Farming For Gold

"Well look who"s back?" Said a sneering voice from a few rows up. Winston looked up to see Matt looking at him from a few rows up. Matt was a snot. He wasn"t really a popular kid but was more of a hanger-on. His parents were well-off but had more ambition than real money or power. Matt and his parents were all ladder climbers and Matt was a grade A a.s.shole. "I heard you got punched out at lunch because someone thought you were hitting on Jessica Richards." He snorted derisively. "Like that would ever happen."

Winston didn"t even know what to say to that. Of course Matt was right but what was there to tease him about? The entire thing was a stupid misunderstanding but he wouldn"t date Jessica even if he had the chance. She was hot but too d.a.m.n sneaky for his tastes. Not to mention he was pretty sure she"d already slept with Josh. That was just weird and icky.

"Shut up Matt." Jason said as he walked by Matt"s desk to slide into his own seat. He gave the words such a level of annoyed contempt that Matt snapped his mouth shut. Winston laughed and got a glare in return.

"Mr. Masterson late again I see please try to be more polite to your cla.s.smates." Miss Funklestein said from behind her desk.

"Sorry Miss F. I just felt that it was my civic duty to stop him from continuing to speak. His childish attempts to bully others in order to bolster his own poor self-image is ultimately a path of self destruction. I felt that by intervening I could both save a student from bullying as well as give another student a chance at self-improvement." Jason said as he looked at the teacher with righteous dignity.

"Both eloquent and well-reasoned. Unfortunately, we both know it"s a bunch of c.r.a.p." The teacher said sternly, but her eyes were smiling. "You were just defending your friend, which, although admirable, doesn"t get you off the hook for being late. It"s not even October yet and you"ve been late eleven times. So… you can see me after school. "

Jason let out a long exaggerated sigh. "Although this is clearly an abuse of authority, I, as a humble student, can only comply." Jason turned back towards Winston as the teacher started to rub her temples. He had a wide grin.

"Well, look who"s finally back in school… Have fun lounging around at home and playing Otherworld?" He asked.

"I guess… playing isn"t really the right word though. It"s more like working." Winston said honestly. Other world had been 99 percent back-breaking work and 1% fun so far. Still his body was feeling better and he had more energy so he"d obviously needed the workout.

Jason looked a bit jealous. "Man I wish I could play… Everyone else is."

"Well, you could talk to Jessica"s brother and sign yourself into slavery like I did. He"s a pretty good guy he could probably deal. Although if your wanting to actually play you"d be out of luck. It"s a lot of work." Winston said.

"I"ll think about it I guess." Jason said, sounding unconvinced.

"If I start making good money, I"ll hire you." Winston said with a grin. Jason rolled his eyes. Winston felt for his friend but he"d been in the same boat previously. Jason would have to make his own choices and solve his own problems.

The morning pa.s.sed swiftly and Winston realized he was happy to be back. School was boring and in his mind, mostly useless, but it was familiar and his friends were here. His friends found him at his normal spot during lunch, but Winston was staring at the table with rapt attention.

"What are you doing?" Brad asked as he sat down across from Winston.

"Seeing if my head left a dent. I think it did…. That"s… messed up." Winston said as he looked down at the table. There was a tiny concave dimple in the formica tabletop. It was nearly invisible but it was definitely there.

Brad looked at him sadly as his friend stared down at the table. "Did they really hit your head that hard?" Brad said in his normal dry tones

Winston looked up and scowled at him. "Har har…." Brad smiled.

The others quickly joined them and soon the table was filled with the clinking of silverware and the chatter of high schoolers. Trish slid onto the bench next to him and b.u.mped him with an elbow. He frowned at her and rubbed the spot.

"Finally back from the dead." She said with a dimpled grin. It was a good look for her and Vincent couldn"t help but smile back. Their smiles lingered as their eyes met and the moment stretched out. Then Jason started to hum the start of Let"s Get It On while Ruger picked up the vocals in his deep rumbling voice.

