The fire crackled low as Arlen sat cross-legged in front of it, spooning the last of his 'Simple Meal Kit' soup into his mouth. He stared at the flickering flames, their steady dance matching the quiet hum inside his chest. Uncertainty lingered. The weight of exile still sat on his shoulders, heavy as a sack of wet grain. But for once, it didn't feel unbearable. He licked the spoon clean and laid back on the grass, arms folded behind his head. The stars blinked above him like cold little reminders that the world was bigger than his pain, that his past was just a piece of a much longer road.
"Alright. No more moping," he whispered to himself, voice firm but tired. "I'm still here. They kicked me out, sure. But I'm not dying in a ditch." The words weren't exactly inspiring, but they were his, and that was enough for now.
He tilted his head to the side, eyes falling on the shimmering portal glowing at the far edge of his field. The entrance to his dimensional world pulsed like a quiet heartbeat, steady and patient. It waited, like it always did. Arlen wasn't ready to dive into it again just yet—not after nearly getting wrapped up and dragged into planty doom last time. But it was a comforting sight all the same. A promise that something bigger waited, that his world was no longer limited by the borders others had placed around him.
The Hoe of Vitality leaned against the wooden shed, humming faintly with soft, golden energy. It reminded him of a loyal dog—always ready, always watching. It almost made him smile. Almost.
[Daily Quest: Water Crops - 0/1 Completed]
[Reward: +15 Points, Small Boost to Crop Yield]
He got up with a groan, cracked his back, and stretched. "Alright, alright. Let's water the babies."
He grabbed a bucket by the well, filled it with cold, crystal-clear water, and made his way over to the planted crops. The Dreamleaf plants were sprouting again, reaching up like eager hands toward the sky. The Sunroots stood tall, proud even, as if they knew they were special. He watered them gently, one by one, the cold splash on the soil making him feel like he was doing something real.
He whispered to them as he worked. "You guys better grow big and shiny. Can't be a legendary farmer with weak vegetables."
Behind him, the grass rustled. He paused. Listened.
Twigs snapped.
He stood straight, tension creeping up his spine like cold fingers. The Hoe was in his hand before he even realized he'd moved.
He turned. Nothing. Just trees and shadows. But the silence after that snap? Too clean. Too quiet.
He stared for a long moment, every muscle tight, until finally—nothing. Just a rabbit maybe. Maybe.
"Okay," he breathed out. "Getting jumpy. Real jumpy."
—
The morning came like a wet slap. Birds chirped way too loud. His back ached from sleeping on lumpy grass. And his breath smelled like regret.
He sat up and scratched his head, muttering curses as he blinked away the sleep. The lean-to he'd built creaked as the wind picked up, but it held strong. A small win.
"Where's Gourd?" he muttered, looking around.
The sentient pumpkin was nowhere to be seen, probably off causing trouble or singing again.
He yawned and opened his system menus.
Points: 115
Inventory: Dreamleaf x2, Junk x3, Wood Logs x6, Water Bucket
[Weekly Shop Reset: In 2 Days]
He tapped into the crafting section. The list blinked to life.
[Wooden Wall Segment - Requires: Wood x3]
[Stone Oven (Locked) - Requires Blueprint]
[Seed Extractor (Locked)]
[Custom Bench - Requires: Wood x5]
He had options. Not many. But enough to start with. He'd never built a real structure on his own before, but if he was going to survive out here—and thrive—then walls were a good start.
He worked for hours, chopping small trees, stacking logs, measuring and leveling by hand. Every swing of the hoe felt like progress. Sweat poured down his back, his muscles ached, and his palms stung, but he didn't stop.
By midday, the first wall stood—a little crooked, sure, but solid. Then came the second. The third. He wiped his forehead and let out a breathless laugh.
"You know what? Not bad."
The wind picked up again. The grass rippled in waves.
Gourd rolled in like a noble idiot, landing beside Arlen with a plop. "Oho, someone's been busy. Walls? What's next? Castle?"
"If I survive long enough, maybe."
The pumpkin grinned. "I give you a week before you trip over your own ego."
Arlen snorted. "Generous."
They sat together, watching the treeline.
Arlen frowned. "I don't like how quiet it's been."
"That's because something's going to happen," Gourd said casually.
"You're really bad at reassurance."
"I'm realistic. You want lies, talk to a bard."
—
Later that afternoon, a system notification popped up that made his heart sink.
[Quest Unlocked: Protect the Harvest - Warning: Unknown Creatures Approaching]
He tapped it quickly.
Quest: Protect the Harvest
Defend your crops from the incoming threat.
Survive until sunrise.
Rewards: 100 Points, +1 Stat Point, Unknown Seed Pack
"Crap."
He turned to Gourd. "We've got incoming. And I'm guessing they're not friendly travelers looking for directions."
"Wolves?"
"Hope so. Wolves I can hit."
He opened the shop in a hurry.
[Spike Trap (x1) - 40 Points]
[Camp Torch - 10 Points]
[Basic Barricade - 30 Points]
He bought two spike traps and a torch, dropping his points down to 25. No time for regret.
He rushed to place the traps at the edge of the clearing and jammed the torch into the ground near the field. Nightfall was coming faster than usual. The wind turned cold. The air too still.
Then—the first howl.
It echoed through the trees, long and hollow. A sound that made his skin crawl.
Wolves. At least three.
They emerged from the woods like shadows with teeth. Fast. Hungry. Not normal wolves—these were bigger. Their eyes gleamed red.
The first lunged. Arlen swung the hoe hard, catching it mid-air. It yelped and hit the ground, rolling before scrambling back into the dark.
Another tried to flank him. The trap snapped shut with a crunch. A howl of pain.
He turned just in time to block a third. Its claws raked his arm, shallow but burning. He slammed the hoe down hard, and it yelped before vanishing back into the night.
The torch light flickered. Gourd shouted something, but Arlen's ears rang.
He was panting. Bleeding. Still alive.
[Threat Repelled: Temporary Safety Achieved]
[Quest Progress: 75%]
He didn't drop his guard. Not yet. More rustling. But no more attacks.
Minutes passed. Then hours. Finally—the sky began to lighten.
He dropped to his knees.
[Quest Complete: Protect the Harvest]
[+100 Points]
[+1 Stat Point]
[Item Received: Unknown Seed Pack]
The pouch appeared in his hand, glowing faintly.
He stared at it. Exhausted. Shaking.
"You did good," Gourd said softly. "Still breathing. Still farming."
Arlen chuckled weakly. "Yeah. Still farming."
He looked toward the rising sun and smiled for real this time.
Whatever came next—he'd be ready.