"I feel like I just jumped down a rabbit hole I shouldn't have jumped down...", Lloyd uttered, and frowned at the text present before him. "Seriously, how does one simply gain Mana by consuming fruit? This fruit better be magical alright."
Well, it's not like Lloyd could bring in his previous world logic. Back on Planet Earth, Magic didn't exist. And there were plenty of stories where Magic did absurd things, so was it really that absurd relating this to crops?
Lloyd rubbed his forehead, feeling his dull headache return. It's probably a good thing he didn't tell that senior trio he could farm Strawberries. He didn't want anyone to find that out for now, until he personally experienced his crops by Crop Consumption. If Strawberries truly granted Mana and subsequently allowed Lloyd to start on the path of Magic, he would need to see that for himself. He wondered how rare Strawberries were. He was just in the most outward portion of the farm. There's even those "Inner Farms", which align to those eastern stories Lloyd read, and he couldn't help but chuckle at that fact.
"Hopefully I don't develop that young master syndrome or something, heh.", Lloyd chuckled. By doing that, his headache eased slightly. He wasn't going to review the entire manual today. He already learned far more in this first day alone that satisfied his curiosity.
Solaris. A swords and magic world fraught with danger lurking around every corner. A world filled with monsters and dungeons. Adventurers. Other Occupations. The world even has Cultivation and Cultivators where with a flick of their hand they could destroy and level mountains with ease. And in the middle of all of that, Lloyd found himself as a Farmer, based off of the farming simulation game he frequently played in his previous life, Farming Is Life.
And from what he saw in his Harvester Log, the year was Year 1, meaning the world was likely just made, and five months have passed since its creation. Many places likely had its own lore, ready for Lloyd to explore it.
But baby steps first. One step at a time. Lloyd can't just reach a peak of a mountain without climbing it first. Not until he learns Magic or Qi, anyway.
"As much as I'd love to learn how this shower mechanism works, I should probably just crash and rest this body of mine. So much happened already. I need to let these thoughts settle...", Lloyd uttered.
It was then his new home heard a weird sound that echoed off the walls. Lloyd looked down, and saw his stomach start grumbling. He laughed.
"Haha! I'd love to go and chat with the other farmers, but I still haven't explored the Farmer's Market yet. Gaia said this feature is only bound to me and no one else can access it. Not yet, anyways. I'm curious what's in there. Apart from seeds, crops, and weapons. I have a feeling...", Lloyd uttered, and proceeded to open his Harvester Log. He navigated to the Farmer's Market.
[Ding! You have opened the Farmer's Market. For opening the Farmer's Market for the first time, you have been rewarded with 50 Copper Coins. Various goods and items are now available to purchase. Current Balance: 150 Copper Coins.]
After reviewing that, Lloyd was greeted with rows upon rows of items to purchase. On the left side, he saw various categories. Some were locked, but he became interested once he saw what these categories were.
[Seeds][Weapons][Cooked Meals][Amenities][Cooking Ingredients][Locked][Locked]...
Lloyd's eyes swiftly fell upon one particular category once he saw it.
"Oh please tell me what I think it is.", Lloyd said, and immediately pressed [Cooked Meals].
[Ding! You have opened the Cooked Meals section of the Farmer's Market. Default meals will not provide any benefits, nor trigger Crop Consumption upon use. Only until you start feeding the Farmer's Market your own cultivated crops will these meals upgrade.]
"I don't care about the latter for now. Just please....Please have it.", Lloyd continued to say, only to see a very familiar icon.
[Default Pepperoni Pizza Meal - 12 Slices - Cost: 5 Copper Coins]
"Thank the heavens!", Lloyd exclaimed in glee, feeling giddy to see such a familiar sight before him. He didn't hesitate. He pressed the pizza icon right then and there.
[Ding! You have purchased a one set meal from the Farmer's Market. Five Copper Coins have been used. Current Currency: 145 Copper Coins.]
Plop!
Without warning, a sealed brown pizza box that was very warm to the touch fell onto the desk next to where the manual was located. It was unbranded. But the effect was clear. Lloyd could purchase complete meals from the Farmer's Market!
But to Lloyd's surprise, he saw another prompt appear before him. This time, it had an envelope icon added next to the message. Was this another unexpected message from Gaia? Either way, Lloyd proceeded to read it.