The moment broke and Winston scowled while Trish flipped Jason and Ruger the bird. Trish glared at them for a moment then turned her attention back to Winston.

"So Mr. "I spend all my time in Otherworld and don"t talk to my friends" How"s the gaming been going?" Trish asked as he stuck a fork of green beans in her mouth.

"Unlocked a race-locked farming cla.s.s, got kidnapped by orcs, resurrected a lost G.o.ddess, got ganked by the Crimsun"s, got to watch the Silver Sword paste them, met a gnome who uses trained trolls for a trucking company..." Winston shrugged. "Normal game stuff I guess." Keeping his face straight was hard but he managed.

The table went silent for three long breaths then everyone spoke at once.

"WHAT THE h.e.l.l!"

"COMMON!"

"THE SILVER F-ING SWORD"

"HOW IS THAT FARMING?!"

"Wait… wait… WAIT! Shut up you guys!" Jason finally managed to shout the others down. He turned wild eyes on Winston. "You got to see Silver Sword Therion fight?" Jason asked incredulously. "I thought the swords kicked him out after his big social media blow-up."

"I think they did. He"s babysitting the farmers and gathers for one of their feeder guilds now." Winston said. "He always just hid in the keep and didn"t say much. I didn"t put it together until the s.h.i.t hit the fan and he killed the first Crimsun.." Winston said. "He just waved his sword and they all died. I didn"t know Therion was the Silver Sword."

Trish spoke up. "Yeah, even the experts have never figured out what skill he actually uses for that. Apparently it"s some sword-fighting style but no-one knows if he made it up himself or learned it from some secret quest or NPC…. But you got a race-locked cla.s.s? Those are rare and a race locked farming cla.s.s? There are likely less than 5 players with one of those. You"d make a pretty hot commodity to a guild. What cla.s.s are you?"

"A Yawnshu GroveTender. It"s a production cla.s.s so I get XP from farming now instead of monsters like most of the production cla.s.ses but I get big bonuses to faith as well. First active skill is a AOE blessing that increases crop yield." Winston said.

Brad"s eyes widened. "Is that level 1? Good lord. My guild would pay you just to cast that over the alchemy plants we"re growing. "You could make bank."

"Can"t actually. Contractual obligation. I can"t enter any agreement with any guild for three months after my contract expires with the swords. Which means I"m basically required to sell everything I grow on the open market until then. I suppose I could give the blessing away for free, but that would be stupid." Winston mused.

"You got ripped off." Ruger said.

"I tried to tell him." Trish said. "But he was too distracted by tight jeans." Winston rolled his eyes.

"I"m not a moron. I know she was using me. h.e.l.l, her brother basically told me it was a c.r.a.p deal and I shouldn"t take it. It just fit my needs." Winston said. "Besides if you ever took that sweatshirt off you could complete." Winston said absently as he took another bite of his lunch.

He turned and saw everyone at the table looking at him. Jason and the guys were grinning while Trish was blushing. Winston started to blush too but decided to brazen it out. "I mean, alright, Jessica is basically the stereotypical American cheerleader. She"s blonde, athletic, and has an incredible body. She"s also also manipulative, haughey, and thinks her looks will let her skate through any trouble her scheming gets her into. You on the other hand are more girl next door. You"re way more approachable, a better person and have better curves than she does if you"d stop covering yourself up so much." Winston said honestly. His face turned crimson as he finished but he forced himself to meet Trish"s eyes.

She had a lopsided grin and was shaking her head. "Maybe your not such a moron." She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek before she scooped up her lunch-tray and fled. Winston rubbed his cheek absently as he looked after her. He turned his head back to his friends. Jason was clapping softly, Ruger gave him a thumbs up, Brad, as usual, looked faintly amused. Winston flipped them off again but couldn"t stop smiling.

