That night, standing atop the manor balcony, overlooking the twinkling lights of my growing town, I clenched my fists. My land wasn't just a village anymore.
It was a beacon.
And beacons… always attracted the good—and the bad.
But I was ready. We were ready.
*****
Three days after tightening security, something miraculous happened.
I was walking with Ella and Elvie early in the morning, inspecting the new market stalls, when Finn, Divina's boy, came sprinting down the mana road, face flushed with excitement."My Lord! Miss Ella! Miss Elvie!" he yelled.
"The Fruit of Eternity! The Fruit bloomed!!"
My heart skipped.
Without a second thought, we rushed with him back toward the Divine Garden. The villagers we passed saw our urgency and followed in a slow growing tide, whispers trailing behind us.
When we reached the garden, gasps filled the air.
There, in the very center—between the two grand Divine Tree statues—stood the Fruit of Eternity sapling, now taller than a man, its silvery-green leaves shimmering under the morning sun.
At its heart, a single crystalline fruit hung low on its branch.
The garden behind the manor pulsed gently with light—faint at first, like the soft glow of fireflies on a summer night, but soon, the shimmer spread like a living mist. Vines coiled upward in elegant spirals, flowers unfurled in slow-motion bloom, and the very soil beneath our feet seemed to hum with energy.
Ella froze in place, her eyes wide with wonder. "Do you guys feel the magic? It's all around us," she whispered, her voice barely louder than the rustle of leaves.
Elvie stepped forward, lifting her hand as if to catch the light. The purplish glow caught between her fingers like fine silk. "It slipped in my pores," she breathed, awestruck. "God! This is amazing. It's the same feeling when we see the Divine Tree… maybe even stronger."
The purplesh shimmer moved like a soft breeze, wrapping around their ankles, brushing against their cheeks. It was gentle but impossible to ignore—like standing in the eye of a silent, powerful storm.
"Agree," I murmured, watching their eyes reflect the light, the way their hair caught the glow and turned almost silver in places. There was something profoundly peaceful about the moment, yet alive with magic so thick it felt like stepping into another world entirely.
A small fruit hanging from the center vine caught our attention. Unlike any fruit from Earth or this realm, it pulsed with inner light—colors shifting and swirling inside it like stardust caught in glass. Purple, blue, silver, even traces of deep crimson flickered within its skin.
Ella took an unconscious step toward it. "What is that…?" she asked.
I didn't answer immediately. How could I? This fruit was something born not just from Earth or magic, but from me—from the fusion of my power, the system, and the Divine Tree's energy.
Elvie reached out gently, touching one of the glowing leaves. "No wonder the villagers are getting stronger. This place—this magic—it's changing everything."
They didn't know it yet, but I had been watching the stats quietly from the Guardian Screen.
Everyone who had come into contact with this garden—even briefly—had shown improvements.
Increased mana flow. Heightened vitality. Even level-ups in some cases.
All without potions.
All without training.
Just... presence.
Would they be surprised if I told them that my magic was the source?
That my core magic wasn't just compatible with the Divine Tree—it was feeding it, awakening it? I looked down at my palm and whispered under my breath, "It's because of the purple light."
"Hm?" Ella turned toward me, blinking.
"Nothing," I said quickly, offering her a soft smile. "Just… happy it's helping everyone."
Elvie laughed gently. "Helping? Dirk, this is a miracle. You should've seen the kids this morning—one of the young beastkin shot a water spell twice the range he used to. The healer from the east said her herbs grew three times overnight."
Ella looked back at the glowing fruit again. "And you're saying nothing caused this?"
I shrugged playfully. "Maybe the Divine Tree's just feeling generous."
But deep inside, I knew.
It was my magic.
Not to mention that the smell that came from it was sweet, almost dizzying, but fresh and clean, like mountain rain. Ella, wide-eyed, clasped her hands over her chest. "It's... beautiful," she whispered. Elvie wiped a tear from her eye. "It's a blessing."
Divina stood at the base of the tree, tears streaming down her face, hands clasped in silent prayer.
Villagers and merchants alike fell silent, feeling the sacredness in the air.
We knew, instinctively, that this wasn't just a plant.
