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Part 1: Days of Work and Connections
Stardew Valley awoke with the calm of a real world, unlike the frenetic pace of *Stardew Valley* the game, where days seemed to pass in minutes. Here, hours stretched out, allowing Alaric to savor every moment. His magical abilities, used sparingly, streamlined farm tasks, while his specialty—binding runes—was reserved for automating chests and machines, as he had explained to Rasmodius. Plant growth followed the game's logic—parsnips maturing in four days—and seasons shifted from night to day, as if the valley obeyed an ancient order. Over Days 2, 3, and 4, Alaric shaped his retired life, balancing work, leisure, and connections with the townsfolk.
**Day 2: Fishing and the Town Square**
On the second day, the rising sun painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, illuminating Alaric's farm. He stepped out of his cabin, his farmer's overalls and red checkered shirt contrasting with the enigmatic aura surrounding him, like a breeze laced with secrets. His gray eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and his enigmatic smile suggested he was exactly where he wanted to be.
At the farm, the parsnips planted the previous day were sprouting, true to the game's cycle. Alaric raised his hand, conjuring a translucent sphere of water that hovered over the plots, watering the plants with precision. With another gesture, a gentle wave of energy swept the soil, removing weeds and leveling the ground in moments. Near the cabin, he touched a wooden chest engraved with a binding rune, which glowed softly, automatically organizing wheat and parsnip seeds inside. The work, which would have taken hours, was done quickly, leaving him with a free day.
Checking his mail, Alaric found a letter from Willy, inviting him to pick up a fishing rod. He headed to the beach, where the sound of waves mingled with the cries of seagulls. Willy, with his gray beard and worn green cap, was mending a net on the pier.
"Well, if it ain't the new farmer!" said Willy, handing over a bamboo fishing rod. "Here you go, as promised in the letter. The sea's generous if you know how to listen."
"Thank you, Willy," replied Alaric, with a courteous nod. "Sounds like the perfect way to spend the day."
He spent the morning fishing, the rod steady in his hands. Without magic, he relied on patience, sensing the sea's currents and filling a basket with sardines and anchovies in a few hours. The valley's tranquility—the sound of waves, the blue sky—was a balm for his soul.
In the afternoon, Alaric walked to Pelican Town's square, where he found Penny teaching Jas and Vincent under the shade of a tree. Penny, with her loose reddish-orange hair and simple green dress, was explaining a history lesson with patience, her brown eyes shining with kindness. Jas, with pigtails and a pink dress, scribbled in a notebook, while Vincent, with messy blond hair and a striped shirt, seemed distracted by a butterfly.
"Good morning, Penny," said Alaric, approaching with a smile. "Training the valley's future scholars?"
Penny blushed, smiling shyly. "Hi, Alaric. I'm trying, at least! Jas and Vincent are great, but sometimes their curiosity… wanders."
Vincent looked up, excited. "Alaric! Have you fought monsters? Like, real monsters?" Jas nodded, her eyes sparkling. "Or dragons?"
Before Alaric could answer, Abigail arrived, her short purple hair and black leather jacket highlighting her adventurous vibe. "Hey, Alaric! Don't fill the kids' heads with ideas without including me!" she said, crossing her arms with a mischievous grin.
Alaric laughed, sitting on the grass. "Alright, a story for everyone. In the Obsidian Isles, I faced an abyssal dragon. It was massive, with black scales gleaming like stars and eyes like bottomless pits. Its flames were so cold they froze the air. I conjured arcane shields to block its claws, which cracked the earth, and icy blasts that froze everything they touched. As it attacked, I focused my fire magic, intensifying it into plasma—a pure, searing energy hot enough to pierce its impenetrable scales. I landed a blow, wounding its wing, but it struck back with fury. I used teleportation to dodge, appearing in blind spots—its back, under its belly—and striking with precision. For the final blow, I channeled all my energy into a giant plasma sword, a blade that sliced through the air like lightning and pierced the dragon's heart. It fell, and the valley where we fought still bears the scars of that battle."
