"Oi G-Ranker! Why are you so red? You didn't go drinking booze while you're on a quest did you?" Old man Jo was back to teasing him with that nickname.
"Shut up! I'm not red at all!" Leif had returned with Elysia with a horse and the wagon. He was excited to rest but when they got to Old Mans Jo's Farm cottage, they found the old man threw his back.
"Elysia help!" Sal came running to them with tears in his eyes, "Grandfather he - he's dying!"
"Who you cursing stupid kid!" The old man threw his cane at Sal. "I ain't dying! How dare you say the Jo the Berserker died cutting a few Manalara trees!"
"I tried to heal it but it's something internal and I can't see it." Hal more calm, was at his grandfather's side trying to elevate the pain.
Elysia immediately came to the Old Man's side as if she were the eldest granddaughter among the three "Oh dear could you tell me what happened and where the pain is coming from?"
"Don't fret now lil' lady! I'm fine! See fit as Cazklewasker fresh from its Mama's pouch" Old Man Jo said trying to stretch to make her see that he was okay, as he was doing so, a loud bone crack made the group fall into silence - then panic.
"Grandpa, don't leave me! I'm not ready to inherit your rock collection!" Hal held onto Jo.
Jo winced. "Boy, stop squeezing me like a damned Rhintraffe in heat—yer gonna finish the job!"
Sal, flustered, turned to Elysia. "Should I run to the doctor? Or—" he gulped, lowering his voice dramatically, "the coroner?"
"I AIN'T DEAD YET!" Jo bellowed, nearly launching Hal off his arm.
Leif scoffed, arms crossed. "Serves you right. You shouldn't have been showing off old geezer."
Jo shot him a glare and, despite his obvious agony, wobbled to his feet. "Who you callin' old geezer? I can take you right now!"
Leif smirked. "Oh yeah? You gonna fight me or just let your bones do the job?"
As if on cue, another loud CRACK echoed from Jo's back.
Sal let out a shriek. "Oh, sweet Serendale, should I start digging the grave!?"
Elysia blinked in confusion her voice barely audible in the chaos. "Would everyone just calm down?"
*****
That was the events that happened earlier, now old man Jo sitting on the lumber hut was overseeing the boys sawing the trees into small pieces of lumber. He was held by two large boards that acted as support. Elysia specifically told him not to move so he could recover faster.
"Grandpa! Please don't die!" Sal said in between hacks.
"Sal be quiet I can't heal him properly if you keep distracting me!" Hal reprimanded.
Sal retorted "If you spend more time reading you shouldn't be such a weak healer! Then, Grandfather would be okay by now!"
"If you hadn't challenged him earlier he wouldn't get hurt like this! You know how old he is!" Hal shot back.
Apparently, they were moving the trees using the river to the location of the lumber hut. This way they could start chopping it off near the village road and load it to the wagon easier. Sal challenged his grandfather who could reach the lumber hut faster. Old Man Jo managed to reach the hut faster but slip and fell hurting his back.
"Hey! I wasn't talking to the both of you! Shut up!" Old man Jo said trying to budge from the splint Elysia tied him in. The splint was made up of Manalara tree and the vines that Fig grew made it impossible for him to move around.
"Oi! Oi! G-Ranker!" Old man Jo called out again, "You haven't answered my question from earlier. Why were you all red when you got back? Don't tell me!?" a daunting feeling took over him.
"What did you do to our Elysia?" Old Man Jo said furiously kicking dirt towards Leif's direction.
"What!? What are you talking about!" Leif defended.
"You two at dusk out about in a vibrant village! I hope you didn't go with Elysia to the Inn and did funny business!" Old Man Jo accused.
"What I - We didn't" Leif was dumbfounded by the accusation of old man Jo!
"Alright swear on it, say you didn't go to the Inn with Elysia and do any funny business or else your rank never goes up!"
"What?! Wait don't curse me like that! I didn't do anything, I mean I did go to the Inn with her but - "
The twins snapped their heads in Leif's direction glaring at him and in chorus they said, "What!?"
