Chapter 23
"This part of the land hasn't been able to grow anything in over a month. If you can grow something here, I'll allow for you to see the rest of the fields. But if you can't, then I will report you to the king of Razael. Got it?" Pinky said
Oh, the king who isn't supposed to know we're here? That king? The pressure just got heavier.
"Hello sir. We were wondering if we could take a look around the fields here." Gramps asked the king dressed in farmer's clothing.
"No problemo" the king said and held an okay hand sign up.
Dear goodness. Either he's really cringe with acting or he's just naturally cringy.
"We still need to wait for the king to arrive. What should we do?" Leah whispered
Huh?
"I'm not sure. Niko, just pretend like you need more time to prepare or something" Leo whispered back
Do they really not know?
*The king already gave us the go ahead* I said
"How do you know?"
I pointed at the king who was messing around with a rake in the dirt. What is he even doing?
*King*
They all looked towards the king paying in the dirt and back at me with doubtful eyes.
"That is not him" Ezra said
"Who's not him?" Pinky asked
"Uh...Brad Pitt?" Xavier said
"Who? The farmer? Do you really think he looks like him?" Redhead Laughed "Nice joke"
"Are you going to get started or what?" Pinky asked "The sun is burning my eyes and we're starting to get sunburned. These days, we've all been getting burned easily"
I stepped into the field and felt the dirt around us.
The others tried to stop me but I ignored them. Masters orders overruled theirs.
The dirt was sandy, just like the dirt from the village. If I do the same as I did back there, the dirt will be usable again.
After getting the soil ready and adding water, I used earth magic to connect with all the seeds already planted into the ground.
I forced them to sprout but they refused to grow. The heck?
I tried again but they were still unwilling to budge. Instead of wasting my time, I unconnected with the seeds and stood up.
"Niko? Is everyone alright?" Xavier asked
Ignoring the commotion behind me, I looked around in the field for anything that would be troubling the plants. But there was nothing. What is it then?
I used earth magic again but this time I focused solely on one seed.
I got a major headache but I finally succeeded in making it grow.
"She did it!" "About time"
Everyone cheered. Except for that last one. Who was it?! This took a lot of energy out of me!
The plant I grew was a stalk of corn. It didn't last long. A few seconds after it was all grown, it exploded. Literally. Well...kinda.
The kernels on the corn popped popcorn.
"What the heck is that?!" Pinky asked
Obviously popcorn, but why and how did this happen? Well, I was getting hungry.
I popped one of those suckers into my mouth. Yummy!
"Don't eat that! It was in the ground!" Ezra yelled
I waved him off and touched the dirt again. Dry.
I figured it out!
*Ask how long this has been happening* I told Ezra
"Why don't you ask them yourself" he muttered
*Okay*
"Wait! I didn't-"
*Has this happened before?" I asked Gramps
He had a stoic face for a while until he said "I must be going crazy. I keep hearing voices"
*Just answer the question please*
"This has happened once before. But it was before I was even alive so I'm not sure what exactly happened"
"Who are you talking to?" Pinky asked
So this has happened before…
"The voice in my head"
"The time has come. He has lost his mind" Redhead said
*Was it in this place exactly?*
"No. It was...I don't remember"
Then, they must not be related
*Ezra, I know what's-* I started before a lady came over to us
"Excuse me but if you want to grow crops here I'm afraid that you won't get anything" she said
"Why?" Pinky asked
"Not sure. Locals have given up on the farmers and started growing their own food in the village. It seems that they have been successful. That say that the land here is cursed"
"I see. Thank you" he said
The lady left and he turned back towards us.
"It's hopeless. We're going to run out of food and probably starve. They may have food, but our land must be cursed as well because we've got nothing growing" he said
*Don't be so sure about that. This land just has too many gamma rays in the air. They have been ruining the crops here and is why the popcorn has popped just now. I would suggest that we leave since long exposure could kill us.*
"You guys hear the voice right?" Redhead asked
"Yep" Everyone replied
*Anyways. I'm saying that the land here knew that there is little hope of growing here. So why bother? Ya know? It could also be why your eyes were burning and your skin has been getting burned. This must have just started since no one had died or been too harmed so far or it could just be this one specific place that's radioactive.*
"Is there any way to get rid of these... gummy rays?" Ezra asked
*Gamma rays . And yes, I can transfer them with teleportation* I said *You may not be able to see them but I can. Gotta get permission from the king first though*
"The king?!" Pinky and redhead yelled
Oops. Did I say that last part out loud?