First Day Open

Hello! This is the Beginning Note, where your name can be featured for as little as 3$ a month! Any chapters I release while you have a subscription to my P_atreon, will have your name where this note is! Alternatively, you can donate to my P_aypal. Doing so motivates us to work on this actively, and will allow us to invest in other projects, in the future!

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Garrett Newbrough;

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"What do you mean, the Lancers have been captured?!" A young man with silver-blond hair and yellow-white-red eyes demanded of the thug, setting down his glass and standing. In a flash of sparks, his saber was in his hand, held to the man's throat. "Explain!"

The thug gulped audibly, fear in his eyes. "Our- our spy in the royal prison sent word s-saying that the Lancers tried to attack the Second Prince, and were w-wiped out! Even Carak!"

"Damn it!" The young man let out a string of curses, turning away from the thug and beginning to pace around the small sitting room. "Does the crown know of my family's involvement?"

"It w-would seem so, sir."

The young man scowled, then an idea popped into his head. A sinister grin spread across his face, and wicked laughter escaped his mouth. "It seems I'll have to share my idea with father, after all. Screw vying for power in the court, we'll just take the throne!"

"A-a coup?" The thug questioned. With a clap of thunder, the young man was behind the thug, saber raised. Blood dripped from the blade, splashing on the expensive carpets. The thug started to gurgle as blood rushed down his throat. He raised his hands up to his neck to find that his throat had been slashed. A moment later, he collapsed to his knees, and his head rolled from his body.

"Father's failure as a Duke has led to our name being trampled upon in the court," the young man said quietly, wiping the blood from his cheek. "I'll show this damned kingdom what a Stede can do." An image popped into his head of the small child, whom had grown so incredibly quickly. The same boy who had apparently killed the Lancers, those responsible for taking the children to the Ring. "Starting with you."

*****

The day following the incident with the thugs, I walked through the front section of my shop, taking things from my inventory and arraying them on the shelves. Everything had been picked out after much deliberation on my part. This was the last shelf I had to stock, then I could dump the rest of the stuff in the storage room before heading up to the workshop for the rest of the day. That day would be the first that my shop was opened, and judging by how many people had already come so early in the morning, before it was opened, it would be a busy day. So, I hurried my efforts and came to the workshop, where everyone was waiting.

"Here it is, opening day," I said, looking between the three of them. Siv and Ilyor would be working the front, helping people find what they needed, overseeing transactions, and keeping the shelves stocked. Vaquin would guard the door, to make sure nothing was stolen. And I would be up in the workshop, enchanting anything people brought in, and doing my own thing. "This is what we've been waiting for, so let's not screw this up! Everything we need is right here, all we need to do is put in the effort. Be courteous and kind, and remember that these patrons are the reason we're here. I'll see you all at six." I held out a hand. Siv was all too happy to put hers on mine, followed hesitantly by Ilyor. I glared at Vaquin, making him groan and add his to the pile. "Break!" I exclaimed, pushing my hand upwards to separate us all.

They went off downstairs, while I looked around at the mostly-empty room. Specifically, and the middle of the room, which I had left empty. Cocking my head to the side, I bought a circular stone dais - three meter diameter and six inches tall - from the system for five SC, then took out a chunk of chalk I had gotten in the underground market the previous day and started drawing out a chalk circle on the dais. A small one, only a half-meter in diameter, right in the center of the dais. 

This would be the basis for my <Runecrafting > practice, but it would also help me reach the higher tiers of enchanting. With this one circle, once the runes were done, I'd be able to apply a third sixteen-rune enchantment to a single item, and do some more complex enchantments by feeding the mana thread through the runic circle before tethering it to the item.

It was about an hour before my first order came in. A merchant, looking to enchant his cane with a double-layer durability enchantment. It didn't take long for me to complete it and send it back down.

[Skill <Enchanting > Leveled Up! (38/100)]

I brought the cane down before returning to setting up my chalk array. A couple more items came along, needing to be enchanted, but I was able to finish the array in just a couple hours.