"Don't you dare hurt our Elysia. She might not be my kin but she saved my boys she's like my granddaughter! You handsome adventurer types are the ones breaking hearts in every village they go to!"
"Shut up old man don't lump me with those people!" Leif felt offended.
"Then why wont you swear you didn't do any funny business?" Sal pointed his axe at Leif
"Sal hold him steady I'll redirect grandfather's pain to him and make him confess!" Hal said reaching out his other hand at Leif's direction.
Among the commotion, a rustle came from the forest, Sera and Phine both had humans clutched in their mouths. The commotion between the four of them paused.
"Mr. Jo! He-help!" One of them said.
"Right Elysia sent you two in the forest to monitor trespassers." old man Jo looked at the intruders expressionless.
Sera and Phine dropped the intruders and headed back to the forest.
"I can't believe you lot would be foolish enough to come here after Mrs. Pottermore's warning at the Inn. " Leif said shaking his head.
"Oi you're the Inn Keeper's son right?" Mr. Jo noticed Peytar among the group.
"Yes Mr. Jo I'm Payter - I only came to stop them! I wasn't going to cut down any tree in your land without your permission." Peytar immediately defended himself. "Actually I was here to also ask you if I can train with you again to cut down Manalara trees. The farm you see will be a big help to the village so I came here to offer my help."
"That's right if a G-Ranker can cut one down, it's not impossible for us to do it too right?" another one said clearly mocking Leif. "If you hire us we're actually much cheaper and we promise not to slack off like last time and - "
"That doesn't matter boy!" Old man Jo cut him off "You! Innkeeper's son, I have a question for you come closer."
Peytar came closer to Mr. Jo fear from the Lupinaras gradually subsiding but he was a little skittish. "Yes Mr. Jo?"
"That boy right there?" He pointed to Leif, "Did he go to your Inn today with a young lady with black hair and blue eyes?"
"You mean Leif and Elysia? Ye-yes they visited the Inn together. There was even a drunk who wanted to make a ruckus but don't worry he left with her and was even holding her hand."
"You little rascal come here! You think you're good enough for our Elysia! Boys get 'em!" Mr. Jo said furiously.
Sal was quick to pick up his axe and swing it in Leif's direction. "Stop moving!"
Hal cracked his knuckles. "Let me share the pain I've accumulated over the years!"
Leif a Manalara lumber as a makeshift shield and held his own axe "Hey you two! I won't go easy on you!"
Sal was the first to move. he darted forward, his footfalls light as a whisper. Daggers gleamed as he lunged, aiming for the gap between Leif's makeshift and his boots.
With a practiced motion, Leif pivoted, his shield sweeping down to block the strike. The force of the impact sent Sal stumbling back, his balance faltering for only a second before he danced away, circling him like a predator.
"You little twerp!" Leif remarked.
Hal chose that moment to charge, his bulk turning into a battering ram. He was aiming for Leif's acupunctures with practice movement he found an opening and Leif grunted in pain. He stumbled a moment.
"What the heck was that! That felt like an anthornet's sting" Leif said, steadying himself.
Hal interrupted with a feint, drawing Leif's shield up high. "Sal, now!"
Sal grinned, leaping into action. He slid low, one dagger slicing toward Leif's unguarded side. But Leif was ready. He dropped his shield's edge just in time to parry his blade and used the momentum to spin, bringing the flat of his makeshift shield around like a hammer.
The blow caught Hal square in the chest, sending him sprawling. Sal barely rolled away in time, his daggers flashing defensively as he regained his footing.
Hal groaned from the ground, "You hit like a runaway cart, Leif!"
Leif chuckled, "And you're as sturdy as one. Stop attacking!"
Hal's hand glowed faintly as he cast a healing spell on himself, the bruises on his chest fading. "I'm going to get you"
Sal rolled his eyes. "You just took a hit, and you're already jumping back in? You're insane."
"Insane enough to keep him busy for you!" Hal charged again, this time feinting left before swinging right.
