The barren land welcomed him once more. Fern floated silently nearby as Rowen walked toward a corner of the field.
"This should do."
He jabbed the hoe into the ground and started loosening the soil. It was harder than he expected—the earth was dry and resistant—but he didn't stop. Bit by bit, he carved out small rows. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, but he pressed on.
Once the rows were ready, he placed the potato seeds one by one, then gently covered them with the soil. Finally, he fetched water from the nearby well using a small wooden bucket and poured it over the planted area.
Fern watched quietly. "You know, even if the soil is poor, effort like that helps. You might not see growth yet, but the space will remember it."
Rowen sat back, wiping his brow. "I just want to see something grow. Even if it's slow… it'll be mine."
Fern smiled faintly. "Then let's make it happen."
