My Demonic Farm: A Progression Fantasy LitRPG

Suddenly, Lorian's eyes sparked with realization as he exclaimed, "There is a solution!"

Theo and Violet both looked in his direction, waiting for his explanation. Lorian pointed towards the sea. "You can purify the seawater using your fire magic."

Violet's eyes lit up with excitement, and she slapped her forehead lightly. "Hey, why didn’t I think of that?" she muttered, chiding herself for not considering such a straightforward solution earlier.

Theo felt impressed by Lorian’s thinking capabilities. Although he had other means to solve the water crisis, excluding his Demonic Farm and golden vault, he was pleased to see Lorian come up with a practical and scientific solution.

He noticed a rare smile on Lorian's face as the elven boy was staring at Violet, which made him silently muse, ‘Budding heart… I hope it doesn’t bring him pain…’

With the plan set, Violet began gathering the necessary items, and Lorian eagerly assisted her. Theo, observing Violet and Lorian's enthusiastic cooperation, felt compelled to assist them with their task.

Violet led Lorian to a large tree along the beach. With their swords drawn, they began the laborious process of separating and hollowing out the trunk to create a sturdy container for boiling seawater. Working in tandem, they expertly carved out the inside of the trunk, transforming it into a deep basin.

“This will do,” Violet murmured with a nod of satisfaction.

Together, the duo carried the hollowed-out trunk to an elevated spot on the beach, carefully chosen to be safe from the reach of high tides. This elevation was also going to facilitate the drainage of excess seawater after boiling.

Meanwhile, Theo had been gathering other necessary items for their plan. As they set up the hollowed-out trunk, Theo began constructing a slanted cover using large leaves and smooth stones. Violet and Lorian watched curiously as he expertly positioned the leaves at an angle over the wooden container, arranging them to direct any condensation into smaller collection containers crafted from coconut shells.

Using hollowed-out coconut shells and large shells scavenged from the beach, the trio transported seawater to fill the wooden container, repeating the process until it was sufficiently full.

“Now it’s time,” Violet announced, taking a deep breath as she positioned herself beside the container, her wrists aglow with three red rings.

“You need to control it carefully, or the container might burn…” Theo cautioned, watching Violet’s face tense in concentration.

Violet's expression hardened with determination. She nodded and, focusing intently, cast a controlled whirl of fire that began to spiral around the container, heating the seawater until it began to boil. As Violet managed the flames, beads of sweat began to form on her forehead, with Theo and Lorian watching closely.

The evaporation process initiated and, more sweat appeared on Violet's brow. The steam rose and condensed on the large leaves, trickling down into the waiting coconut shells. The group watched intently as fresh water slowly collected, drop by drop.

Lorian and Violet exchanged delighted looks, pleased with the successful result.

Observing the process, Theo noted, "The salt left behind can be used, but in moderation. It’s not entirely pure, so use it sparingly."

After an hour of intense effort, Violet slumped down on the sand, visibly exhausted. Lorian, concerned, quickly asked, “Hey, are you okay?”

Violet nodded with a tired expression. “I forgot to keep the mana usage in mind… This task requires a lot of mana since I have to control the output of my spell…”

Lorian, with a hint of firmness softened by concern, said, “We have enough fresh water for today's needs. You’ve done plenty. Now, take some rest.” he reassured her.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Violet looked at Lorian with genuine appreciation. "You really saved us," she admitted gratefully.

Lorian responded with a modest smile, "It wouldn’t have been possible without your fire magic."

Theo, observing the fruits of their labor, added, "You both did well."

“We’ve handled the water issue, now it’s time to tackle food,” Violet declared, setting the next challenge before them.

Lorian turned to Theo, hope evident in his voice, “Brother Theo, can you resolve this matter?”

Theo crossed his arms, adopting a contemplative silence that drew Lorian's gaze.

“Brother?” the elven boy looked at him with hopeful eyes.