Leif blocked the blow, but Sal capitalized on the distraction. He vaulted off Hal's shoulder, flipping over Leif's shield. His daggers aimed for his back, but Leif twisted his torso mid-step, raising his armored forearm to deflect the strike.
"Clever," he admitted, "but not quite enough!"
He surged forward, slamming his shield into Hal, who managed to stay upright this time. Sal landed behind him, already planning his next move.
Hal grinned. "Hey, Sal, you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"I think I am!"
They moved in sync. Hal threw a glowing orb of healing energy toward Sal, amplifying his speed and agility. He darted forward in a blur, attacking from one side while Hal came in from the other ready to strike at his acupuncture.
Leif roared, slamming the make-shift shield into the ground. A burst of energy radiated outward, forcing Hal and Sal back. Before they could recover, he swept his shield up, narrowly missing Hal but catching Sal's daggers mid-swing.
"Alright, both you just stop moving!" He said furiously wrangling the two up on both his left and right side after disarming them.
Both Hal and Sal was squirming trying to get out of Leif's enormous hold.
"As you can see experience trumps talent all the time" Old man Jo who said to the group of trespassers as he observed the fight from a far. "If you think that G-Ranker is weak, then you got another thing coming. An adventurer, no matter his rank will always be stronger than regular folk cause they have one thing regular folk don't. It's their affinity to mana. So you boys go-on your way. If you're not willing to train and listen to me you're only risking your lives here."
"Hey old man!" Leif called out, "Call these two-off!"
Old man jo his face serious looked at the twins "Twins! This man is no match for you"
"You heard him so knock it off!" Leif said easing his hold on the twins who stopped squirming.
"But did I ever teach you to back down when it's tough? Don't back down!" The old man commanded.
"Don't back down!" the twins echoed back, as they got away from Leif's hold.
"There's two of you and one of him now take him down!"
"Take him down!" Hal and Sal's eyes focused on Leif circling him like prey.
"Protect Elysia from scum!" Old man Jo cheered on.
"Protect Elysia from scum!" invigorated by their grandfather's encouragement they set-off on another attack spree.
"You got to be kidding me old man!? Can't you see we've got so much work to do!"
"How good it is to be young again!" Old man Jo's chuckle echoed throughout the forest.
*****
Rin turned around after feeling a sudden chill in the air. He was sitting at the Guild Hall eating peacefully.
"What is it Rin? Is it someone with high mana? Where? where?" Lyra asked.
Bridge comes storming in with new recruits each looking pale and scared as if they were forced to sign up as recruits. "Honey! Look I got you new recruits!"
"Rin could you go tell the oaf to stop calling me honey when were at the guild."
"Honey please don't be mad at me anymore I brought you new recruits. Let's have Rin look at them - I'm sure you'll find someone. Come here Rin" The master picked up Rin and showed him the new recruits. "Each one of them has great affinity to mana right?"
"Stop it! Aren't you announcing to the world that Rin can see mana aura!" Lyra whispered as he pulled Bridge by the ear like a scolding mother.
"Guild Master please put me down I'm not a magical scanner, also everyone ran away." Rin pointed at the group that was no longer their but their dust prints.
"Honey you're talking to me again." Bridge said teary-eyed dropped Rin and hugged Lyra.
"You useless oaf!" Lyra smacked Bridge's back with much passion and frustration blushing profusely.
"It's peaceful at the Guild head quarters again," a veteran guild member said.
"Guild Master will stop dragging us to a tavern to cry about his marriage problems." another member mused.
"Finally my liver can rest tonight!" One more member said who was collapsed on the floor from drinking the night before.
Rin sighed, "I can't understand those two at all"
"You will someday when you get married Rin!" Aaron joined in the fun.
"Who knows maybe he'll marry Leif, they do argue like a married couple already!" another joked.
"Please stop talking nonsense" Rin gave them a side-eye, annoyance written all over his face.
"Imagine which fearless woman will marry this cold man!" Aaron toasted to the group.
*****
"Elysia" Ember called out "Elysia I'm sure of it!"
