The morning light filters through the cabin windows, soft and golden. I stretch and climb out of bed, running through my usual morning routine—washing up, getting dressed, and heading to the kitchen.
Donny waddles in behind me, already eyeing the countertop expectantly.
[Wright] "Alright, alright. Breakfast first."
I pull out some Emberbread, bacon, and fresh fruit from Storage. The bacon sizzles in the pan, filling the cabin with a savory aroma. I slice the fruit and toast the bread, assembling a simple but satisfying meal.
As I set Donny's portion on the floor, I glance at the spread and think aloud.
[Wright] "You know what would make this perfect? Eggs."
Donny looks up at me and churrs, tilting his head.
[Wright] "You remember the full English breakfast we had? Fried eggs are a breakfast staple."
He churrs again, this time with what sounds like agreement, then digs into his food with enthusiasm.
I finish my breakfast quickly, clean up, and head for the door.
[Wright] "Come on, buddy. Big day today."
---
When we reach the clearing near the barracks, all the high elves are already gathered and waiting.
Even Vesper is there, though she's leaning heavily against one of the posts with her eyes half-closed.
[Vesper] "Why... is it so early..."
[Nym] "Because we have work to do, Vesper."
[Vesper] "Work can wait... until after noon..."
Nym sighs but doesn't argue further.
Rhevan stands with his hunting team, looking alert and ready despite the early hour. Liora is organizing supplies, and Kara is inspecting the cooling crates we prepared yesterday.
[Wright] "Morning, everyone. Thanks for getting up early."
Liora smiles.
[Liora] "We're ready when you are."
[Rhevan] "We've got plenty of meat stored, so my hunters will be helping with the harvest today."
[Wright] "Perfect. Let's get started."
Liora steps forward, addressing the group.
[Liora] "We'll start with the root vegetables and work our way through each section. With everyone pitching in, we'll be able to harvest everything quickly."
[Wright] "Sounds good. Lead the way."
The group moves toward the field as the morning sun climbs higher.
---
First up are the Root Tubers.
Liora demonstrates the proper technique, kneeling beside one of the plants. She uses a small spade to loosen the soil around the base, then carefully grips the stem near the soil line.
[Liora] "Pull straight up with steady pressure. Don't yank, or you'll tear the root."
The tuber comes free cleanly, dense and starchy, with minimal dirt clinging to it. She places it in a nearby basket lined with cloth.
[Liora] "See? Simple, but you need to be gentle."
I kneel down next to another plant and try to replicate her technique. The spade sinks into the soil easily, and I loosen the earth around the tuber before pulling.
It comes up smoothly.
[Wright] "Not bad."
[Liora] "You're a natural."
The high elves spread out across the section, working in pairs. The rhythm of the work is almost meditative—dig, loosen, pull, place. Dig, loosen, pull, place.
I settle into the pattern, working alongside a quiet high elf who nods at me but doesn't speak. We fill basket after basket, the tubers piling up steadily.
After a while, my shoulders start to ache from the repetitive motion, but I push through. The high elves show no signs of slowing down.
[Wright] "How long do these store?"
[Liora] "Weeks, if kept cool and dry. They're one of the most reliable crops for long-term storage."
[Wright] "Good to know."
We continue through the Root Tuber section until every plant has been harvested, the baskets lined up and ready for transport.
---
Next, we move to the Carrotroot section.
The Carrotroot plants have bright green tops that stick up prominently from the soil. Liora shows us how to grip the greens near the base and pull straight up with a firm, steady motion.
[Liora] "If you pull at an angle, the root might snap underground. Keep it vertical."
I try it myself, gripping the greens carefully and pulling upward. The Carrotroot resists for a moment, then suddenly gives way. I stumble backward slightly, the root in my hand.
[Wright] "That was more resistance than I expected."
[Rhevan] "The soil's packed tight here. Good for the roots, harder for us."
Rhevan demonstrates a technique where he rocks the greens gently side to side before pulling, loosening the root's grip on the soil. I try it on the next one, and it comes up much easier.
[Wright] "That's way better."
[Rhevan] "Hunting teaches you patience. Same applies here."
