LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 22: Theory and practice
The tutorial for the seed store was very simple: on the translucent blue screen there was an endless list of available seeds, organized in order of unlock. You could check the price of the seeds next to their names, and the conditions for unlocking each plant were visible by selecting the padlock symbol over their image.
Apparently, in order to unlock the vast majority of crop varieties, it was necessary to level up Agriculture. Sete was currently at level 0, so she needed to plant seeds bought in the store and harvest their fruits.
Looking closely at the screen at her eye level, the young deity noticed that there were only three plant options available for purchase: [Orange], [Cherry Tomato] and [Mint]. Orange seeds cost 5 coins each, cherry tomatoes 2 coins and mint 1 coin.
Sete bought one orange seed, five cherry tomato seeds and five mint seeds.
A notification of a successful purchase appeared at the top of the store's screen, telling her that the seeds could be found in the pockets of the coat she was wearing.
Immediately, she put her hands in the two pockets on the side of the gray camouflage garment and felt that, indeed, the seeds were there. The other four people around the breakfast table noticed Sete's strange behavior, stopped eating and stood watching her discreetly.
The little deity stood up from her chair, analyzing the seeds in the palm of her pale hand. From each variety of seed came a translucent line, which guided her eyes to three different rectangular blue screens, indicating which plants they belonged to.
Sete knelt down in front of the bunker bed and stroked the grayish earth with her free hand, a notification appeared at her eye level: [Skill Agriculture lv. 0 has been activated]. The earth was covered in a greenish aura, which filled the air of the bunker with a floral and fruity scent. It wasn't long before the soil turned dark brown, almost black. Perfect.
Then, in the left-hand corner of the flower bed, Spring opened a small cradle with the fingertips of her free hand, where she deposited the orange seed. Next to it, some distance away, she dug five small holes for the cherry tomato seeds. And in the right-hand corner of the bed, she planted the mint.
Thomas, Kai, Ethan and Bianca: "..."
Now, with both hands free and dirty with soil, Sete spent a few seconds observing her work. Sighing with satisfaction, she remained kneeling, buried her fingers in the soil of the flower bed and began to use her powers. In the blink of an eye, small, greenish, shiny shoots erupted from the earth.
The mint was the first to be ready, a handful of creeping bushes that emanated a minty fresh scent. Then the cherry tomato plants grew to the height of a human's knees, small yellow flowers preceded the branches laden with small red fruits. Finally, the orange tree rose more than 1.5 meters from the ground, its branches happily covered with fragrant white flowers and healthy round oranges.
Sete stood up and clapped her hands to get rid of the dirt stuck to her fingers. Next, she picked two oranges and a handful of cherry tomatoes, also picking up a mint leaf to chew and experience the sweet refreshing taste of the herb.
When she turned to look at the heirs of the Deities in silence, there was confusion on her delicate face.
— Aren't you going to help yourselves? — The young deity asked, returning to sit at the table with part of her harvest.
Thomas, Ethan and Bianca: "..."
— I will! — Kai exclaimed, jumping up and running to the cherry tomato plants. He stuffed his cheeks with tomatoes, his eyes shining with the sweet invigorating taste. — Delicious!!
Thomas said nothing. He got up, picked an orange and went back to his place at the table. Resigned, he began to peel the fruit.
Ethan and Bianca looked at each other in confusion for a few seconds, watching the three of them eating the fruit. Ethan shrugged and got up to grab some cherry tomatoes, as well as some mint leaves to chew. Bianca followed soon after, still a little hesitant.
Nobody knew where the seeds came from, but they followed Thomas and Kai's example and didn't question it.
A chime sounded in Sete's mind and another translucent blue notification appeared at her eyes level: [Congratulations, your skill has gone up a level! Agriculture nvl. 1].
"It seems that the skill even counts what the heirs harvest, that's why it leveled up so quickly..." — Spring thought as she peeled one of her oranges.
"You're right! So, what did you think of the seed store?" — Vez's robotic voice sounded just as excited as Kai, only in an annoying way.
Sete didn't answer, but her satisfaction with the sweet orange juice was obvious.