The Seeds of Survival

Chapter 5: The Seeds of Survival

The sun blazed mercilessly, hanging in the sky like a molten coin, casting its relentless heat over the cracked fields. Alden wiped the sweat from his brow as he knelt down, inspecting a stunted stalk of grain. Its leaves were brittle and pale yellow—yet this particular plant had survived longer than most. It had weathered the drought better than its neighbours. Alden's gaze sharpened as he made a decision. This plant would be the first.

He had been here for weeks, carefully observing the crops that had fared best under the harsh conditions. While some farmers had adopted the new techniques he'd introduced, it was evident that more drastic measures were needed. The drought showed no sign of easing, and even with improved water management, the current crops simply weren't resilient enough. They were fragile, relying too heavily on the rainfall that did not come. But Alden knew there was another way.

Selective breeding.

In his previous life as a geneticist, Alden had worked with crops at a molecular level, manipulating their DNA to enhance resistance to disease and increase their nutrient content. He didn't have the tools for that kind of precision here—no microscopes, no gene-editing technology—but the principles remained the same. Nature, if guided carefully, would provide the answers.

He ran his fingers along the stalk, feeling its texture, noting the slight difference in strength compared to the others. This plant had the potential to pass on its traits—its drought resilience—if carefully bred with other strong candidates. In time, he could cultivate an entire field of crops capable of thriving in these conditions.

He rose slowly, dusting the dirt from his knees, and carefully snipped the seed head from the stalk with a small knife. He placed the seeds into a cloth pouch at his waist, tying it shut with care. These seeds were precious. They represented the future, provided his plan succeeded.

---

Over the next few days, Alden combed the fields, collecting seed heads from the hardiest plants he could find. It was a painstaking process, but one that filled him with a peculiar sense of purpose. For every ten plants that had withered under the oppressive heat, there was always one that stood a little taller, a little stronger. These survivors, as he had come to call them, were the key to his project.

In the evenings, he would retreat to the small chamber that served as both his quarters and his makeshift laboratory. By the flickering light of a single candle, he meticulously sorted the seeds. He laid them out on a worn wooden table, inspecting each one for signs of strength or weakness. The larger, more robust seeds were set aside, while the smaller, less promising ones were discarded. He felt a quiet satisfaction as he worked. This was something he understood, something that transcended both worlds. The methods of modern science could still be applied here, even without the tools he once had.

As the moon climbed higher in the night sky, Alden sketched diagrams on scraps of parchment, mapping out his plan. Selective breeding was a slow process—it could take seasons, perhaps years, to fully cultivate a new variety of crop. But Alden was patient. He knew that each generation of plants would carry the traits of its parents. If he was diligent, if he continued to select the strongest plants for reproduction, eventually the entire crop would be drought-resistant.

His mind raced through the possibilities. If he could create a strain of grain that thrived in dry conditions, it wouldn't just save the Harroway lands—it could reshape the entire kingdom's agriculture. If the drought persisted, other regions would fall into famine, while his family's lands could become a centre of food production. The political and economic power that would bring was immense. His family's influence would grow, and the Harroways would no longer be seen as weak, magicless nobles.

But that was still a long way off. For now, his focus was on the seeds.

---

A few days later, Alden gathered a small group of farmers from the village. He stood before them with a sack of seeds at his feet, his voice calm but authoritative.

"I've been collecting these seeds from the hardiest crops in the fields," he explained. "These plants have survived the drought better than others. What I'm proposing is a method called selective breeding. By planting only the seeds from the strongest plants, over time we can cultivate crops that are naturally more resistant to these conditions."

The farmers exchanged uneasy glances. Alden could sense their scepticism—it was a radical idea for them. They were accustomed to planting whatever seeds were available, year after year, without considering the long-term implications. The notion of deliberately selecting seeds from only certain plants felt... unnatural to some of them.

Garret, the older farmer who had been one of Alden's staunchest critics, frowned. "So, you're saying we can just pick and choose which plants are worth keeping? How's that any different from what we've been doing all these years?"

"It's more focused," Alden replied. "You've always chosen which seeds to keep, but what I'm suggesting is being more deliberate. It's not just about saving seeds from any crop that produces. It's about looking for specific traits—like drought resistance—and ensuring those are passed on."

"And you think that'll work?" Garret asked, his tone more curious than combative this time.

Alden nodded. "I do. It's not a quick fix. It'll take time—seasons, even. But if we start now, we can see improvement by the next harvest. It's about playing the long game, investing in future yields."

The younger farmer, Roderick, who had been more receptive to Alden's suggestions, stepped forward. "I'm willing to give it a go. If we keep doing what we've always done, we'll keep getting what we've always got—nothing. At this point, anything's worth a shot."

Alden smiled at Roderick's words, grateful for the support. He bent down, opening the sack at his feet, and pulled out a handful of the carefully selected seeds. "These are the ones I've gathered. I'll show you how to plant them—rows spaced further apart to conserve water, with mulch around the base of each plant to retain moisture. And next season, when we harvest, we'll do the same—only keeping seeds from the strongest plants."

There were still murmurs of doubt among the farmers, but the tide was slowly turning. Alden could see it in their eyes—they wanted to believe him, to trust that there was a way out of the endless cycle of drought and failure. And for the first time in a long time, there was a glimmer of hope.

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The planting began the following morning. Alden worked alongside the farmers, his hands dirty with soil as they carefully placed the seeds into the ground. The air was still dry, and the sky showed no sign of rain, but Alden's mind was focused on the future. He could envision it now—a field of golden grain, resilient and strong, thriving even under the harshest conditions.

As the last seed was planted, Alden stood and surveyed the field. The process was slow, but with every generation, the crops would grow stronger. Nature, when guided by knowledge and intent, would yield results. This was the beginning of something new, something better.

And with that thought, Alden walked away from the fields, already planning the next step in his journey to reshape this world.