Logan woke with the dawn feeling restless. His crops wouldn't be ready for harvest until evening, and the prospect of waiting around all day didn't appeal to him. He needed to do something, anything to keep his hands busy and his mind occupied.
Terra noticed his restlessness over breakfast. "You're fidgeting," she observed. "What's on your mind?"
"I was thinking about exploring a bit," Logan said. "Maybe heading toward those caves Amelia mentioned, or just seeing what's beyond the village boundaries."
"I've been so focused on the farm that I haven't really gotten a sense of the wider world."
"That's not a bad idea," Terra agreed. "Just remember to take the sword Amelia gave you."
"The area around the village is generally safe, but you never know what you might encounter."
Logan retrieved the sword from his inventory, strapping the sheath to his belt. It felt strange to be armed, but also oddly reassuring. He wasn't a fighter by any stretch, but at least he wouldn't be completely helpless if something went wrong.
He set out after breakfast, following a path that led west from his farm. The road was less traveled than the one to the village, with grass growing between the worn wheel ruts. Fields gradually gave way to wilder terrain, with more trees and thicker undergrowth.
The morning was beautiful, with birdsong filling the air and sunlight filtering through the leaves. Logan found himself thinking about how different this was from his old life.
Back then, the most exploring he did was clicking through different websites. Now he was actually walking through a real forest, breathing real air, and even experiencing real adventure.
...
...
He had been walking for about an hour when he noticed something strange ahead. The forest seemed darker there, and the birdsong had stopped. Logan slowed his pace, his hand instinctively moving to the sword at his belt.
As he rounded a bend in the path, he saw what had caused the change in atmosphere. A clearing opened before him, and in the center lay a figure in armor, surrounded by at least a dozen gelatinous creatures that could only be slimes. The creatures were a sickly green color and roughly the size of large dogs, their bodies pulsing and quivering as they slowly advanced on the fallen figure.
Logan's first instinct was to run, but then he noticed details that made him stop. The figure was wearing what looked like knight's armor, though it was clearly designed for mobility rather than heavy protection. More importantly, he could see long silver hair spilling out from beneath a helmet that had been knocked askew.
"Terra, what do I do?" he whispered urgently.
The pixie appeared beside his head, her expression serious. "Those are basic slimes."
"They're not particularly dangerous individually, but in numbers they can overwhelm someone. That person needs help."
Logan drew his sword, surprised by how natural the motion felt. His body seemed to remember combat training the same way it remembered farming techniques. He charged into the clearing, bringing his blade down on the nearest slime.
The creature burst with a wet popping sound, dissolving into a puddle of green goo. The other slimes turned their attention to him, and Logan found himself moving on instinct. Dodge left, slash right, step back, thrust forward. His movements weren't fancy, but they were effective.
Within minutes, all the slimes were defeated, leaving only puddles of dissolving goo and a few small crystals that Logan's game knowledge identified as slime cores. He quickly stored the cores in his inventory before hurrying to the fallen figure.
Up close, he could see that the knight was definitely female, with delicate features visible beneath the silver hair. Her armor was well made but showed signs of damage, with dents and scratches that suggested recent combat. More worryingly, she wasn't moving.
Logan knelt beside her and carefully removed her helmet. The woman looked to be in her mid twenties, with pale skin and a small cut on her forehead that had bled down the side of her face. He checked her breathing and found it shallow but steady.
"She's alive," he said with relief. "But she's unconscious."
"We need to get her help."
"The nearest place is the Cloverfield farm," Terra said. "It's closer than the village, and Mira will know what to do."
Logan didn't hesitate. He carefully lifted the woman, surprised by how light she felt despite the armor. His enhanced farmer's strength made the task manageable, and he started back toward the Cloverfield farm at a quick pace.
...
...
The journey back seemed to take forever. Logan's arms burned from carrying the unconscious knight, and he had to stop several times to adjust his grip. Terra flew ahead to alert Clara and Mira, and by the time Logan reached the Cloverfield farmhouse, both women were waiting on the front porch.