"I saw it too! It was definitely Master's mana." Fig agreed
"But that person did not look like your master at all." Elysia said to them as she made her way to the clearing.
"It's true and his mana was inconsistent too" Fig pointed out.
"It's like I only see a glimpse of master's power from time to time." Ember tried to recall.
"Is it possible for someone to have the same mana as another person?" Elysia asked.
"No, how we see mana is always unique for each person, even with Hal and Sal as twins, their mana is very different." Agua explained.
"Well, whoever he is. We know he's not your master but he's the only clue we have to your Master. If only we had the portrait of your master maybe we could show it to him and ask." Elysia said wondering.
"But Elysia," Gale called out her tone melancholic "If - if we find master, does that mean we're separating from you?"
"What?" Ember looked at Elysia realizing just now "If we find the master it means that Elysia will have to break our familiar bond and we'll have to serve the master again."
"You're not going with us?" Paku asked looking at her with eager eyes but she looked at him with a silent confirmation. "We can't leave Elysia after all she's done for us right everyone?" Paku asked his siblings.
"Paku I can't split you up, you siblings must stick together." Elysia looked at them and a memory from her past comes rushing in her head.
It was that of her older-self, she was saying farewell to her younger siblings. Visiting their homes as if she was a stranger not a family. No matter how close her siblings and her were ultimately their visits became less frequent and she eventually ended alone in that small boxed apartment. She remembered those memories and for some reason the emotion came flooding back to her.
"No Elysia! We can't! Can't you live with us? With the master?" Paku asked feeling the emotions in Elysia's words.
"Eventually we'll have to separate" Elysia informs them with a gentle tone.
"No we can't! You'll be all alone! What will happen to you?" They started saying chaotically.
"t is alright Master, I will stay with Master until my dying breath Sera's voice echoed in Elysia's head.
"Sera! You're back! So how's the surrounding area?" Elysia held on to her soft fur.
We managed to clear the area Master, as you asked we sent the strangers to that old man.
"Where is Phine?"
Do not worry Master, I have sent that child to monitor the perimeter as you instructed. The old man has cleared out four acres of the forest of wild life. The wild life are living peacefully beyond the four acres.
"Well done Sera! Alright everyone we should get started on our task at hand." Elysia surveyed Mr. Jo's work - in progress.
"Mr. Jo said that his land covers ten acre from this spot to this spot." Elysia pointed to a line of Trees that Mr Jo. marked to indicate the boundary of his field as she made a mana circle around her.
"Do you see it Gale?" Gale shot up in the air to see the line of fallen trees that Marked the boundary.
"Yes I see it!" Gale confirmed.
"Elysia are you sure you can do this? You heard what Mrs. Pottemore said striking this tree will be fatal to an ordinary person" Agua warned following her as she made circles on the ground.
"She said that would be the case for an ordinary person who has no affinity to mana, as I recalled " she struggled drawing a few symbols, "Ember mentioned I was a walking ball of light. I've been practice the techniques in Mr. Jo's book and I understand the basics."
The sprite siblings looked at each other unsure if they should stop Elysia or not.
"It's about absorbing the mana from the environment, containing it within the body, and then directing it outward. In this case, all I need to do is stand on this circle and let you handle the heavy lifting. The moment you strike the tree, the mana will reverberate. According to Master's book, this circle serves as a shield, while the other acts as a mana magnet. Once I place this mana stone here, all the gathered energy will funnel directly into it," Elysia concluded, her tone steady and confident.
"What's this third circle Elysia?" Paku asked hovering around a smaller one.
"This one I need your help with Paku, do you think you can copy this and draw a big round one on the ground? It will help muffle the sound around the area" Elysia thinking of a picture in her head and Paku understood immediately. He put his hand on the earth embedding it with circular pattern copying what Elysia did but in a larger scale.
"Gale go and see the number of trees you see for the one acre we're carving out." Gale zoomed up among the trees.
"Must you do this Elysia? Who cares about making a farm in the middle of the forest?" Ember was the first to say something.