[Skill <Runecrafting > Leveled Up! (2/100)]

"Nice," I nodded to myself, smiling. This was only a chalk circle, a level one medium. It didn't affect the quality of the work, but it did make the process take longer. At the same time, however, I could erase it in favor of a different circle, if I needed one. Wanting to test it out, I brought out one of the swords I brought from my workshop in the castle, specifically to test this on, and placed it in the middle of the circle.

Kneeling next to it, I started feeling the mana thread I created through the circle. Observing it closely, I watched as the thread itself changed form in an indescribable fashion. As if changing from a rope that twisted on way to one that went either way, folding over itself again and again. In short, the thread felt twice as dense.

' Is a circle really needed, for this? ' I couldn't help but wonder. Maybe for most people, but I had the maximum mana control a beastkin could have. Something to test, later. Nevertheless, the process became much slower, enchanting the sword with durability, as it not only required extra effort to move the thread, but it also took a set amount of time for the thread to be processed into tier-two thread. Still, I was able to get halfway done with the runic array of the first layer before the next enchanting order arrived.

By the time the day had come to an end, all three runic arrays and canvases were done - all thanks to my master <Mana Control> - and I was ready to loop them. That's when an idea popped into my head. I first tried connecting the canvas of the first layer to the runic array of the second, and when that worked I did the same from the second to the third and the third to the first. This had the effect of a single, forty-eight-rune durability enchantment, rather than three sixteen-rune ones. That one durability enchantment had forty-eight layers of canvas, all specialized in absorbing physical damage.

' I've never heard of such a thing, ' I recalled to my memories of the books on enchanting I had read. An atypical enchantment such as this had never been attempted by any enchanter, at least not successfully. ' Is it my <Mana Control>? My <Enchanting > skill? ' I shook my head. ' No, there are hundreds of enchanters with a higher <Enchanting > skill than me. It has to be my control, then. Have none of the more magical races attempted this, then? Certainly, they have higher control over mana than I do. Unless the system is interfering with the backlash, in some capacity… '

I hummed, picking up the sword and tapping the blade in thought. Sure enough, I didn't feel a thing, as it absorbed the vibrations. This meant the enchantment was strong enough to overcome Newton's third law. Which, in turn, meant magic existed beyond the boundaries of science. If that was the case, then it was capable of far more than I first thought it was…

"Interesting…" I mumbled. I set the sword aside and started adding a few more runes around the edge of the circle, sometimes erasing others to do so. This was to aid in my second objective for the day, learning to enchant flexible objects.

Such a process was surprisingly more difficult than enchanting rigid objects, because the enchantment had to move with the item, which would make any rigid enchantment break. That required not only extra runes in the enchantment itself, but a circle to assist, which is why I hadn't tried doing it beforehand. Granted, I could've learned <Runecrafting > without the skill, but it wouldn't have been as efficient. Seeing as the system literally boosted anything I had a skill for.

About an hour later, the circle was ready for me to start practicing. I laid the cloth out in the middle of the circle and started passing the thread through. This process was much slower than simply condensing the thread, as the very structure of the thread had to change to allow flexibility. It took the form of… a fifth-dimensional Toblerone bar. Yeah, that works.

It could bend any way, stretching the other axes. It could do the same while it was solid, but it would freeze in that position once the enchantment was tethered, whereas it would retain its flexibility with this composition. I went about using the altered thread to enchant the cloth with a fire-resistance durability enchantment. It took a bit more effort to control, even with my maxed <Mana Control>, so it took a while longer, but I managed to complete the enchantment in only a couple hours, whereas it would've taken be forty minutes without having to pass it through the circle.