Seeing Lorian’s unwavering faith in his brother, Violet couldn’t stop herself from intervening. “What can your brother do? We might as well forage for leaves and whatever else is edible in the forest. With some salt, it won’t be too bad.” She believed it was essential to temper Lorian's expectations and prepare him for the harsh realities of their situation—that his brother wasn’t a magician.

Lorian's eyes darted between Violet and Theo, his eyes searching for a sign of reassurance from his brother.

Theo, however, nodded to Violet’s input. “She has a point. The forest offers plenty.” Violet’s face lit up with a smug smile at his agreement, but her satisfaction quickly faded as Theo continued, “However, the risk of poisoning is high. We could endanger ourselves with the wrong choices. Mere ignorance could be as fatal as any enemy. Our competitors won't even need to confront us directly; the forest itself could incapacitate our members without them lifting a finger.”

Lorian and Violet both knew Theo’s words were laden with logic. The forest did hold potential resources, but it also harbored dangers in the form of poisonous flora, and they were not experts in distinguishing safe from toxic.

Violet’s expression clouded over with the realization of the risks, her initial hope of easily gathering food dampening. Yet, Lorian wasn’t ready to give up. “Is there really no safer alternative?” he asked, clinging to a sliver of hope

Deep down, Lorian couldn't accept that Theo lacked a solution to their current predicament. His unwavering faith in his brother wasn't unfounded; it was rooted in past trials where Theo had proven himself remarkably capable. He vividly remembered the harrowing time when Neria had been kidnapped. Back then, Lorian had placed his trust in Theo over the Elven royalty, believing firmly that only Theo could secure her safe return.

And indeed, Theo had not disappointed him; he had ventured alone into the den of the tiger, facing off against kidnappers and bandits to rescue her single-handedly. In light of such feats, the current challenge of finding food seemed minor.

Theo, perceiving the unspoken trust in Lorian's gaze, felt a surge of responsibility. He nodded solemnly and said, "Come with me."

Violet, feeling somewhat cornered by Theo's assertiveness and skeptical of Lorian's blind faith in him, reluctantly decided to follow. She recalled how Theo had unexpectedly brought coconuts the previous night and conceded that perhaps following him, just this once, might yield something beneficial. Lorian, for his part, joined without any hesitation.

Theo guided them toward the forest. As they entered, the landscape transformed, revealing an array of foliage—towering trees, sprawling vines, and an undergrowth peppered with various wild plants. The forest was alive with ferns, moss-covered trunks, broad-leaved shrubs, and the occasional glimpse of bright berries and hidden mushrooms.

Theo, who had previously harvested one of each type of plant during his earlier absence from the campsite, hadn't had the opportunity to thoroughly examine their properties. Now, needing to ascertain which items might be edible, he activated his [Leywin's Gaze]. As he focused on each plant, detailed descriptions began to appear before his eyes.

Theo selectively passed by several species of plants with a focused expression, navigating through the forest. Violet, though itching to voice her skepticism, noticed how intently Lorian followed Theo and decided to hold her peace. She thought it best to wait and let the outcome reveal whether Theo's confidence was misplaced.

After about ten minutes of careful progress, Theo stopped near a patch of dense foliage. He knelt down, gesturing for Violet and Lorian to join him.

"Here," Theo said, pointing to a cluster of plants with broad leaves and vibrant berries. "These are safe to consume. See how the leaves are shaped and the color of the berries? Remember it carefully so you can find these berries on your own even if I’m not around."

Violet, though still doubtful, couldn't help but be impressed by Theo's knowledge. She stepped closer, examining the plant curiously as Theo began to gather some of the edible berries.

Lorian looked on, his faith in Theo seemingly justified once again. He glanced at Violet, a gentle 'I told you so' expression on his face.

Theo, seeing their reactions, continued, "It’s about knowing where to look and how to identify what we can use. With the right knowledge, the forest isn't just a barrier to our survival—it’s a resource."

As they began gathering more edible items from the forest, Violet's earlier reservations began to dissolve, replaced by a slight trust in Theo.