"I care! And so does Mr. Jo who has shown us generous hospitality even though we're practically strangers to him. He pulled his back and I know he'll start working again the minute we leave. That man is a workaholic. The village also needs this farm." Elysia said firmly.
"Alright Elysia we will do as you say, if we're doing so much or at any point you feel tired you have to tell us immediately!" Fig negotiated.
"Your safety is our priority!" Agua said holding her hand.
"I promise I will, we're just going to help Mr. Jo carve out an acre of land of his ten acres." She assured the three. "Sera go scout the perimeter. Make sure no creature enters while we're clearing the area."
"Yes Master" Sera obediently followed and left to scout the surrounding area.
"Elysia I finished drawing the circle" Paku pointed at the huge pattern that circled the acre of land"
"I saw the entire Acre Elysia that's about 300 trees" Gale reported back after zooming across the trees.
"Alright, then shall we begin?" Elysia looked at the Sprite siblings and with determination on her face, she began.
She placed the mana stone in the middle of the magnet magic circle and she stepped onto the shield circle. She poured out her mana just like she practiced every morning a bit of that energy coming from her diaphragm traveling to her heart to the tips of her fingers.
The circles activated enclosing Elysia in a dome and surrounding acre making the area soundproof.
"Alright, Gale, let's start clearing," Elysia said, her voice calm yet brimming with authority.
Gale, darted forward, her translucent wings shimmering like the edge of a blade. She raised her tiny hands, and a gust of wind swirled around her. The first slicing gale whistled through the air, barely ruffling the branches of a towering Manalara tree. Gale glanced back, uncertainty clouding her glowing form.
"Don't hold back, Gale," Elysia assured her, a radiant glow emanating from her as she channeled mana into her familiar. "I'll give you all the power you need. Go all out!"
Energized by Elysia's unwavering confidence, Gale's form brightened as Elysia's mana coursed through her like a tempest. With a fierce cry, Gale unleashed a sharp air slices. The slicing winds made a sound as if a sword cut through paper, and in a single, sweeping arc, ten trees groaned and fell, their mighty trunks crashing to the ground like thunder. The force was awe-inspiring, a display of raw power that sent leaves and splinters spiraling into the air.
Gale didn't stop there. Empowered by the torrent of mana flowing from Elysia, she flew through the trees, her wind splitting trees up to their trunks, as she passed by.
"Paku, your turn. Remove the stumps," Elysia commanded.
Paku, floated forward, he placed his tiny hands on the ground, and the earth itself groaned in response. With a deep rumble, roots and stumps were torn from the soil, the ground trembling as if in reverence to Paku's might. Massive roots burst from the earth, scattering dirt and debris as Elysia's mana amplified Paku's efforts.
Gale and Paku looked at each other surprised by the immense power they wielded.
"Did you see that Elysia!" Paku asked.
Agua looked at Elysia checking if that display of power weakened her but she only heard Elysia say "Keep going!"
"Gale move the trees to this side," Elysia commanded and Gale used her wind to sliced the tree's branches and shaped them until they became stackable lumber.
Each cut and each fallen Manalara tree made the stone flicker like a kettle corn in the heat. The forest seemed to hold its breath as the mana stone absorbed the mana that was bouncing off the Manalara trees. The stone glowing brighter with every pulse.
"Ember, take care of the undergrowth," Elysia instructed.
Ember poised herself to the task. She flitted over the ground, her touch igniting the tangled underbrush in a controlled blaze. Flames roared and crackled, consuming the remnants of the forest floor in a breathtaking display of fiery precision. The heat was intense but never wild, every flicker of Ember's flames was guided by her control.
"Agua, keep the fire contained," Elysia ordered.
Agua, twirled gracefully through the air. She raised her tiny hands, and a gentle rain began to fall around the perimeter of the clearing. The droplets hissed as they met the flames, creating a barrier that ensured the fire did not spread. Steam rose in a veil of mist, and when the flames finally subsided, the ground was left cleared and enriched with ash.
"Paku, remove the stones from the ground" Elysia commanded.