We work through the rows together, and Rhevan tells me about tracking prey through the forest. It's surprisingly similar to harvesting—knowing when to push, when to ease off, reading the signs.
The Carrotroot comes up cleanly, long and orange and vibrant. They're bundled separately from the tubers and loaded onto a cart that Kara has brought over.
[Kara] "These look incredible. Barely any damage."
[Rhevan] "Wright's a quick learner."
I feel a small swell of pride at that.
---
The Wild Onion section is next, and the strong, pungent aroma hits me as soon as we approach.
My eyes start watering almost immediately.
[Wright] "Wow. That's... intense."
Nym, working nearby, laughs.
[Nym] "You get used to it. Eventually."
[Wright] "When's eventually?"
[Nym] "Maybe never."
Liora kneels and demonstrates how to loosen the soil around the bulb before pulling it free. The onion comes up easily, its papery outer skin surprisingly clean.
[Liora] "These don't need to be washed yet. The outer layers protect them during storage."
I help pull onions, blinking back tears. The smell is overwhelming, and I have to step away twice just to catch my breath. The high elves, meanwhile, seem completely unbothered.
[Wright] "Do we replant these, or are they one and done?"
[Liora] "One harvest per bulb, but they grow quickly. We can plant more in the next cycle."
Vesper walks past carrying a crate of onions and sees me wiping my eyes.
[Vesper] "First time harvesting onions?"
[Wright] "Is it that obvious?"
[Vesper] "You look like you're crying."
[Wright] "I am crying."
She laughs and continues on her way.
Despite the tears, we make good progress. The onions are gathered into crates, their strong scent lingering in the air long after we move on.
---
We move to the Spiceleaf Plant section next.
These plants have broad, dark green leaves with a distinct peppery aroma. Liora shows us how to harvest by pinching off the mature outer leaves while leaving the younger inner growth intact.
[Liora] "We can get multiple harvests from these if we leave the core. Only take what's ready."
I examine one of the plants, identifying the larger outer leaves. I pinch one off near the base, and the leaf comes away cleanly.
The peppery scent is sharp and pleasant, completely different from the onions. I take a moment to appreciate the change.
[Wright] "So we'll be able to harvest these again later?"
[Liora] "Exactly. In a few weeks, the inner leaves will mature, and we can harvest again."
As we work, I notice the high elves are being very selective, carefully choosing which leaves to take and which to leave. I try to match their precision, but I'm clearly slower.
One of the younger elves notices me struggling to decide which leaves are ready.
[Young High Elf] "The outer leaves will be darker and larger. See? These inner ones are still pale green."
[Wright] "Ah, I see it now. Thanks."
[Young High Elf] "No problem. It takes practice."
We work carefully through the section, selecting only the ready leaves and leaving the rest to grow. The leaves are bundled in small clusters and packed loosely to avoid bruising.
I take a leaf and smell it. The peppery scent is strong and invigorating.
---
By mid-morning, we've finished the root vegetables and leafy plants.
Liora calls for a short break. The high elves sit in the grass, drinking water and catching their breath. I notice a group breaking off from the main crew and heading toward the clearing.
I sit down, enjoying the cool breeze against my skin. The water tastes especially refreshing after the morning's work.
After the break, we head to the Golden Grapples.
The small golden fruits grow in clusters on low bushes, each berry about the size of a cherry. They smell faintly of honey, and their delicate skins mean we need to be careful.
Liora shows us how to use small shears to clip the stems, keeping the clusters intact.
[Liora] "Don't pull the fruit directly. Cut the stem, or you'll bruise them."
I take a pair of shears and carefully clip a cluster free. The fruits are soft and delicate in my hand, and I place them gently into a padded basket.
[Wright] "These are fragile."
[Liora] "They are. But they make excellent jams. Sweet with just a hint of honey flavor."
The high elves work slowly and carefully through the Golden Grapples section. It's meticulous work, and the baskets fill much more slowly than with the root vegetables.
Rhevan samples one of the fruits and grins.
[Rhevan] "These are delicious."
[Liora] "Focus, Rhevan."
He laughs but gets back to work.
---
Next, we move to the Sunfall Fruit section.