After spending the week repairing his fields and farming. Winston had leveled up again to four and gotten his farm situation under control. When he got home from school friday he found himself in the enviable position of not having much to do. He"d already farmed nearly 24 bushels of crops and he still had 6 full days to complete his guild quest. He needed to give three to the orcs tomorrow but that left him more than enough room to sell some off.

He still had all the seeds he"d brought from town and Troll-logistics still owed him 1,000 coins from the sale of his items. Mind made up he went to the newly rebuild storage shed and stuffed three bushels of wheat into his pack. It made the thing so heavy he could harley carry it but he managed as he climbed over the fence and headed towards the orc camp.

He had to go the long way around when he saw a gra.s.s-lion lounging beneath a gnarled tree but luckily he ran into an orc patrol who grudgingly escorted him to the village once he showed his ring.

Ol"gar was once more in her hut when Winston was escouted inside. She looked old but power still radiated from her in waves. Winston took a seat on a woven mat and waited as she turned the pages of an old book made from bound animal hide.

"So he of the wandering folk has returned." the she-orc turned another page but didn"t turn to face him. "I was wondering if you"d hold to your end of the pact."

"A merchant"s word is his life, good lady." Winston replied. She finally turned and gave him a smile with a great many teeth. He had to admit he was intimidated.

"In more ways than one. Although, I doubt you are a merchant. I can feel the divine on you. It"s still weak but growing. Which G.o.d do you speak for little wanderer."

"I worship Runa, lost G.o.ddess of the Ogre people. G.o.ddess of the harvest and watcher of the walls." He replied seriously. Ol"gar let out a rich laugh that filled the small hut. The sound cheered him.

"Now there is a name that time itself has forgotten. The Orcs and the Ogre have ever been at war. However in ages past they were worthy foes. There are even stories that she and Krom"lar G.o.d of the Hunt were lovers. Although, G.o.ds and G.o.ddess are always carrying on with one another. Now the Ogre are worse than beasts. They are a plague upon the land. You have set yourself on a difficult road wanderer. Still, let us see your grain. This is a business deal not a lecture on faith." She got up from her seat and waved for him to follow as they headed outside into the village.

She brought him to a store-house and he winced inside when he saw how barren it was. The orcs here must be starving. Ol"gar pointed to a empty corner and Winston up-ended his pack, pouring out a golden stream of grain onto the stone floor. Ol"har reached down into the stream and inspected and handful before nodding.

"A deal made and a promise upheld. I suppose it"s time for my end of the bargain." She said as she pulled out a hand-full of coins and a few semi-precious stones.

[You Have Completed A Quest!]

[Food for the Village]

[You are to deliver 3 bushels of Corn, Wheat, or Rice to the orcs at Fire-Tooth village by this time next week.]

[You Have Received:]

[1000 xp

3 gold, 8 silver

4 semi precious stones

30 fame with the Fire-tooth Orcs]

[Bleep-be-deep-Bleep]

Blue Light flashed around him as he hit level five but the she-orc was oblivious to both his level up and quest completion as she continued to speak. "Thank you wanderer. This will be a great help to my people. The hunting has been scare and the orclings need food other than meat and roots." Ol"gar said, bowing her head to him slightly in thanks. "Would it be possible for you to bring us more diverse fare? We are very short on much but we do have a few things you may find of value.

[You Have Received A Quest]

[Food for the Village II]

[You are to deliver two bushels of three different types of vegetables to the Orc Village]

[Time Remaining: 192:00]

[Recommended Level: N/A]

[Difficulty: Normal]

[Rewards: ??]

[WARNING: Orcs are considered a monster race by many civilized peoples. Trading with them will likely lower your reputation with other NPC"s if they find out.]

Winston smiled at the orc. A chain quest, and a farming chain quest from monster NPC"s. He bet he"d get something really interesting when he finished it.

"I shall do my best lady orc. I"ll be back next week with your delivery." He said, bowing to Ol"gar. The orcs soon lead him back to base and he logged out. The long walk to the orcs and back had taken hours and it was well after midnight. Luckily. the weekend had started or he would have been dinged for going over his time allotment.