Jacob placed his hands on the brass housing and set the earth core with a focused resolve. He did not force the power into the runes, instead, he invited the magic to act as his partner while he carefully layered the enchantments.
His intent functioned as a bridge that allowed the different patterns to occupy the same space without clashing. The geometric shape within the core began to smoothly hum as it held a steady rhythm while distributing power throughout the frame.
The energy flowed where it was needed, smoothed over by the visualization of a single, working whole.
Without a grand display of light or a violent surge of mana, the enchantment reached a point of equilibrium and settled into the metal.
The complex seeding mechanism was complete. It sat next to the workbench, looking deceptively simple, but the air around it felt dense with its presence.
"It's ready," Jacob said, full of anticipation for their completed work.
Bran reached out to touch a gear, his fingers lingering on the polished surface. "It feels different now. It doesn't just feel like brass and silver solder anymore, but I can't exactly place the feeling."
"We need to know for sure if it works," Jacob replied as he looked toward the barn doors.
"The east field is still waiting for the rest of the bulbs. We put it off because the soil on the far side is packed tight, and planting the whole field by hand would take the whole family several days. It is the perfect place for a test."
Sera nodded in agreement while she moved to help them lift the machine. "If this works, Arthur and Elis won't believe how much time they have saved."
Jacob gripped the handle of the seeder and felt the immediate effect of his work. The heavy assembly seemed to lose its weight as he lifted it nearly as high as the bench by himself.
He felt only a slight resistance, as if he were lifting a bale of straw rather than a machine of solid brass and wood, even if it did feel awkward with how wide the mechanism was.
It was still heavy, even with the assistance of the magic, but it was manageable even for him with his diminutive stature.
They brought Barnaby, one of the old farm mules, over to the mechanism and hooked him up to it before they moved it out into the cool afternoon air, headed toward the expanse of the east field.
With a gentle click of his tongue, Jacob signaled the mule to move. Barnaby leaned into the harness, his hooves tensing for the massive resistance it would normally feel from pulling something so large.
Instead, the mule stumbled forward for a second because the drag was almost nonexistent.
Jacob felt a surge of anticipation. He was eager to see if his suggestive magic, coupled with the three-dimensional runes, could handle the stubborn reality of the farm's most difficult terrain.
The sun climbed higher over the east field, warming the cool afternoon air and reflecting off the polished brass of the new mechanism.
Jacob led Barnaby toward the starting line while Bran and Sera checked the alignment of the wide seeding bar.
Jacob worked the leather straps over Barnaby's shoulders once they were in the correct spot. The mule stood patiently, his ears flicking at the quiet hum of the Earth Core buried within the device.
Usually, a piece of equipment this wide would require one of the oxen to move through the stubborn clay of the East field.
"Alright, Barnaby," Jacob whispered while he patted the mule's neck. "Let's show them how easy this can be."
The mule pulled it effortlessly as the sharpness runes allowed the metal to slice into the soil without a sound, parting the dirt as if it were soft silt.
Across the fence line in the neighboring plot, Elis stopped his work. He had been preparing the ground since Tom and Caleb were occupied with the fencing under the direction of Arthur on the other side of the farm.
The sight of the wide machine moving at a brisk walking pace caught his eye. He wiped his brow with a grimy sleeve and began to stride toward them, his curiosity written clearly on his face.
"I thought I was seeing things from over yonder!" Elis called out as he reached the edge of the row.
He stopped and stared at the injectors, which were punching into the ground with perfect, rhythmic precision. "That thing is wider than a barn door, Jacob. How is that old mule walking like he is pulling a feather?"
Bran walked alongside the seeder, his eyes fixed on the distribution plate. "It is the lightness enchantment, Elis. The machine is carrying its own weight."
Elis knelt in the dirt to inspect the row they had just finished. He looked at the small, precise holes where the bulbs had been placed.
"The soil is barely disturbed. Usually, we would be turning up clods of clay the size of a man's head in this field. It's like the injectors aren't even touching the ground."
The auto-targeting runes worked silently within the hopper. The bulbs moved in a steady stream, nudged into their chutes by the invisible pressure of the direction provided by the runes.
There was no jamming and no wasted movement thanks to the intent Jacob had imbued into the entire machine, causing the work to flow smoothly.
