Creature Farm: Beginnings (A Cozy Monster Evolution LitRPG) Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Read chapter 2 of Creature Farm: Beginnings (A Cozy Monster Evolution LitRPG) by TristanRye on NovelPedia.

“C’mon, just a little bit…more!” POP! A radish bursts from the soil, sending dirt flying. I stumble back, holding the prize high. Its skin is a luxurious shade of crimson. It’s a bit small but nonetheless precious. My farm’s first harvest. I toss it into a large woven basket, crouching back in the dirt and continuing the process. I move down rows of carefully tended roots, freeing them from their earthen prison. Radishes pile in my basket. But it’s a small haul. In no time at all, the earth is bare. Now it’s time to replant. I bought more seeds from Dahlia. Radishes are fast-growing crops, so I should be able to get another couple batches before the end of Seedtide. Once I’ve built up some savings, I might even invest in enchanted essences for watering. They can have all sorts of effects on plants, augmenting color, flavor, elemental affinity, and most importantly, price. A noise rustles in the bushes, breaking my focus. My eyes dart to the forest edge, scanning for predators. Everything seems calm… Must be a forest slime. Those jiggly little buggers will eat anything. They can probably smell my radishes from a mile away. Bending low, I grab a pebble. “Yah! Go away!” I hurl it into the bushes. Nothing moves. Huh. Must’ve just been the wind. Opening my pouch, I set to work, sprinkling little seeds and covering them with soil. It’s like tucking them into bed for the night. And once they’re all in the ground, it’s time for a bedtime snack. Lifting my iron watering can, I head to a bucket near my cabin. It’s filled with water I hauled from the river near Varian Farm. I’ve really gotta get this watering situation figured out. I heard there was groundwater here, but I can’t seem to dig a well. Maybe I was lied to? I got information from a questionable source. The witch. She’s a strange woman. Deep in the woods, she rarely leaves her hut. When villagers have important decisions, they’ll often make the journey, seeking her wisdom. I did the same before starting my farm. Perhaps it’s foolish to rely on her divination skills. I’ve never trusted her, to be honest. Too many mysteries in our valley…things I don’t understand. “There ya go. Nice and easy.” I smile down at the earth, pouring water from my can. “Soon, you’ll be sprouting. Grow big and strong, then we’ll take ya to market!” “Talking to crops? I hear it’s good for them.” A deep voice radiates behind me. “Waaah!” I whirl around, sending water flying. I clutch my heart. Water splashes onto Ivan’s pants. Ivy flaps her wings. Crag doesn’t budge. “Ugh.” Viktor stumbles back, disgusted. “Oh. It’s you.” I catch my breath. “Sorry, lad. Should’ve been louder.” Ivan chuckles. “You’re awfully focused.” “I’ve got work to do,” I grumble, turning away. “Not all of us have time to travel.” “Ah, but travel is work. So many precious trinkets in this world…just waiting to be found.” “You really make a living hunting treasure?” I cock my head. “You bet. Got my start as a boy, exploring icy caves in Galanta. Old bones and arrowheads…once you start uncovering the past, you get hooked.” He hesitates. “Though I don’t sell everything. Some hunts are special—about making a name for myself.” “What do you mean?” “Ya know, artifacts that are important to people. Things that belong in museums, not in a rich lord’s private study.” “I guess that makes sense. But what about them?” I point at his creatures. “The adventuring party! Every explorer needs sidekicks.” “Yeeeee!” Ivy grins, licking her tiny fangs. “Rooorg.” Crag snatches a fistful of soil and shoves it into his mouth, chewing. My nose crinkles. “Eh, I never said they were scholars.” Ivan chuckles. “But they’ve got special talents.” “Talents?” “You bet. Ivy here is a Dusk Eye. They’ve got night vision. Crag is a Shard Eater. He doesn’t have good eyesight, but his nose makes up for it! He can sniff out loot. Ores, gems, anything underground, really.” “Wait.” I freeze up. “Like sniffing…water?” “Aaah, I see.” Ivan surveys the holes scattered across my pr