Quefaialm: In Another World With A Battleship

Chapter 21: In Another World Without A Battleship Yet

Part 2

The summer had given way to the cooler embrace of autumn, and the fields around Riverton were painted in hues of gold and amber. The harvest season had come and gone, and life in the town had settled.

Six months had passed since Nathalie and I arrived in this town and much had changed. The unfamiliarity of the town had become something of a home, a place where we could stay. The townsfolk had grown accustomed to seeing us around, and we had even made a few friends.

I earned most of our income by working on farmer Jansen's land, and the labor roughened my hands. The work was honest, and there was a certain satisfaction in seeing the fruits of my labor with the harvest safely gathered and stored.

Nathalie, too, had begun to find her place in this town. Initially, she was silent and reserved, not speaking at all, but as time went by, she made friends with some of the other children in town. Though she still doesn't speak much, the few words she now shares are a sign of progress.

This morning, I was standing in the small garden behind the inn, tending to the vegetables Nathalie and I had planted during the late summer. The innkeeper was kind enough to let us use the space, and it had become a small but meaningful project for me. Nathalie was inside, quietly helping the innkeeper's wife with the morning chores.

Every time I have free time, I come to this garden to care for it. It's been six months, and I can't shake the worry about Leith, my battleship, which I left at the shore. The thought lingers in my mind, gnawing at me even as I try to focus on the simple tasks of the garden.

The Personal Digital Assistant, or PDA, that the Federation gave me has proven to be useless and inoperable here. In this land, it doesn't have a signal, leaving me cut off from any updates, contact from the Federation, or information. I keep it with me out of habit, hoping it will receive even a text message.

The air was crisp, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves as I pulled a few ripe carrots from the soil. The work was peaceful, and it gave me time to think and prepare. I had to come to accept this new life, but I need to move forward and continue my mission. Despite the comfort of the garden and the stability it provided, my thoughts were always on what lay ahead.

I need to complete and map out the new world for our navigation. I might even encounter fellow players from the Federation or any allied nation.

As I worked, the sound of footsteps on the gravel path caught my attention. I looked up to see a familiar figure approaching. It's Farmer Jansen. He raised a hand in greeting, and I stood to meet him.

"Good morning," he said with a smile. "How's your garden coming along?"

"Morning," I replied as I wiped the dirt from my hands. "It's doing well, thanks. The soil here is good and everything's growing nicely."

"I'm glad to hear it," Jansen said, his gaze sweeping over the small garden. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something."

I sensed a shift in his tone, something more serious beneath the surface. "What is it?" I asked.

"There's been some talk in town," he began, glancing around as if to make sure we were alone. "About you and Nathalie."

My heart skipped a beat. "What kind of talk?"

"Nothing bad," he quickly assured me. "But people are starting to wonder where you came from, especially since you've settled in so well. You know how folks are—curiosity gets the better of them."

I nodded slowly, understanding his concern. We had kept to ourselves for the most part, but in a small town like Riverton, it was only natural that people would start to ask questions.