Outside, the village buzzed with activity, the fields alive with the glow of Amrita Grains, Soma Lotuses, and Lotus of the Dawn flowers. Saria, Kael's granddaughter, led a training session near the riverbank, her silver-streaked hair catching the sunlight, her short sword flashing as she demonstrated a qi technique. "Focus your qi," she instructed, her voice clear and authoritative, as she guided a group of villagers in channeling energy into the soil. "Let it flow through you, not against you." The villagers, once hesitant, now moved with confidence, their hands glowing faintly as they strengthened the Vajra Roots' defenses.
Torin worked nearby, his axe resting on his shoulder as he helped a young villager, Joren, adjust his stance. Since his redemption, Torin had become a pillar of support, his strength and loyalty unwavering. "Like this," he said, guiding Joren's hands into the soil, a faint glow shimmering around them. "Feel the earth—it'll guide you." Joren nodded, his face alight with determination, a testament to the village's growing unity.
Arin joined them, his hands caked with dirt, his eyes scanning the field. The Soma Lotuses glowed softly, their healing light a beacon of hope, but a faint tremor in the soil caught his attention. The qi was unsettled, a discord that threatened the crops. He knelt, murmuring "Om Bhumi Namah," his hands sinking into the earth, feeling the imbalance. "Something's wrong," he said, his voice tense, as Naya and Saria approached. "The qi—it's being drained."
Naya flipped through her journal, her brow furrowed. "Mother wrote about qi-leeching pests," she said, pointing to a sketch of small, beetle-like creatures with glowing mandibles. "They feed on the land's energy, disrupting the balance." Arin's heart sank—these pests could destroy their crops if left unchecked. "We need to stop them," he said, his mind racing. "But we can't harm the plants."
Rylan joined them, his staff glowing faintly. "The Vajra Vines," he said. "Their qi repels pests without damaging the crops. Plant them around the field, and use the Guardian's Breath to amplify their effect." Arin nodded, retrieving the Vajra Vine seeds from the cave relics. With the villagers' help, he planted them along the field's perimeter, channeling the Guardian's Breath, his qi flowing like a gentle stream. The vines sprouted quickly, their roots spreading, emitting a high-frequency qi that drove the pests away, their glowing mandibles fading as they fled.
The Soma Lotuses stabilized, their light returning to full brilliance, and the villagers cheered, their faces alight with relief. Lila, the mother whose son Arin had fed, approached with a basket of Amrita Grain flatbreads. "You saved the field again," she said, her voice soft with gratitude. Her son, Joren, hugged Arin's leg, his eyes wide. "You're the best, Jade Farmer!" Arin ruffled his hair, a smile spreading across his face. "We did this together," he said, his eyes on the villagers, their unity a strength he carried with him.