I wake at sunrise and go through my morning routine before heading to the kitchen.
Time to make breakfast.
I pull out the eggs Seraphina gave me from Storage, along with some Warboar bacon and fresh fruit. The bacon sizzles in the pan, filling the cabin with a savory aroma that makes my stomach growl. I crack the eggs into the pan beside the bacon, watching them cook to golden perfection. The fruit gets sliced and arranged on plates. It's simple but satisfying.
I make portions for Donny and the heroes as well, keeping theirs warm in Storage since they haven't come over yet. They're probably still sleeping in.
Donny waddles over, eyeing his plate expectantly.
[Wright] "Here you go, buddy."
He churrs happily and digs in while I enjoy my own breakfast. The eggs are perfect—exactly what I've been craving. The bacon is rich and smoky, and the fruit provides a nice balance.
After finishing, I clean up and head out to wake the heroes.
---
I knock on the boys' cabin door.
Shuffling sounds come from inside, followed by a muffled groan. The door opens to reveal Takeshi, hair sticking up in every direction.
[Takeshi] "Morning already?"
[Wright] "Yep. Brought breakfast."
I hand over their portions from Storage, still warm, still fresh.
[Daichi] "Oh man, eggs! And bacon!"
Kenji appears behind Takeshi, looking more alert.
[Kenji] "Thanks, Wright."
[Wright] "No problem. Take your time eating."
[Takeshi] "Wait—today's the harvest, right?"
[Wright] "It is."
[Takeshi] "We want to help!"
[Daichi] "Yeah, we should pitch in."
[Wright] "You sure? It's going to be a long day."
[Takeshi] "We're sure. We'll head over after breakfast."
[Wright] "Alright. See you there."
I head to the girls' cabin and repeat the process. Aiko answers the door, already dressed and looking cheerful.
[Aiko] "Good morning, Wright!"
[Wright] "Morning. Breakfast."
[Yuki] "Is that eggs?!"
She appears behind Aiko, eyes bright with excitement.
[Wright] "And bacon. Fresh fruit too."
[Aiko] "Thank you so much!"
[Yuki] "We heard today's the harvest. Can we help?"
[Wright] "Of course. Come by after you eat."
[Aiko] "We will!"
With the heroes taken care of, I head toward the high elf barracks.
---
The high elves are already gathered and ready when I arrive. Liora is organizing everyone into teams, her voice calm and efficient as she directs the workflow.
[Liora] "Good morning, Wright. We're all set to begin."
[Wright] "Morning, Liora. Thanks for getting everyone organized."
[Rhevan] "My hunting team is ready to help with the harvest today."
[Nym] "Same here. Let's make this efficient."
I notice Vesper is conspicuously absent.
[Wright] "Vesper still asleep?"
[Nym] "As usual."
[Wright] "She'll catch up eventually."
[Liora] "Alright, everyone! Let's get started!"
The group moves toward the fields as the morning sun climbs higher. The heroes join us a short while later, looking eager despite their early wake-up call.
---
The first day of harvest follows the familiar rhythm—root vegetables in the morning, carefully pulled from the enriched soil. The heroes learn quickly, following Liora's demonstrations as she shows them proper technique. Takeshi works alongside Rhevan, matching the hunter's steady pace. Yuki partners with Nym, asking questions about the crops and soil composition. Aiko helps with the delicate fruits, her careful nature perfect for the task. Kenji works quietly but efficiently, and Daichi provides running commentary that keeps everyone entertained.
By afternoon, we've moved through the Golden Grapples and Sunfall Fruit, the cooling crates filling steadily. The heroes are visibly tired but determined, pushing through even as their muscles start to ache.
Vesper finally appears around midday, looking sheepish.
[Vesper] "I'm here! I'm ready to work!"
[Nym] "The morning's already gone, Vesper."
[Vesper] "Better late than never?"
Despite her late start, she throws herself into the work with enthusiasm, helping to sort and pack the harvested crops.
As the sun sets, we finish the day's work with the bulk of the Silverwheat, golden stalks bundled and stacked. Everyone trudges back to the barracks, exhausted but satisfied. Dinner is simple but hearty—grilled meat, roasted vegetables, and fresh bread. The heroes eat ravenously, their appetites sharpened by the day's labor.
---
The second day begins much the same way.
I wake early, make breakfast, and deliver portions to the heroes before heading to the barracks. Everyone is a bit more tired today, moving with the careful stiffness of sore muscles, but the work continues with steady determination.
We finish the remaining Silverwheat by early afternoon, the last bundles tied and stacked with the others. Liora surveys the field with obvious satisfaction.
[Liora] "That's everything. The harvest is complete."
A cheer goes up from the high elves and heroes alike.
The afternoon splits into specialized tasks. Nym leads the field clearing crew, using magic to remove debris and prepare the soil. Liora and Vesper organize the harvest into cooling crates near the warehouse. Rhevan and Kara process the Silverwheat, threshing and milling it into fine flour.
