Chapter 181: Potato Garden

Past Julius would have thought that the second he had healed his soul, he would be back to training like he had been.

However, the new Julius had different plans. New Julius was smarter than old Julius and had a good idea. Or at least an idea that he believed was good. He didn’t think the others quite agreed with him.

The idea consisted of continuing to use the suppression device that Dante made. He had learned that the bracelet had a wonderful ability to help his mana control. His mana control was at a comparable level as his previous control without the suppression bracelet.

Not just his mana control either. His skills all seemed to take another step when it came to familiarity and ease of use. While his levels didn’t show his increased proficiency, he could feel it.

Even his more recent skill [Flash Step] showed improvement. Julius’s comfort with the skill was much more impressive than the six levels would indicate.

At the moment he had two main goals he set for himself. One was to learn a Space Concept with the assistance of Alice. The woman had promised him that once he had healed his soul she would help him gain a Space Concept. A Concept according to her, that was ridiculously difficult to acquire.

However, he loved a challenge and this one wasn’t going to prevent him from evolving his perception skill.

His other goal was a bit counterproductive to the first one. He wanted to try to take things more easy. He didn’t want to start lazing around all day, but he wanted to find the right balance for training.

His soul injury had shown that there was a clear issue with him pushing himself as hard as he had been. Even though he had a skill that could heal his soul, he didn’t think that was a good reason to beat up his soul again.

After he acquired Ashen Rebirth, he realized the importance of keeping himself balanced.

That was why he was on his hands and knees by the little plot of dirt he and Edgar claimed for themselves. He wasn’t alone. Edgar was over at his patch of potatoes and Drasil was next to him trying to help Julius as much as the little guy could. Which wasn’t that much, but it was the thought that counted.

He gently covered the seed he just planted with the soft soil and gave it a nice pat. He then poured a little bit of water over the top of it. This particular seed would supposedly sprout a little plant that created a berry that reminded him of a mixture of grapes and raspberries.

He thought that such a berry would make a wonderful jelly or jam. Or that was what he hoped at least.

He got up from his knees and brushed off the dirt from his hands on his uniform. He noticed someone coming up from behind him. Edgar had similar dirt-stained hands but that was overshadowed by the grin on the big guy’s face.

“I’m glad you offered gardening to me,” Edgar commented once he got within arm’s reach.

“I should be the one thanking you. It’s much more enjoyable with someone else tagging along. Lily and Aubrey didn’t seem to be interested,” Julius said to him.

Edgar gave him a soft knock on his shoulder. “I’m serious. I haven’t had the chance to do something like this for a while. I didn’t realize just how much I missed helping out on my parent’s farm. Also, this helps me relax, something I haven’t been doing much of late.”

“Well, that makes two of us,” he said with a grin. “Anyway, how does your family deal with the farm while you’re here at Goldencrest?” He asked.

Edgar gave a hearty laugh. “They don’t need my help. My father and mother could easily handle the entire farm by themselves if they really needed to. They are both some of the best farmers in the region, I would probably just slow them down.”

“They can handle such a large piece of land all by themselves?” He asked curiously. He remembered that Edgar previously mentioned that his parents owned quite a large plot of land. However, Edgar seemed pretty confident that his parent could do all of the work by themselves.

Julius wondered if that was due to some specific farming-related skills.

“Yep, they are both Tier 3s with skills that work very well with each other. My father could till the entire farm within a couple of days if he wanted to. But instead, he hires some local folk to help around. My mother forced him to start taking it easier a couple of years back.”

Julius chuckled as he imagined a smaller woman berating an older version of Edgar. He went over to another patch of open dirt and planted another seed. “Doesn’t your sister and her husband live on the farm as well? Do they help as well?”

“No, my sister chose to become a seamstress. Like me, her skills don’t really help out with farm work. Her husband is a pretty strong hunter though, he helps keep most of the monsters from preying on the animals and the crops,” Edgar added.

He was about to ask more about hunters when he noticed someone else approach them. It was someone he was familiar with. It was Tia Wellence, the plant girl from his Applied Combat class. She often came around this area, but they had never talked before. Julius sometimes left her a packet of snacks or something but that was the extent of their relationship.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

This was the first time the girl approached them on her own accord.

“Hello,” she waved at the two of them. Her voice was surprisingly soft, like a light breeze whispering through the forest.

“Hello,” Julius greeted her. “You’re Tia right?”

She paused as if him knowing her name was unexpected. “You know who I am? I mean I know who you are, but I was just surprised that you knew my name,” She said hurriedly.

“Of course, we have Applied Combat together. You have some impressive magic,” Julius complimented her.

She gave him a warm grin at that. “Thanks! I actually wanted to come over to thank you for leaving me all of the snacks. Me and Sila really enjoy them.”

Julius gave her a confused look. “Sila?”

Her eyes widened a little bit. “Oh sorry. I guess you wouldn’t know about her,” she apologized. However, before Julius could assure her that it was alright, she closed her eyes and concentrated on something.

Suddenly a green light bloomed on her shoulder. In its place was an ethereal little green squirrel.

Oh, interesting. What is that? Kind of resembles Drasil, he thought to himself.

“This here is Sila. She is my familiar,” Tia announced proudly. The palm-sized squirrel let out a tiny squeak as if saying hello.