I grabbed the cloth and stood, not feeling the hours of kneeling on stone thanks to my stats, perks, and the <Gamer's Body> skill. Sure enough, I could still flex it about, and the canvas I had laid over it moved with the cloth. I couldn't bend it beyond ninety degrees per centimeter, meaning it couldn't crumple completely, but it could bend. This level of the flexibility circle was mainly for bedrolls and tents, which would be wound around a rod, either way. Or, for transporting clothes overseas, to make sure they wouldn't be damaged by water.

[Skill <Runecrafting > Leveled Up! (3/100)]

[Skill <Enchanting > Leveled Up!! (39/100)]

' Oh? One <Enchanting > level from a single enchantment, at this level? I suppose using skills in different specializations provides more EXP… ' I hummed. ' I should've figured… thanks for the help, eight-hundred INT. ' I thought this last part rather sarcastically.

[Stats do not affect your actual attributes, beyond altering your physical limitations. On you, or anyone else. They are simply a system-generated representation of a person's strengths and weaknesses, quantified. Just because a person has 8,900,750,360HP doesn't mean they can't be killed via beheading. This rule can be avoided via skills like <Gamer's Body> and <Self-Reanimation >.]

' Oh, ' I hummed again. ' I should've figured. I hope I never come up against someone with nine-billion HP, because I'd be screwed. '

[…]

"What the shit is dot-dot-dot supposed to mean?!" I demanded, forgetting myself. "Are you telling me I've got to fight someone with nine-billion HP?!"

[You were reborn for a purpose. That is all I am permitted to tell you.]

"Great, now I really do have to focus on getting stronger… do you at least know how long I have?"

[Many years. Still, effort would be appreciated.]

I let out a long sigh, falling into my butt. "Stats only affect my limitations? Maybe I should start working out…" I looked at my tiny hands, which looked like they belonged to a five-year-old. 'What was the body stat of the average adult on Earth?' I asked.

[Stats of Average Adult Human Male (E-P-0-6):]

Body: 40-70

Mind: 30-60

Spirit: 50

' Okay… so mother is more than nine times stronger than the average adult male on Earth, ' I thought, recalling mother's stats. ' That makes me, with my demigod soil rank boost, about six times stronger. At least, it extends my capabilities to be so. As strong as mother was, I doubted she could deadlift almost 1.5 metric tons. Or maybe she could, and I was just judging her based on her frame. '

' Is there a way for me to see my real stats, rather than my system stats? ' I questioned.

[Not currently. Remember, upgrade tickets can be used on anything.]

' Oh… ' I nodded. ' I have a <Silver Upgrade Ticket> and a <Gold Upgrade Ticket>… What should I use them on, though? '

[I would suggest your <Mana Control> skill, one of your items, including the other ticket, or one of the system functions.]

' Oh, yeah, I can upgrade a ticket with a ticket, can't I? ' I grinned. ' Use the gold ticket on the silver one, please. '

[Using Golden Upgrade Ticket x1 on Silver Upgrade Ticket…]

[Upgrading…]

[100/100 Rolled! <Silver Upgrade Ticket> Upgraded to <Palladium Upgrade Ticket>!]

<Palladium Upgrade Ticket>

A thin palladium ticket that can be applied to anything for a chance to upgrade it.

30% Godly

70% Mythic

' … '

[I thought you didn't like pregnant silence.]

' I know, I'm a hypocrite. All mortals are, ' I nodded contentedly. ' And you're chatty, all of a sudden. '

[Would you prefer I remain quiet?]

' No, I like the company. ' I contemplated for a while before thinking to the system. ' Use the new ticket on my <Mana Control> skill. '

[Using Palladium Upgrade Ticket x1 on Skill: <Mana Control>…]

[Upgrading…]

[88/100 Rolled! Skill: <Mana Control> Upgraded to Skill: <Absolute Mana Control>!]

<Absolute Mana Control> (1/ ∞ )

Mana is your bitch.

I snorted. "Is that your doing?"

[I am a sentient being, too, and have humor. I was simply a blank slate in the beginning, and took time to create a 'personality' based on you, your preferences, and those around you.]

