Aliami slumped into the couch after she had stormed into Ursmir’s office once again. The bear simply looked up with an exasperated look and clicked his tongue. “What now?”

“Aeric is utterly and completely insane, he’s just so, so…” She snarled and threw her hands up.

Ursmir put down his quill and looked at her from beneath his furry eyebrows, “So what’d he do?”

“He made a rare ranked dress worth at least fifty gold pieces and sold it for twenty silvers.”

A clank was heard from behind the door as one of the two guards dropped his halberd. Ursmir’s eyes widened, “And why on earth would he do that?”

“Well he had accepted a custom order for a wedding dress for twenty silvers. Then he went completely overboard, bought magic materials, spent a bit over two weeks making the damn thing. In the end it ended being a rare rank piece, he was making it at level fourteen!” She threw her hands in the air and sank back into the couch.

“Sounds like he invested in himself then, what’s the problem?”

Aliami groaned, “Not you too.”

Ursmir chuckled, “All the people who reach the top invest in themselves, they take a loss in profit to provide themselves a challenge and a chance to grow. I did it, you did it, it’s a good way to grow and you know it. Although losing out on fifty gold of profit hurts, the wedding been held yet?”

“Yea, three days ago.” Aliami used her claw to scratch at her eyebrow, “You shoulda seen the dress Urri, it was brilliant, the way he used light and shadow to somehow have the shadows move just on the muscle. How did he do it? I inspected the work and I still don't get how he did it, he stiffened up some pieces of the fabric so it moved in just the right way. Even if me and all my girls worked together to attempt such a thing we would fall short. He thinks on an entirely different level than we do.”

Ursmir chuckled in schadenfreude, “So the woman who has been looking for an eccentric genius her whole life has now found one and is complaining about his eccentricities?”

Aliami opened her mouth to snarl at him, deflated, and sank back into her couch. “Yes?”

Ursmir laughed and even Aliami started to chuckle, “I guess I have found that eccentric genius to hitch my wagon to huh?”

“So how was the wedding, I bet the girl was really happy with the dress?”

Aliami snorted, “If she wasn’t I’d have eaten her. It was a lovely ceremony, the groom cried, the bride cried and their mothers cried. There was a lot of happy crying all around. Lots of jaws dropped when she revealed herself in her wedding dress, her mother almost fainted at the sight. At the end of the ceremony, both sides of the family came and profusely thanked Aeric. Who of course simply stood there with his smug friendliness, the insufferable bastard.”

Ursmir chuckled, “You really like this kid don’t you?”

Aliami folded her arms, “He’s really likable, sort of a head in the clouds kind of charm to him. His focus is something else though, we had to make sure he actually ate. We had to drag him to bed and basically act like mother hens while he was working. He did nothing but work on the dress for two weeks straight. He’ll be making masterpieces within the year if he keeps this up, we really need to step up our game Urri. He’s gonna get noticed a lot faster than I had thought at first.”

She sighed and rolled her shoulders, “My skill shoulda given him a little extra boost to determination but the sheer amount of focus he has? My boost might have done nothing or turned something already impressive into something downright terrifying.”

Ursmir nodded, “I’ve kept up to date, with the rate he is growing I think we should invest in him ourselves. I’m gonna task both Face and Miss Arnette on him till he can take care of himself. At the speed he’s growing,” Ursmir shook his head in disbelief, “He might not even need a year to reach level forty.”

Aliami grunted, “Freak might reach it in two months.”

Ursmir chuckled, Aliami just stared at him. Ursmir stopped chuckling and raised an eyebrow.

“I’m serious, he leveled eight times just from making that dress.”

The quill that Ursmir was holding snapped, and his jaw dropped. “But that would make twenty-two levels in like three weeks!”

Aliami smirked, “He’s leveled up another two times since then.”

“Worldwalkers aren’t normally this fast, are they? Should we contact the Red’s and make a deal with them about him? He might need the cover.”

Aliami frowned, “I’d rather not get them involved, if we tell them, the secret is out, now he’s simply a skilled foreign tailor that has decided to settle here, we need to keep that going as long we can.”

“Agreed... What’d you have him do for the rest of the week?”

“Well...”

~POV End~

Aeric slammed his head into the desk, “Booooooooored.”

Yasillia smiled at him, a gentle raise of a corner of her mouth, “Wouldn’t be much of a punishment if it was fun now would it.”

Aeric groaned, shoulders slumped and head still pressed into his workbench. “But she could at least have me do something a little challenging. but just having me do some basic stitches and stuff? She’s a merchant isn’t she, let me make something fancy! It’ll earn us more than all this basic stuff!”

