Homesteading in a fantasy world

Why five years? Just because it sounded good. Does this class actually have an apprentice system that I assume at least the crafting classes have, but I suspect some of the combat classes will as well. It’s quite an interesting thing as to why it would be like that. I’m guessing I will never find that out.

Concentrating on my class and trying to find something that would act like an apprentice system I did find something. A thread of some sort that I could pull out and I guess it would connect to another person offering my apprenticeship to him.

I wonder what kind of things they will get access to and how good my apprenticeship is. Will it only be for farming because of their class, or will it change to reflect my class? If so I will be giving them a lot of benefits thank to my class being so overpowered.

It didn’t take that long for them to come back, and it looks like they ate at least something.

“So, on my end, it’s all good I can give you an apprenticeship. I guess we will see if you can accept it. If you want that of course.”

George, “Yes we are still willing, but we wanted to know if our sister can stay here with us until we finish this apprenticeship of yours and we are completely fine with the five years or until we level up.”

Rich, “Oh I think you have misunderstood my earlier statement. She must take the apprenticeship as well, not just the two of you. Does she have an open class slot or someone else's apprenticeship that is also stalled?

Emma, “What do you mean? You want me to become a farmer as well? No, I do not have any apprenticeship anymore, I’m a tailor.”

“You’re being very rude about asking such secrets but yes, I do have a free class slot if it’s a requirement that I become your apprentice to stay here with my brothers then I will give up my class slot.”

I silenced both brothers because they wanted to start arguing.

“You mentioned again that it’s rude to talk about class, why do you think that is rude?”

That stopped any arguments that the brothers wanted to start, and she looked at me a bit weird but still answered.

Emma, “What do you mean? Talking about your achievement page with anyone else is very rude and dangerous. You must do it cautiously even with your own family. It’s yours alone and someone could use it against you if they know what’s on it.”

Rich, “An interesting way to control population but a predictable one. Just thinking out loud never mind that. If it makes you all more comfortable, George you will become my apprentice first and then you can choose if your sister should take it or not.”

They relaxed and the tensions vanished. George walked confidently toward me. I cleaned up my hand a bit as it was covered in dirt and firmly grabbed his now outstretched hand.

“Do you accept the apprenticeship I’m offering? This is more than just a class it is a way of life. A life of your own making or failing.”

I extended the thread, and it wrapped around both our hands. It was mesmerising to watch and thankfully I could see it with my energy sight. Now all that was needed was acceptance from the other side.

George, “I accept.”

I could see the thread that wrapped around our hands disappearing and replacing it was a thin string connecting me to him. I could see his eyes reading something and going wider and wider. He was about to say something to his siblings.

“Stop George, don’t give any details and just say if you would recommend your sister to get this apprentice class or not.”

George, “Yes Sir. Emma, Arthur, I recommend that you both accept this apprenticeship with all my heart.”

They both looked surprised, and I repeat the process first on Arthur and then on Emma. The most notable change happened with Emma as she first expressed dismay.

She didn’t understand why her tailoring class disappeared and was now replaced by the apprenticeship. But soon enough she started to read out loud the details of her new class.

Homesteaders apprentice: This class lifts all restrictions on every skill used in homesteading. This class unlocks endurance stat, empathy stat and intelligence stat. This class gives trait natures connection.

Emma, “It’s a rare class. How and so many stats +2 in every starting stat and +1 in three new ones, this is insane. George, Arthur did you get the same class.”

They did get the same class and all three started at level 1 beginning their journey again.

Emma, “What is homesteader, I have never heard of it and what restrictions does it lift? Wait, what class do you have to be able to give out a rare apprenticeship I haven’t even heard of this happening to anyone.”

Rich. “Easy answer first, it’s an epic tier class just upgraded it quite recently. As for the second part, what is a homestead that’s a bit more difficult to answer.”

“Let’s walk as I explained some things so I can show you guys around. First of all, the digging I’m doing currently is for a root cellar that I am going to build and how can I do this? It’s because homesteader must be able to build things he needs.”

“You can obviously see the vegetable fields and the potato fields as well as the grain fields. A homesteader must be able to grow their own food and what can he grow. Whatever he wants to grow because homesteader must own their land.

George, “Our land is given out by the village and the count owns the land we farm or live on. We just live on the land and produce food the way it is demanded but you say you own this land like really own it.”

Rich. “Yes, and homesteader must have land and quite a large area to truly be a homesteader. Let us move forward toward the chicken coop. Like farming and building, a homesteader must be able to raise animals.”

“I have only a few chickens, but one thing homesteader must understand is the land. Not just take from it ,you must be connected with the land. You must give as you take because this land will support you for the rest of your life and the lives of your descendants.

“Next you can see the woodshed and workshop. A homesteader must be able to harvest all the required resources to live out wherever he chooses to live, and he must be able to make whatever tools he needs to not just survive but thrive. To be able to make whatever his heart desires.”

“As I said homesteading is a way of life where you learn how to live with the land, not just take from it. Now, don’t be afraid as we enter the barn, you will see Freya, she’s a wolf.”

They were all a bit scared by the wolf and her pups but as always, the puppies were cute enough to be able to break the fear that gripped them.

“Homesteader must not kill just any threat on this land. you must understand how nature works and what balances must be kept. But homesteader must also be able to protect his land from whatever may come.”

George, “Protect? Do you mean fight monsters and bandits? Is this class also capable of fighting?”

Rich, “Yes, this class includes fighting. It’s a full combat class with no XP penalties for getting levels from killing. Like I said homesteader must be able to protect what he holds dear.”

I showed them the other notable stuff on the way to the bridge. Showing them the bridge I made and how it worked. Then I showed the ballista that I made and used to protect my farm. Arthur was most excited about this.

“And this is the newest building that I made, a sauna to keep yourself clean and your mind at ease. Come let’s go inside and I will show you how it works.”

Emma, “This isn’t like the saunas I am familiar with. I heard that in the big cities they have big pools of water that are heated and that’s what is called a sauna.

Rich, “Yes that is somewhat true but this is a real sauna, and I will show you all how it works today because we still have some digging to do before the day ends and that will make us all dirty, well maybe not dirtier than captivity makes you.”

I showed them how to start the sauna and its overall workings and then we headed to the future site of the root cellar. I jumped in and started digging and a moment later both brothers joined me.

“Hey Emma, why are you just standing there? Pick up a shovel and start digging, the markings are clear so dig inside them.”

Emma, “Me? But I’m a woman and I have never needed to dig, usually the men do that and we do other tasks.”

Rich. “Homesteader regardless of gender needs to be able to do everything. Being a woman is no excuse to not join especially because I have nothing else for you to do right now.”

“That reminds me, tomorrow remind me to start teaching you about energy control and how to circulate your energy better.”

I got weird looks in return, but they all went back to their job, and I was quite pleasantly surprised at how well they started to do and not bitch about their work. They can be trained well it seems.

Our digging time came to an end for today and our first sauna experience was over. We were all sitting on the benches on the saunas deck enjoying life.

George, “That was amazing. Why aren't saunas everywhere, I mean I can understand it’s difficult and costly to build but there’s no excuse for a village not to have one. It’s a shame this was the first time I have experienced something like this.”

All of them seem to agree and I’m glad I was able to bring three more people into the fold that think saunas are the best.

Rich, “Well it’s not over yet, we can do that multiple times and I recommend even jumping into the river as it gives a totally different experience and you will certainly love it.”