Ryo dressed slowly, testing how this new body moved. Everything felt lighter, more responsive than the office-worn frame he'd died in.
The blue system window flickered back into view as he tied his boots.
[Passive Growth System - Day 2]
Current Activities: None detected
Suggested Action: Establish consistent routines to activate skill development
Warning: Extended inactivity may result in system dormancy
Ryo dismissed the notification with a thought. He'd dealt with enough performance metrics in his previous life. If this system wanted to nag him about productivity, it could wait in line behind every manager he'd ever had.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. "Young Master? Breakfast is ready."
The voice belonged to Anna, one of the household staff. His inherited memories painted her as reliable, if a bit scattered. Unlike the formal distance most servants maintained with the family, Anna had always treated the disappointing third son with genuine kindness.
"Coming," Ryo called back.
The dining hall stretched longer than his old apartment, dominated by a table that could seat twenty. Only two places were set this morning. His father sat at the head, already working through correspondence while eating. The empty chair beside him marked where his eldest brother Marcus would normally sit, but the heir apparent was away on family business.
"Good morning, Father."
Lord Marcus glanced up briefly. "Aldric. Sleep well?"
"Yes, thank you."
Anna bustled in with a tray of warm bread and what looked like scrambled eggs. The smell triggered something unexpected—hunger. Real hunger, not the mechanical refueling his previous life had required.
"Cook's been experimenting with herbs from the garden," Anna said as she served him. "Thyme and rosemary, I think. Smells lovely, doesn't it?"
"It does." Ryo took a bite and paused. The flavors were more complex than he'd expected. Subtle layers that revealed themselves as he chewed. "This is excellent."
Anna beamed. "I'll tell Cook you said so. She's been working on new recipes since the merchant caravan brought spices from the south."
"What kind of spices?" The question surprised him. He'd never cared about cooking before.
"Oh, all sorts. Cinnamon, black pepper, some kind of seed that makes everything taste warm. And salt that's white as fresh snow—much better than our usual gray stuff."
Lord Marcus cleared his throat. "Anna, perhaps Young Master Aldric would prefer to eat in peace."
"Of course, my lord. Sorry." Anna's enthusiasm dimmed slightly as she retreated toward the kitchen.
Ryo watched her go, then looked at his father. "Actually, I'd like to know more about the spices. And the cooking."
"Whatever for?"
The honest answer was that he didn't know. But something about Anna's description had sparked genuine interest—the first he'd felt about anything in longer than he could remember.
"I might be doing my own cooking soon."
Lord Marcus set down his letter. "Aldric, I know yesterday's conversation was difficult, but you don't need to pretend you're excited about this exile. It's a practical necessity, nothing more."
"I'm not pretending." Ryo met his father's eyes. "For the first time in my life, I'm looking forward to something."
His father stared at him for a long moment. "You really have changed."
"Death has a way of clarifying priorities."
The comment slipped out before Ryo could stop it. His father's expression shifted to concern.
"Are you feeling well? That fall from your horse was more serious than we initially thought."
"I'm fine. Just... thinking differently about things."
Lord Marcus nodded slowly. "Well, whatever's prompted this attitude, I hope it serves you well. Independence isn't easy, even for someone with your advantages."
After breakfast, Ryo found himself wandering the estate grounds. Rain continued to fall, turning the courtyard stones dark and slick. His boots splashed through puddles that reflected the gray sky above.
The kitchen garden lay behind the main house, protected by a low stone wall. Ryo pushed through the wooden gate and surveyed the neat rows of vegetables and herbs. Even in the rain, everything looked vibrant and carefully tended.
An elderly man knelt between the rows, apparently unbothered by the weather. He wore a broad-brimmed hat that shed water like a roof, and his hands moved with practiced efficiency as he pulled weeds.
"Morning, Master Aldric." The man didn't look up from his work. "Bit wet for a stroll, isn't it?"
"Good morning, Thomas." The name came from inherited memories. Thomas had been the head gardener for over thirty years, one of the few people on the estate who'd never bothered to hide his opinions about the lazy third son.
