Chapter 174: The Farmer’s Son [1] — Timothy

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Unlike Louis’ tumultuous life, young Timothy had enjoyed a remarkably relaxed existence of blissful ignorance. Born in the Red Leaf territory, his parents, nameless refugees from the Apocalypse, were children who had lost everything and survived however they could until Queen Benladra welcomed them into the Frostbane Kingdom with her boundless kindness.

These vast farmlands and the quiet town were all Timothy had ever known. His humble parents taught him everything they had learned about agriculture from Lord Red Leaf, the virtuous Elven Lord of this expansive territory. From a young age, Timothy showed little talent for magic or spirits, unlike his father, who possessed a small knack for magic, or his mother, beloved by a Tree Spirit that granted her soil-enriching spells.

What he lacked in talent, however, he more than made up for with relentless effort and an oddly resilient body that always seemed to possess three times the stamina of any child his age. His parents once suspected he might be special, but every test ended the same: Timothy was simply a normal boy with exceptional endurance. Nothing more.

He attended the rural school to learn the basics—language, mathematics, and even agriculture and farming techniques—then returned home to tend the crops alongside his parents, always delighted to watch new plants rise from the soil. Later he played with his little sister Alicia, and afterward helped his mother prepare dinner.

In that way, Timothy’s ordinary life passed peacefully for many years—until he turned eighteen. Like many children of farmers, he joined the “Awakening Ceremony,” also called the “Coming of Age Ceremony.” Young people stepped forward to discover whether they possessed any talent to become Awakened, gaining access to the System and its countless benefits.

He waited nervously in line with dozens of other boys and girls nearing eighteen. One by one they advanced and touched a Divine Stone connected to a Spirit Tree—commonly called Yggdrasil’s Sprouts. These sacred trees protected the villages with spiritual barriers, sustained by the land’s energy while purifying it, and they also helped awaken any hidden potential within those who touched them.

“Oh? Incredible! You’re an Awakened, young Jonathan! You possess a Resilient Body Ability and… Affinity with the Elements of Fire and Earth!”

“Wow!”

“Not bad. You have an Earth Magic Affinity, young Katherine. Your future looks bright if you learn to use it properly.”

“Aw, I hoped for more…”

“You possess Swordsmanship Talent and… Metal Magic Affinity, Alex. Well done.”

“Nice! I can become a swordsman and serve the Kingdom as a knight! We won’t have to be farmers anymore!”

“You seem to have a Beast Magic Affinity. You could potentially tame beasts in the future, Elena.”

“Ooohhh! I love my pets already—I wonder if I can have even more!”

One after another, the children stepped forward, touched the stone, and awakened wondrous magical talents, affinities, or the rare and coveted Abilities—powers that grew stronger through hard work and use.

Even a single Affinity granted access to the System, allowing them to level up, refine their Affinity over time, learn new Spells, and eventually internalize Abilities derived from those Spells.

“Woah, everyone’s so talented, pops. I wonder if I’ll get anything?” Timothy asked quietly.

“Well, Timothy, you’ve worked hard every day trying to awaken some affinity with nature or earth, and you farm tirelessly,” his father replied. A tall, muscular farmer with long blonde hair and a short beard, his bright blue eyes shone kindly as he ruffled his son’s hair. “I bet at least one or two spirits already love you. But remember—even if you get nothing, it’s fine. Really. We love you anyway, and it’s not rare at all.”

“Don’t worry. Nothing will change even if you awaken nothing,” his mother added gently. A kind, beautiful woman with long red hair and green eyes, she smiled reassuringly.

“Do your best, big bro!” Alicia cheered. A little bundle of joy with her father’s blonde hair and her mother’s green eyes, she was the complete opposite of Timothy—red-haired, blue-eyed, and freckle-faced.

“Timothy! Come to the front, please!” the Elven Druid called.

Timothy froze.

“Eeek, it’s my turn already?!” he squeaked.

“Come on, grow a spine and go see what you get! Maybe you’ll get an Affinity for being Lame, hahaha!”

Jonathan—one of Timothy’s school bullies who loved picking on him—laughed from the crowd. His group of friends sneered along with him.

“Tsk…! Damn brats, mind your own damn business!” his father growled, patting Timothy’s back and gently pushing him forward. “Come on, son. Let’s get this over with. You’re almost eighteen, after all.”

“Yeah… I guess so…” Timothy nodded nervously, stepping forward. He wore a simple red square shirt, blue overalls, and a hay hat—very rural. His black boots were, as always, caked in soil and mud. “Um… hi…”

He greeted the tall, gentle, majestic-looking Elven Druid—a blonde-haired man with kind green eyes who lived in the village, unaffiliated with Emerald Grove. “Hello, Timothy. It’s about time.” The man was the town’s chief, Elder Tirandel Moonbark. “Good luck.”

“Thank you, chief…” Timothy sighed. With trembling hands he touched the stone, closing his eyes and secretly hoping for at least a small surprise deep down.

But…

There was only silence. A long, heavy silence. No one spoke, waiting for some response from the stone.

There was none.

“Ah…”

When Timothy opened his eyes and reality crashed down, he felt his heart shatter into countless pieces.

Truth be told, he had grown tired of being just a farmer. Timothy had always dreamed of becoming something more, a knight, a magician, or even a Spiralwalker adventuring the wild lands beyond City District A.

The Awakening Ceremony had been his one and only hope. A single chance to gain something—anything—that could open the door to those dreams, to finally… be special, even just a little.

He didn’t need to be extraordinary. He didn’t need to be legendary. Just one F-Rank Affinity would have been enough.

He had proven how hard he could work. He was ready to turn whatever he received into ultimate power that could one day shake the world.

Yes—the humble young Timothy harbored dreams of grandeur, fed by the heroic tales of ancient Yggdrasil heroes that Elder Tirandel loved to tell the children during harvest festivals.

But reality was often cruel.

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