By dawn Ethan and the elders gathered at the farmland.
Soon Anna approached grumbling, "Stupid Ethan having me call his magic Princess." With Meryn walking behind her a wicked smile on her face as she watched Anna grumble.
Ethan clapped his hands to get their attention. "The farmland issue has been resolved. Turns out the natural plant essence in the surrounding area was depleted, because of Meryn's recovery from childbirth."
Anna laughed. "Ha! The princess finally slips up."
Meryn rolled her eyes, before bowing slightly towards the elders. "Apologies for the troubles I might have caused you."
Meryn sighed, squatting down. Her fingers brushing along a dying wheat stalk the flowers wilt slowly recovering.
"Cyphs recover differently from humans. After childbirth, our bodies instinctively pull plant essence from the environment. It's… not something we can control."
Helen frowned. "And if more of your kind come to Cross? Will this happen again?"
Meryn hesitated. "If multiple Cyphs give birth at once, it might drain the land faster. But Cyphs mostly live deep within The Vale and barely have interactions with the world."
The elders nodded while Anna still mumbled something about finally having her moment. Ethan glanced around then continued. "Now that's handled, Elder Helen has some words to say."
Helen nodded, clearing her throat. "After yesterday's debate. The council has decided to appoint Meryn as my deputy in overseeing crop production."
Anna muttered under her breath, "Oh great, now she's taking my job too."
Ethan sighed. "Anna, you don't even know how to farm."
Anna huffed, crossing her arms. "Still feels like theft."
Meryn ignored her, pressing her palm against the soil. A faint green glow pulsed beneath her hand, spreading outward in soft waves.
The wilted crops that had once been yellowing and weak slowly began to perk up. Their surface showing hints of green
Anna murmured, "Woah that's cool." Catching her slipped up, she blushed lightly.
Helen watched, arms crossed. "That is actually impressive, almost like you can feel the land?"
Meryn nodded, her hand still pressed firmly on the soil. "It's… alive. Not like humans, but it breathes, in its own way."
Helen muttered, "Long as you make the crops grow, and they're healthy. I don't care how you do it."
After a minute Meryn stood up, shaking off the dirt in her hand. "A few more of this, and the plants should recover to peak health."
Ethan tilted his head. "So… could you teach someone else to do this?"
Meryn hesitated, then smiled slightly. "Perhaps. If they have the right touch."
Ethan nodded his gaze sweeping through the crowd. "Anything else—Not you Anna."
Anna purred. "Awww."
Ludwig approached him, whispering. "Uhm Chief can I see the gold coin again. I spent all night thinking of it and couldn't sleep."
Morris snorted. "With your obsession over money you'd make a great Kobold."
Ethan walked out of the farmland, pausing he turned towards Ludwig smirking, pulling out a gold coin he tossed it into the air.
Ludwig inhaled sharply, shivering lightly, his yes locked on the coin gleamee.
Morris groaned. "Put that damn thing away before he passes out."
___________________________
While Ethan walked back to his house, he heard the baker whispering softly to a customer.
"Did you hear? The Chief dropped GOLD on the council table last might like it was nothing!"
The villagers around gasped, their ears instantly perking up. The customer mumbled. "Gold?! How?!"
The Baker continued. "Some say he looted a noble. Others say he seduced a rich widow."
Ethan paused in his steps before he stumbled.
[Congratulations on becoming a gigolo.]
Another villager chimed in. "That Anna girl is going to kill him if that last one is true."
One of the miners walked out of the smiths workshop. "I heard he found buried treasure in the Vale."
Another stroked his beards. "Nope I'm pretty sure he seduced a noblewoman and she gave it to him as a gift."
Ethan unable to Ignore the rumours grabbed one of the villagers. "I did NOT seduce a noblewoman!"
A villager gasped dramatically, one of them chimed in, "So… you seduced TWO noblewomen?"
"WHAT—NO—"
The miner cut in. "AHA! The Chief admits to having multiple lovers!"
The villagers gathered whispered in hushed tones excitement evident in their voices.
Ehtan increased his pace scurrying away toward his house.
Morris crossed his arms, shaking his head. "Looted a noble? Seduced a widow? Hah! Our Chief isn't nearly that smooth."
Ludwig pushed up his glasses. "You sure? Have you SEEN how Anna looks at him?"
Morris scoffed. "Aye. That girl will kill him before she lets another woman have him."
___________________________
Ethan sat at the desk in his room deep in thought while stroking his chin, a knock on the door broke him out of his reverie.
The door pushed open and Jordan walked in. "You called for me Chief?"
Ethan turned to face him. "Yes I did, have you wondered why you fared better back at the cave? While your brothers acted delirious."
Jordan nodded. "Do you know why Chief?"
"Well yeah, it has something to do with your distinct eye colours."
Jordan reached up lightly touching his face, Ethan continued. "You have a wood element affinity hence your eyes colour and if my theory is correct then James should have fire affinity and Jared water affinity."
[Your theory? I gave you the answer on a plate.]
'Allow me flex some knowledge on magic.'
Jordam stumbled backwards, mumbling. "Magic? Wood element? You mean like you."
"Yes and no, my affinity is with the fire element."
Walking to the bed Jordan sat down, running his hand through his hair. "Why tell me this now Chief?"
Ethan walked to him, smiling mysteriously. "Because, before I didn't have a way to unlock your potential. Now... I do."
Jordan gasped staring up at Ethan, his voice trembling. "You mean?"
"Yep you're going to become a Mage soon. Take your time to process it and meet me again in three days time."
Jordan nodded in a daze still sitting down, Ethan cleared his throat. "Well get going."
Jordan stood up with a forced smile walking slowly towards the door, mumbling incoherently
___________________________
As Meryn passed by the village square, a young girl ran up to her, holding a small potted plant.
"Can you make it grow, miss?"
Meryn blinked, surprised. She bent slightly, dipping her finger into the soil. A soft green glow spread shortly after, tiny leaves sprouted ok the plant.
The girl gasped in delight. "Oh thank you, thank you miss."
Hugging Meryn then running back to her hosue. A few other villagers, once wary, murmured in approval.
Meryn smiled at the girl running back to her house. Before proceeding to the farmland.
Soon she arrived at farmland strolling through it with Helen as they observed the farmers and the crops while Anna walking behind them.
After a while Mervyn nodded, Helen wrapped up the parchment in her hand slipping it into her robe.
Meryn knelt on the soil, her gown swaying with the evening breeze, placing her hand on the ground, lightly closing her eyes.
Opening them again her green eyes swirled faster, soft green ripples vivaciously spread outward.
One of the farmers fell to his knees. "A living goddess! She walks among us!"
Helen walked up to him and kicked him. "Get up, you idiot."
Anna grumbled folding her arms. "Oh great, she has a cult now too."
Helen turned her attention back to Meryn frowning. "This magic of yours… is there any risk of it going wrong?"
Meryn hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Only if the land rejects me."
Anna cut in from the side. "And what happens if it does?"
Meryn met her gaze, then smiled grimly. "Then the crops don't grow."
Helen took a sharp breath, Meryn continued. "The possibility is rather slim though."
Anna's eyes narrowed. "But there's a possibility of it happening."
Meryn nodded. "If the land rejects me, it won't just refuse to grow. It might wither. Rot. As if it were poisoned."
Helen frowned. "And if that happens?"
Meryn's fingers curled into the soil, whispering quietly. "Then… the village suffers."