Logan's mind raced as he tried to figure out what to say to the shocked young woman in front of him. Before he could open his mouth, Terra's voice suddenly appeared in his head.
"Don't mention the system or your SSS rank," she warned telepathically. "Keep it vague. People knowing too much about your abilities will only cause problems."
Logan blinked in surprise at the mental communication but managed to keep his expression neutral. That made sense, actually.
If there had never been an SSS ranked farmer before, announcing it to the first person he met would probably attract unwanted attention. He gave the tiniest nod to show he understood.
The blonde girl was still staring at him, waiting for an explanation. Logan cleared his throat and tried to look as normal as possible, which was difficult considering he was standing in front of a farm that had just transformed itself in a matter of minutes.
"Hi," he said, then immediately felt stupid for such a simple greeting. "I'm Logan. Logan Hart. I just arrived today, and this is, uh, my farm now."
The girl's eyes darted between him, Terra, and the restored property. She seemed to be struggling to process everything at once. "Your farm? But the Thornwood farm has been abandoned for half a year."
"The village tried to find someone to take it over, but everyone said it was too far gone to be worth saving."
"I like a challenge," Logan said, which wasn't entirely untrue. He gestured at Terra, who gave a little wave. "This is Terra. She's my farming assistant."
"Assistant," Terra muttered in his head, though she kept smiling outwardly. "That's what we're calling it?"
The girl bent down to gather the apples that had spilled from her basket, and Logan hurried over to help her. As he picked up the fruit, he noticed how perfect they looked. Round and red without a single blemish. It reminded him of the farming games he used to play, where every item looked like it had been crafted by an artist rather than grown from the ground.
"Thank you," the girl said as he handed her the last apple. "I'm Clara. Clara Cloverfield. My family has a farm just down the road from here."
The name triggered something in Logan's memory. Cloverfield. That sounded familiar, like something from the farming game he had played before dying. Then it hit him, and he had to stop himself from reacting visibly.
In the game, there had been several characters you could befriend and eventually marry if you raised their affection levels high enough. They were called bachelorettes, and if he remembered correctly, Clara Cloverfield had been one of them.
"Nice to meet you, Clara," he said, trying not to think too hard about the implications. This wasn't a game anymore. Clara was a real person, not a collection of programmed responses and heart events.
Clara's expression shifted from shock to something that looked like wonder. She glanced back at the farm, then at Logan again. "Ahh... I remember..."
"There's an old story in the village," she said slowly. "A legend, really."
"It says that when the Thornwood farm fell into ruin, it would stay that way until someone special came along to save it. Someone who could bring life back to dead soil and make broken things whole again."
Logan felt his heart skip a beat. "A legend?"
"Most people think it's just a fairy tale," Clara continued. "But my grandmother used to tell it to me when I was little."
"She said that one day, a farmer would come who could do impossible things. Someone who would remind everyone what real farming was supposed to be." She looked at Logan with those bright blue eyes, and he could see hope there.
"When I saw what you did to this place, I thought maybe the legend was true. Maybe you're the one it was talking about."
"I don't know about legends," Logan said carefully, remembering Terra's warning. "I'm just someone who wants to make a life here. The farm needed work, and I was able to fix it up. That's all."
Terra made a small approving sound in his mind. "Good. Keep it simple."
Clara didn't look entirely convinced, but she nodded anyway. "Well, regardless of how you did it, what you've accomplished is amazing."
"The whole village has been worried about this place. Old Man Thornwood was a good farmer before he passed away, and it felt wrong to see his life's work fall apart like this."
She seemed to come to a decision about something, her expression brightening. "Actually, if you're planning to start farming here, I should help you get set up properly."
"You'll need tools and seeds to get started, and I know you probably don't have anything yet since you just arrived."
"That would be really helpful," Logan admitted.
He had been so focused on restoring the buildings and fields that he hadn't thought about the practical necessities. "I appreciate it."
"It's no trouble at all," Clara said, her earlier shock giving way to genuine warmth. "Come with me to my family's farm."
"We have spare equipment, and I can give you some starter seeds from our storage. Consider it a welcome gift to the neighborhood."
Logan followed Clara down the dirt road, with Terra floating along beside him at a discreet distance. The path wound through gentle hills dotted with wildflowers, and in the distance he could see other farms and what looked like a small village.
The world of Florencia really was beautiful, he thought. Every detail felt alive in a way that no virtual world could match.
"So where are you from originally?" Clara asked as they walked. "I don't recognize your accent, and trust me, not many newcomers arrive in our little corner of the world."
Logan hesitated. He couldn't exactly tell her he was from another world entirely.
"Pretty far away," he said finally. "I needed a fresh start, and farming seemed like the right choice."
Clara smiled at that. "Well, you picked a good place for it. The soil around here is some of the best in Florencia, and the community is tight knit. Everyone helps each other out during planting and harvest seasons."
They reached the Cloverfield farm after about ten minutes of walking. It was significantly larger than Logan's property, with multiple fields in various stages of cultivation.
A large farmhouse sat at the center of it all, painted white with blue shutters and surrounded by flower gardens that were clearly well maintained. Several barns and storage buildings completed the picture of a successful family operation.
"Wait here for a moment," Clara said, heading toward one of the storage buildings. "I'll gather some things for you."
Logan watched her go, then turned to Terra. "So what do you think?" he asked quietly.
Terra landed on his shoulder again. "I think you handled that well. Clara seems nice enough, and having a friendly neighbor could be valuable."
"Just remember to be careful about revealing too much. Your abilities are going to attract attention whether you want them to or not."
"Yeah, I figured that out pretty quickly," Logan said. "That legend she mentioned was interesting though. Do you know anything about it?"
"I know that sometimes the world has a way of preparing for important arrivals," Terra said cryptically. "But legends are often more about hope than prophecy. Don't let it put pressure on you."
Clara emerged from the storage building carrying a wooden crate filled with various farming implements. A hoe, a watering can, a small hand rake, and several other tools Logan recognized from his gaming days. She also had several small pouches that clinked together as she walked.
"Here we go," she said, setting the crate down in front of Logan. "Basic tools to get you started, plus seeds for wheat, carrots, and turnips. They're easy crops for beginners, and they grow well in our climate."
Logan looked at the supplies, feeling genuinely grateful. "This is really generous of you. How can I repay you?"
Clara waved off his concern. "Just focus on getting your farm up and running. Once you have your first harvest, you can sell your produce in the village market."
"That's how most of us make our living around here." She paused, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "And maybe, once you're settled in, you could come by for dinner sometime."
"I'd love to hear more about where you're from and how you plan to run your farm."
"I'd like that," Logan said, and meant it. Clara seemed kind and genuine, and after years of isolating himself in his previous life, the idea of having real friends was appealing.
As he carried the crate back toward his farm, Logan couldn't help but feel that his new life was starting to take shape. He had a home, tools, seeds, and a friendly neighbor. For someone who had died alone in front of a computer screen, it felt like a second chance he didn't want to waste.