"Oh, of course," Traebus announced dramatically to no one in particular, throwing his arms wide. "Weeks of careful preparation, tedious watering, strategic neglect, and absolutely zero idea what I'm doing—and suddenly we have a magical harvest. Farming's easy. Clearly I've been overthinking this survival thing."

  Rows of impossibly lush crops practically posed for him, leafy greens waving cheerfully, roots jutting dramatically from the earth, and bright fruits bulging with enthusiasm. His experimental dehydration lettuce, which he'd honestly assumed would shrivel up and mock him from the soil, had somehow grown into thick, juicy bundles, shimmering smugly at his confusion.

  He turned swiftly, nearly tripping over his own feet in excitement, and marched straight back inside. He found Vaelya busy shifting chairs around the new dining table, trying to find the perfect arrangement.

  "Vaelya, you've got to see this," he said, voice thick with mock solemnity. "It seems my flawless farming strategy of doing nearly nothing has paid off spectacularly."

  She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but followed him out anyway. The moment she saw the abundance, her eyes widened in genuine astonishment.

  "This—this should be impossible," she murmured, kneeling gently to touch one of the thriving plants. "They've grown incredibly fast."

  Traebus nodded emphatically, waving grandly at the crops. "You know, I'm starting to think I might be secretly amazing at this survival thing. Either that, or whatever weird mana-fueled nonsense I did to the dirt turned our plants into eager overachievers."

  Vaelya shot him a dry look, a faint smile appearing at the edges of her lips. "Or perhaps you’re just incredibly lucky."

  He held up a finger, pretending to consider her point seriously. "Hmm—luck, skill, reckless magic, potato, potahto. In any case, we should probably figure out if this stuff is safe or if I've created a garden of death-by-salad."

  Vaelya shook her head, suppressing her amusement as she began inspecting the plants more closely. "I will help you identify what’s useful, and what you should avoid. But we will still need to organize a hunting party soon."

  Traebus gave a melodramatic sigh, nodding reluctantly. "Fine, fine, back to reality. But first, let's see what mother nature—and my obviously incredible farming skills—have granted us."

  Together, they knelt carefully among the rows, Traebus muttering playful comments about "vegetable rebellion" and "ambitious lettuce" as they began inspecting their unexpectedly bountiful harvest.

  As the pile of harvested vegetables steadily grew, Vaelya paused, holding up another strange, brightly colored root with clear suspicion. She glanced warily at Traebus, her eyebrows knitting together in concern. "Traebus, wait a moment. What exactly are these plants?"

  Traebus, halfway through enthusiastically yanking up another oddly glowing lettuce-like plant, stopped and blinked at her. "You know, that's actually an excellent question," he admitted sheepishly. "Honestly, I have no idea."

  Her jaw dropped slightly. "You've planted and harvested a garden filled with unknown plants, and you've no idea if they're even safe?"

  He shrugged lightly, trying for casual confidence. "Well, nothing's actively tried to murder us yet, so that’s already promising, right?"

  Vaelya gave him a glare sharp enough to carve stone. "Traebus."

  "Okay, okay," he sighed dramatically, holding up his hands. "I'll identify them. Properly."

  He lifted his hand, focusing carefully on the nearest leafy plant and cautiously activated his identification ring. Instantly, a flood of information surged into his mind—detailed, overwhelming, and relentless.

  He staggered backward, nearly toppling into the basket of vegetables, eyes widening in stunned disbelief. "Whoa—okay, that was a bad idea," he gasped, suddenly drained and breathing hard. He clutched his forehead, a dizzying swirl of information spinning behind his eyes. "Wow. That was way, way more than I wanted to know about plants."

  Vaelya stepped forward anxiously, catching his shoulder to steady him. "Are you alright? What happened?"

  He shook his head, eyes squeezed shut as if that might block out the endless stream of data still coursing through his mind. "I—um—I think I just learned the entire life story of this lettuce from seed to salad. And I'm not joking."

  She stared at him blankly. "What do you mean?"

  Traebus steadied himself, swaying slightly as he tried to organize the torrent of information. "The ring gave me everything—literally everything. It showed me its genetic structure, its...atomic makeup? Something about chromosomes and nucleotides and… something called ribosomes? And apparently, this thing is really fond of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen—but honestly, I don't even know what half those words actually mean."

  Vaelya raised an eyebrow, clearly lost. "What are you talking about?"