The Sunfall Fruits are larger, with bright red skin and a crisp texture. They hang from sturdy branches, and Liora demonstrates how to twist them gently to detach them from the stem.
[Liora] "Don't pull straight down, or you'll damage the branch. Twist and lift."
I try it, gripping a Sunfall Fruit and giving it a gentle twist. It comes free easily, the skin smooth and unblemished.
[Wright] "These are beautiful."
One of the high elves bites into a Sunfall Fruit and juice dribbles down her chin. She grins sheepishly.
[High Elf] "Sorry, couldn't help it."
[Liora] "Just one. We need the rest for distribution."
The harvesting goes faster here than with the Golden Grapples. The fruits are sturdier, and the branches can handle more aggressive handling. Still, we're careful not to bruise them.
Rhevan works alongside me, plucking fruit after fruit with practiced ease.
[Rhevan] "These remind me of the wild fruits we used to gather before settling here. Not quite the same, but close."
[Wright] "You used to be nomadic?"
[Rhevan] "Yes, we high elves typically move from one place to the next as we like to hunt high-level monsters. Once those are gone, we tend to move on. We've only been settled in this forest for about a century."
[Wright] "That's a long time."
[Rhevan] "For high elves? It's practically yesterday."
I laugh, continuing to harvest. The conversation makes the work go faster, and before I know it, we've cleared the entire Sunfall Fruit section.
---
By midday, the sun is high overhead, and everyone is starting to feel the strain.
Liora calls for a lunch break, and we head back to the clearing.
The smell of cooking meat and fresh bread fills the air. The high elves have set up a proper meal—grilled meat seasoned with Spiceleaf, roasted Root Tubers, Emberbread, and sliced Sunfall Fruit.
Everyone sits in the grass, eating eagerly. The food tastes even better after a morning of hard work.
---
After lunch, we move to the Wild Strawberry section.
The strawberry plants are low to the ground, their bright red berries peeking out from under broad green leaves. Unlike the previous fruits, these require us to crouch or kneel, and my knees start protesting almost immediately.
Liora demonstrates how to pinch the stem just above the berry.
[Liora] "Don't pull the plant up. Just pinch the stem."
The berries come free easily, small but incredibly sweet. I try one myself, and the flavor bursts on my tongue.
[Wright] "These are amazing."
[Liora] "They are. But they don't last long. We'll need to eat or preserve these quickly."
The position is uncomfortable, and I find myself shifting from kneeling to sitting to squatting, trying to find something that doesn't make my legs ache. The high elves, naturally flexible, seem unbothered.
[Wright] "How are you all not dying from this?"
One of the younger elves laughs.
[Young High Elf] "We're used to foraging. You spend a lot of time bent over when you're gathering herbs and berries."
[Wright] "I have a new respect for farmers."
The work is tedious, each berry requiring individual attention. But slowly, steadily, the crates fill with bright red berries, their sweet aroma filling the air.
My back is screaming by the time we finish, but I manage to stand without groaning. Barely.
---
Next, we move to the Citruspear section.
The Citruspear fruits are larger, with thick, bright yellow rinds. They hang from sturdy branches, and Liora shows us how to cut the stems with shears, leaving a small portion attached to the fruit.
[Liora] "The rind protects them well. They'll store longer than most of the other fruits."
I cut a Citruspear free and examine it. The fruit is heavy and aromatic, its tangy scent sharp and refreshing.
[Wright] "What are these used for?"
[Liora] "Juice, zest, preserves. They're high in vitamins too."
As we work, one of the high elves accidentally drops a Citruspear. It hits the ground and splits open, spraying tangy juice everywhere. The high elf winces.
[High Elf] "Sorry!"
[Liora] "It happens. Just be more careful."
The scent of Citruspear fills the air, sharp and citrusy. It's actually quite pleasant, and some of the high elves start peeling and eating the damaged fruit rather than letting it go to waste.
I grab one of the split fruits and try a piece. The flesh is bright and tangy, almost sour, but refreshing after the day's work.
[Wright] "This would make great juice."
[Rhevan] "Mix it with some of that Sunfall Fruit and you'd have something incredible."
The work goes smoothly, and the crates fill steadily. By the time we finish, the sun is noticeably lower in the sky.
