Chapter 22

    Learning a New Power

    Several days later, the leaders of the priests from the Agriculture Order and the Forest Order took it upon themselves to become special instructors, teaching the use of the blessings bestowed by the two deities they revered. Thus, Kit began learning about the special powers that the priests possessed, which greatly altered his perspective on using supernatural powers.

    The special powers in this world came in many forms, so Kit categorized them into two major types. The first type involved using power through rituals—whether it be communicating with various entities or reciting incantations passed down through generations, with an offering required in exchange for the power received. The second type was the use of power through habit and intuition.

    Both types of abilities were limited by the mana within each individual’s body—this was the price one had to pay to wield superhuman powers.

    Since Kit had yet to reveal his abilities to anyone, he was classified as a user of the second type. His sense of smell, which surpassed that of a dog, was a result of accumulated experience from his long dreams. It was a sense he had to train to use effectively. However, the blessings he received from the three gods seemed to belong to the first category, which required offerings in return.

    For a while, Kit was confused about which category he actually fell into. But before long, his thoughts shifted toward his bear-like sense of smell.

    Although he didn’t fully understand whether his body structure had changed, many others possessed similar abilities—warriors with extraordinary hearing, able to detect the faintest sound of a needle dropping, or hunters with razor-sharp eyesight who never missed their mark.

    His younger brother, Ethan, likely had abilities of this kind as well.

    The blessings from the three deities remained a mystery as to how they could be of use. It would take another two to three years for Kit’s powers to fully awaken. For now, Matthew and Jacob explained a simple method for him to experiment with his blessings.

    “The use of incantations is rather complex and consumes too much mana for a child like you. When the time comes, you can visit our church to learn more...”

    “For now, try using the blessing given by Lady Foris…” Matthew handed him a sprig of grass with a closed flower bud. “Hold this, then try to imagine the essence of the forest. Picture a meadow in full bloom. Think of the wildflowers back home, blossoming all around you...”

    “Focus your mind, and try to sense the mana.”

    Kit did exactly as Matthew and Jacob instructed. The boy stepped into the open courtyard in front of the church, where the morning sunlight cast a gentle glow. He inhaled the fresh air of the forest and flowers, then closed his eyes. His hands still clutched the withered grass. His mind wandered back to the past—to when he was a bear cub in the great forest, seeing a vast field of flowers for the first time.

    (That mother bear, I wonder how she is now? Has she passed away, or is she still alive? How long do bears even live...?)

    (No, no—focus, Kit. That’s right. Breathe in, breathe out. Okay… Stay focused. Sense the mana... Uh, what exactly is mana?) His concentration wavered several more times as he struggled to grasp what mana truly was. Was it that blue potion he used to see in games? But why was it always blue? What did it taste like? Was it delicious? ... And what about that rainbow-colored drink Lady Foris poured into his cup—would that increase his mana? It had a shade of blue mixed in, after all.

    By the time Kit finally regained proper focus, nearly ten minutes had passed under the sunlight. Just as Matthew was about to lose hope, believing that nothing would happen, Kit suddenly entered a deep state of concentration. The mana in the air began to stir, shifting ever so slightly, as if acknowledging a presence that sought its power. A gentle flow of energy gradually seeped into his body, spreading warmth before transforming into a refreshing coolness that left him feeling grounded and steady.

    The elderly priest smiled with satisfaction as he sensed the shift in the surrounding mana. However... his voice, urging Kit to stop, never reached the ears of the boy lost in his trance.

    (Little sprout of grass, awaken once more...)

    As Kit repeated the words in his heart over and over, the warmth circulating through his body began to move toward his palms. The moment he felt that surge of heat, he knew his request had been granted. The little sprig of grass turned lush and green, brimming with new life. Tiny flower buds slowly began to bloom.

    The young boy beamed with joy at his success before turning to his two teachers, who had been waiting behind him. The two priests stood in astonishment before quickly rushing forward to ask if he was alright. Kit could only stare back at them in confusion before shifting his focus to observe his surroundings.

    The herb garden in front of the grand church had transformed into a dense thicket, packed so tightly with grass that there was no empty space left. Kit gazed at the tall and short grasses that had sprouted wildly, utterly shocked, before he suddenly felt lightheaded from exhaustion.

    (Damn it... I didn’t mean to end up pulling out all this grass until my back breaks...did…I...)

    The next day, all the children had a full day of weeding to do. They struggled to hold back their laughter as they listened to their third brother grumbling while pulling out weeds nonstop. Fortunately, this church-cleaning effort extended to the outer walls, where remnants of the old insulation against the cold had once stood. The surrounding area became remarkably neat and tidy once again.

