Chapter 12: Farming of new beginings

Once we gulped down our lunch, Azu went to help out Syl with the fenced enclosure and I changed the place the deers were staying at. Maybe it was becouse Yuki was acompanying me, but the deers didn't even dared to step out of line. Seeing them following me like dogs, put a complicated smile on my face.

Tying them to new stakes I took out hoe from my backpack and started creation of our first field. Taking some of the dirt in my hand and giving it a slight squeeze I noticed rough parts as well as soft and squishy parts. "Hmm, this should be a little more… I don't know, dry? Or something like that…"

To be completly honest, this was my second time working fields, and the first time I had heavy machinery of modern time earth.

"Well, let's get to it," I started moving my hands once again, and made a small field about five meters wide and ten meters long. Well, I call it small field, but I decided it would be most effective to make fields 5x5 meters the base measuring unit going forward.

"Now, what should I plant here… What I brought from city are… potatoes, tomatoes, wheat, some cumin, peas, strawberries and blueberries."

The last two mostly for their unique shape and color. This worlds blueberries looked like alien space ship, commonly seen in fiction and hand this greenish blue gleam to them.

Also, we got some fruit tree seeds Syl recomended which were local to this world. Now that I had everything ready, I extended my hand over the field and ordered the spirits to enrich the soil so we had minimal crop failiure. After that, I planted potatoes, and the tomatoes first, with the berries at the side of the field.

"Grrrrr…"

"What is it Yuki?" I looked at Yuki who suddenly stood up and looked to north part of the forest, "Is something over there?"

"Woof," short bark gave me a good idea.

"Azu and Syl are still in the forest. Could you send one of the wolves to warn them?"

"Woof!"

Yuki run of to shade of our house where the dogs were resting and commanded the wolves to go. Meanwhile, I continued looking over the forest, but still couldn't spot anything. I would really love to have my spyglasses…

Trio of dogs have left the fenced land with a simple jump, like they always did and head out to the forest where the girls were.

"Yuki tell me if something changes, I will return to the farming for now," as I waved to her, I picked up my hoe and went to dig up holes to plant the fruit trees in.

"Woof."

"Oh, come on. I didn't even planted a single seed. This better be… important… minotaurs?!"

What I saw exiting the forest were siluetes of humanoid creatures with highly distinctive horns on their heads.

"Why are they running, though… Yuki, prepare for combat. There is a monster chasing them!"

Not even a second later a giant bear torn trees apart in it's mad dash after the minotaurus people.

"Why is it always a bear? Come on… where is some challange?" Little annoyed I jumped down from the fence and walked up to the beast, picking a single stone from the ground. "Spirits of the wind, give it speed!"

I hurled the stone at the bear. The stone picked up speed and was almost as fast as a bullet. The bear, not fearing a single tossed stone, roared defiantly, thinking it would not hurt him in the slightest. And that was the biggest, and last, mistake of it's life. The stone hit the beast's eye, pulverized through and exited through the other side of the beast's head. The bear fell down in pool of it's own blood.

"Meat's back on the menu boys!!" Sadly, no one picked up on my cultural reference and the minotaur's were looking confusedly.

"Woof!" Yuki came to my rescue with the rest of the dogs (minus the pregnant ones) and were eyeing the newcomers.

"Aiiiieeeeeeee!!!!" the minotaurs were herded together like sheep by the three wolves and in that moment the cavalery, in form of Syl and the rest, arrived.

"Alright, you guys! Spill out why did you come here! Keep in mind that I rule these dogs so you better speak up!"

"P-please don't! I will speak!!!"

"Come forward," I signaled the man who spoke up as Syl and Azu came to me and I whispered explanation to them.

"Oxfolk huh? Rare seeing them in these places, they live in north from here… or rather, the south of Demonic empire. Twenty five of them… mostly women and children… I guess they are refugees," Syl whispered back to me.

"Good sir, my name is Kreeta, I'm an elder and a leader figure of this group. We are refugees from the Demonic empire, our village was burned down by human army… most of our people were captured or killed…" the chief had hard time collecting his words as he sobbed. One of the young girls run up to him and help him keep himself stright while murmuring quietly "Father…"

I could not speak much of the girl, she had rather plain face. Though her rack could beat anyone I knew. Is that an F cup?

