[Farmer] Mage

Seris hummed as she cleaned her arrows. It was something she had neglected after practice, much to her own disappointment, but better late than never. In her defense, Cal had bought her arrows that barely needed maintenance.

Her eyes flickered to the archery range Cal created for her, but she forced herself to look away. She was responsible for looking after the farm, and she wouldn't get distracted. There would be plenty of time to practice her archery when Cal and Tavia returned.

Seris shifted to get more comfortable. She ignored the annoyed huff of the pack leader beside her and tried to show a content expression. Cal sat here all the time and acted like it was the best thing ever. Since she was the acting owner of the farm, she should do the same.

… This is awful!

Seris pursed her lips and tried to massage her legs discreetly. They had fallen asleep a long time ago, and she was afraid to stand up. It wouldn't do for the Initiates she oversaw to lose their respect for her. She had been doing such a good job giving them tasks and didn't want to ruin all of that effort.

The pack leader growled, a low rumbling sound that was felt in Seris's bones.

"Well, what do you want me to do?" Seris whispered. "This is where I'm supposed to sit. It's not my fault it's right next to your spot."

The pack leader opened his eyes and gave her a baleful glare. It didn't faze Seris. Cal had gone to get Tavia days ago, and the pack leader gave her the same glare every single day. It was scary the first time, but she figured it was just the wolf's personality.

Seris didn't think that was cute at all. Not like Nibbles, who was always happy when she was free.

Too bad Nibbles is working extra hard since Cal left.

She set aside her arrows and sighed. There wasn't much for her to do these days. It was confusing, really.

All the spell books she was allowed to read had already been read multiple times, and she was too scared to look at the ones Tavia told her not to touch. She didn't want to fall into a coma again because she had been reckless.

Orrin refused to stay since he thought it was disrespectful to Cal when he hadn't given permission, which Seris thought was stupid. It was practically a done deal, but Orrin was overly cautious, like always.

And despite all the animals on the farm, it wasn't like she could waste time 'checking' on them. They were all either too busy—Nibbles splitting her time working underneath the field and coaching the cat-looking things, the wolves patrolling, and the pack leader… napping—or had little thoughts of their own, like the new oxen and to a lesser extent, the horses.

How does Cal sit here all the time? He must really like to sleep. Or maybe he doesn't get bored?

Seris grumbled under her breath and shifted again, trying to—she yelped in shock as she toppled over. The pack leader found the will to stand and push her in a show of annoyance.

"Fine, be that way!" Seris's face turned red as she looked to the field. Thankfully, it seemed like the Initiates hadn't noticed her mishap.

She shot an angry look at the pack leader and trudged to the edge of the field. By some miracle, her steps were steady despite the lack of feeling in her legs.

Seris watched the three Initiates Cal hired lead Tavia's friends around the field, talking frequently as they pointed at the occasional crop that looked smaller than the rest. She hoped that allowing Tavia's friends to learn from the others was the right thing to do.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Vivi and Amara were polite, but Seris wasn't sure what to make of them. The Initiates that Cal hired were happy to chat with her about anything, unlike Tavia's friends. But Seris wasn't going to shun them just for that.

Maybe they don't like me? Most Initiates don't like people like me.

She would do whatever is best for the farm, and she thinks that getting more Initiates to work here would be better… also, they were Tavia's friends. She had to be nice.

Seris couldn't wait until she could use magic. Then she'll show everyone who looked down on her!

She did her best to stand by the field like a good farm owner, but that only lasted a few minutes before her mind wandered. It was very boring.

I might as well reread a spellbook. I memorized all of them, but it'll show these Initiates I'm smart.

Seris went to the house to get the book for [Liquid Core]. It wasn't the most difficult of the spellbooks available, but it was the one that Cal worked on the most, so it will be impressive to the Initiates.

***

"See you tomorrow, Seris!"

Seris blinked, looking up from the book to see all the Initiates ready to leave, even Tavia's friends.

"All of you?" Seris asked, looking at Vivi and Amara.

"We've taken advantage of your hospitality by staying the past several nights," Vivi said.

"But Cal said you could. It's fine if you want to stay," Seirs pointed out.

Amara chuckled. "Thank you, but our friends will wonder why we haven't returned for so long. I wouldn't want all of them to disturb this peace."

"Oh," Seris nodded, not that she really understood how anyone could disturb the 'peace' when the pack leader was here. "Then I'll see you tomorrow?"

"We'll return with the others," Amara agreed.

Seris sent them off with a smile, feeling that Vivi and Amara treated her a little differently, like they didn't dislike her as much.

I think reading that spellbook worked better than I thought.

She closed the book and almost skipped back to the house. This was a great day, and the only thing that could make it better was Cal and Tavia returning. Then everything could go back to normal.

Seris stood before the bookshelf several minutes later and tapped her chin with a finger, the spellbook for [Liquid Core] already returned to its place. Sunset was still some time away, and Nibbles should have finished her work by now.

Maybe she should show the pack leader not to mess with her… with Nibbles helping. She knew the pack leader wouldn't hurt her, but he was still scary.

Seris's ears perked up at the sound of a carriage heading towards the house. She ran out of the house and looked to the tree line, surprised to see the pack leader standing close to the dirt road leading to the farm.

Her excitement died. The pack leader was too lazy to move unless there was a threat. Whoever was in the carriage, it wasn't Cal or Tavia.

Seris inched back to the house, knowing that she would be less than helpful if there was a fight.

Several seconds later, an ornate carriage appeared, and the pack leader relaxed. That comforted her. Whoever was in the carriage wasn't a threat.

That meant it was time for her to act like the farm owner again. She straightened her back and put on her best serious expression as she waited for the carriage to stop before her.

Seris blinked when a… well-fed man climbed down from the carriage with a displeased expression. She knew little about expensive clothes, but Cal had taken her to Lumina a few times, and she could designate what this man wore as more expensive than her house.

Not that the clothes were special-looking, but the expression on the man's face let her know he was a pampered softie that would probably cry from a thorn scratching his fragile skin.

Seris puffed out her chest, ready to drive this man away. There was no doubt he was here to threaten her to give up the farm. She heard nobles did that when they wanted something.

Too bad the pack leader would eat him if he tried. He probably looked tasty to the wolf, anyway.

"Ah, I suppose this is an improvement from the wasteland it was supposed to be."

Seris shifted. Here it comes. I'll tell the pack leader to scare him. Cal probably doesn't want trouble if something worse happens.

"Do you know where Farming Apprentice Cal is?"

Seris blinked stupidly. "What?"

"Farming Apprentice Cal," he repeated as if she were slow. "I'm a close friend of his."

"Oh… Oh!" Seris flushed red. She felt bad thinking all those mean things about him. "Cal is away right now. But he should be back soon! Maybe in a day or so?"

"I see," he nodded. "Then I'll wait for him here. And who might you be?"

"… Seris. I'm looking after the farm while Cal is gone." Seris thought he was polite, despite the scrunched-up expression like he smelled something terrible.

"Well met, Seris. I'm Fintan. Farming Apprentice Cal must trust you greatly for him to cede control of his property."

Seris beamed. This Fintan guy was pretty good, actually.