I focus on the soil, using Alchemy to test and adjust the nutrient levels. The growth acceleration has depleted nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium again, so I pull monster remains from Storage and break them down into organic fertilizer, infusing the nutrients back into the earth section by section.
By late afternoon, the field is clean, the harvest is stored, and the soil is restored.
---
We're all done.
Eldrin has been storing all the harvested food in his Storage throughout the process, and he approaches as I'm finishing up with the soil.
[Eldrin] "Everything's secured. I'm planning to leave tomorrow to deliver the food once the wheat processing is complete."
[Wright] "Sounds good. Thanks for handling the logistics."
[Liora] "I'm planning to start the new round of planting tomorrow as well. We should be able to maintain the monthly delivery schedule without issue now."
[Wright] "Perfect. That means we can relax a bit before the next cycle."
Someone suggests celebrating with another barbecue, and the idea spreads quickly through the group.
[Rhevan] "Another feast sounds good to me."
[Kara] "We've earned it."
A joyous cheer runs through the village, and everyone disperses to prepare.
---
Yuki had been talking extensively with Nym during the harvest, asking questions about magic theory and elemental control. It seems Nym has taken her under her wing.
[Nym] "Want to do some practical training in the forest? I could use the practice myself."
[Yuki] "Really? I'd love that!"
[Rhevan] "I'm heading out to hunt for tonight's barbecue. You can join us if you want."
[Takeshi] "Count me in!"
[Aiko] "Me too!"
Donny churrs excitedly, clearly wanting to join the hunt as well.
They head off into the forest together, leaving the village quieter.
Kenji and Daichi decide to stay behind and relax.
[Kenji] "I'm good here."
[Daichi] "Same. I've had enough physical activity for one day."
Kara approaches, looking interested.
[Kara] "Wright, could we play those board games again? I've been thinking about strategies all morning."
[Wright] "Sure. Let me set up a table outside."
I pull a table and chairs from Storage and set them up in the clearing. Word spreads quickly, and soon high elves are gathering around, curious about the games.
I set out the Othello, Shogi, and Go boards, and people start pairing off to play.
The high elf children gravitate toward Othello immediately, delighted by the simple rules and the satisfying flip of the pieces.
[Child 1] "I got all the corners!"
[Child 2] "That's not fair! You didn't tell me corners were important!"
[Child 1] "You have to figure it out yourself!"
They play with enthusiastic competitiveness, their laughter carrying across the clearing.
The older high elves are drawn to Shogi and Go, appreciating the deeper strategy involved. Two elders sit across from each other at the Go board, playing in near silence, each move carefully considered.
Sylphaeris joins in as well, clearly still determined to redeem herself after losing to Yuki.
[Sylphaeris] "I've been practicing in my head. I'm ready this time."
She plays against one of the high elves and wins handily.
[Sylphaeris] "See? I'm getting better!"
[High Elf] "You're a Spirit Queen. I didn't stand a chance."
[Sylphaeris] "Details."
Kara plays several rounds of Shogi, her competitive nature showing as she focuses intently on each match. She wins some, loses others, but seems to enjoy the challenge regardless.
A few of the high elf craftsmen gather around the boards, examining them closely.
[Craftsman 1] "We should make more of these. One set isn't enough for everyone."
[Craftsman 2] "Agreed. I'll start carving pieces tomorrow."
[Craftsman 3] "I'll handle the boards. We can make several sets."
The games continue throughout the afternoon, the clearing filled with the quiet focus of strategy and occasional bursts of laughter when someone makes an unexpected move.
---
As evening approaches, the hunting group returns from the forest with an impressive haul of fresh meat. Everyone pitches in to help set up the barbecue. Kara pulls out the grill, I stack wood in the fire pit, and Liora starts preparing side dishes.
The festive mood settles in naturally as people work together, the exhaustion from the harvest giving way to the satisfaction of a job well done.
The meat goes on the grill, sizzling and filling the air with mouth-watering aromas. Vegetables roast alongside it, and fresh bread is warmed near the fire.
Everyone gathers to eat, plates piled high with food. The conversation flows easily, stories and laughter mixing with the crackling of the fire.
Vesper sits nearby, looking excited.
[Vesper] "I'll be ready to start trial testing the toilet tomorrow!"
[Kara] "I installed the trial version in Eldrin's newly built treehouse. Should be functional."
[Wright] "That's exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing it in action."
[Vesper] "The water circulation system was tricky, but I think we got it working properly. The enchantments should—"
[Wright] "Vesper."
[Vesper] "Yes?"
[Wright] "No more toilet talk while we're eating."
[Vesper] "Oh. Right. Sorry."
Sylphaeris laughs, and the conversation shifts to other topics.
The party continues into the night, warm and relaxed. Tomorrow, we start planting again, and the cycle begins anew. But this time, with the revised distribution schedule of once every month, we can take it easier. The pressure is off, and that feels good.
I lean back, watching everyone enjoy themselves, and smile.