Jas and Vincent's eyes widened, jaws dropped, while Abigail leaned forward, enthralled. "Wow, Alaric! I've researched everything about abyssal dragons, and I've never seen anything about plasma or teleportation like that! A plasma sword? Nobody does that! How'd you come up with it?"
Alaric smiled, tilting his head with a glint of pride in his gray eyes, but keeping his humility. "I wanted to try something new. I started with basic fire spells, but during the fight, I improvised—intensifying the fire into plasma to breach the scales, using teleportation to exploit weaknesses. It was about adapting and refining in the heat of battle, learning with each strike."
Abigail blinked, impressed. "You're like a magic genius! You've gotta teach me someday." Jas and Vincent nodded eagerly, and Alaric spent some time chatting and laughing with them, charming them with his natural charisma and stories, without using magic.
**Day 3: The Path and the Carpentry Shop**
On the third day, Alaric woke and tended to the farm. With a gesture, he conjured a sphere of water to water the parsnips and a wave of energy to clear weeds, finishing in moments. The chest with the binding rune organized new seeds automatically. The townsfolk had mentioned a blocked path north of the village, caused by a poorly done Joja excavation that hindered access to Susan's house. Determined to help, he headed north, passing Robin's carpentry shop and her home with Demetrius.
The path, near the forest, was obstructed by rocks and debris. Alaric raised his hands, conjuring a soft blue light that enveloped the rocks. The stones floated, arranging themselves in a neat pile beside the path, and the ground leveled with a gentle tremor, completing the task in minutes. He felt the Junimos watching, their presence like whispers in the breeze.
Soon after, he found Susan, who lived north, tending a vibrant garden. Her brown hair was tied in a practical bun, and her blue apron over a checkered shirt reflected her love for gardening. Her green eyes lit up when she saw him.
"Alaric! You cleared the path!" exclaimed Susan, wiping her hands on her apron. "Joja left a mess, and it was impossible to pass. Thank you!"
"My pleasure to help," replied Alaric, with his enigmatic smile. "Your garden's impressive, Susan. Any tips for a novice farmer?"
Susan laughed, pointing to a row of sunflowers. "Patience and care. But from what I hear, you've got a knack for getting things done fast."
"A bit of practice," said Alaric, with a wink, keeping the conversation light. "I'll come back to learn from you."
After 9 AM, Alaric visited Robin's carpentry shop, which was open. Robin, with her reddish-orange hair in a messy bun, green apron, and khaki pants, held a hammer with confidence. "Alaric! The path looks perfect!" she said, smiling.
"Did what I could," replied Alaric. "But I'm here for another reason. I want a coop and an extra cabin—nothing big, just enough to start raising chickens and have a spare space."
Robin jotted down the order. "I can start tomorrow if the payment's settled. You're quick, huh?"
"I like to keep things moving," said Alaric, with a wink, without showing magic. Robin laughed, impressed by his pace.
"If you build everything like that, I'll be out of a job!" she joked. "I'll get you the quote this afternoon."
**Day 4: Stories and Leisure**
On the fourth day, Alaric repeated his farm routine, conjuring water to irrigate the parsnips and energy to clear the soil, while the chest with the binding rune organized seeds. He decided to visit George and Evelyn, whose modest home was surrounded by colorful flowers. Evelyn greeted him with tea, her light blue dress and white hair in a low bun radiating kindness. George, in his wheelchair, with thin gray hair and piercing brown eyes, grumbled but seemed interested.
"So, you're the wizard," said George. "Got any good war stories?"
Alaric sat, his tone respectful. "There was a campaign in the Calico Desert. We faced sand elementals—creatures of dust and magic. I conjured shields to hold them back, and… the desert got hotter that day."