Paku lifted the boulders and rocks effortlessly from the soil. The stones floated into neat piles next to Gale's lumber pile. The ground beneath Elysia's feet softened, becoming more pliable and ready for planting
"Gale, collect the ashes and spread them evenly across the area," Elysia said.
Gale summoned a whirlwind, gathering the ashes into a swirling column. She danced through the clearing, scattering the ashes in precise, even layers across the soil. The once-barren land now glimmered faintly, enriched by the nutrients of the burnt undergrowth.
"Agua, soften the soil," Elysia said.
Agua waved her hands, and a gentle rain began to fall over the clearing. The droplets soaked into the ground, turning it soft. The scent of fresh, wet earth filled the air.
"Paku, plow the land," Elysia said.
The ground split and turned as though an invisible plow was at work, the soil folding over itself into neat, cultivated rows. The land, now fertile and rich, awaited the seeds of new life.
"Fig, plant a hedge bush around the perimeter to act as a fence," Elysia instructed.
Fig waved his tiny hands, and green tendrils burst from the ground, weaving themselves into a dense, living hedge. The hedge grew rapidly, its vibrant leaves forming a natural barrier that encircled the land.
As the final touches were made, Elysia stood in the center of the clearing, her mana still radiating like the sun. Around her, the Sprite siblings hovered, their forms glowing. The once-untamed forest had been transformed into an acre of fertile farmland, ready to sustain life and growth.
Fig looked at Agua and Ember "I've never felt such power before Elysia!"
Elysia smiled at them, "Well done, everyone"
"Are you sure you're alright? You're not feeling woozy?" Agua said concerned.
Elysia started to think if she was tired or worn out by the ordeal, "No, I feel fine Agua."
The sprites let out a sigh of relief then their demeanor turned cheery. They looked at their surrounding awed by their triumph. An Acre of farmland that would've taken Mr. Jo at least 5 seasons to cultivate took a matter of hours with Elysia's power. The sprite siblings knew even their master didn't have such immense power.
"Look Elysia!" Paku called out "Some of those stones are shining like the one they got from the creature"
"These must be mana stones. Paku see if you can find more let's take half of it and the other half we'll leave it to Mr Jo." Elysia held the glowing rock on her hand.
"What shall we do with this lumber?" Gale floated at her fine work.
"Mr. Fig will use it eventually, he'll use it for crafting buildings needed on the farm so let's leave it with him."
"Well, I guess we're done here, how about I start a fire for dinner?" Ember suggested wanting to use more of her power.
"Before that, there's one more thing we need to do, Fig, Paku, Agua come with me." The three followed Elysia there little wings fluttering with excitement.
*****
"What's wrong with you two?" Elysia asked the twins who were both clinging to her arms on either side.
It was the next morning, Elysia had a peaceful start to the day. She spent the morning at the farm house alone since everyone slept at the lumber hut. The walls echoed her soft footsteps. She prepared the food for their journey and made breakfast for Mr. Jo. In the silence, she gathered a few cherished books Mr. Jo had gifted her and carefully packed them. When she stepped out, leaving the house behind, it felt like she had left a piece of herself in its quiet, empty rooms.
Now after arriving at the Lumber hut for their departure the peaceful morning was met with utter chaos.
The twins were clinging to her on either side, "Don't worry Elysia we won't let that scum near you!" Hal said his tone protective.
"I'll shoot daggers at anyone trying to look at you." said Sal fiercely.
Mr. Jo who had miraculously recovered from his back injury was giving out orders like a drill sergeant to a group of young men,"That's right if you want even to set foot on the forest you better train hard! Today we're focusing on strength training, you slackers don't have a single muscle on you."
Elysia recognized they were the men from the Inn, Mrs. Pottermore's kid leading the group.
Leif was trying to get the rest of the lumber in the wagon, but Mr. Jo was sitting atop the Lumber he was carrying. "Old man, get down from there! You're gonna hurt your back again!" He looked so haggard and was losing the last bit of patience he had.