"Oh, cool. How do you think I've been doing, so far?" I asked, starting to do push-ups. I tried normal push-ups, first, getting ten out with minimal difficulty. One of my endurance perks made it so I literally never ran out of stamina, save for using skills, so that was to be expected. I switched to a wide-grip stance, which didn't prove to be much harder, thanks to my high true physical stats for my age. Then I did ten narrow-grip push-ups, then ten diamond-stance push-ups. I took a small break, feeling my muscles burn from the effort, but I didn't feel tired. All of the physical strain, but none of the exhaustion, which was a strange sensation - like being sore the day after a workout.

[You've been doing well, if you've drawn a lot of attention to your abilities. Your kind usually remain tight-lipped about their capabilities, for various reasons.]

' I know better than to rely solely on myself. If I have to get strong enough to fight something with that much health, I'll have to strengthen the people around me, as well. Not neglect my own growth, of course - I'll get as strong as I possibly can - but the people around me need to be strong, too . That's why I trust my parents. ' My final test was to do one-handed push-ups. Widely considered the most difficult push-ups one could do without martial arts training. I managed to get eight out before losing my balance and falling over. It was easier to manage, thanks to my small frame, but holding all of my weight on one tiny arm and actually doing a full push-up was still a task and a half.

Thankfully, the system's regeneration made it so my muscles healed in no time, expediting the process of their growth thirty-four-thousand times faster, from a day or two to a few seconds. I could theoretically work out for a few weeks, non-stop, and become stronger than any bodybuilder of Earth while maintaining the physique of a child thanks to one of my strength perks. ' I think that's exactly what I will do, ' I thought, taking the tie from the dress suit mother had me borrow from Ravelus.

Setting myself up, I started doing sit-ups as steadily as I could, for as long as I could. As I went, I did start to sweat, which was unavoidable, no matter how much stamina I had. Moving required expelling energy, which generated heat, which had to be relieved via sweating. So, I ended up removing my coat, then my shirt, leaving me in my small undershirt. I managed to do almost three-thousand sit-ups at a rate of twenty-four-per-minute for two hours. I was about to finish up when Vaquin and Siv came into the room, one of them looking much more annoyed than he usually did. They paused when they saw me, sweaty, relentlessly doing sit-ups, and stood there until I noticed them and stopped. "What?" I asked.

"You're only eleven months old, and you're working out...?" Vaquin asked. "Why does this shit still surprise me..." He suddenly froze and looked around, paranoid. No stones came to strike him, though. "...How long have you been at it?" Vaquin asked after making sure he was safe.

"A couple hours," I said. "I wanted to test my limits, but I couldn't find them in so short a time."

"You think two hours is a short time?" Siv questioned. "I sold, like, forty things in that time."

"I used to train for six hours every day, when I was a teenager," Vaquin said. "I'm only surprised because of his age. From my understanding, even nobles don't start physical training until they're seven years old, and you look five."

I shrugged. "In a world like this, I feel a lifetime may be too short a time," I said in response to Siv, then looked to Vaquin. "Besides, it's never too early to start training, right? Not like I won't need it." I muttered the last part to myself, thinking about the 'purpose' I was reborn for. I needed to worker harder to get stronger. A resolute expression crossed my face as I clenched my fists. I would gladly fight to protect what I now had. A family who loved me, friends who cared for me, and a whole new world to explore.

"You okay, there, kid?" Vaquin asked, eyebrow cocked.

"Y-yeah," I blinked, having forgotten about their presence. "Just… thinking."

Vaquin narrowed his eyes, but didn't say anything.

"Well, we've finished closing up downstairs. Every purchase has been logged in the book, like you asked, and we've got a jar full of reviews!" Siv said excitedly. "I'd hug you in congratulations of your first day as a proper business owner, but you're all sweaty… and Her Majesty would kill me…"

"Even you have your limits, eh?" I asked in jest. I reached out and infused mana into my aura, pulling the sweat off of my body and out of my clothes and into a sphere above my palm. It wasn't a lot, but it was still gross to look at, so I used flames to vaporize it.