    Now that the air was warmer and more comfortable, the piles of dried grass around the church began emitting an odor due to the dampness from spring rains and lingering humidity. The decomposing grass effectively turned into compost, greatly benefiting the nearby small farms. The furrows between the sweet potato fields and other crops were enriched with a full dose of fermented straw fertilizer.

    Since Kit wasn’t the only one training to use his special powers, the use of plant and farming-related powers became a daily occurrence. Before long, all the children began to grasp the fundamentals, allowing the crops they had cultivated to grow at an accelerated rate. The fields, once thought too vast for just sixteen people to manage, flourished with surprising speed and success.

    They were even more astonished to learn that the harvest cycle was now twice as fast. The shortened growth period meant that the annual yield had increased exponentially.

    (No wonder... the grain fields in the village are so small, yet they produce so much food that they even have enough to share with the church...)

    (But why are there still people dying from starvation? That doesn’t make any sense.)

    Kit voiced his question aloud, prompting Father Jacob to clarify.

    "Even though we have farmland and ample harvests thanks to Lord Landbruh’s blessing, we still face numerous diseases..."

    "There are also rumors of a curse supposedly escaping from the Enos Order, along with mysterious illnesses." Jackson joined the conversation, as the burden of treating these ailments fell upon the White Wings Order. "You probably haven’t seen it yet—the dreadful Blood Curse, which slowly drains its victims that they grow paler and paler until they die."

    The cult dedicated to the god named Enos was often associated with death, disease, and calamities. Though their reputation was problematic, there were still people who worshiped this deity, seeking his mercy.

    Kit pondered over Father Jackson’s words, feeling a chill creep over him. This fantasy world was filled with fascinating and incredible things, but at times, he forgot about the countless people living in constant suffering. Only by staying prepared and thinking rationally would he be able to survive.

    With this in mind, the young boy stood, gazing at the barren land beyond the Redwood Church. It was still littered with large rocks and decaying tree stumps. There was still so much potential in this highland region at the foot of the mountains. They could surely make better use of it. The best way he could prepare for any crisis was to cultivate nutritious food and create delicious meals for everyone to enjoy.

    However, expanding farmland was not something that could be done without permission.

    The land bordering the forbidden forest of Redwood could only be occupied with approval from the Church of Goddess Foris. Additionally, they required official documentation obtained by submitting a request to the administrative offices of a major city in the kingdom. This vast land was governed by rulers who maintained order and peace to ensure a smooth existence for all. As such, many crucial laws had been enacted to prevent future complications.

    Fortunately, as the head priest, Matthew could issue a permit on his own authority. A request from a child who had conversed with the gods was not a troublesome matter. He could not obstruct this boy’s ambitions nor confine his growth within rigid boundaries. Thus, the permit from the Church of Foris was promptly delivered to the village chief, Mr. Jonathan.

    The vast stretch of land along the forest’s edge, spanning from east to west behind the church, was now legally under the ownership of the Redwood Church, at least unofficially…?

    They could begin preparing the land while waiting for the official documentation from the kingdom. And if the paperwork took longer than two weeks to arrive, they could proceed with cultivation without needing to wait for the documents. This policy had been put in place primarily to ensure the sustenance of the population.

    In this era, no individual had the right to own land personally. All land fell under the authority of the local lords, who had full control over its management. Pioneering new farmland not only increased agricultural yield but also benefited the entire community. Thus, the Redwood Church was not required to pay any operational fees.

    An additional ten acres of land were now under the care of the White Wings, Foris, and Landbruh Orders—due to certain significant reasons.

    Though Kit did not yet fully understand the complex laws of the Seris Kingdom, he wanted to follow the legal framework set by those in power. Yet, he could already see countless loopholes in the law that allowed those with influence to manipulate the system for their own gain.

    If their farm grew too large and prosperous, a wealthy merchant might bribe officials to seize the land for himself. Or, if the Lord of Russel declared a food crisis, they could confiscate both the land and its harvest with mere words alone. Thus, the young boy instructed the two nuns to leverage the authority of the church as a counterbalance against the powers that be.

    The influence of the religious order was strong and could not be easily overturned. Even if there were some corrupt individuals within the clergy, they would not dare act so brazenly as to tarnish the faith of the people.

    This arrangement was ideal… there was no need for ownership disputes. If the land remained under the jurisdiction of the three gods' orders, no fool would dare meddle with the children's farmland.

    And so, the process of clearing and preparing the land for cultivation began.

    Kit experimented multiple times with the blessing he received from Lord Gaiel, as there was no one to teach him how to harness the power of the earth.

    Yet the first thing he managed to accomplish was merely shifting a tiny pebble, no larger than a pinky fingernail…

    The boy could only roll his eyes as he imagined the emotionless face of Lord Gaiel. His hands itched with an unfamiliar restlessness.