Moon Valley's Legendary Farmer

[There Once Was A Kingdom 7% Completion]
[Story of the Harvest Guardian 19% Completion]

[Quest Complete: The Creature In The Warehouse

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For many years, Soren's father has operated the warehouse on the far side of the Artisan District's Smithing Quarters, but due to the influence of the Miasma, a foul creature has begun to nest within the area.

Help Soren clear it out and in turn, give the blacksmiths of Bloom Haven a place to store their ores and equipment other than their small workshops.

***
Rewards

Rose Ore x1

***
Moon Points x2000

EXP x700]

[Yvlena Acquired

EXP: 750/2700

***
Rose Ore x1

***
Moon Points x2000]

"So Rael gave your dad the Rose Ore, and he gave you Kazat as well." Yvlena said to Soren, who was now gazing longingly at the photograph. He stoked picture gently as he stared at his father's memento.

"Kazat, now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time." He smiled mournfully. "Did you see him up there?"

Yvlena winced, she didn't know how to begin explaining that his beloved pet was the reason they couldn't use the warehouse all this time.

"Kazat," She started slowly "was corrupted by the Miasma, he was no longer the pet you knew. But if it's any consolation you'll always have that photo to remember him at his best."

Soren turned to face her, and she could see his eyes were now brimming with unshed tears. He hiccuped and turned away from Yvlena and Risel.

Without seeing Yvlena knew he had started crying and heard that his poorly concealed sniffles. She imagined he was asking the same question she was.

How long had Kazat stayed there in the dark until he had transformed? The elven girl, placed her hand gently on his shoulder.

"No matter what, you'll always have his memory." Yvlena said. Soren faced her with big, teary eyes and leaped in for a hug as he wailed.

"Oh Yv! You're such a good Harvest Guardian!" Soren said, bawling. Yvlena could only pat his back comfortingly. He was right, she did feel like a good Harvest Guardian, and in returning the Memento, Yvlena herself felt a part of her had healed.

She may not have had her parents right now, but she had good memories of them, and now she got to live through a story they made for her.

"I'll take the Rose Ore now and use it to upgrade your weapon." Soren said, gaining his cheerful exuberance back. "Rael might have been the Harvest Guardian in my father's time, but you are my Harvest Guardian, Yvlena."

"And mine!" Risel chimed in.

Yvlena couldn't stop the smile that grew on her face as she handed Soren the Ores, the game made her feel so welcome. Her heart swelled with emotions at the power of the stories she had unlocked so far.

[Soren will let you know when your weapons have been upgraded]

The game told her, her Moon Sickle was no longer by her side for ready use, oh well it was back to the Rose Manor for her.

She waved goodbye to the two NPC and started on her way towards the Floral District, It would be time to log out soon and see Mars.

----------

Aya pulled the Revista off her head with a sigh, she felt something wet slide down her cheer and touched her face to find that she was crying.

"Whoa! Did something happen in game?" Mars asked instantly by her side. The dark haired girl had been sitting on her side of the train, tapping her tablet, before she had gotten up to run to Aya's side.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Aya shook her head and laughed.

"I didn't even know I was crying, I just had a moment in the game. Finished a quest, y'know?" She said, wiping her eyes with the back of her sleeve, but Mars could sense there was more to it. "It just made me think of Mom and Dad, how they must be so happy I found this part of the game they worked so hard to make." Aya cried.

Mars put an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close, carefully maneuvering the gadgets so they would not hit the ground as she comforted her friend.

"And to think I might have missed all of it if I didn't remember the name of the character my mom wrote."

"But you did remember, It's no use getting emotional over hypotheticals." Mars said softly. She wanted to say something else to comfort Aya but wasn't sure what else to add. "They knew you would remember, and you did."

Aya sniffled.

"You're right, there was no way I could have forgotten all the details my mom made up."

"And when we get settled, you can call your uncle to hear more of it, all of it even." Mars said, rubbing Aya's shoulder. "Just keep having fun and helping your little towns people."

"My little towns people!"

"I said what I said."

The girls laughed, Aya, now feeling lighter after her conversation with Mars, looked out the window to see the sky slowly darkening as evening came. It would be night soon and it seemed the train would reach it's destination early next morning.

Aya paused to think about the fact that she had finally seen what Rael looked like, but she didn't know what race her was.

She hadn't seen any of the people in Bloom Haven with animal features. And during her foray into the forums, she hadn't thought to look up the races one could play in Moon Valley.

"Hey Mars, I saw a character with antlers in my session. What are they called?"

"Oh, they're called Beastkin. I play one. The game gives you a bunch of features to choose from, but the most common choices are wolves, tigers, bunnies, and foxes, I think." Mars said, tapping her chin in thought. "Which one did you see?"

"Well, he had antlers like deer." Aya said, gesturing to her forehead where she had seen the antlers grow out of Rael. She was also surprised by how handsome he was, more than even Laurent. She hoped she would be able to see what Lilian looked like as well.

"Rare choice, but for an NPC, I guess it's not that weird."

"How come other players don't go with deer?"

"Well, I just assume a deer Beastkin would be slow." Mars laughed. "When people choose features, they also choose how it affects their starting stats. A deer Beastkin might be good with magic or something but could be pretty slow in combat."

"I guess it would make sense for one of the previous Harvest Guardians to be a Beastkin since it's all about being close to nature." Aya said, flopping down on her convertible seat.

"Don't doze off just yet, dinner's almost here." Mars warned.

"I know!" Aya whined. She propped her head on her hand and thought for a moment. "He said he was going to the Verdant Vale. That's gotta be the town after the Verdant Woods, Twyla got the directions all wrong!"

"Huh?"

"Long story about my class quest line." Aya said.

"Well, I'm not doing anything on this train ride, so I got time," Mars smirked. Aya beamed and began telling Mars all about her new discoveries.