Nyx Shadowbrook frowned as he looked at his farm. He didn't want to go into the city every day anymore. It seemed like a waste of time when he could be working on the land. Even hunting for herbs with his map and clones didn't seem worth it now. When he could make so much money from potions.
With a determined nod, he set off for Arcanum City. His first stop the Adventurers Guild.
"I'd like to propose a contract," Nyx said to the guild worker at the desk, trying to sound confident.
The worker raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What kind of contract?"
Nyx explained his plan: an E-rank transportation quest offering 5 gold for collecting boxes of potions from his farm. He would sell up to 300 potions per day to the guild at 8 gold each, leaving them a 2 gold profit per potion. The guild would also cover the 5 gold collection fee. If no potions were made on a given day, Nyx would pay the 5 gold fee himself.
After some talking, they agreed on a 60-day contract. The guild would hold the money for him in an account, allowing him to collect the money as needed.
Feeling brave, Nyx spent nearly 100 gold on posting E rank quests for various herbs needed for more valuable potions. Herbs that took longer to grow. He figured that each of his five one-acre plots could be broken down into smaller plots that would be fully harvested every week, creating a steady rotation of crops and income.
His next stop was a general store, where he ordered a distiller, other alchemical equipment, and a furnace for making glass bottles. Some of these were bought on credit, leaving Nyx with a small debt. But he was sure he could pay it all back and make money by the end of the month.
As he walked back to the farm, Nyx thought about how easy it was for mages to make money when they had an occupation. It explained why everything in the magic towers was so expensive, even for a family like his.
Back on the farm, Nyx decided to use his Enhanced Magical Sensitivity skill. As he scanned the area, his eyes widened. The baby Mana tree was glowing with a soft, pulsing light that he hadn't noticed before. Curious, he walked over to investigate.
Kneeling beside the small sapling, Nyx placed his hand on the ground near its roots. He could feel the faint thrum of magical energy being drawn to the roots. An idea struck him.
"I wonder what would happen if..." Nyx muttered to himself.
He closed his eyes and focused, drawing on his huge mana reserves. Slowly, carefully, he began to feed mana into the tree through its roots. At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then, suddenly, the tree's glow intensified.
Nyx opened his eyes and gasped. The sapling was growing right before his eyes! Its thin trunk stretched upward, branches sprouting and unfurling leaves in a matter of minutes. He called his clones over, and working together they poured more and more mana into the tree, watching in amazement as it shot up higher and higher.
By the time the sun set, the once tiny sapling stood an incredible eight feet tall. Nyx stumbled back, his jaw dropping in disbelief. "That... that should have taken years!" he exclaimed.
Eager to understand what had happened, Nyx used his Enhanced Magical Sensitivity again. This time, he could see the mana flowing through the tree like sap. It traveled up from the roots to the finger-sized branches at the top, then cycled back down to the base.
Fascinated, Nyx continued to feed mana into the tree, watching the cycle repeat over and over. He only stopped when the flow began to slow down, the tree seemingly unable to absorb any more.
As Nyx stood back to admire his work, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and wonder. He had just done something incredible, something that would normally take years to achieve. And it was all thanks to his massive mana reserves.
The next morning, Nyx was shocked to find that the plants in the surrounding the Mana tree's field had also grown a lot, as if they were on steroids. Deciding to be careful, he held off on feeding the tree any more mana for now. Instead, he took cuttings from the mana tree and planted them in his other four fields, repeating the mana-feeding process.
To anyone who didn't know better, these mana trees looked like ordinary eight feet tall oak trees. But Nyx knew they were the key to his farm's success.
Nyx's daily routine quickly fell into place, becoming a well-oiled machine of magical production. Each morning began with the arrival of deliveries raw materials for his operations.
As the sun peeked over the horizon, Nyx and his two clones would head out to tend the fields. Their mornings were busy with various tasks to keep the farm thriving.
First, they'd walk the rows of plants, eyes sharp for any unwanted weeds. With quick, practiced movements, they'd pluck out these intruders, making sure their magical herbs had all the space and nutrients they needed.
Next came pest control. Nyx had learned that even magical plants could fall victim to hungry bugs or small animals. They'd check each plant carefully, removing any pests they found and applying homemade, magic-infused repellents to protect their crops.
As they worked, they'd clear more land, slowly expanding their growing area. They'd spread fertilizer over newly prepared soil, its rich smell mixing with the earthy scent of their magical herbs. In some spots, they'd cover the ground with hay to keep moisture in and weeds out.
Taking cuttings was an important part of their morning routine. They'd carefully snip healthy stems from their best plants, placing these cuttings in small pots filled with special soil. These pots would go into their makeshift nursery, a sheltered area where the cuttings could grow roots and become new plants.
The most exciting part of the morning was harvesting. They'd gather the herbs and plants needed for brewing healing and recovery potions, their baskets filling with leaves, flowers, and roots of various colors and shapes.
Once harvested, they had to prepare the plants for use. Some they'd carry down to the cool root cellar, tying them in small bunches and hanging them upside down on twine lines to dry. Others they'd place in clean jars, labeling each one carefully.
For plants that needed to soak before use, they'd measure out precise amounts and place them in labeled buckets filled with water or special solutions. The buckets lined up neatly, each one part of a carefully planned brewing schedule.
As the morning wore on, Nyx and his clones would step back, surveying their work with satisfaction. The fields looked neat and healthy, the cellar was filling with drying herbs, and everything was ready for the afternoon's glass making. With a nod to each other, they'd head back to the farmhouse, ready for the next part of their busy day.