  Traebus sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't even know. This thing just bombarded me with details about proteins, cell walls, DNA strands—it basically gave me the full scientific breakdown of this plant’s existence at a level I didn’t even know existed."

  She tilted her head, visibly concerned. "But is it safe to eat?"

  "Oh!" He paused, blinking a few times, sorting through the information again. "Uh, yes. Safe, nutritious, slightly magical, and apparently very good if you suffer from minor injuries or inflammation. But it's going to take me a week to forget all this unnecessary atomic detail."

  She relaxed visibly, offering him a relieved smile. "Next time, perhaps ask your ring simpler questions?"

  Traebus groaned dramatically. "Trust me, that's exactly what I plan to do. I just wanted a quick yes-or-no on 'Is this lettuce going to kill me,' not an advanced lecture in botany from some otherworldly god of agriculture."

  Vaelya patted him sympathetically, amusement finally softening her expression. "At least we know they're safe. Mostly."

  Traebus nodded weakly, straightening up slowly. "Yeah. Now let's finish harvesting before my brain leaks out my ears."

  Vaelya chuckled softly, shaking her head, returning to their unexpected bounty with a renewed sense of cautious optimism. Traebus followed, still muttering something about "overly ambitious lettuce" and "ridiculous magical gardening," but relieved nonetheless.

  Traebus gingerly plucked yet another head of overly ambitious lettuce, tossing it into the steadily growing basket. Vaelya moved alongside him, carefully harvesting another plant, her movements graceful and confident. He shot her a teasing glance. "You know, for someone who was panicking about these plants a moment ago, you seem pretty confident now."

  She smiled lightly, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "I have confidence in your reckless curiosity. If your experiments have not killed you yet, surely these plants won't."

  Traebus laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, absolutely. If my legacy is ‘death by salad,’ I deserve it at this point."

  Vaelya chuckled quietly. "You’re certain you’re safe now?"

  Traebus made a face, pausing with a thoughtful look. "Reasonably certain. Worst-case scenario, we spontaneously develop the power of glowing slightly in the dark. Could be handy, really."

  Vaelya rolled her eyes, smiling faintly. "You joke, but sometimes I wonder if you’re serious."

  He shrugged playfully. "Only one way to find out."

  They continued bantering easily, harvesting row after row until Traebus stopped abruptly, kneeling beside a strange melon-like fruit partially hidden beneath thick vines. It was large, ovoid, and looked oddly out of place among the other crops. Traebus squinted suspiciously at it, curiosity instantly piqued.

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  Vaelya noticed his hesitation and raised an eyebrow. "Another mystery plant?"

  "Yep," he replied cheerfully. "And because I clearly didn’t learn my lesson the first time, I’m going to see what it is."

  Vaelya groaned lightly. "Are you certain you should? Your last attempt seemed rather painful."

  He grinned mischievously. "What's life without a little danger?"

  Without waiting for a reply, he activated the ring again, focusing carefully on the strange melon-like fruit. Instantly, another torrent of dizzying information assaulted his senses, this time even more aggressively. His head snapped back, and he staggered, clutching the sides of his head as a near-agonizing rush of knowledge poured through him.

  "Oh—ow, ow, OW!" he gasped, nearly toppling sideways into Vaelya, who steadied him with concern.

  "Traebus!" she said sharply, eyes wide. "Are you alright?"

  "Fine! Fine," he wheezed, still gripping his head. "Just currently experiencing what it feels like to have my brain sautéed by the secrets of the universe. I think this melon just tried to kill me with knowledge."

  "What did you see?" Vaelya asked, half-concerned, half-curious.

  He groaned again, shaking his head rapidly as if trying to physically shake loose the overload of data. "More atomic nonsense, endless genetic details—DNA sequences, complex sugars, vitamins I've never heard of, even something called amino acids. Apparently, this thing has nutritional values through the roof. Eating just one could sustain a person for days. But gods above, I really didn't need to know its entire genetic code!"

  Vaelya tilted her head, eyebrows furrowing. "You say strange words."

  Traebus sighed, finally regaining his balance. "Yeah, honestly, I have no idea what half of what I saw even means. All I know for sure is that this fruit is ridiculously nutritious and perfectly safe—assuming it doesn't kill you by flooding your brain with useless trivia."

  She offered him a faint smile. "You’re certain?"

  "Absolutely," Traebus said firmly, rubbing his temples again. "But we're done identifying plants today. I’m not sure my sanity can survive another vegetable-based psychic attack."