[Ding! It looks like you made your first purchase from the Farmer's Market! Congratulations! I bet you're surprised to see items from your previous world, aren't you? Well, I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but this particular list of items is temporary until you get your bearings straight here in Solaris. You will not be able to bring in the culture from your previous world through the Farmer's Market. You're more than welcome to attempt that with your own knowledge. Once you rank up your Occupation, you will be able to acquire more items from the Farmer's Market, including recipes and the tools needed to make them! Also, once you have registered your own recipes and crops, you can use the Farmer's Market to recall them, all for a price of course! By the way, I LOVE Strawberries. If you find one of my statues further inside a town or city, I will gladly accept that as an offering. Until then, tata!]
"...", Lloyd was at a loss for words after seeing this new message from the Earth Goddess Gaia. Seriously, how many did she leave him!? At least Gaia told Lloyd outright he won't be able to purchase items forever from his previous world. Not upfront like this anyway. He will have to attempt to recreate the recipes from memory alone. Since this is the case now, he might want to improve his Spirit and Mana, since that was related to the aspect of the Mind. Going down that route may allow Lloyd an easier time to recall certain things he currently has trouble with.
Still, Lloyd's lips curved upward into a lighthearted grin. "Of course you love strawberries. The farmers say the crops that get assigned to us once we choose Farmer as our Occupation are assigned at random. Why am I beginning to think so otherwise..."
After Lloyd uttered that, he was greeted with just the hum of some magical runes in the background, acting as white noise inside his new home. It was very similar to listening to the fans of one's computer, but much quieter and more soothing to listen to. It was then Lloyd heard a much louder noise, which came straight from his stomach. Now that the pizza's aroma was tickling his taste buds, he couldn't ignore how hungry he was now. Lloyd grew embarrassed hearing his stomach speak so loudly.
"Either way, Gaia straight up said I won't be able to use food like this in the future until I learn how to make it myself. I'll see that as a challenge. But for the time being, let's dig in.", Lloyd said, and smiled. Doing a light clap of his hands, he proceeded to tear the seal on the pizza box. He was greeted with an immediate sense of familiarity. It was almost like he was still on Planet Earth!
Lloyd's stomach only grumbled louder, acting in anticipation. He felt like he could eat the whole box.
Year 1. May 1st. Nighttime.
Night had unexpectedly descended upon Rooting Plains while Lloyd enjoyed his first meal. He doesn't have any crops yet so he had to rely on the Farmer's Market. He didn't know where local shops were either, and rather than wasting time trying to find something appealing that could take all night, he decided to use the Farmer's Market and see what was in there. He hadn't done so yet, so seeing just how expansive this function was left Lloyd pleasantly surprised.
Lloyd patted his stomach. He ate all twelve slices. He definitely worked hard breaking the dirt in the fields today. It's possible he won't have to do this manual labor in the future, but just that alone made him extremely hungry. For some reason, even after eating the entire pizza, he was left a little unsatisfied!
"Maybe I shouldn't be too reliant on the Farmer's Market...But it's just so tempting. Maybe I should try some ramen next time?", Lloyd wondered. As he did, he saw his one window. Surprisingly, it had blinds one could open and shut to kill the sunlight in the room. It was left open and he hadn't bothered shutting them yet. With that, he saw the bright starry sky after gazing upward.
Lloyd saw two crescent moons hanging high in the night sky.
Just that alone, Lloyd knew he was no longer on Planet Earth. For it only had one moon.
"I think it's time to call it a night. I have a full week before that whatever Boss comes breathing down my neck again asking why the dirt hasn't been tilled. I still wonder how I compare to other Rank 1 Farmers...", Lloyd uttered.
Some more time had passed after Lloyd finished inner on his first day here in Solaris. After doing a little bit of moon gazing, he was now laying atop his bed with his covers beneath him. He didn't feel like sleeping yet. Some thoughts still lingered.
Lloyd quickly shook that question aside for the time being.
"I should let these thoughts settle. My thoughts should be clearer in the morning. Let's hit the hay.", Lloyd decided, and proceeded to grab the covers of his bed. It was pretty simple. Queen-sized. Durable enough to not collapse. Honestly, it was almost like he had started school over, but it was for farmers. He was already learning so much!
But to Lloyd's surprise, he was greeted by one more prompt, causing his eyes to turn serious.
[Ding! You are attempting to rest for the night. The Completionist Function is now online.]
"The...Completionist Function?", Lloyd mused, wondering what it was.