The peach grove wasn't far from Winterfell—about a forty-minute ride on horseback, or double that if you were walking.
Arthur Snow preferred to call this place the "Peach Garden" rather than just a grove. It was a tribute to the source of his power: the [Peach] card from his System interface.
In the card game Three Kingdoms—a memory from his past life—playing a [Peach] card would restore health. In this world, eating a manifest [Peach] didn't just heal wounds; it permanently fortified one's constitution.
Perhaps his daily consumption of these peaches was the reason he stood a full head taller than Jon.
Arthur had spent a long time figuring out the mechanics of his System.
The cards in the panel were divided into three categories: Basic Cards, Tactic Cards, and Equipment Cards.
Every day, he could draw and use two cards from the pool he had unlocked.
Initially, the panel only offered four Basic Cards: [Strike], [Dodge], [Peach], and [Wine].
It wasn't until he planted a peach pit—the remains of a summoned [Peach]—in the Godswood of Winterfell that things changed. Once the sapling took root and sprouted, he unlocked his first Tactic Card the very next day, along with the conditions for unlocking others.
[Tactic Card (Unlocked)]: [Pact of the Grove] (Original: Oath of the Peach Garden)
[Tactic Card (Locked)]: ... (Unlock Condition: Visit unique locations. The more famous and special the location, the higher the chance to unlock the corresponding card.)
The Equipment Cards, on the other hand, were unlocked thanks to Lord Eddard Stark.
On Arthur's sixth nameday, Lord Eddard had gifted him a small black pony. The next day, Arthur unlocked the [Shadow] Equipment Card.
[Equipment Cards (Unlocked)]: [Ice Sword], [Shieldbreaker], [Twin-Viper Swords], [Dragonbone Bow], [Shadow].
[Equipment Cards (Locked)]: ... (Unlock Condition: Acquire or forge equipment similar to the card to unlock it. Forging the equipment personally and mastering the relevant smithing knowledge increases the unlock chance.)
Knowing this, Arthur had started learning the smith's trade at a young age. He trained his hands and mind, aiming to unlock as many weapons of war as possible.
Aside from the cards, the System offered two "Warlord Skills." In his past life, these belonged to legendary eastern warriors, but here, they had adapted to the world of ice and fire.
[The Berserker] (Original: Naked Form/Luo Yi): Grants significantly enhanced attributes and doubles physical strength when fighting without upper body armor. The day after using this skill, the user can only draw one card.
[The Reaver] (Original: Assault/Qiang Xi): Doubles attack speed when dual-wielding identical weapons. Greatly increases power and accuracy when throwing weapons, though this consumes a massive amount of stamina.
Arthur Snow's evaluation of these skills was simple: useful, but situational.
[The Berserker] required him to strip off his armor. On a Westerosi battlefield or in a tourney melee, fighting without mail or plate was suicidal. The risk increased exponentially.
[The Reaver] required holding two of the same weapon. If you held two swords, you couldn't hold a shield.
It was hard to imagine surviving a real battle shirtless and without a shield.
Fortunately, the four Basic Cards were far more practical.
[Strike]: Used to accelerate training in short blades, polearms, archery, and unarmed combat. It could also be used to deliver a single, explosive attack.
[Dodge]: Used to accelerate training in footwork, riding, and swimming. It could also be used to execute a supernatural evasion in a crisis.
[Wine]: When consumed, it tempered and focused the mind. When applied topically, it accelerated the healing of cuts and bruises.
[Peach]: When eaten, it strengthened the constitution, rapidly restored stamina and blood, and healed internal injuries.
Beyond the text descriptions, Arthur had discovered that the pits from the [Peach] cards could be planted.
While the resulting fruit didn't have the magical healing properties of the card itself, the peaches were huge, sweet, and bursting with juice.
Most importantly, when combined with the [Pact of the Grove] card, these trees could adapt to the harsh North. They grew surprisingly fast, defying the cold.
Arthur remembered presenting the first harvest to the Stark table. After tasting the fruit, Lord Eddard had granted him permission to organize farmers to cultivate the trees near the Ranger's Lodge in the Wolfswood, providing Arthur with significant support.
The Ranger's Lodge had originally been a simple supply point for the Winterfell household guard, hired free riders, and foresters. It was a place to rest while hunting poachers or gathering game for the castle kitchens.
It used to be nothing more than a few crude wooden shacks, a stable with a few hitching posts, and—most importantly—a clear forest stream.
But with the establishment of the Peach Garden, the place had transformed.
The crude shacks were now storage sheds. Nearby, stonemasons had built seven sturdy stone houses, including a three-story watchtower.
The stables had been overhauled. No longer just rotting posts, there was now a spacious barn with proper feed troughs and water lines. A dedicated beast pen had even been built nearby.
A low wooden fence was currently being constructed around the orchard. Two farmers were turning the soil outside the perimeter, reinforcing the earth with woven branches and planks.
Before Arthur and Jon even entered the garden, a man came rushing out to meet them.
"Arthur! Hurry it up, I can't wait any longer!"
The man was a towering brute with a bulbous, red nose—Alebelly. He grabbed Arthur's hand, trying to drag him inside.
"We've been busting our asses for three days! Didn't catch any poachers, but we bagged two roe deer and four rabbits. I've been dreaming of that peach brandy of yours!"
"Alebelly, you should be turning that game over to the Steward," Jon said, standing off to the side. "Eating the Lord's game without permission... how does that make you any different from a poacher?"
"We already reported it!" another man called out, walking from the garden.
Like Alebelly, he was a guardsman—Tomard, better known as Fat Tom.
"We sent a whole elk and six grouse back to Winterfell yesterday. Lady Catelyn is merciful and keeps the Seven. She claimed seven of the animals for the castle and left the rest to us. She only asked that we send the hides back once we've dressed the meat."
Fat Tom was thickset with a ginger beard. He was a reliable man—affable, loyal, and hardworking—but he was pushing forty-five, and he hadn't been particularly energetic even in his youth.
Currently, Fat Tom was in charge of guarding the Peach Garden and organizing patrols with the free riders.
"Such an upright lad, Lord Snow is..." Alebelly muttered, clearly annoyed at being accused by the bastard boy. He was a big man with a very small heart.
Jon Snow's long face flushed red. Whether from shame or the awkwardness of his status being thrown in his face, he remained silent.
"Alright, that's enough," Arthur interjected, ignoring Alebelly's tone.
He stroked the mane of his pony, calming Shadow, before unhooking one of the many sacks tied to the saddle. He tossed it to Alebelly.
"Here. Salt and spices. Go dress the meat. I haven't been here in over a week, and I have a lot to attend to."
Without waiting for a reply, Arthur turned to Fat Tom, issuing orders with natural authority.
"Have the stable boy unload Shadow. Sort the supplies—it's mostly daily necessities and farming tools. Then have him groom Shadow and Jon's horse. Make sure they get the good grain."
Alebelly didn't argue. He grabbed the sack of spices and wandered off, muttering under his breath. Fat Tom took the reins of both horses and went to carry out the orders.
There was a strange, eerie naturalness to it all—two grown guardsmen obeying the commands of a nine-year-old bastard without a second thought.