deep and steady.
Roland mounted carefully, feeling the solid strength beneath him. "Let's go, Brontus. There's still work waiting at home, but… I can leave this village knowing they're in capable hands."
As they set off, the path beneath their feet soft with morning dew, Roland spoke softly to Brontus.
"You know," he began, "Pine has the spark. He'll tend the land, water the trees, and watch over the village crops. Rowan will follow soon enough, and the others… they'll help. One day, this village will be stronger than it's been in decades."
Brontus rumbled thoughtfully. "I can see it already. The children, the villagers… they'll nurture the land, keep it alive. You've left them a foundation they can build on."
Roland smiled, letting his hand brush over the bull's horn. "That's all I could hope for. To leave them a little hope, a little guidance, and the knowledge to grow. That's enough for now."
They rode in silence for a while, the sun rising higher and painting the sky in golds and pinks. Sol ran ahead, then returned with a happy bark, chasing the morning shadows. Roland laughed softly. "He always gets excited for the journey. Makes even long trips feel short."
---
Back at the village, Pine knelt by the evolving tree, his small hands digging gently into the soil. He whispered encouragement as he sprinkled mana-infused water over the roots, letting a soft drizzle of Farmer's Rain soak into the earth. The tree seemed to shimmer faintly, responding to his care, the leaves stretching upward as if reaching for the sun.
Nearby, he had a small plot prepared for potatoes, the notes Roland had given him spread neatly on a board. He read aloud in Roland's clear, instructive tone:
> "To grow potatoes, cut organic potatoes into pieces with 2–3 eyes each and let them dry slightly. Plant the pieces in loose, well-drained soil about 4–6 inches deep, with the eyes facing up and spaced 12 inches apart. Water them well. As they grow, continue to cover the stems with soil to protect the developing potatoes from sunlight, ensuring they do not turn green and become toxic."
Pine carefully followed the instructions, pressing each potato piece into the soft earth, spacing them evenly, and covering them lightly with soil. After planting, he whispered, "I'll water you gently… slowly… just like Roland said."
With a flick of his hand and a quiet incantation, a light sprinkling of mana-infused water rained down, soaking the soil without overdoing it. The potatoes seemed to settle in, their tiny shoots beginning to sense the magic and nourishment around them.
Pine stepped back, brushing dirt from his hands, and smiled. "I'll keep writing everything down. One day, I'll teach someone else… like Roland taught me."
Rowan, watching from nearby, nodded quietly, picking up a small trowel to help. Together, they tended the potatoes and the evolving tree, the first rays of sunlight glinting off the leaves, promising a future where magic, care, and knowledge would grow together.
The following days passed in a quiet rhythm. Pine woke before dawn, eager to check the potato patch and tend the evolving tree. His small hands worked the soil carefully, following Roland's instructions to the letter. Each morning, he sprinkled the Farmer's Rain, letting the mana-infused water soak into the roots, and watched the shoots stretch toward the light.
He carried a notebook, copied meticulously with Roland's handwriting as a guide. Every step he took, every observation he made, was recorded. Pine had begun to understand the balance Roland had spoken of: the soil, the plants, the water, and the mana all working together.
> Entry Example — Potato Care
"Water the potatoes gently in the morning, enough to moisten soil without pooling. Cover stems as they grow to prevent sunlight from turning them green. Observe shoots daily for signs of disease or slow growth. Adjust magic-infused rain if soil seems dry or tired."
In the afternoons, he expanded the plot with care. He dug small beds for leafy greens, root vegetables, and grains, each section labeled in the notebook. Roland's lessons about crop rotation and cover cropping were applied: beans alternated with carrots, greens with grains, all planned to keep the soil lively.
Magic assisted him, but only subtly. Pine infused water with light mana to nourish soil and gently warm the roots in cool patches. Each drop was measured and controlled; he had learned to sense the energy in the soil, and how to let the plants pull what they needed without draining his own strength.
Rowan sometimes watched, eager to help, but Pine had become the teacher now. "Watch the roots," he instructed, holding a small bundle of fresh soil. "Feel how damp it is. Too wet, and the seeds may rot. Too dry, and they won't sprout. Magic can help, but you must still care with your hands."
The villagers began to notice the change. Willow brought herbs to add to the growing beds. Hawthorn checked the perimeter, ensuring nothing disturbed the crops. Thornelle supplied food from the Festival Pot, giving Pine enough energy to work long hours without fatigue. Each adult slowly took small notes, copying Pine's examples under his guidance.
Every evening, Pine returned to the notebook, writing lessons learned in Roland's tone:
> Farming Techniques — Notes from Roland
"Land preparation is key. Loosen soil, remove stones, and ensure it drains well. Plant seeds according to their light, water, and soil needs. Rotate crops to prevent soil fatigue. Use cover crops to protect the soil when not in active planting. Mix crops wisely to reduce pest problems and improve yields. Precision planting saves space and energy; magic can supplement conditions, but never replace care."
> "Integrated Pest Management (IPM) should be practiced: observe, predict, and prevent rather than simply destroy. Ancient methods, like mixed cropping and pastoralism, may be combined with modern magic techniques. Hydroponics and aquaponics can be applied if soil becomes depleted or space is limited, using nutrient-rich water and careful monitoring."
By the end of the week, the village's small fields had transformed. Rows of leafy greens glimmered in the morning light, potato shoots peeked from the soil, and the evolving tree at the far end of the field shone faintly with life. Pine had learned to water it carefully, giving light Farmer's Rain to stimulate growth without harming it.
The elder watched quietly from the edge of the square, impressed. "This boy… he moves like a Greenbud," the elder murmured to Willow. "The knowledge he carries… it may save this village yet."
Pine, writing in the notebook under the soft light of dusk, paused and looked up. "One day, someone else will read these and learn. Just like Roland taught me."
Willow placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "And they will, Pine. You're building more than crops—you're building hope."
As night fell, the village slept peacefully, the fields resting under the watchful care of the evolving tree. Pine sat by the notebook, quill in hand, dreaming of a future where magic and care would combine to make the land flourish—and where the teachings of a divine farmer would live on in the hands of those who loved it.