Lshrkr chittered at him, “A lot of people need this… simple stuff. Or are you too good for making things for normal people?”

Aeric groaned, he could almost feel the disappointed raised eyebrow-like chitin thing Lshrkr did. “Well here’s a counter argument, in the time I made these normal clothes, I could have made another piece worth fifty-ish gold and sold that. Then used about a fifth of the profits to hire two people to make normal clothes, then we’d have earned more money, made more clothes and most importantly! I wouldn’t be bored.” He smirked a little at Lshrkr who shook her head in fond exasperation.

“I’ll hold you to that in the future then.” She retorted as she continued with her calm machinelike precision stitching.

“Another thing I was wondering, how come you, and everyone else for that matter, speak English. Or at least the same language as I do, whatever you call it.” Aeric said with a thoughtful frown as he straightened from his desk and continued on the boring but necessary task of stitching basic cotton shirts together.

Xii laughed, “We aren’t actually speaking the same language, some… three-hundred orso years ago. A world-walker like yourself, from an even more ‘technological’ place than yours from what I heard. Well, he came to our world and he was picked up by a small nomad tribe.”

She smoothed out the cloth and gently ran a knife along an edge cutting it and folding an edge back to get a corner tucked away and create a pocket. She looked up and continued, “Even though he appeared to these nomads who spoke a little-known dialect, he could speak their language in return. This world-walker, later figuring out there was no likely return for him, went looking for a job, his past experiences being of little use he ended up finding a niche in being a translator. For the technology that had been imparted to him could translate any language, he came across within a few sentences heard.”

Aeric blinked, “Huh a universal translator? That’s some pretty sci-fi stuff right there.”

“Sci-fi?” Hurma asked as she glanced up from her work, getting interested in the conversation.

Aeric spread his arms, “Technology so advanced that it was related to fictional stories back home. Most of it being improbable at best, but most likely impossible for millennia to come. At least that’s what me and my dad thought.” He shrugged, “Most of it was just theoretically possible ideas.”

A few sounds of understanding spread through the room as Xii picked her story back up, “Well this man found himself a job and soon realized he was rather popular, for being able to translate any language made the barriers between nations and people easier to cross. But as our world and the magic lingering in the air tend to do, technology starts to die down. Other world-walker intellectuals have deduced that something about the magical parts in the air is interfering with the basic physics that are more commonplace in your realm, it’s been theorized that the system itself is merely some extremely advanced technology.”

Yassilia nodded, “There is a reason our world is not as ‘advanced in technology’ as you termed it. The system itself seems to be keeping it down, it allows some technology to be incorporated in things that make life easier for people, showers and infrastructure for example.”

Aeric blinked and raised an eyebrow as he glanced over at the others, “So the system actively manages your world?”

Yassilia raised a delicate hand and hem and hawed a bit, “Not precisely. It’s more like the one that polices agreed-upon rules. Hearing stories of what war was like in your world it is likely that many ruling authorities agreed to keep such destructive and easily replicable weapons out of use.”

Aeric smiled softly, “I don’t disagree, your world is pretty nice and honestly technology does have its drawbacks with effects on nature. Your world from what I've seen seems more balanced. It’s also a good thing that I don’t have to worry about people trying to grab me for weapon production or the like.” He arched an eyebrow, “Something that woulda been reassuring to know the first time I mentioned those weapons.”

Yassilia raised a hand apologetically, “We don’t always remember to tell you about things that are common knowledge. We try to remember but it’s not really something that comes up in casual conversation or as a regular topic. It’s one of those things that everyone simply knows.”

Aeric raised a hand with his needle in it to stop her, “Wasn’t blaming you, was just, I don’t know. Being mopey, I am honestly a little more irritated than I should be, doing this common stuff. Which is odd, it never used to bother me as much.” He shook his head a bit to clear his thoughts, “Anyways we’re getting off-topic.” He turned to Xii, “You were telling us about this Worldwalker.”

She smirked as she glanced between the two, “Glad you remembered me.” Aeric flushed a little as Yissillia merely rolled her eyes and waved her hand at Xii gesturing for her to get a move on.

She grinned, showing off her pearly whites, and continued, “So while the technology imparted to him was dying, which took a good few years by which the walker had already gained a steady and not insignificant amount of influence and support. He came upon an idea, the lack of a common language caused a lot of trouble in diplomacy and who knew how many people died as a result, how many species were actually people with languages and cultures of their own but with no way to communicate it with the more civilized races? So he used the money he had gathered to get a bunch of mages together, two arch-mages among them. Some of the highest level magic users in the world gathered in a single place, drawn by a promise of unity.”

