Gardener of Eden

Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Avocado On Toast

The evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, golden shadows across the rolling fields of the Sunny Vale Farmland. After locking up Eden’s Flagship Store, the family made their way home together, the lingering tiredness from a long day’s work easily washed away by the crisp, cool evening air.

Instead of heading straight indoors, Rowan gently guided his parents along the outer perimeter of their estate. His bare palm grazed the edge of the soil, sending quiet, emerald pulses of mana down into the earth.

”I want you both to see this,” Rowan said, stepping onto the soft grass at the property line. ”After what happened with Garrek’s men today, I didn’t want to leave our home’s security to chance.”

Arthur and Martha walked alongside him, watching as faint, glowing veins of light briefly flickered beneath the turf before settling into an invisible, rhythmic vibration. The Earthen Ward Rowan had anchored deep into the bedrock was now fully active, wrapping around the entire estate like an impenetrable, living perimeter.

Rowan paused, laying his hand over the soil to explain its function. The ward was directly tuned to his own mana signature and class authority. Anyone recognized by him—or carrying the familiar, innate warmth of his family’s presence—could step across the border freely without triggering a single leaf.

However, for unauthorized intruders attempting to force their way onto the land, the ward held no mercy.

”If an uninvited guest tries to cross over,” Rowan explained, his voice low and firm, ”the earth itself will react instantly. Tough, petrified vines will erupt from the roots beneath their feet, entangling their limbs and trapping them completely in place before they can even draw a weapon.”

He gestured toward the dense treeline bordering the farm. ”And if they try to struggle, the vines only bind harder. The contraction force scales directly with their resistance—it’s tough enough to crush the bones and armor of a Level 20 beast.”

Arthur let out a slow, quiet whistle, looking down at the innocent-looking soil with newfound respect, while Martha gently rested her hand over her stomach, a deep sense of peace settling over her face. In a world full of rising political shadows and dangerous Crucible factions, Rowan had turned their quiet home into an unyielding fortress where his family could sleep without fear.

***

Rowan closed his bedroom door, sat cross-legged on the floor, and focused his mana pool.

[Domain: The Virgin Soil]

The timber walls melted away into a shimmering mist of golden-green light, transporting him onto the pristine, nutrient-rich turf of the Primordial Garden. Rowan walked straight toward the Orchard Region, stepping past the shimmering branches of the Amethyst-Gold Peach and the warm, glowing canopy of the Sun-Crystalline Eden Apple trees.

Where he had planted the dormant core earlier, a sturdy Ancient Avocado Sapling now stood over six feet tall.

The hyper-accelerated growth conditions of the Virgin Soil, coupled with the dense ambient mana pulsing from the adjacent legendary groves, had dramatically fast-tracked its lifecycle. The young tree featured a thick, dark trunk and broad, velvety emerald leaves patterned with luminous silver veins that drank in the domain’s atmospheric energy.

Rowan extended his right hand, resting his palm against the smooth bark to inspect its condition using his class authority:

Specimen: Extinct Ancient Avocado (Persea americana antiqua)

Growth Stage: Sub-Adult / Vegetation Peak

Health Status: Pristine (Nourished by Primordial Earth & Spring Mana)

Unique Attributes: Mana-Dense Oleic Matrix (Will yield fruit capable of granting permanent Stamina recovery and Earth/Life elemental resilience)

Estimated First Harvest: 48 Hours

Through the deep root network, Rowan felt the plant greedily drawing nutrients from the subterranean water channels fed by the World Tree. The extinct specimen was not merely growing; it was evolving into a far more potent, mana-enriched variant than its historical ancestors had ever been.

Satisfied that the sapling would yield its forgotten, high-tier fruit within two days, Rowan gave the sturdy trunk an affectionate pat before turning back toward the domain’s central training circle.

***

A quick mental calculation brought a satisfied grin to Rowan’s face. The Virgin Soil operated under a massive 12x time acceleration compared to the real world. Forty-eight hours of hyper-accelerated domain growth meant a mere four hours would pass in the outside world. He wouldn’t have to wait days for a historic harvest—by the time he woke up early tomorrow morning, the extinct avocado tree would already be heavy with ripe, mana-dense fruit.

Willing his domain authority to recede, the golden-green mist dissolved around him, dropping Rowan smoothly back onto the wooden floorboards of his bedroom.

