The night had grown still—so still that even the trees seemed to hold their breath. The fire crackled low, and everyone had begun to drift into that comfortable quiet that comes just before sleep. Verdalis's faint green light shimmered across the pond, and the chirping of insects lulled the air into a tranquil hum.
Then—
Patter.
A single droplet struck the rim of an empty bowl.
Roland's eyes blinked open just as another droplet landed on his arm. Then another. Within seconds, a soft drizzle began to fall, turning the air cool and damp. The sudden rain startled everyone awake.
"Rain?" Roland muttered, sitting up. "Ah—looks like the weather had its own plans tonight."
Sol yipped in surprise, his fur fluffing up as the drizzle turned into a light shower. Aeris blinked groggily, her wool dampening almost instantly. Maphala and Brontus both raised their heads from where they'd been dozing near the fence, ears twitching.
"Everyone inside!" Roland called with a laugh, grabbing his pack and his half-finished bowl. "Come on—before it turns into a downpour!"
Aeris made a small squeak and bolted—straight toward the house, before realizing halfway that she'd gone the wrong way.
Brontus let out a quiet chuckle, rumbling like distant thunder, before nudging his wife gently toward shelter. "We'll take the barn," he said in his calm, deep tone. "You go ahead, Roland."
"Got it!" Roland replied, already jogging toward the farmhouse as rain soaked through his hair.
Sol darted ahead of him, paws splashing through puddles, tail wagging even as he barked indignantly at the sky. The moment they burst through the farmhouse door, the pup shook himself furiously, scattering droplets everywhere.
"Hey!—careful, you'll soak the floor," Roland laughed, wiping at his hair.
A moment later, Aeris appeared in the doorway, dripping wet and wide-eyed.
"I… went the wrong way.," she said quietly, embarrassed. "I thought it was the barn in the rain."
Roland couldn't help but grin. "Don't worry about it. You made it here safe, that's what matters."
Aeris shuffled shyly, ears low. "Sorry for getting water everywhere."
He reached out, gently patting her woolly head. "It's just water, Aeris. Nothing to be sorry about. Come on, let's get warm. You can stay here with us tonight."
Her eyes softened, relief flickering across her face. "Okay…"
She stepped closer as Roland guided her to the thick rug near the hearth. Sol had already curled up there, nose buried beneath his paws, tail flicking in sleepy annoyance at having been woken up. Roland sat down beside them, tossing another small log into the fire until the room glowed with soft, orange light.
Aeris hesitated, then settled close—her wool brushing against his arm. "Warm," she murmured softly, almost in surprise.
Roland smiled, gently stroking her head. "You know, when I was a kid back in my old world, I used to visit this place called a zoo. They had all kinds of animals there—lions, giraffes, bears—but the sheep…"
He chuckled softly at the memory. "The sheep were my favorite. I'd bring a little bag of food and sit with them for hours. They'd nibble right out of my hand. One even followed me around until the keeper had to carry her back to the pen. I think that's when I started liking you woolly types."
Aeris listened quietly, her eyes growing softer with each word. Roland's hand continued to move gently through her wool, slow and rhythmic, until her breathing grew even and calm.
"That's nice…" she whispered sleepily. "I wish I could've met that sheep."
Roland smiled, his voice barely above a whisper. "I think you'd have gotten along just fine."
A faint bleat escaped her—half laugh, half sigh—as she nestled closer, finally letting her nerves melt away. The warmth of the fire flickered across the walls, and the steady patter of rain against the roof filled the quiet room like a lullaby.
Roland leaned back, glancing toward Sol, who was already fast asleep beside Aeris, his little body rising and falling with slow, peaceful breaths.
Outside, the barn creaked softly as Brontus and Maphala settled in for the night. Verdalis shimmered faintly in the rain beyond the window, her leaves glowing like emerald glass beneath the moonlight.
Roland's eyes grew heavy. His voice came one last time, warm and low.
"Sleep well, everyone… you've earned it."
The rain continued to fall—gentle, steady, and full of life.
And beneath its soothing rhythm, the farmhouse became a cradle of warmth and dreams.
Outside, the rain changed. It shimmered faintly under the moonlight — not ordinary rain, but something thicker, more vibrant. Each droplet left a faint trail of blue light as it sank into the soil.
By dawn, the farm glowed.
When Roland stepped outside, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he froze. The entire field seemed… alive. Leaves were broader, stalks thicker, roots pulsing faintly with light. The air smelled richer, sweeter.
"...What in the world?" he breathed, staring in awe.
His gaze drifted to the crow totem by the field's edge. It gleamed faintly, the carved feathers slick and radiant, as if freshly polished by unseen hands. Roland frowned, unsettled but too distracted by the crops to think much on it.
Brontus and Maphala approached from the barn, their horns still faintly glowing.
"That was mana rain," Brontus said, his deep voice calm and certain. "A rare blessing. The world breathes deeper when it falls."
Maphala nodded, her tone gentle. "It nourishes all living things — soil, plant, and beast alike. Even our horns drink it in."
Roland blinked, heart quickening. He knelt to examine the nearest crops — thick-stemmed carrots, wide-leafed lettuce, plump tomatoes glistening with dew. He reached out, brushing a leaf and invoking Farmer's Insight.
[Carrot – High Quality]
Flavor Bonus: +50% Sweetness. Eating Bonus: Doubles stamina recovery for a day.
Every single crop was like that — stronger, richer, radiant with life.
He leaned back on his heels, awestruck. "The rain… boosted everything. Quality's doubled, and even the eating bonuses got stronger."
Brontus let out a satisfied rumble. "A good omen. Perhaps your farm is being watched kindly."
Roland smiled faintly, looking toward the sky where the clouds were breaking apart into pale morning light. "Maybe so," he murmured. "Maybe it's the land's way of saying… welcome home."
He breathed deeply and said maybe. It was one heck of a welcome back thats for sure. Roland started laughing and Brontus chuckled.