As that thought occured to me, I could pick up on a quite a murderous chill behind me.

Crap! Be wind, clean your thoughts… I am wind, I am empty… nope, that didn't work… it's even getting worse!!!

Taking all my courage, I looked behind me and noticed not only Azu, but even Syl glaring at the girl. That one, however was completly unfazed.

"Let me guess, you have nowhere to go, right?"

"Um… yes… we had to escape to forest, foraging most of the time… we became quite weak and have lost some children becouse of it… Good sir, please allow at least our youngest ones to stay!" the old man fell on his knees and joined his hands above his head in a gesture of prayer.

"What do you think Syl?"

"Oxfolk are quite resilient and strong… we can even get milk from their females."

"Whoa, really?"

"Yeah, they reproduce two or even three times a year, depending on the climate, so their bodies adapted in a way that they always produce milk. It's said that once woman starts lactating, she becomes adult," Syl had extreemly sour look on her face, and I had hard time forcing my excitement down at the idea. You can laugh, I'm a weak, but healthy man!

"Hmm… Listen up elder. I will allow all of you to stay here. But I want to see you hard at work, is that clear?"

"O-oooh, Yes sir!"

"Well, it will be mostly farming. If you have any expertise you want to work on outside that, say so to me first. Oh, and by the way, my name is Tarumi."

"Most of the girls here worked as Dairy producers, if that is fine with you, they would appreciate if they could continue," the girl next to elder bowed, and her chest followed suit. If I haven't noticed the chills and hailstorm behind me, I might've died just now.

"Sure. Who wouldn't like some cheese and butter… Syl?"

"Yes," she beamed a cheerful smile as I called her out.

"Well, let's prepare some tents for now. Azu, can I leave that to you?"

"Yes. I believe just fixing some fabric on a pole or to should work as roof for today. Do you have any plans, master?"

"Well, I was thinking of procuring more farming tools soon. I got only enough for us three, after all."

"But that would mean sneaking into the city. How fast can you be back?" Syl asked me with slight concern in her voice.

"Hmm… I'm not sure, but at least four hours to go there and four back? It's depending on the route I take. I have to use magic, however."

"Let's leave that for tomorrow. It will be better if you have more monster materials then those we collected so far."

"Oy! You there! Get off your asses and start butchering that bear! It's your first work here!"

"Yes! Ma'am!" the oxfolks saluted to the chieftains daughter and went to do as she ordered.

"It seems like your daughter have them on tight leash."

"The all boys in our village fawned over her ever since she was young, but when her brother died in battle with vampires she had to shoulder his responsibilities on top of her own…" The elder smiled sadly.

"You fought with vampires?"

"Indeed, about two years ago a faction of vampires got into a fight with the Demon king and called for independence. Back then thr Demon king conscripted all races with tough hides like we have and crushed the vampires, however we had heavy loses too."

"I see… Sorry, I can't find better words, but I've never been met with effects of war so closely."

"Is that so? I thought you are a powerful warrior given how easily you took down that Black bear."

"Naaah, I just know a thing or two about protecting myself."

"Hahah, is that so? Well, let's leave it at that," the elder walked over to his people.

Once he did, I went to the place where the girls cut the grasses to the abodes. I cut some there with magic, dried them with spirits and placed bigger part of them on a pile at the Oxfolks rest spot. The kids laughed and jumped right in, resulting in scolding from their mothers. I left out some torches for light and went back home. Once I got there, I started partitioning the first floor with simple walls and beams. Though, before it got dark, I only managed to separate two rooms, those beinf my and Syl's bedrooms. As I was looking at the completly bare room, I made a frame for the bed and throw in the remaining dry grass, divided into three equal parts. I did the same with the remaining wood I had on hand for the two girl's rooms.

That night we had bear meat feast enjoying it until it completly vanished in our stomachs. The Oxfolks were surprisingly big eaters each of them ate at least two kilograms of meat. They will feel sick tomorrow.