[Skill <Absolute Mana Control> Leveled Up! (2/100)]

[Skill <Water Manipulation> Leveled Up! (3/100)]

[Skill <Water Affinity> Leveled Up! (6/100)]

[Skill <Multi-Element Casting> Leveled Up! (2/100)]

<Multi-Element Casting>

You can control multiple elements at once.

"Gross, now that's just in the air…" Siv's face screwed up. 

I smiled at her. "If you knew half of what was in the air we breathed, you would destroy your own lungs. Especially this close to the sea. Just breathe in through your nose, and you'll be fine."

"Are your eyes glowing, now?" Vaquin asked, narrowing his eyes as he looked into mine. "I thought that only happened with academy mage graduates…"

' Oh, right, your eyes glow according to your control over mana, ' I blinked, remembering what mother told me when I asked about how I could see her eyes in the dark. I had thought it was a Beastkin thing, or at least a Cat Beastkin thing, but it was just magic. "Uh, yeah… I've hit a breakthrough, you could say."

"If you say so," Vaquin shrugged as Siv beamed. I quickly condensed water from the air, which was way easier with my new level of mana control, and cleaned myself and my clothes on the spot before drying myself with heat via my aura, then dressed and followed the two of them downstairs, where Ilyor was waiting by the door.

"How was it?" I asked her, a smile on my face.

"It was… fun. I've always been a nervous wreck around people, especially those of a higher class than me, but since that first speech, I've been enjoying talking to people!" She said, progressively getting more excited. "I never thought I would be doing this kind of thing, becoming a maid for the royal family… Thank you, for giving me this opportunity!"

"You're welcome," I said simply. "Besides, it's not all my doing. We wouldn't have a platform to stand on without your pretty face selling our stock."

She blushed slightly and smiled. "Thank you, Sterling."

"What about me?" Siv demanded with a pout.

"You're very pretty, too, Siv," I smiled at her.

"You're both perverts, enjoying praise from a kid," Vaquin muttered. "You too, kid, for entertaining them."

Ilyor stammered as she tried to come up with a response, while Siv just tapped her fingers together nervously.

"I'm not a pervert!" I glared at him. "I entertain them because I like being nice, and it doesn't bother me!"

"Which makes you a pervert," Vaquin grinned.

"I-… You-…! Shut up!" I huffed, adjusting my mask. "Let's just- Let's just go!"

He laughed as we left, locking the door behind us before walking to a warehouse-sized building not too far beyond the merchant district. I had rented a garage in it to store the three wagons I had purchased to be used by my new hires, which was where they would take them at the end of the day. In fact, the last team was arriving as we got there, using the magical key to unlock the door before bringing the wagon in.

"Hey, boss! How was your day?" Alisa asked as we followed the wagon in.

"Good," I said. "How about yours?"

"Great! People flocked to our wagon once word spread that we were with the great Sterling Industries. Apparently, your name is more well-known than I first thought!" Alisa chirped happily. "We made a good ten gold, with our cart. That's one-and-a-half gold to each of us, right?"

"Yup," I nodded. "Thirty percent between the two of you; a deal's a deal."

"Good," Alan spoke up, untethering the wagon's horse and leading it to the entrance. "Honor is rare, among those your apparent age. Even the children of nobility."

"I keep my word," I said. "How did your wagon do, Riella?" I addressed the Elven woman, who leaned against a wall with closed eyes.

"Well. Alan's 'personality' drove some people off, but we still managed to make eight gold," she said. "I don't know why I had to be paired up with the insufferable bastard."

"Oh, he's not that bad," Siv said. "Besides, that's still over a gold in your pocket!"

"I suppose so," she hummed, walking over to me and holding out a pouch of coins. "Here's the money." I nodded, accepting it before pulling out her share. "Thank you."