  She laughed softly, shaking her head. "Perhaps caution would serve you better next time?"

  He sighed melodramatically. "You sound just like Dusk. Always advocating caution, never appreciating the thrill of spontaneously acquired brain damage."

  With a last look at the odd melon-fruit, Traebus straightened carefully. "All right, I'm officially out of mana, patience, and possibly brain cells. I’ll identify the rest another day."

  Vaelya chuckled lightly, patting his shoulder sympathetically. "Come. I think you need rest more than you need further vegetable enlightenment."

  He gave her a weary grin, following as they returned indoors, leaving the bountiful—and suspiciously educational—garden behind.

  Traebus and Vaelya carefully carried their overflowing baskets of fruits and vegetables into the house, depositing their freshly gathered bounty onto the newly-crafted kitchen table. The bright colors of ripe fruits and lush greens stood out vividly against the polished, dark wood.

  "Now this," Traebus announced cheerfully, "is how civilized people eat."

  He glanced around, noticing with mild surprise that the table and chairs he'd sculpted earlier made the once bare room feel genuinely cozy. The furniture added an inviting warmth to the stone interior, making it feel less like a bunker and more like a proper home.

  Carefully, they sorted the vegetables and fruits, placing them neatly onto the freshly sculpted shelves in the pantry. Vaelya examined each piece closely as they worked, marveling quietly at their abundance. "I never imagined we could grow so much in so little time."

  Traebus chuckled, nodding. "It’s almost enough to make me forgive the plants for trying to murder my brain with atomic mysteries."

  Vaelya raised an amused eyebrow, arranging a stack of the ovoid melon fruits. "Your inventions are impressive, Traebus. With such bounty, perhaps you can finally enjoy some peace."

  Traebus snorted lightly. "Peace? With killer insects, carnivorous birds, homicidal lizards, and magical salad assaulting me regularly? I'll believe in peace when I see it."

  She laughed softly, shaking her head. "You have a point."

  As they finished storing their harvest, Traebus eyed the neatly organized pantry, then glanced toward the simple kitchen setup, lamenting dramatically, "Now if only we had proper cooking utensils. I keep saying I'll make them, yet I always end up distracted by exploding magical contraptions or aggressively educational vegetables."

  Vaelya smiled faintly, amused by his theatrics. "At least we have chairs now. It is a good start."

  "True," Traebus agreed with a grin, running a hand thoughtfully across the smooth wood of the nearest chair. "And we even have a table that won't explode. A definite step forward."

  He paused for a moment, frowning slightly. "Though there's one thing we're still definitely missing—a proper water system. A real sink, maybe even running water."

  Vaelya tilted her head curiously. "Running water? Like a stream?"

  He nodded enthusiastically, eyes lighting up. "Exactly—but even better. Running water right here, inside the house. Imagine turning a handle and getting fresh, clean water any time you want."

  She raised an eyebrow skeptically. "How is that possible?"

  "Simple," he explained eagerly. "Pipes—small tubes made of metal or stone—that channel water from the well directly inside. Combine that with a magical pump, and you'd never need to go outside for water again. But that’s just basic plumbing—what we really need is magically-heated water."

  Her brows furrowed slightly. "Heated water?"

  "Absolutely!" he said excitedly, leaning in as if sharing a great secret. "Picture this: a large stone basin filled with hot water—no need to heat it over a fire. You just turn another knob and instantly, you have steaming hot water. No fuss, no effort."

  She hesitated, then slowly nodded, clearly warming to the idea. "That…does sound pleasant."

  "And," Traebus added dramatically, eyes gleaming with enthusiasm, "we can take it a step further—a bath!"

  Vaelya tilted her head, curious. "Bath?"

  "Exactly!" Traebus launched into his explanation with passionate enthusiasm. "Imagine an entire room dedicated to cleanliness, with a deep basin big enough to immerse yourself completely in hot, perfectly heated water. Just soaking in comfort, washing away dirt, sweat, and the lingering sense of existential dread."

  Vaelya smiled faintly at his increasingly enthusiastic description. "You speak as if this 'bath' is the pinnacle of civilization."

  Traebus spread his arms theatrically. "That's because it is! There's nothing better than a steaming bath at the end of the day—trust me, you'd never go back to washing in rivers or streams again."

  Her expression turned skeptical again. "And how will you accomplish this miracle?"

