The first villager arrived just after noon.
Then another.
Then five more.
By the time Rylan finished fixing a fence, half of Fermar Village was standing at the edge of his field like it was a festival.
They stared.
They whispered.
They pointed.
Lyra waved cheerfully.
"Hi!"
The villagers jumped.
"IT SPOKE."
"That's a human child," Rylan said calmly.
Old Man Dorrin squinted. "Then why did the forest go silent?"
Rylan shrugged. "Wind?"
"No wind does THAT," someone shouted.
The crops swayed gently.
Lyra leaned toward Rylan. "Do they always look like they're about to faint?"
"…Only when they're awake."
---
The Inspection
Village Chief Mara stepped forward.
"Rylan," she said carefully, "why are your crops glowing?"
"They're healthy."
"THEY'RE HUMMING."
"That happens sometimes."
Lyra nodded. "It's a comforting hum."
The chief pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Why is there a strange girl on your farm?"
Lyra raised her hand. "Hi, I fell from the sky."
Dead silence.
"…Of course you did," the chief muttered.
---
The Taste Test
Someone picked a tomato.
They bit it.
Their knees buckled.
"…This tastes like my childhood."
Another villager tried a carrot.
"I can see my ancestors."
Panic erupted.
"This is divine produce!"
"No, it's cursed!"
"Sell it!"
"Burn it!"
Rylan lifted a hand.
"Please don't burn my field."
Everyone froze.
"…Right. Sorry."
---
Lyra Makes It Worse
Lyra climbed onto a crate.
"ATTENTION EVERYONE!"
Rylan closed his eyes.
"This boy," she announced, pointing at him, "does not know how terrifyingly amazing he is."
Villagers gasped.
"He talks to plants."
"They listen."
"He trips and reality apologizes."
Rylan opened one eye.
"…Lyra."
She grinned. "I'm helping."
The glowing plant pulsed.
A villager fainted.
---
Absolute Calm
While chaos exploded around him, Rylan quietly picked up a basket and began harvesting.
Perfect cuts.
Perfect rhythm.
Calm breathing.
The villagers slowly noticed.
The shouting faded.
The air softened.
Someone whispered, "Why do I feel… peaceful?"
Lyra watched him.
Not shocked.
Not scared.
Just quiet.
"…You're really like this all the time?" she asked.
Rylan nodded. "The land works better when you're gentle."
The field glowed warmly.
Even the villagers relaxed.
---
Ending (Strong, Clean, Impactful)
As evening came, the villagers slowly left, still whispering legends already forming.
Lyra sat on the steps of the hut.
"You know," she said softly, "most people with power want to prove it."
Rylan sat beside her, not touching, just present.
"…I just want tomorrow to be peaceful."
She smiled.
"…That's scarier than any monster."
Fireflies rose.
The farm breathed.
And for the first time in a long while, Rylan wasn't alone — not because of power, not because of fate…
…but because someone chose to stay.