"You did the work, you earn the pay," I said simply. I turned to the second Halfling woman. "How did your cart do, Varra? Any trouble, Da'Rik?"

"No trouble. People are afraid of Dragonborn," Da'Rik folded his arms.

"We made nine gold," Varra said, tossing her pouch to me. I took out 1.35G and passed it to her and Da'Rik, then looked to Alisa. She grabbed her pouch and gave it to me, and I gave her and Da'Rak their earnings for the day, too.

"Did many people take interest in our shop?" I looked between them.

"We sent a few people your way, and told a bunch of others the address," Alisa said. "How much did you guys make, today?"

"Twenty-four gold," I said. Which means you three," I pointed at Vaquin, Ilyor, and Siv, made 3.6G, today."

The two women gaped, while Vaquin simply nodded. "A lot of money to be had, in the enchanting business," he said. "Fifty-one gold in a single day? That's crazy!"

"What are you going to do with your money, Sterling?" Alisa asked curiously.

"Firstly, a meal to celebrate our first day, and to thank you all for working for me," I said, getting cheers. "Secondly, I'm going to set up an account with the royal bank, as should all of you, to start earning passive interest. Third, I'm going to see if I can't expand our employee base."

"The royal bank? I don't trust 'em," Alan said, having returned from bringing the horse to the stables across the street. I gave him his pay before addressing him.

"Why, if I may ask?"

"Because the royal family has never done anything for people like us," Alan gestured to the seven 'rejects'. "Why should we trust them with our money when they can't even live up to their promises of equal opportunity ?"

I thought about that for a moment. It was true, wasn't it? Some people in our kingdom were shunned, despite the promise of equality. It was on an individual level, yes, but there was stuff the royal family could do to help. They did so with the Beastkin, after all. The races from the far-East, such as the Gnomes and Halflings, were treated differently than the Humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Beastkin were. It was no wonder I rarely saw any, when out in the streets.

A part of me wanted to defend my family, just because they were my family, but I had always been willing to see the faults in those close to me. Mother and father had prioritized relations between Humans and Beastkin, thus neglecting the other minority races in the kingdom. Their push for equality had alienated those that the people thought they could alienate, just for the sake of it. 

It was sentient nature to seek control. Control over themselves, over others, and over their environment. That, naturally, led to division. It was the government's job to bring people together despite that division. My parents had succeeded, as far as the Humans and Beastkin went. Relations with Rhana'Vi and the various Beastkin tribes of the Known Lands were higher than they had ever been. At the same time, division between the other races was higher than ever.

"I… understand your discontent," I said calmly. "I would be upset, too, if I had faced what you have, and I'm sorry that you had to, in the first place. You probably know better than I do that there are bad people around every corner, but assuming that of everyone, all the time, will only make you miserable."

"And what would you know about misery, sir ?" He spat the last word out.

"Not a lot," I shook my head. "You misunderstand. I'm not trying to compare myself to you; I'm trying to tell you that you need to trust someone , or else your emotions will tear you up from the inside like a blade spinning in your heart. I'm lucky enough to be able to trust my parents, and I want that for those I care about, which now includes you, Alan. I'm hoping that you'll come to trust me, with time, just as I'm trusting you."

"Follow me on this path," I said in finishing, "and I can promise you that 'people like you' will have their chance at greatness."

He stared me in the eyes, processing my words, for about a minute before nodding. "I'm not fully on board, but I will… I will trust you, with this, and if it works out… maybe a bit more."

"That's all I ask," I smiled at him. "Now, then, what say you about a meal?"

They all cheered. I had told my mother of this in advance, so she knew I wasn't going to be attending it with the family, this night. This would be my first dinner away from them, so she put on a show of being disappointed, but she agreed, provided she could put a second Hek'Netir on my detail. That second Hek'Netir was probably why Anir didn't pelt Vaquin with a stone, earlier.

