P trudged along a narrow dirt path, a crumpled quest sheet clutched in his hand.
Quest: Gather 10 bundles of Greenleaf Herb. Reward: 2 copper.
The sun hung low on the horizon, painting the fields in orange fire. His stomach growled again, louder this time, and he groaned. "Two copper… barely enough for a meal. But it's that or nothing."
The guild had supplied him with a small basket and a dull knife. That was it. No instructions, no guide, just "go pick weeds."
As the minutes dragged on, JP wandered the grassy fields, scanning patches of wild growth. Dozens of plants looked similar. Long stalks, oval leaves, little flowers.
"Great. I'm not a botanist. How the hell am I supposed to—"
Then he remembered. "Appraisal."
He crouched beside a leafy patch and whispered the word.
[Appraisal]
Plant: Bitterweed
Property: Non-edible, mild toxin
Use: Pest repellent
JP wrinkled his nose. "So basically poison ivy. Pass."
He tried again, moving along the field.
[Appraisal]
Plant: Greenleaf Herb
Property: Edible, used for medicine and tea
Use: Basic healing salve
Bingo. He knelt and began cutting, bundling leaves carefully. His basket slowly filled, though his stomach clawed at him with each passing minute.
By the time he had six bundles, the sun was already dipping lower, shadows stretching long. His head swam with dizziness. Haven't eaten since that apple…
He pushed on, searching for more patches. That's when he noticed a faint shimmer deeper in the brush. At first he thought it was fireflies, but as he stepped closer, he saw it—tall stalks of a plant with faintly glowing veins running through the leaves.
It pulsed, like it was alive with energy.
Heart racing, JP knelt and whispered: "Appraisal."
[Appraisal]
Plant: Luminleaf Herb (Rare Variant)
Property: Absorbs and stores ambient mana from sunlight
Use: Alchemical catalyst, light-producing tinctures, energy stabilizer
Value: Extremely high
JP's eyes widened. "Holy… this is basically a solar panel in plant form!"
Carefully, he harvested the glowing herbs, wrapping them separately from the Greenleaf bundles. Even in his weak state, excitement surged through him. With this, I can make sustainable light sources. Maybe even store mana in circuits.
But the sun was falling fast, and the fields grew dim. Crickets began to sing. He forced himself to gather the last few bundles of Greenleaf before the light vanished completely.
By the time he stumbled back toward the village, basket full, his stomach ached and his legs wobbled. Yet despite the hunger, he grinned through cracked lips.
He had found more than herbs.
He had found the first key to his inventions.