Gardener of Eden

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: New Product

Rowan stepped back into his domain, taking the remaining two petrified Obsidian Root husks from the mahogany box. He brought them straight down to the root chamber beneath the primordial tree, making the same careful incisions along their hardened outer shells with his pruner.

He submerged both husks into small cups filled with high-purity primordial tree fluid. Within seconds, tiny air bubbles surfaced as the ancient, stone-like hulls soaked in the condensed mana.

[ PRIMORDIAL DOMAIN SYSTEM NOTICE ]

ANCIENT CELLULAR STRUCTURE DETECTED:

* Target: Extinct Species [Obsidian Root] (2x Samples)

* Vitality State: Critical Dormancy (99.9% Petrified)

ABSORPTION PROCESS INITIATED:

* Medium: High-Purity Primordial Tree Condensed Fluid

* Result: Rapid Cellular Hydration & Mana Re-Activation

GERMINATION STATUS: SUCCESSFUL

Cracks spread along the pitch-black shells as tiny flakes of petrified stone sloughed off. Vibrant, dark-purple sprouts burst through, unfurling their delicate, dark root fibers.

Rowan carried the two freshly revived sprouts back up to the surface plot. He carefully dug two new holes, keeping a sixty-centimeter buffer between each plant to allow their purification matrices full room to expand. The moment he set the sprouts into the Grade-E+ soil and packed the earth around them, the surrounding soil shifted to a rich, obsidian-black hue, pulsing softly as the roots anchored themselves deep into the domain’s matrix.

With all three Obsidian Roots safely planted and thriving alongside his Frost-Melons, Rowan stepped through the golden rift back into his dorm room. He locked the domain entrance behind him, settled into his bed, and rested, ready for Tuesday morning’s harvest and supply handoff with Arthur.

The early morning twilight filtered through the thin gap in Rowan’s blackout curtains as his internal clock woke him precisely at 5:45 AM. Sitting up in bed, he took a deep breath, feeling his replenished stamina pool completely rested and steady.

He stood up, locked his room door, and summoned the golden rift to step back into Eden.

Inside the domain, the environment was crisp and vibrant. The 12× time acceleration had done its work overnight. Standing in the central plot were five fully matured Frost-Melons. Each pale-blue, crystalline melon rested heavy on its vine, shimmering with a delicate layer of frost that sent a soothing, icy mist drifting across the soil. Nearby, the three revived Obsidian Roots had taken firm hold, their deep-purple leaves pulsing rhythmically as they continued purifying and restructuring the surrounding soil matrix.

Rowan knelt beside the melon patch and carefully harvested the five heavy fruits using his pruner, taking care not to puncture their icy rinds.

[ HARVEST COMPLETE ]

YIELD ACQUIRED:

* [D-GRADE] Mature Frost-Melons (5x)

* Quality: Peak Vitality / High Pure Mana Resonance

PROPERTIES:

* Rapidly soothes internal mana friction

* Cures high-grade physical exhaustion & fever

* Market Value: Premium High-Tier Commodity

He gathered the five Frost-Melons alongside two fresh crates of standard High-Vitality produce from his storage and packed them securely into cloth-lined delivery crates marked EDEN INTERNATIONAL. Rowan then stepped out of Eden back into his dorm room, loaded the cargo into his spatial domain storage, and adjusted his satchel.

By 6:25 AM, Rowan reached the heavy wrought-iron gates of Sol-Aethel Academy.

Arthur was already there waiting with the handcart, looking full of energy. The lingering fatigue from years of manual labor was completely gone from his face, replaced by a sharp, focused demeanor.

”Morning, Rowan!” Arthur called out warmly, stepping forward. ”You’re right on time.”

”Morning, Dad,” Rowan replied with a smile. ”How did the lease go yesterday?”

”Perfectly,” Arthur said proudly, tapping the side of the cart. ”Corner property in the central district is secured. The sign for Eden International is up, and news of our High-Vitality produce is already spreading through the merchant guilds.”

Rowan gestured toward the empty cart and summoned three heavy crates directly from his domain storage onto the wooden frame. He opened the lid of the top crate, revealing the five shimmering, frost-dusted Frost-Melons resting on soft straw.

Arthur’s eyes widened as the cool mist rolled off the crate. ”By the gods... D-Grade Frost-Melons? Real ones?”

”Harvested fresh this morning,” Rowan said. ”Display these prominently in the shop front. They’ll draw in high-tier adventurers, noble house stewards, and alchemists willing to pay top coin.”

”This will put our store on the map instantly,” Arthur said, his voice brimming with excitement as he carefully closed and strapped down the crates. ”I’ll have these displayed at the main counter before the morning rush.”

”Good luck today, Dad. I’ll check in after my lectures,” Rowan said, giving his father a firm nod before turning back toward the academy archway as the morning bell began to chime.

***

Rowan made his way through the pristine grand corridor toward the upper academy tier, stopping outside the tall double doors of Lecture Hall 7A.

Inside, the amphitheater was packed to capacity. Tiered rows of stone seating held hundreds of students from across every discipline—combat martialists, spell-weavers, alchemists, and agriculturalists alike. On the raised marble stage stood a line of figures radiating distinct, powerful auras: the Deans of all Sol-Aethel faculties, both combat and non-combat.

At the center of the stage, Dean Alistair of the Combat Faculty stepped up to the podium, his voice magnified by an amplification spell that resonated throughout the hall.

”Silence,” Dean Alistair commanded, the room instantly falling quiet. ”The first week of the academic term has concluded. You have faced initial assessments, practical plot assignments, and live combat drills. Today, the faculty deans present the official Sol-Aethel First-Week Honor Roll Leaderboard.”

With a sweep of the Dean’s hand, a massive, shimmering golden projection manifested in the air above the stage.

SOL-AETHEL ACADEMY: HONOR ROLL LEADERBOARD

WEEK 1 EVALUATION

│ RANK │ STUDENT NAME │ FACULTY / DISCIPLINE │ HONOR POINTS

│ 1 │ Rowan Vance │ Agricultural Cultivation │ 100 HP (Perfect)

│ 1 │ Barney Ironforge │ Blacksmithing & Crafting │ 100 HP (Perfect)

│ 1 │ Kaelen Drake │ Vanguard Combat & Blades │ 100 HP (Perfect)

│ 1 │ Lyra Frostfall │ Elemental Evocation │ 100 HP (Perfect)

│ 1 │ Valerius Thorne │ Runes & Magitech │ 100 HP (Perfect)

│ 1 │ Seraphina Vane │ Alchemical Alchemy │ 100 HP (Perfect)

Whispers exploded across the lecture hall as students stared at the top of the board.

”Every single department topper is tied at Rank 1 with 100 honor points!”

”Look at the top—Rowan Vance from Agricultural Cultivation! And Barney Ironforge topped Blacksmithing!”

”An agriculture student and an Ironforge dwarf tying with Kaelen from Combat and Lyra from Evocation? The non-combat faculties are taking over the leaderboard this term!”

Dean Alistair let the murmurs roll through the crowd before tapping his staff once against the floor to restore order. ”These six individuals achieved flawless marks in their respective preliminary evaluations, earning the maximum first-week reward of 100 Honor Points. Let their diligence set the benchmark for the upcoming Mid-Term Practical Examinations.”

Sitting near the back row, Rowan spotted Barney across the hall grinning broadly as the Ironforge name shone in golden letters. Rowan quietly smiled, watching their names floating at the top of the academy-wide board.