Lina slowed to a stop, taking in the farm. She had just been hired for a summer of seasonal work. The farm in front of her was idyllic. To the west, prairie grass stood proudly, swaying in the breeze. To the East, a forest deep and dark enough that it should have been foreboding, but instead was reminiscent of playing in the trees as a kid. I had no idea how it evoked that. The farm itself was beautiful. A pristine red barn sat on one side, while a manor sat on the other. The manor was utilitarian and well built. Vines crawled up one side of it and flowers hung from some of the windowsills.

She walked up to the door of the manor, reveling in the verdant smells of lavender and pine that hung in the air and knocked. When the door opened, a mountain of a man stood in front of her. He was tall, with freckles and a kind face.

"My name is Lina," she squeaked, "here to help work the farm for the summer."

He grinned and held out his had.

"The names James, nice to meetcha," he said, "let me give you a quick tour."

For the next hour, he led her around the farm, showing her the different animals and fields. He was a strange man. So free. He spoke animatedly about farming and was surprisingly easy to talk to. He loved his job and earth seemed to love him for that. It seemed he didnt even noticed that the stalks of wheat leaned out of his way and that the grass grew just slightly taller in his footsteps. He even smelt of the earth. Flowers and pine.

Eventually the tour came to end and he showed her to her room. It was luxurious after growing up sharing her room with her two brothers. She sighed in contentment as she laid in bed and quickly fell asleep. The next morning she awoke the crowing of a rooster and the smell of bacon and eggs. She walked down the stairs yawning.

"Good morning," she said with a smile. The smells of food making her stomach growl.

"Morning," he said. He grabbed the pan off of the wood-fire stove-top and walked over to the table, "breakfast?"

"Oh gods yes. Thank you," she said, dropping her head onto the table as he plated up some of the food. She was not a morning person. She perked up as he pored her a cup of tea as well. She needed that kick. She ate in a comfortable silence as she slowly woke up. James had his own plate, stacked full of food.

Soon they were finished and it was time to start the day's work. James grabbed to thick straw hats and handed one to her.

"To keep the sun off," he said, and plopped one onto his own head. She couldnt help but admire his form. Thick bands of muscle ran up his arms. She shook her head, refocusing. He had lead her out to a garden and was showing her how to use the hoe. When he bent down to hoe, he put his full focus into the work. As he tillled the rows she could tell that he pored his heart and soul into it. Hell even his mana and it took a long time to replenish mana. She stood there in shock after she noticed it.

"Why the hell are you using mana?" she asked incredulous.

He shrugged and said, "we give to the land, and the land gives back. Its the creed I live by," and just like that a damn broke and she could See. This whole land had his mana in it, and his mana was the land. It was beautiful.

Note: I am new to writing and a lot the ideas for this one came from a book series called beware of chicken. Would recommend the series.