Outside his window, the twilight sky had deepened into a cool indigo. The subtle, savory aroma of a home-cooked meal was already drifting up the stairwell, stirring his appetite after a long day of domain work and perimeter security. Rowan stretched his arms, unclipped his storage ring, and headed downstairs.

The dining room was bathed in the warm, flickering glow of hearthfire. Arthur was laying out heavy stoneware plates while Martha set down a steaming bowl of vegetable stew—its rich broth subtly glistening with the residual mana of the Verdant Crown Tomatoes and Vitality Grain Rowan had stocked in their kitchen earlier.

”There’s our master gardener,” Arthur greeted with a robust laugh, pulling out a heavy timber chair. ”We were just about to call you down. You’ve been quiet up there.”

”Just finalizing a few calculations for the orchard,” Rowan replied with a warm smile, taking a seat beside his mother. ”If everything goes according to plan, we’ll have a legendary crop ready for harvest before sunrise.”

Martha poured him a cup of fresh spring water, her expression radiating deep, maternal peace. ”As long as you aren’t pushing yourself too hard, son. After everything that happened today... seeing those stalkers hauled off by the garrison, and knowing your ward is watching over us... I don’t think your father and I have slept this soundly in months.”

”You don’t have to worry anymore, Mom,” Rowan said gently, resting a hand over hers. ”The ward will handle any unwanted visitors, and the Citadel authorities are tearing up whatever’s left of Garrek’s network as we speak. Our home is secure.”

Arthur raised his glass in a silent toast, his pride evident in every line of his weathered face. ”To family, and to the safest farm in the realm.”

They ate together in comfortable contentment, sharing lighthearted stories of the store’s enthusiastic patrons and planning the next morning’s special produce releases, wrapped in the absolute safety Rowan had built around them.

***

The low hum of the television echoed through the cozy living room as the family settled onto the plush sofas, the lingering warmth of their home-cooked meal still comforting in the air. Suddenly, the evening broadcast flickered, cut short by a stark red banner flashing across the screen alongside a piercing alert chime: [BREAKING NEWS].

A solemn news anchor replaced the regular program, speaking with rapid urgency. ”We interrupt this broadcast for a major announcement from the Citadel Constabulary. In a massive, coordinated multi-district strike, elite enforcement squads have completely dismantled a sweeping underground crime syndicate operating within the lower and mid-tier trade networks. The operation has resulted in the immediate arrest of the primary ringleader, Garrek, along with several high-profile corrupt businessmen and black-market facilitators.”

The broadcast cut to live magical projections showing heavily armored guards marching shackled, anti-mana-bound suspects out of hidden vaults beneath the commercial district. The anchor continued, detailing how key evidence recovered from recent morning detentions led directly to the syndicate’s front operations, uncovering extensive charges of black-market extortion, illegal tower interference, and high-tier attempted assassinations.

A long, shaky breath escaped Martha’s lips. Reaching out, she pulled Rowan into a tight, affectionate hug, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as if anchoring herself to the reality that her family was finally safe. Arthur let out a heavy sigh, the deep-seated tension in his posture entirely melting away as he watched the remaining conspirators dragged into high-security transports.

”It’s really over,” Martha whispered softly, kissing Rowan’s cheek before standing up. ”I think... I’m going to turn in early tonight. My heart can only take so much excitement for one day.”

Arthur offered a tired but immensely relieved smile, giving Rowan a firm pat on the shoulder as he stood to accompany his wife upstairs. ”Goodnight, son. You’ve given us a peace of mind we haven’t had in a long time.”

Once the house grew quiet, Rowan returned to his bedroom and locked the door behind him. Slipping into bed, he looked out at the moonlit sky, a quiet smile playing on his lips. With the four-hour threshold in the real world translating directly to 48 accelerated hours inside The Virgin Soil, the extinct Ancient Avocado Core he had planted was completing its full growth cycle in his personal domain while he slept. Knowing he would wake at dawn to harvest the very first batch of legendary fruit in over a century, Rowan closed his eyes and drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.

***

As the first faint golden light of dawn peeked through his bedroom window, Rowan was already awake. The air was crisp, quiet, and filled with a rare sense of complete peace now that the dark shadows over his family had been swept away. Without wasting a single second, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and channeled his mana pool.

[Domain: The Virgin Soil]

The bedroom instantly dissolved into a swirling mist of emerald and amber light, dropping Rowan onto the velvety, mana-rich grass of the Primordial Garden.