"Oi G-Ranker show them your true strength! You dare look down on this guy when you lot can't even snap off a twig from the Manalara tree! Keep the pace going!" Mr. Jo shouted at the men running laps around the hut. Leif blushed at the compliment Old Man Jo gave him.
That was the chaose visible to the naked eye, Elysia was also being overwhelmed by five Sprite siblings.
"Are you sure we packed enough water for the journey?" Agua hovering around Elysia.
"That's the guy Paku, the guy we said that had Master's Mana!" Ember dragged Paku to Leif. Leif was oblivious to their existence.
"Wait for me Ember! Wait don't get too close to him!" Fig flew after them.
Gale timidly asked, "Elysia if you're traveling I can use my powers to lift you up and we can just fly to wherever you're going."
"Gale we musn't use any of our powers today since Elysia did so much last night we should at least give her a day to recover." Agua reminded her.
"Of course how could I forget, I'm so sorry Elysia!" Gale started weeping a little.
Master what are they doing over there that looks like fun, are they chasing a prey?, Phine looked at the running men.
Phine do not leave this necklace! Don't you remember what Master said? We must not go out unless summoned. Sera's voice was commanding.
You never let me do what I want, Master please tell her I can go out! she begged Elysia.
Foolish child do not bother the master with your trivial matters. Sera growled.
Payter who was at the head of the running group stopped dead on his tracks when he saw Elysia, "Go-Good Morning!" he said blushing.
Leif turned to see who Payter was looking at, he too had the same reaction he was staring at Elysia. She looked different yesterday she was dressed in rags when Payter last saw her. Now her hair was swept half-up and tied with a simple cotton tie, the loose curls cascading down her back like a waterfall, framing her face with an air of effortless elegance. She was wearing her new blouse and skirt. The brown leather corset accentuated her small waist and ample front.
"You keep your eyes somewhere else!" Sal threw two daggers, one was at Leif's direction, and the other in the direction of Peytar's group.
"Why you little!" Leif instinctively used the lumber he was carrying as shield, Mr. Jo jumped down, "You want to get you butt kicked again!?"
"You think you've got the stamina for another fight do you?" Hal posed to attack.
"Hey that almost killed me!" Payter called out, the dagger just an inch away from hitting his head.
"Lil' lady" Old man Jo landed in front of Elysia his cane supporting his fall "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes" his eyes teary, like a grandfather holding his grand child for the first time.
"Mr. Jo! Please your back was pulled yesterday you shouldn't be jumping like that!" Elysia said sternly. He was completely ignoring the chaos around them.
"Now now, child never you mind. This here's a letter you give to the Vice Guild Master of the Guild, and this is a something for your journey" Mr. Jo gave her a bag filled with coins and a letter.
"Mr. Jo, I can't accept this, I have enough money on me." Elysia said trying to return the bag of coins.
"I won't have it lil' lady, you keep this here coins. This'll come in handy. The city is a tough city the boys might have their own path and you have yours but I hope you can still look out for them."
"I will Mr. Jo," Elysia said her heart sinking at Mr. Jo's kind gesture.
"Please call me Granpa if you want,"
Elysia was taken aback by the sweet gesture, "Okay Grandpa Jo, please take good care of yourself. Don't work today and rest your back."
"Go on now, come visit me if yer too lonely in the city!" His voice cracked as he spoke, a choked sob catching in his throat, betraying the tears welling in his eyes.
"I have some breakfast for you prepared at the farmhouse make sure to eat it!" Elysia called out as the wagon continued along the cobbled road. She waved goodbye, her eyes sparkling, while Leif, Hal, and Sal bickered animatedly among themselves.
When the carriage was out of sight, Mr. Jo walked back to the farm house, "Come on you lot there's much to do there's no rest for the men of this village."
"Mr. Jo, well can we at least rest a little we've been running since dawn," Peytar spoke for the group.
"You all can rest at the forest, today we will meditate!"
As oldman Jo walked to his property an unfamiliar scent of ash and wood filled the air, "everyone stay back!" he warned the group as he bolted passing the farmhouse to the forest - or at least it was once a forest.
