14 Pollinator

Shaking off the confusion, Leon gathered his tools for the day's work in the field. He knew he had a lot to learn about cultivation and the mysterious inner workings of his own body. That brief, elusive sense of growing stronger, even if just for a split second, was enough to fuel his determination. He resolved to continue experimenting, to continue exploring the depths of his cultivation technique, despite the initial lack of visible results.

As he walked toward the field, his mind was abuzz with questions and theories. How could he generate more of this vital water? What exactly did that fleeting surge of strength mean? Leon knew the answers weren't going to come easily or quickly, but he was ready to pursue them with all the perseverance he could muster. The path of cultivation was proving to be as challenging as it was fascinating, and Leon was only just beginning to uncover its mysteries.

As they walked toward the field, Mei noticed Leon's slightly awkward gait and the way his clothes seemed tighter and shorter on him than just the day before. Realizing that his sudden growth spurt might draw too much attention, she quickly devised a plan to make him appear shorter, at least temporarily.

With a mischievous glint in her eye, Mei began scanning the ground and the surroundings as they walked. She picked up a large, floppy hat discarded near the path, placing it haphazardly on Leon's head, pulling it down far enough to obscure his eyes. "There," she said, "this should make you look a bit less like a giant."

Next, she gathered some old rags and tied them around his knees, making his pants look puffed and baggy, which gave the illusion that his legs were shorter. She stepped back, examining her handiwork with a grin. "Perfect! Now you just look like you dressed in the dark!"

Leon, amused and slightly embarrassed by his sister's antics, couldn't help but laugh. "Do I really have to walk around like this?" he asked, his voice muffled slightly by the hat.

"Just until people get used to the idea that you might be growing," Mei replied, her tone playful yet practical. "We don't want everyone staring and asking questions, do we?"

As they continued their journey to the field, their fellow villagers did indeed notice Leon, but not for the reasons one might expect. Instead of commenting on his increased height, they were more intrigued by his bizarre attire.

"Leon, did you lose a bet with a scarecrow?" one of the villagers joked as they passed by, causing a round of laughter among the others.

Another added, "Looks like someone's trying a new fashion trend. What do you call that style? Early gardener chic?"

Even Mrs. Lin, who met them at the field, couldn't help but comment with a chuckle, "Leon, I see you're bringing some extra flair to the field today. Let's hope it scares away the crows as well as it does fashion critics!"

The humor and light-hearted teasing helped to deflect any deeper scrutiny of Leon's sudden growth, and the siblings were grateful for the village's easy-going nature. Leon played along, striking a pose and pretending to model his "new look," which only added to the amusement.

Through the laughter and jokes, Mei's quick thinking and Leon's good humor helped them navigate the potentially awkward questions about his rapid physical changes. It was a morning filled with laughter and camaraderie, a reminder that even in times of mysterious changes and challenges, a light heart and a bit of creativity could make all the difference.

As Leon and Mei approached the field, they were surprised to see that the crops they had planted on their first day were already beginning to bloom. Hovering around the blossoms were small, fluttering creatures that neither sibling could identify.

Curious and slightly concerned, they turned to Mrs. Lin, who was inspecting another part of the field. "Mrs. Lin, do you know what these are?" Leon asked, pointing towards the tiny flyers.

Mrs. Lin squinted at the creatures, then scratched her head, trying to recall the information she had once read in a book. "Ah, those little things? I think they're called... pollinators, or something like that," she said, her tone unsure as she tried to piece together the bits of information she remembered. "They do something important with the flowers. Take a bit from here, put it there, helps the plants make seeds, or so the book said."

She shrugged, looking a bit perplexed by her own explanation. "It's sort of like... when you take a spoon of soup from one pot and stir it into another pot to mix the flavors, but for plants. These little fellas grab the... uh, plant stuff from one flower and zip it over to another. Helps more flowers come up strong and healthy, I suppose."

Leon and Mei exchanged a glance, amused by Mrs. Lin's analogy but also relieved to hear that the creatures were not harmful.

"So, they're not eating the plants?" Mei asked for clarification.

"No, no, nothing like that," Mrs. Lin reassured them, waving her hand dismissively. "They're more like... helpers. They fuss around the flowers, carrying the... bloom dust from one to the other. It's all nature's way of keeping things going. Without them, we might not have as many plants, see?"

"Think of them as tiny messengers for the flowers," she added, warming to her explanation. "Carrying secrets from one bloom to another, making sure our crops have a chance to grow more of what we need."

Satisfied with the explanation, Leon and Mei watched the small creatures work, a newfound appreciation for the complexity of nature growing within them. Mrs. Lin, pleased to have provided some insight, even if it was a bit muddled, returned to her work, leaving the siblings to marvel at the delicate balance of the ecosystem playing out in their fledgling field.

As Leon surveyed the field, he noticed that the number of insects had doubled since yesterday. The increase wasn't massive, but it was noticeable enough to confirm that their presence was somehow linked to the number of blooming plants. Curious about the potential benefits these insects might offer, similar to his previous experience, Leon decided to test a theory.

Yesterday, after consuming the insects, he had felt a slight boost of energy. Today, before jumping into another experimental snack, he checked his internal "forest" to see if it had gathered any more "water" — his unique way of visualizing his body's energy reserves. To his delight, there were a few more drops than before. He pondered saving this precious resource for a time when he might be extremely fatigued, thinking it could provide a significant boost when most needed.

With this thought in mind, Leon returned to his planting with unprecedented enthusiasm. He wanted to push himself to the limit to test the effectiveness of using the "water" from his internal forest at the peak of exhaustion. By the time he began to feel genuinely worn out, he had already planted ten seeds, and there was still an hour left until lunchtime.

Deciding it was the right moment, Leon focused inward and "watered" his internal forest, hoping for a rejuvenating effect. The result was subtle yet effective; he didn't feel an overwhelming surge of power, but there was a definite, lingering boost in his energy. This newfound vitality was just enough to help him plant three more seeds before lunch, a small victory that brought a bright, satisfied smile to his face.

"Wow, it's like... like I just had a super snack or something!" Leon exclaimed in a playful, somewhat silly tone as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "This little bit of water is like magic juice for my forest!"

Delighted with the results and feeling a bit like a young scientist having just confirmed a hypothesis, Leon couldn't help but feel excited about the possibilities. His day's work, enhanced by his unique cultivation technique and the curious effects of the insects, had turned into an adventure, blending the hard work of farming with the wonder of discovering his own capabilities.