Creature Farm: Beginnings (A Cozy Monster Evolution LitRPG) Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Read chapter 3 of Creature Farm: Beginnings (A Cozy Monster Evolution LitRPG) by TristanRye on NovelPedia.

“Is that…nectarfly honey?” I peer through the glass display case, staring at little jars of opaque golden liquid. “Honey and milk—nectarfly pudding.” The baker stands proud behind the counter. “Ingredients all from Cain’s ranch.” The baker is a portly man with short blond hair and chubby cheeks. An apron hangs over his sagging belly, stained by grease and dusted with flour. His name is Tenvor, and he’s the greatest chef in town. Not that there’s much competition. “Wow. It looks amazing.” I salivate. “How much?” “For you? Only 50g. It’s a family recipe, you know.” He drops a wink. We exchange payment, and he slides me a little jar and a spoon. The bakery is a small, tidy space with open windows and only a few tables. I head to the corner, savoring the scent of fresh bread and listening to the hum of conversation. For a weekday afternoon, it’s surprisingly busy. “Come now, children. Settle down!” Clara enters the shop, a trio of young kids trailing like ducklings. “Oh boy! Cookies!” A little girl in a flowing white frock races to the display case, pressing her hands against the glass. “Careful, Rala. You’ll get it dirty.” Clara pulls her back. “Miss Clara, do nectarflies like cookies too?” Another little girl moves in, peering at the pudding jars with wide, inquisitive eyes. “No, Sandra. Nectarflies eat…nectar.” Clara pats her head. “I want to be a nectarfly someday.” Sandra closes her eyes and emits a low, meditative buzz. A strange child. “And what about you, Garrett?” Clara crouches low, speaking to a shy, tiny boy in a kind voice. “…donut,” he mutters while clutching a plush green sphere—a stuffed forest slime. I admire Clara’s patience. She teaches youngsters at the library during the week. It’s the standard fare—reading, arithmetic, creature identification, potioncraft, and magical lore. Though at their age, I’m sure they’re only brewing herbal tea and identifying chickens at Cain’s ranch. “Right this way. Have a seat. No, Sandra! Pudding isn’t paint!” Clara gets the kids situated at a table across the room. The bakery door opens, but it isn’t a usual customer. Ivan’s sturdy, copper-studded boots pound while he enters. Viktor follows in his shadow. Crag scampers at his feet while Ivy flutters above. Clara’s class goes silent, eyes wide with disbelief. Rala’s mouth gapes while she examines his copper armor and goggles. Sandra drops her pudding, fixated on Ivy’s colorful eye. Garrett peeks over his stuffed slime, unable to look away from Crag. “The all-seeing eye…” Sandra mutters. Ivan flashes her a weird look before sauntering toward me. “Just the man I wanted to see!” He drops a heavy tome on my table, causing my honey pudding to jiggle. “Been reading?” I raise an eyebrow, taking a bite of my dessert. It’s sweet with just a hint of sour. “You betcha. Local libraries and churches are the best place to start an adventure. Research, lad! Take a look!” He pushes the book close. “PANTHEON ENCYCLOPEDIA: Vol. 21 - Endra” is printed on the tattered leather cover. Its worn pages are yellow with age. They emit a musty, gluey scent while Ivan cracks the book open, flipping through. He points to a passage. The First Garden Endra was a kind, quiet soul. Born of the soil and nurtured in the distant world before men, she was favored by the other gods. Long before the Holy War, she fashioned a small plot of earth. It was her sanctuary—a work of art. She invented the plants. She invented the animals. Her soil grew lush and vibrant, marking one of the first biomes fashioned by the divine. The first garden. The way a child might observe an ant farm, she studied her creations. Other deities forged their own lands, joining them together as our world took shape. Endra was no exception. She protected her garden with soaring, craggy mountains, nestling it in a quiet corner of what is believed to be modern Triana (Village of Verda, Toronor). In time, humans and other complex creatures spread into the land, colonizing her creation. As before, she