It took him a while, but Simon finally convince him that whatever those intruders reason in trying to infiltrate Burlock's office, it did not mean that it is a direct danger towards the clan, and so he should put it at the back of his mind for the time being.

For the next 2 ten-days. Amriel devoted most of his time in cultivating his new land. It was back-breaking work and the sun was scorching hot, but Amriel loved it. The clan logistics is able to give him an idea about the market process of every known grain or seeds or vegetables and fruits. The most important of it all is corn, then wheat. But the clan warned him that the soil in the surrounding area is rich but is not good for corn or wheat. instead, he was encouraged to plant Lushkaite, a form of root crop that is best for soup. The market is alway in constant demand for the crop and the soil is perfect for it.

Amriel shrugged and accepted the tip, especially since the clan offered him a small sack of the lushkaite seed for practically peanuts. By the 3rd ten-days, his land is as ready as it will ever be. the planting began and people walk out of their huts even before the sun is up and return home when the sun is already down. Amriel realized that it is normal for people to fall on the bed without cleaning up or eating anything and in seconds are already asleep snoring and dead to the world. Only to wake up exactly 8 hours later to do their backbreaking job all over again.

Despite not being born to the job like most of the other farmers, Amriel is able to keep up because of his innate strength and the radiance flowing inside his body.

That afternoon of the 3rd day, Amriel was manhandling a giant boulder buried deep in his plot of land and he was trying to set it aside. His progress was very slow.

"Hello, uncle!" A little voice interrupted Amriel's idle thoughts.

Amriel smiled brightly as the unmistakable voice of Ella, her secret daughter, echoed in the vast field. He waived back to the little girl, and five aspects followed

suit. "Hello young lady, how can I help you this fine afternoon?" He asked as he neared the little girl who is holding a basket. She wore a straw hat as well and the

combination made as cute as a button.

Ella giggled. "Mama wants me to buy some eggs and tomatoes. Do you need anything?"

Amriel hid his frown from the little girl, but his aspects openly did so. "By The source, the girl is freaking Five! Girls that age doesn't get chores like going to the market a few miles away! They just don't! We should talk to Navina about this," Tubby, the one-eyed cat said.

"That won't solve anything," Simon said, cleaning his glasses.

"Maybe," Growled the cat. "But I think screaming at the bitch will make us feel better."

The sad Aida nodded near Simon. This time she is wearing a nurse uniform with her voluptuous body almost popping out of it. "Feel Better," she said mournfully. Rex the Chihuahua woofed his agreement.

"Even so we are not going to do that." Said Simon as a chair appeared and he sat down to read his book. Mutely, Aida pulled out a gigantic injection needle and proceeded to stab Simon's arm. "Ouch," said Simon with a straight face as he continued to read his book. Without a word, Aida pulled out the needle then stabbed Simon once again.

"Ouch."

"Ouch."

"Ouch."

"ummmhm, Uncle?"

Amriel turned back to the little girl. "Yes, Ella?" He asked.

"You've been quiet for a long time, is anything wrong?"

"No, I'm fine," Amriel said, then without Ella noticing, Daniel exchange mind with Amriel. "You know what, I cannot think of anything to ask you to buy but I'm sure I

needed something, so if you don't mind, can I accompany you to the market instead?"

Ella's face brightened. "Alright, let's go!"

***************************************

"You gotta be shitting me?!" Daniel said, horror etched in Amriel's face.

The clan vendor is looking at Amriel with a weird face. "I already told you: We don't have anything with what you described. What do yo call it again? Beer?" He said, handing Ella her eggs very carefully.

The moment he asked for beer, and when the vendor said they don't have it, Amriel from the other side of his brain access his memory of this beer, and confirmed that they don't have anything like that in this world. This was a devastating piece of information for Daniel.

"But... But you guys understand fermentation! You got wine! How can you not have Beer for christ sake!"

"Would you like some apple cider?" Ella asked anxiously, her uncle's behavior is worrying her. "I think papa have some left."

Absently, Daniel patted Ella's head. He is already looking for ways to introduce beer in this world because a world without beer is a definite hell and he will not just let it be.

Leaning next to the stall was the bum Greg who is smirking at him. "Not my problem," He quipped as he drank deeply from his paper bag covered vodka. Daniel snatched the drink from his aspect and despite feeling the splurged of liquid inside it, when he tip it over to his mouth, no liquid came out of the bottle. Disgusted, Daniel threw the imaginary bottle out into the field as it twinkled in the horizon. Cartoonishly, Greg in anguished, ran after the vodka bottle screaming, "Noooohh!"

When he calmed down and turned, both the vendor and Ella are gawking at him.

"Aaah, some bee is buzzing around me," Daniel said lamely. "I hate bees."

"I see," said the vendor very slowly, eyeing him. His eyes going back and forth from the mad man and the little girl next to him. He was obviously concerned about leaving the little girl next to the not so sane man. Daniel, as well as the rest of his aspects, sighed heavily.

"Come on, Ella. I'll treat you to some candy."

"Really?!" Squealed Ella, forgetting about his uncle's weirdness. "Well come on then! I know just the place who sells the best candies and treats around!"

Daniel was mildly surprised to see Greg there again next to Simon who is reading something. He is guarding his vodka bottle protectively and glaring at Daniel balefully.

Daniel let Ella pull him away.

They pass a few more stalls, and some of the clan members recognized Amriel and they greet each other with a shoulder grip, as is proper to greet a family member. Ella

laughingly performed a few curtsies herself, but her full focus is in the treats.

The stall Ella wanted to but the treats turned out to belong to Mrs. Salark, an ancient looking woman who looks like she is always brooding. When they were little, Tyler and Amriel always wanted to get a few of Mrs. Salark's black oranges in her backyard and even then the old croon is already old. He and Tyler have a healthy respect for the old woman's throwing arm.

"Err, Mrs. Salark, you're still alive then," Daniel said.

"Young Amriel," The old lady said as a way of greeting. "You look as mischievous as ever."

Ella didn't have any fear of the old woman, unlike every other child that gaze the old woman's features ever since the beginning of time. "Can I buy some of your sweet bread, Aunt Sal?"

"How many do you want?"

Ella turned to me with an expectant glow, Daniel gave her ten quarts which she then gave quickly to the old seller. Without hurry, Mrs. Salark gave Ella 4 pieces of hard bread. Daniel tasted one and almost gag. The damn thing was just a dried bread with some sort of thin sweetened syrup on top, but Ella loved it and so Daniel kept his mouth shut.

One day, I'll have you eat real cakes and brownies and marshmallow and freaking ice cream with real chocolate on top! Not this hard tasteless bread that even a dog back home will not even eat.

And so Daniel and Ella walked back home after a few stick of time exploring the myriad items available in the market. frankly speaking, Daniel wasn't that impress with the available product in the clan's market. They are lacking a lot of the essential items and what is available is overprice. Consequently, Daniel wasn't able to buy anything useful during that trip.

But Daniel wasn't that disappointed. For him, and to Amriel no doubt, the point of the trip is to spend some time with Ella as much as possible and seeing the delighted the face of her daughter as she enjoyed her treat was enough to keep Daniel's mood up. He escorted the girl back to her home, awkwardly greeted Navina, then he made his way back home.