"Surprised to see you out here. Not exactly your usual territory."
Ryo crouched down beside the older man. "What are you planting?"
Thomas paused, studying him with sharp eyes. "Carrots. Late season, but they'll be sweet come winter if we're lucky." He gestured toward another section. "Got turnips over there, and Anna's herb bed is along the far wall."
"The herbs she mentioned at breakfast?"
"Aye. Girl's got a good nose for what works together." Thomas returned to his weeding. "Course, half the credit goes to the soil. Been building it up for decades, adding compost and rotted manure. Good soil makes everything else possible."
Ryo watched the gardener's hands move through the earth. The motions looked meditative, purposeful in a way that office work had never been.
"Could you teach me?"
Thomas stopped working entirely. "Teach you what?"
"Gardening. Growing things."
"You want to learn to garden?" Thomas sat back on his heels. "Master Aldric, no offense, but you've never shown interest in anything that required getting your hands dirty."
"I know. But I'm leaving soon, and I'll need to grow my own food."
"Where are you going?"
"Millbrook. Taking over the old inn."
Thomas's eyebrows rose. "That place has been empty for two years. The garden's probably nothing but weeds by now."
"Then I'll need to know how to fix it."
The old gardener studied him for a long moment. Rain dripped from the brim of his hat as he considered the request. Finally, he nodded.
"Alright then. But gardening's not something you learn in a day. It takes time, patience, and a willingness to fail."
"I have time."
"We'll see about that." Thomas stood and brushed dirt from his knees. "First lesson is simple. See this plot here?"
He pointed to a section of freshly turned earth near the wall.
"This is where Anna wants to expand her herb bed. Ground's been prepared, but nothing's planted yet. Your job is to clear the remaining weeds and stones. Do it slow, do it careful, and don't rush."
Thomas handed him a small hand rake and a bucket. "When you're done, come find me. We'll talk about what comes next."
Ryo knelt in the damp earth and began working. The first few minutes felt awkward—his hands didn't know how to hold the tool properly, and he kept missing weeds or striking stones. But gradually, he found a rhythm.
The rain continued falling, soaking through his clothes and running down his neck. In his previous life, this would have sent him scurrying indoors within minutes. But now, the discomfort felt distant, unimportant. He was doing something with his hands, creating visible progress with each movement.
[Passive Growth System - Activity Detected]
New Skill Discovered: Gardening
Current Level: 0.1
Growth Rate: Active (Consistent effort detected)
Bonus: Mindful Practice (+25% efficiency gain)
The notification appeared and faded without breaking his concentration. Ryo continued working, pulling weeds and collecting stones with steady, deliberate movements. His back ached. His knees grew stiff from kneeling. His hands picked up small cuts from thorns and rough stones.
None of it bothered him.
When he finally finished clearing the plot, the rain had stopped and the sun was breaking through the clouds. Thomas appeared beside him as if summoned.
"Not bad," the gardener said, examining the cleared earth. "Thorough work. Most people rush the preparation and wonder why their plants struggle later."
"What's next?"
"Next, you learn to wait." Thomas smiled. "Ground needs to dry a bit before we can work it properly. Come back tomorrow morning, and we'll talk about soil amendments."
Ryo stood and stretched, feeling muscles he'd forgotten he had. The cleared plot looked small, unremarkable. But something about it satisfied him in a way no completed spreadsheet ever had.
As he walked back toward the house, Anna intercepted him near the kitchen door.
"Master Aldric! Look at you—covered in mud like a proper gardener." She beamed at his dirt-stained clothes. "Thomas has you working already?"
"Just clearing weeds."
"Well, that's wonderful. Maybe you could help me with something?" Anna glanced around conspiratorially. "I've been trying to perfect a new bread recipe, but I can't quite get the texture right. Would you mind tasting and telling me what you think?"
The request should have felt like an inconvenience. Instead, Ryo found himself nodding.
"I'd be happy to help."
As Anna led him toward the kitchen, chattering excitedly about flour types and rising times, Ryo was genuinely curious about the world around him.