"Bring her inside quickly," Mira said, leading Logan to a spare bedroom on the ground floor. "Set her on the bed, gently now."
Logan did as instructed, carefully laying the silver haired woman on the bed. Clara was already bringing water and clean cloths, while Mira began examining the knight's injuries with practiced efficiency.
"She's been in a fight," Mira observed, carefully removing pieces of the damaged armor. "Multiple bruises, some cuts, and this head wound. Nothing life threatening, but she'll need rest."
"What was she doing out there alone?" Clara asked, cleaning the blood from the woman's face.
"I don't know," Logan admitted. "I found her surrounded by slimes. She was already unconscious when I got there."
Mira worked efficiently, treating the visible wounds and checking for any serious injuries. "She's lucky you found her when you did.'
"Slimes aren't deadly on their own, but she could have been in real trouble if they'd had more time."
As the afternoon wore on, Logan helped where he could but mostly stayed out of the way. The mysterious knight remained unconscious, though her breathing had become steadier. Mira assured him that she would be fine with rest and proper care.
"You should go check on your farm," Clara suggested. "Your crops are probably ready for harvest by now. We'll watch over her."
Logan reluctantly agreed. He had almost forgotten about his quest in the excitement of the rescue. As he headed back to his farm, Terra flew alongside him.
"That was well done," she said. "You didn't hesitate to help someone in need. That's the mark of a good person."
"I just did what anyone would do," Logan replied.
"You'd be surprised how many people wouldn't," Terra said quietly.
Logan spent the evening harvesting his first crops. The wheat, carrots, and turnips came up easily, each one perfect and healthy. As he worked, notifications appeared.
[Quest Progress Updated]
[Establish Your Foundation: 100/100]
[Quest Complete!]
[Rewards: 500 Experience Points, Skill Unlock: Harvest Blessing, Expanded Farm Plot]
[Level Up! You are now Level 3]
[Level Up! You are now Level 4]
Logan felt a surge of energy as he leveled up twice in quick succession. New knowledge flooded his mind, information about farming techniques and crop management that he hadn't known before. The quest completion brought a sense of satisfaction, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the unconscious knight at the Cloverfield farm.
...
...
The next morning, Logan was up early to check on the mysterious woman. He found Clara sitting beside the bed, reading a book while keeping watch.
"She woke up a few minutes ago," Clara whispered. "Mother is bringing her some breakfast."
As if on cue, the woman in the bed stirred. Her eyes opened slowly, revealing striking blue irises that seemed to glow faintly in the morning light. She looked around the unfamiliar room with confusion before her gaze settled on Logan.
"You," she said, her voice hoarse. "You're the one who saved me from those slimes."
Logan nodded. "I found you in the forest. You were unconscious."
The woman tried to sit up, wincing at the movement. Clara quickly helped her, propping pillows behind her back.
"Take it easy," Clara advised. "You've been through quite an ordeal."
"Thank you," the woman said to both of them.
"I apologize for the trouble I've caused." She looked at Logan again, her expression serious.
"I owe you my life. My name is Erika Lysfield, knight of the Order of the Silver Dawn."
A profile window appeared in Logan's vision.
[Character Profile Unlocked]
[Name: Erika Lysfield]
[Age: 26]
[Occupation: Knight]
[Affinity Level: 2/10 - Grateful Acquaintance]
[Relationship Status: Single]
[Likes: Honor, duty, skilled warriors, honesty, people who help others]
[Dislikes: Cowardice, dishonesty, those who prey on the weak]
Logan dismissed the window and extended his hand. "Logan Hart. I'm a farmer."
"This is Clara Cloverfield, and you're at her family's farm."
Erika shook his hand, her grip surprisingly strong despite her weakened state. "A farmer who fights slimes and saves knights..."
"There's more to you than meets the eye, Logan Hart."