Hannah's POV:
The morning arrived like any other, quiet and crisp, as I made my way to check on Voidette. Each day, she seemed to grow larger, more imposing, and her eyes sparkled with mischief. Winter preparations were nearly complete—enough animals to keep the farm running financially while my crops took a well-earned break. I had invested in twenty-four kegs, fully stocked and ready to churn out pale ale for the saloon. It was a sure bet for extra cash, especially with the slower winter months ahead.
As I walked up to my mailbox, something unusual caught my eye—a long box, swathed in white cloth and tied with burlap string. A small envelope sat on top, its edges curled slightly in the morning air. Curiosity sparked, I approached it, gently pulling out the envelope. Inside, a handwritten note made my heart skip:
Hannah,
On your mission to get the Galaxy Sword, I know you need a much stronger weapon than the one you currently have.
Marlon
I blinked at the note for a moment, then quickly untied the string, revealing what lay within. My breath caught in my throat. A Lava Katana.
The blade shimmered with shades of deep red, its black steel handle sleek and formidable. It was one of those items I'd admired from the Adventure's Guild but could never afford. To have it now—gifted by Marlon—was beyond belief. He was right; I did need a weapon capable of handling what awaited me in the mines, and, eventually, the Skull Cavern. I might have joked about it before, but the reality was sinking in. I was risking my life.
With a soft sigh, I carried the katana inside and placed it on the table, admiring the blade in silence for a moment. It felt like an omen, something that belonged in a story, not in my hands. But here I was.
I snapped back to reality. There was still much to do—preparing food for the mines, getting ready for winter, and making sure I had enough supplies for what lay ahead. I didn't have a wheat mill yet, so I still had to buy my flour, sugar, and rice. I hadn't advanced to truffle oil makers either, which meant buying my oil. But, as always, it was a steady progress on the farm.
Leaving my thoughts behind, I headed into town, with nothing, not even my dignity because I left that all on Sebastian's doorstep. As I walked through the town square, I noticed Jodi, Marnie, and Caroline chatting in their usual circle. They didn't even look my way.
I walked into Pierre's shop, where I found him standing behind the counter with a frown. His usual tan coat and glasses didn't hide the stress on his face.
"What's with the long face?" I asked.
"Morris just gave out twenty-five percent off coupons," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can't compete with that."
I grimaced. "I can't stand Joja."
Pierre shot me a weary smile. "I just wish people remembered what community really means."
I nodded sympathetically. Pierre's prices might be a bit higher, but at least everything was farm-based—homegrown, local. That had to count for something.
"I have a feeling JojaMart won't be around for long," I said, trying to offer some hope. "Once people remember what community really is, we'll be back on track."
Pierre smiled faintly, and I could see a flicker of hope behind his eyes. "I hope so." He quickly bagged up my items—flour, rice, sugar, and oil.
"Thanks, Pierre. And I've got two more fall harvests for you soon." I waved as I left, hoping the next few months would bring more than just survival.
As I stepped outside, I was greeted by Gus's booming voice. "Gather round, folks! I'm doing something a bit different today!"
I turned toward the sound to see Gus standing in front of the saloon, a large white fold-out table covered in a checkered cloth. On it sat an enormous silver platter, heaped with the biggest omelette I'd ever seen. My stomach growled at the sight. Gus had mentioned this omelette at Alex's surprise party, and now here it was, in all its glory.
Speaking of Alex, I spotted him walking up from around the corner—his signature green sports jacket, white t-shirt, and perfect, wind-swept hair. He sauntered over and stood beside me, smiling that effortlessly charming grin.
"Have you heard?" he said with a nudge. "This omelette is famous."
I laughed. "I've heard."
"How's the farm going?" he asked, his tone shifting to something more personal.
"It's going well," I replied, carefully avoiding any mention of the midnight encounters with junimos, my new katana, or the barrel of bombs I was preparing for the Skull Cavern. That seemed like a conversation for another time—or maybe never.
"Good to hear. It feels like we haven't talked in a while." Alex flashed me a half-smile, looking at me expectantly.
I couldn't help but feel the weight of everything I was hiding from him. "We haven't," I said quietly, then added with a soft laugh, "I've just been busy."
He seemed to sense the distance, but instead of pressing, he simply said, "Just know I'm here for you. Even with everything that's been happening... you know, since the train station. I'm your friend."
Something flickered in his eyes, a quiet sadness that made my chest tighten. Did I make him feel the way Sebastian had made me feel? That pang of guilt shot through me.
"Please don't think I've been avoiding you because of that," I said quickly. "The truth is... I've been avoiding everyone. It's not just about getting the farm ready for winter. I've been dealing with... a lot. Stuff I can't really talk about." I sighed deeply, the conversation starting to feel like a weight on my shoulders.
"Stuff with Sebastian?" Alex asked, his voice low, but not in a way that felt jealous or accusatory. It was genuine concern.
I winced at the mention of Sebastian's name. It cut deeper than I wanted it to. "No. It's... stuff with the mines. The Adventure Guild. I volunteered to gather research for the town, but in doing so, I kind of signed myself up for a one-man army mission." I laughed nervously, trying to make light of it.
"Wait—you're not going to the Skull Cavern, are you?" Alex asked, his voice suddenly serious. He grabbed my arm with surprising urgency.
I looked down at his hand before he quickly pulled away, muttering an apology. His eyes were wide with concern, a fear I hadn't seen from him before.
"How do you know about the Skull Cavern?" I asked, confused. I thought that was something people in town avoided talking about.
"Rumors float around like ancient history," Alex replied, his voice tense. "We don't know what's true, but we've heard stories. If the Skull Cavern is real, Hannah... please tell me you're not going there."
I swallowed hard. "I'm not going there... yet," I said, trailing off. His face fell, and I could tell that my words hadn't eased his worry.
"Hannah..." he said, shaking his head.
"I've been training," I whispered, glancing around. "Magical training, even. I've already made it to the bottom of the mines, and I was chosen for this."
"By Marlon?" Alex's tone was defensive. "The guy who won't go himself?"
"He can't," I said, my voice strained. "It has to be me. There are things I can't explain, things I barely understand myself."
Alex looked at me, his eyes filled with something between disbelief and concern. "Look, I believe in you, Hannah. I know you're strong, but this—this is not a good idea."
I felt the weight of his words, but I also knew there was no turning back. "Please, just don't tell anyone," I pleaded. "I can't explain it, but this is something I have to do."
"Why? So you can get yourself killed?" Alex asked, his voice laced with fear.
"I'm not going to die, Alex. There are ways to handle this," I reassured him, but even I wasn't sure how much I believed that.
"Here you go, the last in line!" Gus called out, handing us both plates. The tension between Alex and me dissolved as I took the plate, smiling faintly.
The omelette was everything Gus promised—cheesy, with perfectly diced onions and peppers. I took a bite, savoring the flavors as I glanced around at the group.
"These eggs are amazing!" Robin exclaimed. "Marnie, are these from your farm?"
"Nope, these are from Hannah's farm!" Gus announced proudly.
Everyone turned to look at me, and I couldn't help but smile. Imagine if I brought Gus a batch of void eggs. That'd really turn heads.
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