I let the Ox guys party the night away and went to sleep. I spread blanket over my bed and practically fell on it. "Phew, I guess I'm more tired then I thought…" There was a knock on the wooden doors so I had to go open.

Once I did, I was meet with face of the Elders daughter.

"Umm, are you done feasting?"

"Yes, thank you for feeding us. It was a long time since we had a proper meal."

"It's fine, but I guess that's not all you came to tell us, right?" Syl probably felt the cold wind of the night and came looking.

"Yes, father wanted to thank you, and given the elf lady here was talking about milk, he told me to produce milk for you personally."

"Damn, I was careless… Fiiine, come in, girl. You can sleep either with Azu, or the wolves," Syl sighted defeatedly and gave the girl a hard choice right away.

"If that's okay, I will take bed with miss Azu… and I'm no girl, my name is Terrea."

"Well, welcome to our simple abode. As you probably already know, I am Tarumi and this is Syl. Please come in," I opened the doors and let Terrea in.

"Thank you kindly, Chief Tarumi," she winked at me as she entered the house. Once we were in, I showed her the way to Azu's room and went to lay down my own bones.

Sadly, not even ten minutes later, a knock on the wooden frame where I planned to place the doors.

"Come in…" I said half defeatedly.

"Can I spend the night here?" Syl entered the room, little flushed.

"Syl? What are you doing here?"

"Were you expecting someone else?" she grumbled, looking at me with piercing glare.

"No, I'm happy it was you who came."

"Then everything is good," Syl let a small smile appear on her, "Now, if you excuse me, I will sit here and wait for that thieving cat."

Syl dropped next to me on the bed. She definitely took a bath before coming here in the lake, as I could smell sweet aroma waffling around her.

"Hmmm, thieving cats are a real hassle," I nodded as I sit up next to her. Her eyes were fixated on the doorway, "But, I know a way how to get rid of them."

As I said so, I gave her a big hug.

"Huh?! What are you doing, Tarumi?! Another of your jokes?"

"No, I'm serious this time," I placed my head on her shoulder. My hands were touching hers and my left traced to her fingers, "This is something I got for you… for us, in the town."

Reaching my right hand to my pocket I took out a pair of rings.

"Tarumi… those are…"

"They are simple rings, but the meaning they carry and… my feelings too, are much deeper."

"…"

"Syl, let me ask you clearly, will you marry me?"

"…"

"…"

"Tarumi… are you sure? …you know, I'm a witch, and I killed a lit too…"

"I don't care about either of those. Who I want to marry is the girl before me who I fell for. Not a witch, not a runaway, a girl that I fell for is nice enough to help a suspicious fellow who appeared out of thin air, even though you kicked me in a head, I still fell for you."

"Hey, I already apologized for that!" Syl turned to me, bright red in face. Maybe becouse she saw my own face get red, she fell silent.

"Let me ask you one more time. Sylnita Elmhaim, will you give me, Tarumi Sojka, the honor of being your husband?"

I looked her directly to her eyes to show her my unwavering determination.

"Tarumi… okay… I'm completly unexperienced… are you sure you want me?" She placed her hand on my shoulder.

"You and only you. No one else will do, and I would not accept anyone else."

"Okay… I will be… your wife…" Syl was so embarrassed her hands were shaking uncontrolably. And even though I held her hand, I was shaking myself so I actually managed to put the ring on her ringfinger on my second try.

Smiling at each other, our foreheads touched. "What about your ring?" Syl asked suddenly.

"Right here," I took it out and she instantly snached it away.

"Okay, gimme your hand, I will put in on for you," Her eyes finaly started sparkling like they did before. She put the ring on my finger, and as she hold my hand, our fingers interwined.

"So… um… will we seal it… with a kiss?" Syl really forced herself to say it, so I took all the courage I had left, which honestly wasn't much, and closed in the distance between us. Our faces moved closer and became redder by second. I could feel her breath on my skin. Our lips touched…

"Umm… want second round?" I asked once we separated for a second.

"Mm," Syl nodded to me, her ears red.

It took us looooong, long time before we decided to separate our lips and go to sleep.