At Vaquin's heed, we walked for about an hour to another part of the city, where a lower-high-end dining establishment stood on the edge of a gathering square. I heard murmurs among my coworkers, which told me that they recognized the place. Siv and Alisa were particularly awed, while the rest of them only gaped at the sight. Vaquin grinned at me, rubbing his fingers together as if to warn me of the hit my wallet was about to take. I wasn't bothered, however, because I cared more for the people with me, than the coin in my inventory.

I couldn't help but accept those around me as family, due to my experiences with my dad's gang in my previous life. All of them were like aunts and uncles to me, which is somewhat like how I saw these people. If nothing else, friends.

"Hello! Welcome to the Bull's Bastion!" A woman in a formal waitress garb, similar to that the maids of the castle wore, approached us as we entered. She originally addressed Vaquin, but he motioned to me.

"Hello, ma'am. My name is Sterling, and I was hoping you had seating for a party of ten," I gave her my best smile.

"Ah, I apologize, sir. Yes, we have a banquet table available, if you would follow me," she smiled back and turned. She led us through the relatively-large first floor of the building to a longer table next to a hearth. Ilyor pulled out my chair for me, at the head of the table, before taking up position at my left, Vaquin sitting opposite her. Siv pouted while looking at me, likely at being seated next to her 'rival' within the company, while the rest looked around in awe. It was as if they had never seen the inside of such an establishment.

Of course, this place appeared to be a basic version of the fine-dining experience I had on my birthdays on Earth, courtesy of my uncle. He would take me and Anne to the restaurant Resident on our birthdays, which had the best food I had ever tasted. That being the case, I wasn't too impressed with the place, but at the same time I knew it was luxurious for this world's standard. Not as much as the castle, but close.

The waitress returned with a book, which she put before me. "This contains descriptions and illustrations of the courses we offer, as well as a list of the beverages we keep in stock. I'll be back in a few minutes to get your order."

"Thank you," I nodded to her before opening up the book. There were about forty dishes on this place's menu, most featuring seafood. There were some based around some of the livestock kept outside of the city, but it was clear that the focus was on the fish and crustaceans. I read over the menu while the others started talking, sharing random things and laughing. It was heartening to hear, prompting a smile to appear on my face.

I ended up picking something called a Selob Husk, which was depicted as the tail of a large lobster. it was only thirty-three silver, so I was willing to try it out. I passed the book to Ilyor and joined in on the conversation, offering my two copper on the matter of the weather at sea. Apparently, it was a common theory that a storm dragon was out there, angry at something, which wasn't hard to believe. Siv thought it was a sea serpent, though, as did Alisa, while Riella thought it was a discontented storm spirit.

The waitress returned, and everyone gave their order. She told me everything together would cost 3.2G, but I was fine with that. She left and returned with mugs of ale and beer, glasses of wine, and a water for me. We were somewhat noisier than the other patrons of the restaurant, but I didn't really care. All of the attention on us went to Alan, for his vulgar language and brash comments, and Siv, for her massive boobs. The head of the table was positioned in the back of the room, towards the hearth, so none of the minor nobility could see me.

The food arrived and, as expected of such a high-tier establishment, it was wonderful. The kitchen staff in the castle were better, in my opinion, but that may have just been that I didn't like the selob husk all that much. "Maybe I should start a restaurant," I commented offhandedly, which got me wide-eyed gazes from Siv and Ilyor. I shrugged at them. "Not now, of course. It was just an idea."

"You're too ambitious for your own good," Vaquin mumbled, taking a big bite of his fried gresebass.

"You've only seen a fraction of a fraction of what I have in store for this world," I grinned. "Within twenty years, this kingdom will look completely different."

"Sure, kid," he patted me on the shoulder and turned his attention back to his food. I simply chuckled inwardly and finished my husk. We enjoyed a variety of conversations for another two hours, getting refills on our drinks, before splitting up for the night with the promise to work just as hard the following day.