The glass-making process was a marvel to behold. Nyx and his clones gathered around the magical furnace, a complex device covered in glowing runes. One clone would shovel in a measured precise mixture of clay and sand, while another traced intricate magical patterns on the furnace's side, activating its power. Nyx stood ready to shape the molten glass as it emerged.
As the furnace hummed with magical energy, globs of glowing glass would pour out. With practiced hands, the shaping magic would mold them into perfect potion bottles. They created bottles in sets of ten, carefully placing each completed set on a nearby drying rack.
At first, this process was fraught with errors. Bottles would crack during shaping or shatter when placed on the racks. But as days passed and Nyx absorbed the memories and experiences of his clones each night, their technique improved dramatically. Within a week, they moved with the precision of a finely tuned clock.
While the new bottles cooled, Nyx and his clones would collect the previous day's batch. They'd wash each bottle thoroughly with fresh water, inspecting for any imperfections. Working together, they could produce almost 200 small potion bottles daily.
The afternoon was devoted to brewing potions. Initially, Nyx experimented with various recipes, resulting in many failed batches. Cauldrons would bubble over, potions would turn strange colors, and sometimes they'd even explode in small puffs of magical smoke.
But Nyx was a quick learner. He soon realized that focusing on high-demand potions specifically healing and recovery brews allowed him to refine his process. By the end of the week, he and his clones worked in perfect harmony, measuring ingredients, stirring at precise intervals, and bottling the finished products with expert care.
As evening approached, an adventurer hired by the guild would arrive. They'd bring an empty wooden box, and sometimes herbs that were collected from the E ranked missions Nyx had posted, and leave with a wooden box full of freshly brewed potions. Nyx would watch them go, a sense of pride swelling in his chest at another successful day's work.
The days flew by in this blur of activity. Nyx often found himself losing track of time, so engrossed was he in the rhythm of production. But with each passing day, his skills grew, his output increased, and his dream of success inched closer to reality.
At the end of the week, he returned to the Adventurers Guild to check on his account. As the worker showed him his balance, Nyx's jaw dropped.
"This... this can't be right," he stammered, staring at the number before him.
The worker double-checked the figures showing Nyx the ledger. "No, it's correct. Your account balance is 3,420 gold pieces."
Nyx's mind reeled. In just one week, he had made more money than he had in his entire life up to this point. But he quickly pulled himself together, knowing he had to make smart decisions with this windfall.
"I'd like to post some new quests," Nyx said, his voice steady despite his excitement. "100 gold worth of E and D rank quests, please."
The worker nodded, processing his request. Next, Nyx settled his debts, paying off what he owed to the general store and the full amount of the loan at the bank of 2,400 gold. It felt good to be free of those obligations.
With his debts cleared, Nyx made his way to the land office. "I'd like to purchase an additional five acres," he announced, "preferably next to my current property." He produced his deed and handed it over to the clerk. The clerk looked on a shelf and pulled out a ledger.
The clerk raised an eyebrow but quickly found a suitable plot. After some negotiation, they settled on 150 gold per acre. Nyx became the proud owner of five new acres of land. With the stroke of a pen, and 750 gold he had doubled the size of his small farm.
Finally, Nyx returned to the bank, depositing the rest of his earnings 80 gold. As he left, he couldn't help but feel proud and accomplished. In just one week, he had expanded his business, cleared his debts, and still had savings left over.
As he walked back to his now-larger farm, Nyx took a moment to check his status:
Level: 11
HP: 270
MP: 2,700
Strength: 19
Vitality: 23
Agility: 22
Intelligence: 55
Ability: Mental Clone (Level 7)
- Create up to seven mental clones during meditation
- Increases mana regeneration rate by 30% per active clone
Ability: Physical Clone (Level 3)
- Create up to three physical clones
- Divides current mana pool when active
Skill: Mana Meditation (Level 8)
- Increases mana regeneration rate by 40% while meditating
Skill: Enhanced Magical Sensitivity (Level 7)
- Masterfully increases ability to detect and analyze magical energies
Skill: Advanced Herbalism (Level 6)
- Grandmaster-level knowledge of herb identification, gathering, and cultivation techniques
Skill: Advanced Alchemy (Level 5)
- Master-level understanding of alchemical principles and complex potion brewing
Skill: Advanced Farming (Level 4)
- Expert knowledge of crop cultivation, land management, and magical agriculture
Skill: Basic Business Management (Level 2)
- Improved understanding of business operations, contracts, and financial management
The new numbers filled Nyx with a sense of pride and accomplishment. He had come so far in such a short time. But as he looked ahead to his expanded farm, he knew this was just the beginning of his journey.
His eyes lingered on the newly upgraded ability:
Physical Clone (Level 3)
Create up to three physical clonesDivides current mana pool when active
Nyx blinked, realizing that this incredible advancement didn't shock him anymore. He scratched his head, wondering, "Is there something wrong with me?"
After all, this was the most amazing thing he had ever seen in his life. Creating three physical copies of himself? It was unheard of, the stuff of fiction. Yet somehow, he found himself more excited about the practical aspects.
"Three clones," he muttered, looking out over the newly acquired land. "That means four pairs of hands to work the soil, tend the plants, brew potions..."
A grin spread across his face as he imagined how much easier farm work would be with an additional helper. The expanded land, which might have seemed daunting before, now felt like an exciting challenge.
Nyx chuckled to himself. Here he was, with an ability that most mages could only dream of, and all he could think about was how it would help him work in the dirt. But maybe that was okay. Maybe it meant he was growing in more ways than just magical power.
He was becoming practical, focused on results rather than just the flashy magic. And wasn't that what he had always struggled with at the academy? Seeing the real-world applications of magic?
"Well," Nyx said to himself, rolling up his sleeves, "time to put these new abilities to good use. This farm isn't going to run itself!"