The walk through the wheat fields took longer than Logan expected. Terra flew ahead of him, occasionally circling back to make sure he was keeping up, while he tried to take in everything around him.
The world of Florencia was beautiful in a way that no game graphics could ever capture. Every blade of grass felt intentional, every breeze carried the scent of earth, and the warmth of the sun on his shoulders felt like a promise of good things to come.
"So how does this whole SSS rank thing actually work?" Logan asked as they walked. "I mean, I get that it's supposed to be rare or powerful or whatever, but what does that mean in practical terms?"
Terra landed on his shoulder, using his collar as a seat. "Think of it like this. Most farmers in Florencia are ranked F to C."
"They can grow normal crops, raise regular animals, and make a decent living if they work hard. B and A rank farmers are considered exceptional. They might be able to coax better yields from difficult soil or grow crops that normally wouldn't survive in their region."
She paused, adjusting her tiny straw hat. "Then there are S rank farmers, which are extremely rare. They can do things that seem almost magical."
"Better growth rates, higher quality produce, that sort of thing. SS rank is practically a legend. There might be one or two in the entire world."
"And SSS?" Logan prompted.
"There's never been one before you," Terra said simply. "Your rank means you can break the normal rules of farming entirely."
"You're not limited by soil quality, climate, or even the natural laws of what can and cannot grow. If you can imagine it and put in the work, you can make it happen."
Logan felt a thrill run through him at her words, but also a weight of responsibility. "That sounds like a lot of pressure."
"It is," Terra agreed. "But it's also an incredible gift. Just don't let it go to your head. Power without wisdom is just a recipe for disaster."
They crested a small hill, and Terra pointed ahead. "There it is. Your new home."
Logan's excitement faltered as he got his first look at the farm. The cottage that would apparently be his was small and weathered, with a roof that sagged in the middle and windows so grimy they looked almost opaque.
The wooden fence that surrounded the property was broken in several places, and what should have been fields ready for planting were instead overrun with weeds that came up to his knees. There was an old barn that leaned precariously to one side, its doors hanging off their hinges.
A well sat in the middle of the yard, but the bucket and rope were nowhere to be seen. Even the dirt path leading up to the cottage was barely visible under the overgrowth.
"This is it?" Logan said, unable to keep the disappointment out of his voice. "This is my farm?"
Terra flew off his shoulder and hovered in front of him, blocking his view of the dilapidated property. "I know it doesn't look like much right now."
"The previous owner passed away about six months ago, and the place has been abandoned ever since. But that's exactly why you're here, Logan."
"This is your chance to build something from nothing. To take what's broken and make it whole again."
Logan walked closer, his boots crunching on the overgrown path. Up close, the cottage looked even worse. The front door hung at an angle, and he could see gaps in the walls where the wood had rotted through.
"I don't even know where to start," he admitted. "I played farming games, sure, but I've never actually farmed anything in real life. I can barely keep a houseplant alive."
"That's where I come in," Terra said, flying to hover beside his head. "And that's where your SSS rank makes all the difference. Watch this."
She raised one tiny hand, and suddenly Logan's vision was filled with glowing text again. But this time, instead of just words, he saw what looked like a detailed overlay of the entire farm. Sections were highlighted in different colors, with notes and suggestions appearing wherever he looked.
[Farm Analysis Complete]
[Current Condition: Abandoned]
[Recommended Action: Restoration and Cultivation]
[SSS Ability Available: Rapid Growth]
[SSS Ability Available: Soil Restoration]
[SSS Ability Available: Structural Repair]
"These are your inherent abilities," Terra explained.
"They'll grow stronger as you gain experience, but even now, you can do things that would take a normal farmer months or even years. Try focusing on the soil in that field over there."
Logan looked at the weed-choked field she indicated. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do, but he concentrated on it anyway, trying to imagine what healthy soil should look like. To his surprise, he felt something respond deep in his chest, like a warm current of energy flowing through him.
The ground began to glow with a soft golden light. The weeds shriveled and dissolved, their nutrients being absorbed back into the earth.
The soil itself seemed to churn and shift, dark and rich and ready for planting. Within minutes, what had been a disaster of a field was now pristine farmland, perfectly tilled and waiting for seeds.
"Holy crap," Logan breathed, staring at his hands in amazement. "I actually did that."
"That's just the beginning," Terra said, clearly pleased with his progress. "Now try the cottage. Focus on what it should be, not what it is."
Logan turned his attention to the sad little building. He pictured it the way it might have looked when it was new. Solid walls, a straight roof, clean windows that let in plenty of light. The energy flowed through him again, stronger this time, and the cottage began to transform.
Wood straightened and reinforced itself. The roof tiles settled into perfect alignment. The door repaired itself and hung true on new hinges. Windows cleared until they sparkled in the sunlight. Even the stone chimney seemed to stand a little taller, no longer listing to one side.
Logan felt the energy drain from him as the transformation completed, leaving him slightly dizzy but exhilarated.
"This is incredible," he said, watching as the barn underwent a similar restoration without him even consciously directing it. Apparently his SSS abilities knew what needed to be done.
"You're a natural," Terra said, and she actually sounded impressed. "Most new farmers would need days of practice just to restore a single fence post. You just renovated an entire property in less than an hour."
Logan was about to respond when he heard a gasp from behind him. He turned to find a young woman standing at the edge of his property, her mouth open in shock.
She had long blonde hair tied back with a simple ribbon, and she wore a plain dress that marked her as someone from the nearby village. In her hands was a basket that she had apparently dropped, sending apples rolling across the ground.
"The Thornwood farm," she whispered, her blue eyes wide as she took in the transformed property. "But this is impossible."
"This place has been a ruin for months. How did you..."
She trailed off, her gaze finally landing on Logan. He suddenly became very aware that he probably looked as out of place as he felt, standing in front of a miraculously restored farm with a pixie floating beside his head.
Terra cleared her throat delicately. "Well, Logan, looks like you've got your first visitor. Better make a good impression."
"Something tells me life on this farm is about to get a lot more interesting."
The girl continued to stare, her shock slowly transforming into something that looked like curiosity mixed with disbelief. Logan raised a hand in an awkward wave, suddenly wishing he had any idea what he was supposed to say.
He had just performed what probably looked like a miracle, and he had a feeling that word was going to spread fast. His peaceful farming life was already becoming complicated, and he had not even planted his first crop yet.