Lucrative

A trade was the best thing a mortal could have, second only to Mages in terms of money-making ability. And a Mage that knew a trade could make even more, due to their helpful enchantments.

"Not just that. I may have been a shoemaker and a tool maintainer in Brergan, but I know how to do more than that." With a glimmer in his eye, Travis turned and waved to Fate to follow.

They went to the back of the store, and as they entered the back room, Fate noticed that there had to be Space enchantments on the building to make it larger inside than it was outside. A common enchantment in the city, but an amazing one nonetheless.

Fate came upon a room roughly fifty feet wide and twenty feet long, with a solid stone floor and thick stone walls, all a dark gray. The roof was a full thirty feet up, leaving more than enough room for some of the larger projects inside.

It was filled with all manner of things, each more impressive than the last.

At a glance, Fate spotted windows, rusted farming tools, cracked or chipped weapons, a chunk of a stone bridge, a wall full of half-finished wands and shattered crystal balls, and even the odd enchanted washing machine.

"You see, Fate, I'm what's called a repairman. On top of making wands and shoes, I take broken things and fix them. Then I either return them to the owner or sell them, depending on where I got them from. Everything I make or fix in here gets sold to another store, which then sells that product to people."

"That's a lot of jobs you do," Fate said with surprise. How could he know how to fix so many different things?

As if he had read Fate's mind – although it was really because he had spent so much time with the young Journeyman – Old Man Travis said "It looks hard, but it isn't.

"The more you work on your Facet, the easier it is to tell that it can do anything. Fixing Imprints, making windows, repairing bridges, unrusting tools, all can be accomplished by any Facet with the proper know-how.

"And since you can use anyone's Imprints, it'll be much easier for you to learn. Normally you'd have to learn how your Facet can do an action and then make an Imprint for it, but you only have to do the first part."

"You really think I can do all of… this?" Fate asked, waving his hand around at the room.

"It'll take a few years, but you're a quick learner. As a bonus, you'll increase the comprehension of your Facet along with it. It won't be by much, mind you, but you'll soon find that any increase is welcome, no matter how small."

Fate took a second to digest all of this information, staring in awe at the complex, ten-foot-tall stained-glass window in the corner, which was only about three-fourths completed.

Even with that, Fate could make out the distinct shape of the Empress, surrounded by a halo of light as she cupped a white lily in her hands, smiling out at the viewer. Even though it was stained glass, the panels were so small that from this distance Fate could barely make them out.

There were hundreds of them in every square foot, putting the count into the thousands and giving the Empress' likeness a life-like appearance from afar. It was closer to a masterful painting than a window.

"Ah, that," Old Man Travis said with a scowl as he noticed Fate's gaze. "I know, I know. It's horrible. Her fingers are too long, her nose is too round, and the halo's light isn't done properly. I've been fiddling with that for days, but I just can't get it to look right."

"THIS looks bad to you?" Fate asked wide-eyed. "That's the best window I've ever seen!"

"Hmph. You're just saying that to make me feel better. At this rate, it won't be done by the time the client requested it."

"No, really," Fate insisted. "It's beautiful. It looks exactly like Her Majesty."

Travis turned his golden eyes to the window, eyes narrowing in thought, his scowl easing just slightly. "You think so?"

"Ask your client. I'm sure they'd say the same. I can't even notice the flaws you said it has."

"Fine. Maybe I will. Now, about my offer?"

Fate gave the man a smirk. "How much does it pay?"

Travis returned the smile. "The average apprentice earns about two hundred Lights a week, but seeing as how you won't be just sitting around watching me work, I think I'll bump it up to two-fifty. This is for a minimum of four hours a day, of course."

"That's…" Fate did some math in his head. "A thousand Lights a month! Is being an apprentice really so lucrative? I thought I'd have to pay to become an apprentice."

"Lucrative? When did you learn such a big word?"

"My principal taught me how to read, and gave me a dictionary. I've learned a lot in this week."

"You use a time chamber or something?"

"Yes, I did."

"Figures. Well, that shortcut won't work with Imprints, so don't try it. Those time dilater things mess up your perception of your Facet while you're in there, so it makes Imprints several times harder to make with no benefits. Now, do you wanna work for me or not?"

"What about my question?"

"Question?" Travis slapped his forehead. "Oh, right. Yes, that's about accurate. This little store of mine makes a fair amount of money, and there's no reason to charge for an apprenticeship.

"They're only offered to close friends or trusted associates, and paying an apprentice will increase their incentive to work hard. The only time you'd get charged for an apprenticeship is if the master absolutely hates your guts."

"Do you really make so much, old man?"

Travis' bearded mouth stretched into the widest grin Fate had ever seen on him, eyes sparkling with pride.