---
Finally, we reach the Silverwheat section.
The wheat stalks stand tall and golden, swaying gently in the breeze. This section is massive, covering a significant portion of the field.
Liora picks up a sickle and demonstrates the harvesting technique.
[Liora] "Cut low, near the base of the stalk. We want as much of the grain as possible."
I take a sickle and try it myself. The blade slices through the stalk cleanly, and I gather the wheat into my arms.
[Liora] "Good. Now bundle them and tie them with twine."
The high elves spread out across the Silverwheat section, cutting and bundling with practiced efficiency. It's hard, repetitive work, and the sun beats down on us as we labor.
I work alongside them, cutting stalk after stalk. My arms start to ache from the constant motion, my shoulders burning from the weight of each bundle. Even with my high stats, there's wear and tear from the repetitive movements.
Still though, it's an oddly good feeling. I let the sensation of sore muscles sink in, savoring it. This has been a day of many firsts for me—the rhythm of harvesting, the weight of honest labor, the tiredness that comes from working the land.
It's all so new.
The bundles pile up quickly, stacked in designated areas for threshing later.
[Rhevan] "This is going to make a lot of bread."
[Liora] "Enough to feed thousands."
The work continues into the evening, the golden light of sunset casting long shadows across the field.
---
By the time Liora finally calls for a stop, the sky is turning purple and orange.
We've harvested most of the Silverwheat, but there's still a section left for tomorrow morning.
The high elves are exhausted, their faces flushed and their clothes covered in dirt and chaff.
[Liora] "Good work, everyone. We'll finish the rest tomorrow morning, then move on to cleanup and processing."
[Wright] "Let's get some food and rest. You all earned it."
The group trudges back toward the clearing, tired but satisfied.
A different group of high elves has already started preparing dinner. I can see them working over multiple fire pits, grilling fresh meat that Rhevan's hunters brought in yesterday. They're also roasting vegetables and warming Emberbread.
By the time we arrive, the food is nearly ready. The smell makes my stomach growl.
We sit in the grass, and the cooking team brings out the food. There's grilled venison, roasted Carrotroot, fresh Wild Onion soup, and plenty of Emberbread. Some of the Golden Grapples have been turned into a quick jam, which pairs perfectly with the bread.
Everyone eats hungrily, their energy slowly returning as they refuel.
[Nym] "I didn't think harvesting would be this exhausting."
[Wright] "You all did incredible work today."
I pause, looking around at the tired but satisfied faces.
[Wright] "I mean it. The farming was my idea, but I didn't know the first thing about actually doing it. I didn't know how to harvest, what techniques to use, which crops need what care. Without all of you—without Liora organizing everything and teaching me every step—this would have been impossible."
I turn to Liora specifically.
[Wright] "You decided where to plant each crop, how to space them, when to harvest, how to handle each one properly. You made this work. I'm truly grateful."
Liora looks genuinely surprised, her cheeks flushing slightly. For a moment, she seems at a loss for words.
[Liora] "I... thank you, Wright. But we're all in this together."
She glances around at the other high elves.
[Liora] "It's honest work. And we're feeding people who need it. That's what matters."
The conversation continues into the night, the high elves sharing stories and jokes as they relax around the fire.
Vesper sits nearby, poking at her food with a disappointed expression.
[Vesper] "We didn't finish."
[Wright] "We made incredible progress. Tomorrow morning we'll wrap up the Silverwheat."
[Vesper] "But I wanted to see your cabin today. The solar panels, the refrigerator, all those artifacts..."
She sighs dramatically.
[Vesper] "Now I have to wait another whole day."
[Nym] "You'll survive, Vesper."
[Vesper] "Barely."
I can't help but smile at her enthusiasm.
[Wright] "Tell you what. Once we finish the harvest tomorrow and get everything sorted for processing, you can come by. Deal?"
Vesper perks up immediately.
[Vesper] "Deal! I'll work extra hard tomorrow to make sure we finish early!"
[Nym] "You said that this morning too."
[Vesper] "This time I mean it!"
The group laughs, and Vesper grins sheepishly but doesn't argue. The sound of their laughter carries into the night, warm and genuine, a perfect end to a long day's work.