George chuckled, a rough but genuine sound. "You're a sharp one, kid. Come back and tell me more." Alaric spent an hour with them, enjoying the simplicity of the conversation.
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Part 2: Joja, Saloon, and Nighttime Charms
In the afternoon of the fourth day, Alaric visited the Joja store, curious about its contrast with the village. The bright blue facade seemed out of place, and inside, he saw Claire, the clerk from *Stardew Valley Expanded*. Her red hair was tied in a sloppy ponytail, and her blue eyes, though bright, carried the exhaustion of long work hours. Her blue Joja uniform was wrinkled, reflecting her fatigue.
"Welcome to Joja," said Claire, with a tired but kind smile. "You're Alaric, right? What do you need?"
Alaric tilted his head, his gallant smile lighting up his gray eyes. "A pleasure, Claire. Just browsing, but I must say… you have a star's aura. Ever thought about acting? Something tells me the stage is your place." He knew, from the game, that acting was her dream, and his voice carried a subtle complicity.
Claire blinked, surprised, but laughed, blushing. "Acting? How'd you guess? It's an old dream, but I'm stuck here counting cans of tuna. You're good with words, huh?"
"I do my best," replied Alaric, with a playful but elegant charm. "The valley's full of possibilities, Claire. Maybe you'll find your spotlight yet." He picked up some wheat seeds, keeping the conversation light.
Morris, the Joja manager, approached, his slicked-back hair and pristine blue suit oozing arrogance. "So, you're the farmer everyone's praising," he said, with a condescending tone. "Why waste time on a crumbling farm when Joja offers everything ready-made? Seems foolish."
Alaric raised an eyebrow, his smile intact, but his eyes gained a cold, almost otherworldly glint. "Everyone chooses their path, Morris," he said, his voice calm but heavy, making the air feel dense. "I prefer building something with my hands. Maybe you should try it, instead of digging shoddy holes."
Morris swallowed hard, laughing nervously. "No offense, friend. Just an opinion." He retreated quickly.
Claire stifled a laugh, looking at Alaric with admiration. "You left him speechless. That doesn't happen every day."
Alaric winked, resuming his charm. "Sometimes, a look says more than words. I'll be back for more seeds, Claire. And who knows, maybe I'll convince you to chase that dream."
She smiled, waving. "Good luck with the farm, Alaric!"
On the night of the fourth day, Alaric went to Gus's saloon, his favorite spot for lunch and dinner. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the aroma of chili and beer. Gus, with his full beard and stained apron, greeted him. "Back again, Alaric? Chili and beer?"
"And the pumpkin pie, Gus," said Alaric, sitting at the counter.
He noticed Leah and Emily at a table. Leah, with long brown hair and a green dress, exuded an artistic beauty, her green eyes sparkling with creativity. Emily, with short sky-blue hair and a colorful skirt, radiated eccentric energy. Alaric approached, carrying a fresh salad, enchanted with a subtle gesture of magic to enhance its flavor, made with ingredients from his farm.
"Leah, I heard you like salads," he said, offering the dish with a gallant smile. "A gift from a novice farmer."
Leah's eyes widened as she accepted the plate. "Wow, this looks amazing! How did you know? Thank you, Alaric. You're quite the gentleman."
Emily laughed, her blue eyes shining. "Watch out, Leah, he's dangerous with that charm! Alaric, ever thought about channeling your energy into art? Like, sculptures inspired by the valley?"
Alaric smiled, tilting his head. "An interesting idea, Emily. Maybe you can teach me to sculpt." His voice, smooth and magnetic, made them both laugh.
The night passed with Alaric at the saloon, drinking beer, swapping stories, and laughing with Gus, Leah, Emily, and other regulars like Shane, who listened quietly. Alaric shared adventures with a touch of mystery, charming everyone with his noble demeanor, without resorting to magic. He toasted with Leah and Emily, feeling, for the first time in years, truly at home.
End of Chapter 5