The Rift Farmers' Guild was growing, and with it came new faces and unfamiliar customs. One day, a merchant named Tarek arrived at Hassan's farm, wheeling a cart piled high with strange goods—spices, fabrics, tools from distant villages. His sharp eyes gleamed with ambition.
"I hear this Rift land is fertile and rich," Tarek said, flashing a quick smile. "I can offer you rare items in exchange for your harvest."
Hassan studied him carefully. Trade could bring prosperity, but also risks. Still, he nodded. "We can talk terms."
As the two negotiated, a shadow flickered near the Rift's edge. A small, mischievous spirit with silver hair and eyes like moonlight appeared. She was a merchant of the spirit world, known as Lysara, who often bargained for favors in exchange for magical gifts.
Lysara's voice was soft but insistent. "Hassan, beware. Deals made lightly can cost dearly."
But Hassan, eager to expand his farm's reach, ignored the warning.
Tarek's goods brought excitement to the farm—new tools that made planting easier, seeds promising unusual crops. Hassan traded bundles of millet and beans for spices that filled the air with unfamiliar scents.
Yet, soon strange things began happening. Crops grew quickly but wilted overnight. Tools rusted faster than expected. The air felt thick and heavy.
One evening, Lysara appeared again. "The merchant you trust is not what he seems. He made a pact with me long ago to bring misfortune to those who deal dishonestly."
Hassan's heart sank. He confronted Tarek, who confessed he had indeed made a secret deal to gain magical advantage in trade—at the cost of poisoning the land subtly to force dependence on his goods.
Furious but wise, Hassan called upon Lysara's magic. Together, they cleansed the soil with ritual rains and enchanted earth, breaking the merchant's curse.
Tarek was sent away, his cart empty and his schemes undone.
From that day, Hassan learned that shortcuts and easy deals often hide hidden prices—and that true prosperity comes from hard work, respect for magic, and cautious trust.