I only slept for two hours before the sun came up. My white hair was frazzled, and I took the moment to take stock.
Spring 16, 1388
FIELDS
81 Strawberries — 11/36 Days (Masterwork) (1x1) — 81 tiles.
81 Potatoes — 11/20 Days (Masterwork) (1x2) — 162 tiles
81 Peas — 11/23 Days (Masterwork) (1x2 — Trellis) — 162 tiles
81 Carrots — 4/5 Days (Uncommon) (1x1) — 81 tiles
81 Carrots — 3/5 Days (Uncommon) (1x1) — 81 tiles
81 Carrots — 2/5 Days (Uncommon) (1x1) — 81 tiles
81 Carrots — 1/5 Days (Uncommon) (1x1) — 81 tiles Tiles
GREENHOUSE
9 Broccoli - 1/10 days (Poor) (1x1) - 91 tiles
9 Carrots in the Seed Maker.
99 Uncommon Carrots being sold by Jasmine.
144 Uncommon carrots to be delivered.
Current Finances: 10 Gold Pieces (Clean), 270 Gold Pieces (Unlaundered)
NECROMANCER - Level 2
THANATOLOGIST - Level 3
I already added the Broccoli to my running tally since it was the very first thing I was planning to do. I walked out of my house, and didn’t see Ophelia or Laertes anywhere.
Figures.
Wherever they went, I just hoped they didn’t cause a mess that led back to my farm. I picked up the glass and began searching my land.
A greenhouse was size inefficient, and took up more acres than it provided back for planting. However, I could control the internal temperature to mimic any climate I needed. I still had no plans for a barn, so the meadow I owned could work there - and the 2 acres of land could easily be repurposed for this.
I took the building materials to my meadow and nodded. The structural architecture for the greenhouse was set, and now, it’d need to be actually made.
My undead were too inefficient for this task, and my main worker ran off with the Drakhuul. I shook my head, and began to build.
A few hours later, I was inside the greenhouse interior. It had taken up 20 tiles, and in exchange, gave me 9 tiles to use. That would be enough for now, as I got on my knees and began to dig.
I missed this. The hoe slammed against the dirt and pushed it to the side. Topsoil being slid underneath for that fertile dirt below. I wanted to throw compost atop of it as well, but I had poor seeds. Sure, I could make common broccoli, but I only needed nine.
I tore off the top of the seed packets and poured it on the dirt. I then slowly watered it, making sure everything was damp and well fed.
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It had been a long time since I manually farmed. Maybe the greenhouse could be my project alone? Might be for the best, especially if I do make medicine like Adrian asked me too.
Medicine!
I stopped idling in my greenhouse when the work was done, and came back to the cooked Elvish Longhair medication. I finished wrapping them in Balinka leaves, and stretched my arms. I was tired, but there was still more work to do.
I ran towards Noel’s farm, and before I stepped on the stairs leading to the door, I changed my role back to [Chirurgeon], and equipped my Crow Suit.
I then knocked.
I heard rustling inside, and heavy footsteps from within. A moment later, Noel opened the door and looked at me. He then stepped to the side.
So, I stared at him.
He sighed, taking his hands and rubbing his eyes. “What is it now, Ashley?”
“I do not have 800 gold for the land.”
“The wha– Wait, is that the reason you came dressed like that?”
“What? No. I told you last time I’d return with the 800 gold, but I do not have it. That is the bad news.”
“Danu’s breath… What is the good news then?”
I nodded and walked inside, and then immediately went to Aywin’s bedroom. Noel followed behind, as I took out one of the medication packets.
“Feed him this once a day with breakfast,” I instructed. “I have seven on me right now, and I believe that will be enough.”
Noel rushed towards me, and I froze. His arms wrapped around my body which immediately caused my brain to stop. I could only squawk out my simplest of thoughts – “GERMS! GET OFF.”
“No can do, kid.” He said, squeezing me all the closer. He patted my head, and, just for one moment, I wished this could go on longer.
But I had work to do.
I put my hand up and pushed against his chest, but he didn’t budge. I groaned, but thankfully a minute later, this not-unwelcome contact was over.
I then returned to staring at Noel.
Noel however opened his husband’s mouth, and pushed the packaged medication inside. I nodded, and looked around the room.
“You will want something to collect the waste. It will flush the parasites out, which will either cause him to vomit or defecate.”
Noel didn’t seem to mind that, as he stroked the elves head.”Mhmm…”
“I also took Jasmine’s place for your insane plot. Why would you send her there?” I continued, getting more thoughts off my mind.
“Send who? What? You mean your [Fence]? Send her where?” Noel stated, finally looking off his husband’s face. “Lady Hart, your ability to read a room astounds me.”
“It shouldn’t.” I corrected him, which caused Noel to snort. “Addy-Lord Skye told me about your plan to send Jasmine to meet Elizabeth.”
“Huh? That was Melissa’s plan. Or, Melissa's plan brought through by ‘Addy’ as you call him. I recommended that they send you.” Noel responded, his attention turning back to his hand’s face.
I quickly moved forward and pulled on his shoulder. He was massive and made of muscle, so my tug was barely effective. However, Noel yielded, glaring up at me.
Aywin puked over the blankets, as wiggling white worms flushed from his stomach and began to burn in the acid. I looked at Noel. “Bucket?”