The dense, stubborn forest that had been the bane of his farming efforts for years was now transformed. Before him lay an acre of neatly plowed land, rows of dark, rich soil stretching out in perfect, methodical lines. The wild, untamed trees that had resisted every attempt at cultivation were now lumbers neatly piled as if they were firelogs. The forest was replaced by the promise of fertile ground ready for planting.
Amazement flickered across his sun-weathered face. For years, Old Man Jo had struggled against stubborn roots, rocky soil, and the relentless growth of underbrush that seemed to mock every shovel of sweat he poured into his work. He surveyed the property and he could see a hedge fence was even prepared.
"Mr. Jo!" Payter caught up to him he was slightly out of breath and was stunned to see the sophisticated "By Deu!" he muttered under his breath, his voice filled with disbelief. The others also caught up to old man Jo their reaction with gasps and awes.
As he stood there, absorbing the surreal sight, a mix of wonder and cautious curiosity stirred in his chest. Turning his head back toward the farmhouse and to the plowed land in utter shock.
"Congratulations Mr. Jo!" Payter snapped him from his shocked state, "You finally did it! You cultivated this land. You made so much progress in a matter of months. It wasn't at this state when I last came here"
"I guess hiring a G-Ranker really makes a difference." a person in the group whispered.
Old man Jo knew it wasn't Leif who did this because Leif was with them the entire night, the only other person would be - Mr. Jo looked at the farmhouse and ran towards it.
There sat on the small table was a letter and a small chest.
"Dear Mr. Jo," the letter started, it was Elysia's hand writing;
Dear Mr. Jo,
I will be leaving tomorrow and I am grateful you have taken me in. When the twins and I teleported to your farm house I was in such a bad state that you nursed me back to health. I think I'll never use a transportation scroll ever again.
I guess you probably saw the field by now, knowing you I know you'd go straight to the field even though you hurt your back. I hope you like our work.
The letter continued to elaborate introducing each Sprite siblings and their contribution. Elysia also shared how she woke up in the Whispering Forest alone and with no memories. She found the Sprite Siblings, Sera, and Phine, and how she found the twins. Now she is searching for the Master of the Sprite Siblings and might not be able to return for a long while. She asks Mr. Jo to keep her powers and existence a secret.
The Lumber from the forest I hope you can spare some for Mrs. Pottermore so she can repair her Inn. I also found a few mana stones from the land I have place half of them here in the small chest and a few coins. I have "Inherited" from the Master of the Sprite Siblings.
I do not know the cost of seeds and I do not know which ones you'll plant but I hope this is enough to get you started. If I find the Master of the Sprite siblings I hope you allow me to visit you again. Next time we see each other may I call you grandfather as well?
"That child" Mr. Jo tilted his head up trying not to cry again, he was feeling extra lonely now that the house was empty. He looked at his wife's painting "Laurie I got us a granddaughter. Remember how you always fought me saying you wanted a daughter and I only gave you boisterous sons? You even started annoying our children to give you granddaughters? Watch over our new granddaughter. She's got a gentle spirit and wield such magic. Reminds me of you."
The portrait painting was of Mr. Jo's wife, the portrait showed how she looked at the bouquet flowers then at him with a dazzling smile, his speech was met with silence which made it much lonelier lonelier, "Shall I hire a few farmhands to start planting? Maybe I should get Midnight Bluebell flowers so there's a flower patch that leads to the farmhouse. I should write to one of our boys to see if they want to move here now that we've got proper land that we can plant on." Mr. Jo made plans while he was talking to the portrait of his wife. He opened the small chest and he was expecting a few silver coins and mana stones. The small chest was an enchanted storage chest. He poured out the contents on the table and gold coins and mana stones overflowed on the table.
He looked at the letter again, thinking perhaps there was a clue on who she was, and there was a postscript a the bottom:
P.S I was thinking all great farms have a name and since this land was created by Sprites would you be okay naming it, "Sprite Acres"?
"Who on Sweet Splendor of Serendale, is she?"