With four full hours having passed in the outside world—translating to forty-eight accelerated hours of domain growth—the entire realm was bursting with radiant vitality. Rowan bypassed the central fields and strode directly into the Orchard Region, his heart beating with eager anticipation.

Standing proudly between the gleaming Amethyst-Gold Peach trees and the sun-warmed Sun-Crystalline Eden Apples was a towering masterpiece of botanical restoration. The Ancient Avocado Tree had reached full, majestic maturity. Its sturdy trunk was wrapped in thick, protective bark, and its spreading canopy rustled with broad emerald leaves rimmed in shimmering silver veins.

Hanging from every heavy branch were dozens of massive, dark-green avocado fruits. They glistened like polished jade beneath the domain’s warm light, pulsing with a dense, smooth aura of concentrated life-force and pure earth mana.

Rowan stepped forward and reached out, his Gardener of Eden authority connecting with the tree as he gently plucked the first fruit. The moment the stem parted, a rich, nutty fragrance mingled with pure elemental mana washed over his senses. Inspecting the heavy fruit in his palm, its unique properties flared brightly in his mind—an extinct A-Grade botanical treasure capable of permanently bolstering stamina recovery, reinforcing physical constitution, and deepening earth elemental resilience.

Moving with practiced efficiency, Rowan systematically harvested the entire yield. He gathered the heavy, jade-like avocados one by one, carefully placing them into his spatial inventory alongside fresh yields of Verdant Crown Tomatoes, Amethyst Solar Squash, Azure Dew Berries, and crisp Mature Frost-Melons. The domain’s soil breathed out a quiet hum of satisfaction as every ripe crop was gathered at its absolute peak.

Holding one freshly harvested avocado in his hand, Rowan smiled as he willed the domain to recede. Stepping back into his quiet bedroom, he carried with him the very first harvest of a forgotten legend—ready to bring an extinct taste of history to his family’s breakfast table.

***

Rowan held the heavy fruit up to the morning light filtering through his bedroom window. The skin was a deep, lustrous emerald, but just beneath the surface lay a soft, faint golden shimmer that seemed to pulse in harmony with the ambient earth mana—a perfect companion to the Sun-Crystalline Eden Apples. The Sun-Gilded Jade Avocado was officially restored to the world.

Cradling a small wooden basket filled with a few of the newly harvested avocados, Rowan made his way down the stairs. The mouthwatering aroma of toasted bread and warm herbal tea was already drifting from the kitchen. Arthur was seated at the dining table going over ledger notes for the shop, while Martha was carefully setting out plates for their morning meal.

”Good morning,” Rowan said warmly, setting the basket onto the center of the wooden table.

Arthur looked up from his papers, his eyes immediately catching the soft, radiant luminescence emanating from the basket. ”Well, look at those... I don’t think I’ve ever seen a fruit quite like that, son.”

”It’s a Sun-Gilded Jade Avocado,” Rowan explained, picking up a small paring knife. ”An extinct specimen from a forgotten era. I brought the very first yield fresh from the domain.”

With a clean, fluid motion, Rowan sliced the fruit down the middle. The inner flesh was a breathtaking, creamy golden-jade hue, completely free of tough fibers and yielding smoothly under the blade. A rich, nutty aroma dense with earth-elemental mana instantly filled the kitchen, making his parents’ eyes widen in surprise.

Rowan scooped out the velvety pulp and spread it generously over warm slices of toasted bread made from their harvested Golden Spirit Flour. He handed the first slice to his mother. ”Try this, Mom. Its mana matrix will deeply restore your physical stamina and keep my little sister healthy and strong.”

Martha took a cautious bite, her eyes widening in immediate delight. The texture was impossibly smooth, melting like rich, savory butter with a delicate hint of sweet sun-mana. Almost instantly, a soothing, gentle warmth radiated outward through her body, washing away her morning fatigue and leaving her skin flushed with vibrant health.

”It’s incredible, Rowan,” Martha breathed, gently resting a hand over her bump as a serene comfort washed over her. ”It feels so light, yet so deeply full of life.”

Arthur took a robust bite of his own toast and let out an appreciative laugh. ”Gods above... if we put even a single one of these Sun-Gilded Jade Avocados on display at the shop, high nobles and master alchemists will be fighting over the display case.”

Rowan smiled, joining them at the table. ”Then we’ll keep the store’s stock strictly limited to maintain its legendary status—and keep the finest harvest right here for our family.”