The northern lands differed from the south, where the soil carried a faint crimson hue. Here, it was black earth, like a deep black cloth spread across the night sky.
Specks of ice-blue phosphorescence rose and fell, illuminating the darkness.
Aurelian was initially dumbstruck, but then wild delight surged into his red eyes.
Magic Seed Wheat had surprised him once again!
There was no trace left of the originally short wheat shoots. In their place stood thick, green stalks, their waists glowing with specks of blue light.
The joints of the stalks were growing vigorously, nearly as tall as the shrubs in the Spruce Forest.
"This is unbelievable. The Magic Seed Wheat is growing at such an astonishing rate—probably several times faster than ordinary wheat!"
He stepped closer for a careful look and discovered that the green stalks and leaves were beginning to unfurl outward, while the young ears they bore showed signs of emerging.
"Milord, could there be some kind of problem?"
The fat Hume asked nervously.
He was merely an ordinary man who helped the nobility manage their daily affairs and knew little about mysterious things like magical potions.
So he was deeply worried.
But Aurelian looked exhilarated, as if he had won a ten-million lottery prize. He rose, turned around, and said excitedly.
"Hume, we've truly struck it rich."
"Could it be...?"
Hume was no fool. One look at his lord's expression told him this had to be good news—great news, in fact.
"That's right, just as you're thinking. This Magic Seed Wheat will ripen before long. It won't need three months at all! Perhaps before winter arrives, we can plant three crops and fill all the newly reclaimed land!"
If he had not just received a vicious beating from the young maid, he might have thought