Five years had passed since the destruction of our village. Lina and I were now eleven years old, and our bodies had grown much taller. Today was September 12th in the Fatelis Year 2013. Only a few months remained before our departure.
My day usually began with waking up in the morning and preparing breakfast together with Lina. After that, I worked alongside the stone golems, directing them to bring water and feed to the livestock before sending them off to irrigate the farmlands.
Meanwhile, I handled the more delicate tasks—collecting eggs, milking the cows, and cleaning the pens.
When the stone golems had entered the barn or the chicken coop in the past, the animals were so frightened they all hid in the corners, and the cows had nearly broken through the fence.
Afterward, I headed to the farmlands, training while supervising the stone golems. The farmland looked the same as five years ago; I had not reduced its size.
I once put a piece of meat into the storage hole for 10 days to confirm whether time was truly frozen inside. The result proved it—when I took it out, the meat was as fresh as the day I stored it.
So I abandoned the idea of reducing the farmland and kept it as it was. After harvest, all vegetables were stored in the storage hole so we could enjoy fresh food during our travels. Having a surplus wasn't a problem.
Lina and I had studied derived elemental magic. Using the derived element of water and earth—biology and plant magic—we improved the quality of the farmland.
Biology magic enhanced the quality of the fertilizer, while plant magic raised both the quality and yield of the vegetables. Biology magic also improved the livestock's meat, ensuring our health.
I had stopped the operations of the oil-pressing house a year ago because the efficiency was too high—we had already produced enough oil to last many years.
After breakfast, Lina would wash the dishes, then do the laundry, dry the clothes, fold them, and place them neatly in the wardrobe.
Since we had more time now, I often prepared lunch together with her. Thanks to Lina's improved fertilizer, the vegetables had grown noticeably larger.
"Karen, are you going to the cave later?"
"Yes, because there are still many left."
"Karen, you must come home early today. Understand?"
Lina gave me a cold smile as a warning. I understood exactly what she meant, so I agreed.
"Got it."
After lunch, I went to the cave alone, torch in hand. I made my way inside and used magic to locate the ores.
I came here to mine from time to time. While reading Ancient Earth Elemental Magic, I found a magic called "Ore Detect", which could detect and identify all kinds of metals, with its detection range increasing by a hundred meters each year.
Only then did I understand where Henry(Allen) had gotten the money to buy so many books—he must have sold ores.
When I used this magic, I discovered that the cave contained a large amount of ore. So I mined them and later smelted them into metal ingots back in the village.
I mined with the belief that we would need these metals someday. I collected all kinds—iron, copper, silver, gold… This cave was a treasure trove.
By the time I finished mining and walked out, the sky had already grown dark.
"Oh no!"
Lina was probably almost done cooking dinner by now. I hurried back home at full speed—I didn't want her to be upset. There were times when I came home late, and she wouldn't speak to me during dinner.
But today, I absolutely had to be on time—for the sake of peace at home.
When I reached the house, panting heavily, I saw Lina placing the dishes on the table. I wasn't late.
(Yes! I did it!!!)
I stood at the door catching my breath, but inside, I was celebrating wildly. I had avoided a household crisis.
"Karen, you're back."
Lina noticed me. Judging from her good mood, I must have made it in time. I responded happily.
"Yeah, I'm home. I didn't come back late."
After Lina sat down, I washed my hands and joined her at the table. Then she said,
"Karen, happy birthday."
Yes—it was my birthday today. That was the reason I didn't want to be late. Birthdays didn't matter much to me; it was just another year added.
But the first year, when I told Lina she didn't need to celebrate for me, she got angry and made me take it seriously. I didn't want to upset her, so I agreed.
The second year, I lost track of time mining. When I came home, Lina glared at me, ate dinner in complete silence, and ignored me the entire next day.
I had never been so terrified. I had never seen someone sulk like that. Ever since then, I made sure to be home on time every year.
"Lina, thank you. Let's eat."
I looked at the dishes—beef meatballs, fries, boiled eggs, and cabbage soup.
The fries were something I had made for Lina before. With plenty of cooking oil and magically improved potatoes, the portion was generous.
I grabbed a fry and popped it into my mouth. The salt enhanced the flavor, making it irresistible.
For five years, no merchants had passed by. Back then, we feared we would run out of salt, and long-term salt deficiency could lead to illness.
While reading Ancient Water Elemental Magic, I found a magic called "Sea", which could produce seawater. Hope had appeared—we could now make our own salt.
Thanks to the storage magic, I tore down the warehouse and the nearby houses, creating a large stone slab. Then Lina conjured seawater, and as the sun evaporated the water, salt began to appear on the stone slab.
At this point, we had enough salt to last a lifetime.
I drank a spoonful of cabbage soup. It had no flavor. But over the past five years, Lina had mastered five dishes—shredded potatoes and radishes, steak, stir-fried bok choy, fried eggs, and fries.
Heaven rewarded her hard work; these five dishes actually tasted decent now.
But each dish took a full year to learn. Why was that?
Afterward, Lina and I finished everything on the table.
As we lay in bed, Lina suddenly asked me,
"Karen, do you have any wishes?"
I kept my eyes closed as I answered her.
"I hope our future will be smooth and peaceful."
"You say that every year."
"Because there's nothing else I really want right now."
I didn't have any urgent wishes to fulfill. At the moment, the most important thing was simply growing up well and staying alive.