Emerald Valley #1

My main focus has been on poor Spring Lai, the girl who fulfilled her parents' dream of her going into science, (she earned a technology degree), but her own dream is to embrace her mystical side and become a witch. After college, Spring moved to Emerald Valley after hearing a school of magic and mysticism was being built. She pre-enrolled and attended Emerald Valley Public School as they had some distance classes in place until the building was ready.

After classes, she would work on her logic skills with her classmates.

On the weekend she decided to treat herself to a spa day. . .

And an evening at Grinkers, the local old-school arcade and bar.

It was there she met Aspen Winnibego, who wasn't very nice to her.

I think Aspen thinks she's better than her because Aspen has two degrees - a medical degree and a business degree. Aspen places a lot of importance on a good education.

Finally the day came to transfer to the new school: The School of Magic and Mysticism.

The ground floor features the school rabbithole rug, the library, a cafeteria area, and bathrooms.

The upstairs has an alchemy classroom, alchemy storage room, spellcasting classroom, spell dueling room, and bathrooms.

This school also has a roof-top greenhouse and telescopes for skill building.

One thing I forgot was the broom-riding arena, but I'll add it later.

This school is conveniently located across the street from the Fairy Garden Park, where the arboretum and vault of antiquity are located.

This park also has some grills and picnic tables, a fountain, bathrooms, and a lot of harvestables.

Spring's first day of school was not a good one. Despite taking an alchemy class at the Vault of Antiquity and doing her research, her first attempt at creating a simple Vial of Bliss backfired on her.

Now she is stuck as a toad until she either finds or creates a curing elixir or receives a true love's kiss. On top of that, she will need to find or create an elixir that will turn her into a full-fledged witch, or she won't get beyond the second year of magic school. These things weigh heavy on her mind and haunt her dreams.

Will she ever be able to achieve her goal of finishing magic school?

Will she ever be her old self again?

Will she even have teeth to brush again?

Why is she craving flies all the time?

Maybe she could simply buy a curing elixir and an elixir to turn her to a witch, but could she afford them?

Maybe she will meet a true love. That could solve her toad problem.

But what about her challenges at school?

Spring decides to take care of her mental health by getting out and making friends. One stormy Saturday she decided to have lunch at Doo-Peas Café and start a Sci-Fi novel about a planet inhabited by a bi-pedal race of toads. She met Sonyia Whipsnake who was tending the register. Sonyia invited her to her birthday party that would take place in a few days.

"Well, this is a good start," thought Spring as she ate her lunch in the rain. (I see my CC chairs here have been replaced. I really love that collection and need to add it back.)

After working on her Sci-Fi book and submitting a few chapters, she met Daniel Blocker who works in the education career. Daniel is married, but they can still be good friends. They spent some time getting to know each other.

And she made her first real friend in this town!

As evening approached, they decided to visit the Seaside Lounge and Casino and try their luck at the poker tables.

Spring walked away 10 simoleons richer. While there, she met the lounge's piano man, also named Danial, but spelled differently. Could Danial Gustafson be the true love she is seeking?

It was getting late, and Spring needed to spend Sunday working on her alchemy skills, so they said good night.

A few days later, Spring attended Sonyia's birthday party at the Whipsnake home. (I switched to playing them through Sonyia's birthday to refamiliarize myself with their backgrounds.) The guest list included Terrence Bloodston, Athena Thyme (now a teen), and the Winnibegos who decided to air their personal grievances at the party. (While Aspen has two degrees, Vinny never followed through on his degree and decided to follow his dream to be a fireman. I don't know if he continued with that line of work in this game as I haven't played them yet. Anyway Aspen is now pregnant and may be thinking she married below her station. These guys were really in love in the last game. Maybe it's just hormones talking here.)

Spring and Terrence got to know each other, being the only supernaturals at the party. Terrence could make a good friend, but he is already romantically involved with Patty Wolfe according to the messages I get from Story Progression.

Terrence and Spring were the only supernaturals until evening fell, but it happened to be a full moon.

Then Vinny's zombie proclivity was revealed.

All in all, the party went well. I was playing the Whipsnakes for a couple days, and it appears that Spring up an moved to an apartment complex in the meantime. Maybe she thought she would have better luck meeting people in that environment. I switched back to her and sorted out her living arrangements, allocating one apartment to her and helping her find a "roommate" for one of the other apartments (I don't play them Late Night style, but have all apartments as walk-ins and designate who lives in which apartment and keeping some common areas open for everyone.) I set up a common laundry room and workout room, but nasty Corrine Burnette came skulking around and stole both washing machines and some other items.

She got away with it too, but Spring decided to document the event by taking a photo with the police officer to put on her wall. The picture didn't turn out that great.

One day Spring went to the summer festival to blow off some steam. She took part in the hotdog eating contest, thinking she would definitely beat the crazy cat-lady Matilda Cattiwaller, but Matilda came out the winner.

The other contestant gave up early, but despite losing, April was determined to finish her plate. Then she had a snowcone. Boy was she stuffed!

She decided she needed to work off some of those calories before heading home.

I was notified that Tamara Emerson got knocked up by a guy named Joey Trujillo, and they had a shot-gun wedding and moved to the apartment complex near Spring's complex. I had to go and investigate and get them set up for the baby.

It turns out that Tamara's husband Joey dreams of being a magician. He hasn't joined the magician career yet, but instead is a classmate of Spring's in the magic school. Joey also has the childish trait and enjoys the swing I put in the backyard for the child they are planning to have. They also have a dog named Stinky. Here are some pictures of their date to the fire department and pub.