It was hope made real.
Organizing the Celebration:
Ella and Elvie immediately sprang into action.
Elvie, pulling a whistle from her pocket, rallied the market workers.
"Decorate every stall with flowers and greenery!" she ordered with the megaphone, "Bring out the magic green lanterns! We celebrate today!"
Ella and the new butler Raymond, the two new elven chefs, took charge of the kitchen teams.
"Use the good flour! Bake enough bread and cakes for everyone—we honor the Divine Tree and our home!"
Children ran around stringing colorful banners, and the blacksmith donated iron lantern frames that the tanners and weavers quickly covered with bright silks.
Soon, the entire market blazed with colors. The construction guys halted their work and started helping, some went to the bakery to help, some went to the meat shops to help the local butchers. The women started to cook behind their tents as echoes of the festival reached across my territory.
The scent of baking bread, roasting meats, and spiced fruits filled the air.
Musicians tuned their instruments, and jugglers—hired by Ella just days ago—began rehearsing tricks.
I ordered the release of fresh Earth-made sweets, candies and cakes from the manor stores, causing even hardened merchants to cheer like children.
That night, I ordered the gate closed and told the dwarfin guards to not accept visitors.
Under a thousand paper lanterns, Robinson folks held its greatest celebration yet.
Villagers danced, hands clasped together in lively reels.
Merchants, warriors, adventurers, and even the shy Divine Garden caretakers joined in.
Kael drank deeply from a heavy mug, laughing heartily for the first time in days.
Felix even cracked a smile when one of his riflemen tripped during a folk dance.
I watched it all quietly, standing between Ella and Elvie, a warm feeling blooming in my chest stronger than any reward screen or Guardian quest notification.
It was a community.
It was life.
Later that night, by the Divine Garden, Finn sat cross-legged by the Fruit of Eternity tree, telling stories to younger kids, while Divina carefully placed woven garlands around the sapling's base.
I knelt beside Divina.
"This tree will change everything," I said quietly.
She smiled softly, looking at her son surrounded by friends and laughter.
"It already has, my lord."
Then I received another ding from the system.
New Quest:
"Blessings of the Fruit of Eternity"
Protect the Divine Tree from harm (Ongoing)
Unlock the first harvest (Progress 0%)
Expand the Divine Garden into a Sanctuary (Optional Bonus)
Reward: Blessed Title – Warden of Eternal Bloom + bonus to leadership, reputation, and divine favor.
Quest and Town Status:
First Shields recruitment: 82/100
Falcon Watch active patrols: Success
Merchant Guild (Silver Crescent) setup nearly complete
Divine Garden: New protection rituals beginning tomorrow
Morale: Sky High 🚀🌟
The change began the very next morning. At first, it was subtle.
Divina was the first to notice. As she walked the garden path barefoot with Finn, she realized the soil around the Divine Tree was... different. Softer. Richer. Alive.
When she dug a little near the roots to plant a new batch of Starweave seeds, her hands came away coated in a faint golden glow.
Not harmful—no, it was nurturing. Healing.
The seeds sprouted before her eyes.
Within minutes, tiny green shoots broke the surface, stretching eagerly toward the sky.
Finn gasped. "Mama! Look! They're growing so fast!"
Across the town, Ella noticed the bakery's garden—planted with simple wheat and herbs—had doubled in size overnight. "Holy crap! I can't believe this." Ella grumbled, she took a sniff and looked around the garden. "The stalks were thick and healthy, despite no rain. This is beyond magic."
Elvie reported that the livestock pens near the manor were different, too.
The sheep and goats were livelier, their coats shinier, and the hens laid twice as many eggs as usual. Even the air felt fresher—cooler by a few degrees—and the mana in the air was denser, more nourishing. Sylphy, who was practicing her wind spells near the orchard, burst into my office, breathless with excitement.
"My Lord! My wind spells—it's like the air listens to me now!" she exclaimed, cheeks flushed.
Kael, ever the pragmatic one, confirmed it during combat drills.
"Our trainees have more stamina," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "They're recovering faster than before."
Felix muttered something about "unnatural blessings" but even he couldn't hide his cautious approval.