  Traebus chuckled, eyes twinkling. "Mana, pipes, and a stubborn refusal to bathe in cold water anymore. It'll take some effort and a fair bit of metal, but it'll be worth it. No more shivering or bathing in streams, no more splashing cold water from a bucket. Civilization awaits."

  Vaelya laughed quietly, shaking her head fondly. "You seem eager to build an entire world just to avoid discomfort."

  "Exactly!" Traebus said dramatically. "Comfort is a highly underrated motivator for progress."

  She watched him warmly, her expression gently amused. "Very well. If it stops you from accidentally blowing things up, then I wholeheartedly support this 'bath' of yours."

  Traebus grinned broadly, rubbing his hands together with playful determination. "Excellent! The age of comfort and cleanliness begins now. Well—after dinner. And maybe a nap."

  Dinner that evening quickly dissolved into joyful chaos. Traebus proudly carried the mysterious melon fruits and oversized lettuce leaves to their newly-crafted kitchen table, only to be immediately swarmed by Sparky, Dusk, and the smaller elemental lizards, all chirping and trilling excitedly.

  "Settle down!" Traebus said, attempting to hold the fruit safely out of reach as Sparky leaped onto the table in a burst of sparks. "You haven't even tasted them yet—let's not start a riot!"

  Dusk watched the chaos calmly from the side, letting out a slow, amused snort. Traebus shot him a mock glare. "Don't just sit there—help control your crew, would you?"

  Dusk blinked slowly, clearly indicating he took no responsibility whatsoever for the antics of his companions.

  Vaelya laughed lightly, gently shooing the smaller lizards off the table. "Maybe you should feed Tank first? He at least behaves."

  Traebus nodded emphatically, quickly taking a few melons and hurrying outside. He found Tank lounging in his usual spot, looking thoroughly uninterested until Traebus rolled the large melon toward him. "Here you go, big guy. Try this magical fruit I nearly sacrificed my sanity for."

  Tank sniffed the melon suspiciously before cautiously nibbling a small bite. His eyes immediately widened, and with sudden enthusiasm, the massive three-horn devoured the entire melon in a single gulp. Traebus blinked, stunned.

  "Well," he said, laughing incredulously, "that's one way to enjoy a meal."

  Tank, clearly delighted, immediately grabbed a second, then a third melon, chomping them down in rapid succession. To Traebus’s amazement, after finishing the third melon, Tank suddenly slowed, gave a satisfied groan, and simply flopped onto his side—instantly asleep.

  Traebus stared, speechless. "I…didn't even know Tank could get full. Apparently, these melons might be even better than I thought."

  Returning inside, he found that chaos had intensified. The six small elemental lizards had somehow wrestled one melon down, and they were now clustered around it, eagerly devouring it piece by messy piece. Sparky and Dusk, meanwhile, were tugging back and forth on another melon, neither willing to relinquish their half.

  "Oh, for the love of—" Traebus laughed, swiftly retrieving another melon and splitting it neatly in two with a pulse of mana. "There! Problem solved."

  Dusk gave a satisfied chuff, gracefully consuming his half, while Sparky, triumphant, gnawed enthusiastically on his own portion, sparks of joy flickering around his frills.

  Finally, Traebus collapsed into a chair beside Vaelya, breathing heavily. "I had no idea dinner could be this exhausting."

  Vaelya smiled warmly, splitting another melon and offering him half. "At least you haven't lost your sense of humor."

  "Not yet," he chuckled, taking a cautious bite. The flavor was astonishingly sweet, juicy, and immediately revitalizing. "Wow, okay, maybe the near-death-by-information overload was actually worth it."

  They ate their melon slowly, savoring the refreshing sweetness alongside large leaves of the strange, magical lettuce. Soon, the room grew quieter, the energetic chaos giving way to satisfied exhaustion. The small lizards, their melon demolished, piled atop each other near the table, eyes half-closed. Sparky curled up beside Dusk, letting out contented little trills as he drifted off.

  Traebus leaned back in his chair, eyelids growing heavier. He glanced sideways at Vaelya, who seemed equally sleepy. "You know," he murmured drowsily, "maybe we've stumbled onto the best sleeping potion ever grown."

  Vaelya laughed quietly, resting her head on her arm. "After the chaos you create, perhaps we needed it."

  "Fair point," Traebus admitted with a yawn, eyes drifting shut. "Goodnight…try not to dream of murderous salads."

  Within moments, silence settled comfortably over their home, filled only with the gentle, contented breathing of its exhausted occupants.