Freddy's mind raced as he tried to think of something to say to the young woman who was clearly shocked. Terra's voice suddenly came into his head before he could say anything.
"Don't talk about the system or your SSS rank," she told him telepathically. "And also don't be too specific. If someone knows too much about what you can do, it will only make things worse.
"And try not to mess up your first time talking to a real girl." Terra teases him.
Freddy blinked in surprise at the mental communication, but he was able to keep his face calm. "Don't underestimate me... I've married every single girl in that farming game, I could probably talk with a real one right now."
"And about the system also, SSS Rank, of course I won't say it out loud."
If there had never been an SSS-ranked farmer before, telling the first person he met would probably draw unwanted attention. He nodded very slightly to show that he understood, so Terra didn't bother him when he was trying to talk to the girl.
The blonde girl was still looking at him, waiting for him to say something. Freddy coughed and tried to look as normal as possible, which was hard because he was standing in front of a farm that had changed in just a few minutes.
He said, "Hi," and then felt dumb for such a simple greeting. "No, I mean... Ehem! Hey-yo, I'm Freddy. Freddy Flint. I just got here today, and this is, um, my farm now."
The girl's eyes moved quickly between him, Terra, and the restored property. It looked like she was having a difficult time taking it all in at once. "Your farm? But the Thornwood farm has been empty for six months."
"The village looked for someone to take it over, but everyone said it was too far gone to be worth saving."
Freddy said, "I like a challenge," which wasn't completely false. He pointed at Terra, who waved back. "This is Terra. She helps me with my farming."
"Assistant," Terra thought to herself, but she kept smiling on the outside. "That's what we call it?"
The girl bent down to pick up the apples that had fallen out of her basket, and Freddy rushed over to help. He saw how perfect the fruit looked as he picked it up. Round and red, with no flaws at all. It made him think of the farming games he used to play, where everything looked like it had been made by an artist instead of grown in the ground.
"Thanks," the girl said when he gave her the last apple. "Ahh, sorry! I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Clara. Clara Cloverfield. I also have my farm down the road from my house."
Her last name, 'Cloverfield,' brought back memories for Freddy, that sounded like something from the farming game he had played before he died. Then it hit him, and he had to stop himself from showing how he felt.
You could befriend and eventually marry some of the characters in the game if you raised their affection levels high enough. He thought that Clara Cloverfield had been one of the bachelorettes.
"Nice to meet you, Clara," he said, trying not to think too much about what that meant. This was no longer a game, and there was more to Clara than just programmed responses and heart events.
Clara's face went from shock to what looked like wonder. She looked back at the farm and then at Freddy again. "Ahh... I remember..."
"There's an old legend in the village," she said slowly. "More like a story."
"It says that the Thornwood farm would stay in ruins until someone special came along to save it. Someone who could bring dead soil back to life and fix things that were broken."
Freddy's heart skipped a beat. "A legend, huh?"
"Most people think it's just a story," Clara said next. "But my grandma used to tell me about it when I was a kid."
"She said that one day a farmer would come who could do things that were impossible. Someone who would remind everyone what real farming was like." She looked at Freddy with those bright blue eyes that made him blush.
"When I saw what you did to this place, I thought the story might be true. It could be you that it 's talking about."
Freddy said carefully, "I don't know about legends," remembering what Terra had said. "I just want to make a life here. The farm needed some work, and I was able to do it. That's all there is."
Terra made a small sound in his head that meant he agreed. "Okay. Don't make it hard."
Clara didn't seem completely sure, but she nodded anyway. "Well, no matter how you did it, what you've done is wonderful."
"Everyone in the village has been worried about this place. Before he died, Old Man Thornwood was a successful farmer, and it felt wrong to see his work fall apart like this."
Her face lit up as if she had made a choice about something. "Actually, I should help you get ready if you want to start farming here."
"You'll need tools and seeds to get started, and I know you don't have any yet because you just got here."
Freddy said, "That would be very helpful."
He hadn't thought about the practical needs because he was so focused on fixing up the buildings and fields. "I appreciate it."
"It's no trouble at all," Clara said, her shock from earlier turning into real warmth. "Come with me to my family's farm."
"We have extra tools, and I can give you some seeds to start with from our storage. Think of it as a gift for your friendly neighborhood."
...
Freddy walked down the dirt road behind Clara, and Terra followed him at a safe distance. The path went through rolling hills with wildflowers on them. In the distance, he could see other farms and what looked like a small village.
He thought that Florencia's world was really beautiful. No virtual world could compare to how real every detail felt.
"Where are you from, exactly?" As they walked, Clara asked. "I don't know your accent, and believe me, not many new people come to our little corner of the world."
Freddy thought about it. He couldn't tell her that he was from a different world.
"Pretty far away," he finally said. "I needed a new beginning, and farming seemed like the right thing to do."
That made Clara smile. "Well, you chose a good location for your new beginning." The soil here is some of the best in Florencia, and the people who live here are very close."
"During planting and harvest times, everyone helps each other."
They walked for about ten minutes before getting to the Cloverfield farm. The Cloverfield farm was significantly larger than Freddy's land, featuring several fields at varying stages of cultivation.
In the middle of it all was a big white farmhouse with blue shutters. It was surrounded by flower gardens that were clearly well cared for. A few barns and storage buildings added to the picture of a successful family business.
"Wait here for a second," Clara said as she walked toward one of the storage buildings. "I'll get some things together for you."
Freddy saw her leave and then turned to Terra. He asked softly, "What do you think?"
Terra landed on his shoulder again. "I think you did a fantastic job with that. Clara seems like a lovely person, and having a neighbor who is friendly could be helpful."
"Just be careful not to give away too much, or people will notice your skills whether you want them to or not."
Freddy said, "Yeah, I figured that out pretty quickly as the main character, of course."
"But that story she told was interesting, though. Do you know anything about it?"
Terra said in a strange way, "I know that sometimes the world has a way of getting ready for important arrivals., but legends are more about hope than they are about prophecy. Don't let it stress you out."
Clara came out of the storage building with a wooden crate full of different farming tools. Freddy knew what a hoe, a watering can, a small hand rake, and a few other tools were from his gaming days. She also had a few small bags that made noise when she walked.
She put the crate in front of Freddy and said, "Here are some basic tools to help you get started, along with seeds for carrots, turnips, and wheat."
"They're good crops for beginners because they grow well in our climate."
Freddy looked at the supplies and felt truly thankful. "This is very kind of you."
"What can I do to pay you back?
Clara told him not to worry. "Just concentrate on getting your farm going. You can sell your crops in the village market after your first harvest."
"That's how most of us around here make money." She stopped for a moment, her cheeks turning a little pink. "And maybe, when you're settled in, you could come over for dinner."
"I'd like to know more about where you're from and how you plan to run your farm."
Freddy said, "I'd like that," and he really meant it. Clara seemed charming and real, and after years of being alone in his old life, the thought of having real friends was appealing.
Freddy couldn't help but feel that his new life was starting to take shape as he carried the crate back to his farm. He had a place to live, tools, seeds, and a nice neighbor. He would rather not waste the second chance he felt like he had after dying alone in front of a computer screen.