Barnaby continued his steady walk, his breath even and calm. The harness remained partially slack against his chest, proving that the magic was doing the heavy lifting.
"We have already finished the first three rows on this side of the field," Sera noted.
She checked the hopper to see the level of the bulbs. "At this rate, we will be done with the entire field before the sun is three-fourths past its peak."
Elis stood up and shook his head in disbelief. "If Tom and Caleb saw this, they would likely drop their shovels and never pick them up again. You are doing the work of four men and an ox with just one mule and a bit of brass."
Jacob watched the injectors rise and fall, marveling at how the direction of the suggestive magic held firm against the physical reality of the farm.
Bran reached out to touch the frame of the seeder while it moved. "The self-healing runes are active. I can feel the warmth of the magic keeping the brass from flexing under the pressure of the injectors. It is staying perfectly rigid."
While they were enjoying their successful run, they suddenly heard the cry of a girl from the east forest. Jacob looked up with the rest of the crew to see Mira quickly stumbling out of the tree line.
She clutched a short bow in one hand, though her quiver was empty.
A dark stain had soaked through the leather on her left shoulder, and her breathing was a series of sharp, shallow gasps. A bit of panic was spread out on her normally stoic face.
Elis dropped his shovel and sprinted toward her. He reached the edge of the field just as Mira's legs gave out. He caught her by the waist and kept her from collapsing into the dirt.
"Goblins," Mira whispered while she struggled to pull air into her lungs. "It is a full raiding party, not just a few stragglers. They are moving straight in this direction through the lower valley."
She called out past Elis toward Jacob and the rest, "Quickly! Get inside! There is a raiding party of goblins headed in this direction!"
She looked back at the trees with a trained gaze, despite the pain.
"I tried to lead them away from the village, but their forward party is moving faster than the usual scouts. They are armed for a fight, and the militia is falling behind."
The transition from the peaceful success of the field test to the chaos of an attack was seemingly instantaneous.
Jacob and Sera moved quickly toward the house, supporting Mira between them. The girl's breathing was shallow, and a dark stain was spreading across the fabric of her shoulder.
Elis trailed just behind them after he sprinted to the tool shed and emerged with a heavy, iron-pronged pitchfork.
"They are through the brush!" Elis roared, his voice cracking with the strain of the warning. He pointed a trembling hand toward the edge of the forest. "The first of the goblins has broken the tree line, and they are gaining fast."
Jacob looked back to see several small, green-skinned figures darting through the tall grass with worrying speed.
He made a split-second decision and handed Mira's weight entirely over to Sera.
"Get her inside and bar the door," Jacob commanded. "I am going to help Elis."
Jacob turned to Elis, who was already bracing himself for the impact. The farmhand wore a sturdy coat enchanted with warmth, but his undershirt and trousers were plain linen and cotton.
Jacob stepped close and placed his hands on the man's chest, closing his eyes to find the fluid mana of the world.
He didn't use runes or slow carvings this time. Instead, he projected a powerful suggestion into the fibers of the cloth.
He visualized the linen as an interlocking mesh of iron, persuading the fabric to resist any blade or claw that tried to pierce it.
The cloth hummed beneath his palms, stiffening slightly as it accepted the intent.
Next, Jacob seized the shaft of the pitchfork. The previous enchantment on the tool was thin and flickering, a simple charm for durability that was never meant for combat.
Jacob poured his power into the iron prongs, overriding the old magic with a fierce visualization of sharpness. He suggested to the metal that it was a force of pure penetration, capable of sliding through bone as easily as water.
"It is ready, Elis, this is the best I can do for you with so little time," Jacob said, his voice low but even despite the shouting from the trees.
Elis gripped the now-vibrant pitchfork, his eyes wide as he felt the surge of strength flowing from the handle into his arms.
Suddenly, he heard the mostly absent voice of the world, one he had not heard for a long time.
Quest Initiated: Protect Farmer's son and repel impending invasion fromFarm.
Failure:Farm is destroyed. Those unable to flee are killed.
Success:Survival of Farm. Class upgrade for Farmer class. Five status points to be distributed at will.
He stepped forward, placing his broad shoulders between Jacob and the approaching monsters, ignoring the quest prompt entirely.
"Stay behind me, lad," Elis growled, his protective instincts overriding his fear. "I'll keep them off you. You just keep your head down."