The Starfield Farming Sovereign (Elizabeth Schofield) novel Chapter 7

The ferocity and wariness on the two children's faces shattered like ice struck by a heavy hammer, cracking apart to reveal disbelief and confusion underneath.

Their eyes widened in unison as they looked back and forth between the vial of liquid supplements that could keep their sister alive and help them survive for several more days and the dirt-covered lump in Elizabeth's hand that they regarded as a lethal poison.

Those unnaturally large eyes darted back and forth.

The boy named Timothy even rubbed his eyes hard, convinced hunger had driven him into hallucinations.

Using precious liquid supplements to trade for something inedible and poisonous?

How could anyone in the world be that foolish?

The girl's throat bobbed sharply. Her cracked lips trembled, but no sound came out.

She stared at the liquid supplements, then, after a long moment, gathered the courage to look at Elizabeth again, as if searching her face for any trace of mockery or deceit.

In the end, the instinct to survive overwhelmed every doubt and guard she had left.

In a hoarse voice on the verge of breaking, the girl asked, trembling, "H-how... How do you want to trade?"

Elizabeth weighed the green-tinged potato in her hand and named her price. "One vial of liquid supplements for five of these dirt lumps. How does that sound?"

"We'll trade," the girl replied without the slightest hesitation, gritting her teeth.

At her answer, Timothy hurriedly emptied his pockets, dumping all the dirt lumps into Elizabeth's hands. His voice carried an anxious eagerness to please. "Here. All of them. Take them all."

Elizabeth glanced down.

In the boy's filthy palm lay seven potatoes of uneven size, each with greenish skin and even spots of mold. To her, they were more precious than anything else in the world.

Under the children's tense, apprehensive stares, she handed the vial of liquid supplements to the girl.

"Five means five," Elizabeth said evenly, her calm voice carrying an inexplicable sense of authority. "I'll keep track of the extra two for you. If you find more of these dirt lumps later, you can bring them to trade with me."

The girl nearly snatched the vial, hurriedly twisting the cap open and raising it to her mouth.

For a moment, Elizabeth thought she was about to drink it all herself. Instead, the girl only took a small lick to confirm what it was, then immediately poured it into her little sister's mouth.

Watching the child, Elizabeth frowned slightly.

Her breathing was so faint it was barely there. She was clearly at her limit. Liquid supplements alone might not be enough.

As expected, only a little was poured in before it all spilled out along the child's pale, parched lips.

Not a single drop was swallowed.

"Yvonne. Yvonne, drink it. These are liquid supplements. Drink it and you won't be hungry anymore. Please, drink." The two children hovered anxiously, tears pooling in their eyes, their voices filled with helpless despair.

Elizabeth sighed silently and stepped forward.

Timothy instantly blocked her like a cornered wolf cub, his entire body taut, eyes fierce with fear. "W-what are you trying to do?"

"If you don't want your sister to actually die," Elizabeth said, her tone leaving no room for argument, "move aside."

Faced with her gaze, edged with faint pressure, both children froze.

It was getting late. She needed to get back before nightfall and plant those potato tubers.

With some effort and a bit more spiritual power to accelerate growth, she might even be eating fresh potatoes she grew herself by tomorrow.

As long as she didn't starve, she would rather not drink those stomach-turning liquid supplements again.

After she had taken a few steps, the girl called out from behind her, guilt thick in her voice. "Th-that ... those dirt lumps ... they're poisonous. You can't eat them. If you do ... you'll die."

Elizabeth paused but didn't turn back. She lifted a hand casually, a faint, almost imperceptible smile in her tone. "Don't worry. I won't eat them."

Seeing this, Timothy gathered his courage and shouted after her with all his strength. "Miss, then ... if we find more dirt lumps later... will you still want them?"

"Yes," Elizabeth answered without hesitation. "I'm counting the extra two for you. Bring me another three next time and trade for liquid supplements."

The two children stood frozen, staring at her retreating figure. Disbelief flickered across their dirty little faces, then burst into a nearly blinding light.

"Selina, did you hear that? She said we can trade dirt lumps for liquid supplements again."

"Yes, I heard it. When Yvonne wakes up, I'll go collect them with you."

They were so excited they could barely speak, calling out thanks again and again toward her disappearing back.

On the Garbage Planet, children without adult protection struggled to survive.

They were small and weak, and rarely found anything of value. When they did, it was often stolen from them.

But these poisonous dirt lumps were one thing no one would ever fight them for.