He shook his head, stunned at the motion. Really, patient’s families were very bad at this. I groaned, and went to the kitchen to find something to use. A cooking pot was as good as any, as I brought it back to the bedroom, and pulled Aywin on his side. That way, if he puked again, it wouldn’t go down into his throat to choke him out.
My attention shifted back to Noel. “So you recommended me?”
Noel nodded, getting a wet rag to clean Aywin’s body, and hopefully the sheets too now. “Said you’d handle your own, and Melissa agreed. Seems your obsession is also obsessed with you.”
“Do I look old, Noel?”
“Excuse me?”
“Adrian called me old because of my hair. You are the only other man I know, and maybe trust. Do I look old?”
“...Kid, you look like my nieces, except you have divine-touched hair. Oh, and you need to eat more.” Noel responded, wiping more of Aywin’s body clean. He tried to move him back to laying down, but I had to stop him.
“So, I don’t look old?”
“Did… someone tell you look old?”
“Yes!”
Noel rubbed his eyes again, before turning to me. “Kid…” However, he stopped speaking, but stared into my eyes. He took another breath and let out a tired sigh.
“Take a seat there, and tell me what’s on your mind.” Noel motioned to one of the chairs in the bedroom. I took the soft looking one with many cushions.
“I’m just worried I look old!”
“Right, Adrian told you that. I’m in two places at once, and it’s not fair to either of you. So, why do you care if Adrian tells you if you look old?”
“I… don’t know?”
“See… if this was anyone else, I’d tell you you’re in love and to just ask him. However, I have to state the obvious here… you are a [Necromancer]. There is no future there. The fact you two orbit each other this much is a mistake.”
I paused for a moment. “I… just don’t get why I like him. He’s shorter than me, stupid, annoying, sanctimonious, stupid, is already getting married to Melissa, and is stupid.”
“Yeah…” Noel said, looking to the side. “I swear I heard something similar from the other si–”
“ADRIAN TALKS ABOUT ME?!” I shouted quickly, muffled underneath my Crow Suit.
Noel stared at me still, before Aywin coughed. He turned his head but I already knew Aywin was fine. I waited for his attention to return to me. “Focus, Noel!”
He grumbled, but returned his gaze. “Too much, just like you. Don’t you have anyone else you’d want to be with?”
“Ophelia or Jasmine, I guess. But Ophelia is a vampire, and Jasmine is already married. And, I mean, I like spending time with them, but I don’t think I’d like spen–”
Noel raised his hand. “So you like people who tolerate and enable your strangeness. I imagine Madeleine is too old for you?”
“No, she’s fine, but I don’t think I really like girls? I mean, I don’t really like guys, but a few people are special. I like people who make me feel special. And I think I want children some day.”
“You could adopt. Or I’m sure you have some strange wa– I’m getting off track. Ashley, did you come here to talk about your love life with me, give Aywin medicine, or what?”
“Oh, no. I just feel like I can talk to you about anything. But I actually came to talk to you about how you communicate with God?”
“Why, that’s sweet of you kid. You do feel like one of my nieces too – communicate with God?”
I nodded again. “Rhyvesta wants me to talk to her tonight. I guess it’s really Rhea’Vast - ‘She Wills” but everyone calls her Rhyvesta.”
“Come again?”
“She purified a soul for me, but told me some creepy thing about death kindly waiting for me. I put it off, but I have to go back and talk to her.”
“Danu’s breath… you are going to talk to the Grand Deceiver tonight? How are you feeling, kid?”
“Feeling? That wasn’t really what I was expecting,” I answered.
“You don’t need advice, you’d just reason it out, right? But you started with talking about your hair, then Adrian, so… I figure you’re just asking for someone to hear you talk?”
I didn’t respond to that. “I am not sure. Rhyvesta is off the cycle, but some of the things she wants me to do are… I don’t know. I’m having trouble just even thinking about what I’m supposed to do.”
Noel looked at his husband who was sleeping for a moment longer, but then got up to move towards me. “So, you are scared?”
“I think. What else should I be feelin’ when the Great Harvester comes knockin’?”
“Great Harvester..? You farming communities are cute,” He chuckled. “Here’s the thing about Rhyvesta, or death, in general Ashley. You can’t avoid her. Bad things happen to everyone, and even elves can die. But life and death are just two points in every journey. How you come to face it matters.”
“Its not death, it’s the devil!” I quickly retorted.
“And the advice is the same. When you look at something incomprehensible and or inescapable, the only thing you can control is yourself. How do you want to see it?”
“I… as an equal. I want to study it.”
Noel rubbed my head. “Then do that. You don’t have to close yourself off to fear a goddess, dying, or even your Elora Forsaken love. You can never control the outcome, just how you approach it.”
I sighed, and got up. “I also made Ophelia a brother, a Drakhuul named Laertes. He’s rampaging through the countryside now, I think. And I haven’t seen Madeleine since you two fought.”
“Really not making this easy on me.” Noel said, shaking his head. “I’ll help with that after I'm sure Aywin is fine.”
I nodded. “Then I am going to sleep. I have a Goddess to study.” I handed the remaining medicine to Noel. I yawned underneath my mask, and went home to rest before that meeting.