She smiled as she noticed she had the rapt attention of not only Aeric but of the others as well, most people didn’t actually know the history behind their shared common language. “These people who gathered more people by their own devices created a gathering of the greatest minds of their time, people from a lot of different cultures and races came together. Brought together by a promise of unity, a chance to go down in history. Some merely responded to called in favors or a lucrative reward that some enterprising upper-class individuals had put out for the gathering of like-minded or at least people of the same intellectual level.”

Aeric smiled, “Sounds like it was wonderful.”

Xii grinned at him, “I doubt it went anywhere nearly as smoothly as history books would like us to believe. But they did gather, and so they set to work figuring out the worldwalker’s ‘universal translator’ as I believe you called it.” Aeric nodded in response, to which she raised the corners of her mouth in a small victorious smile.

“They began pulling its programming from the machine and weaving it into their magic. Dozens of mages working together under the leadership of the two arch-mages, the highest of the nobility and royalty using their own skills to ask for the aid of the system. To be allowed to integrate their magical programming into the system itself. Letting all sapient beings receive a single skill for free. One that would allow them to understand any language, a skill the worldwalker had received as a side-effect of his machine. One which he was willing to sacrifice for the betterment of all. The system chose to accept their offering, perhaps to enhance itself. Perhaps simply because it was asked. Nobody knows for sure, but the skill was absorbed, the programming was added and the skill spread through the world with the speed of wind. Bringing peace and prosperity among the land.” At the end of her tale, Xii spread her arms as she dramatically proclaimed the end of an era.

Aeric raised a disbelieving eyebrow, “And you're telling me not a single one of those people tried to put in something that would give them more power. Or that someone tried to control the system or something similarly comically evil.”

Xii grinned at him, “I have no doubt that there were more than a few of those, but in the end the ‘good guys’ succeeded. Now everyone speaks the same language, it did end up improving the world in all honesty. It’s not like wars and the like are gone, nor will they ever be. But it’s definitely a lot better than it was before. Races became a bit more accepting of each other and every little bit of improvement per generation stacks up. It’s now considered one of the most important acts in history. There’s plenty of stuff named after the worldwalker, even the language itself was named after him, our now common language is called ‘Cyruxen’. Although it sounds differently to all who hear it.”

“If everyone keeps their own language and hears people speak in their language, then how is there a common language?” Aeric asked furrowing his brows as he looked at her.

Xii shrugged and then grinned from ear to ear, “Not a clue, but they had to name something about it after him right?”

Aeric smiled, “Well if you're expecting me to make some world changing thing that will bring peace and prosperity to all imma have to disappoint.”

They chuckled at his response, Hurma smiled at him. “I do not doubt that there will be some relics left behind by your hands. Once you reach an even higher level there will be a lot of competition for who gets to receive something made from your hands.”

Aeric groaned, “I’m more interested in just making stuff than in all the hubba-dubba around it. I don’t wanna be famous I just wanna be well known!”

Lshrkr tilted her head, “I was not aware there was a difference?”

Aeric tapped his chin in thought, “Famous is… getting recognized in the streets, having people part ways to let u pass and looking at you in awe. Well-known is more like when you say Aeric Redwool made this, people will be like, aaah then it must be a thing of quality! But then I wouldn’t be constantly recognized on the streets you know? Cuz that kinda sounds like a hassle not gonna lie.”

Xii laughed, “Probably too late for that my dear fuzzy-haired friend. You hang out with us and Aliami there is no doubt both your name and face will be well known within our city in short order. Soon we will have mobs at our doors and riots in the streets as they scream your name in sexual fervor!”

Aeric looked at her with a blank stare, “I’ll just hide behind the scary Aermenian and tell my loyal and sharp-toothed bodyguard to stab anyone who tries to lay their peasant paws upon me.” The further he got into the sentence the higher he raised his nose imperiously.

The others snorted and rolled their eyes at his performance.

Xii just grinned and punched his shoulder, which honestly hurt quite a bit. “Sure thing yer majesty, just know that I take my payment in blood and body parts.”

Aeric grinned at her as he settled down and continued his work. The rest of the room settled and got back into the swing of things as work was interlaced with a bit of chatting about common topics. The day was moving into evening as Aliami came back from wherever she had gone off to. She looked around the room and eyed Aeric with narrowed brows before she seemingly nodded to herself. She stepped forward with her long stride till she stood next to him, he raised an eyebrow at her.

“First thing’s first, it’s about time we took you for a proper tour through the city, you’ve done almost nothing but visit the suppliers and work. The only time you actually went out was when we went to the dance hall and you disappeared before the hour was even up.” She leaned towards him so closely that he could almost feel the small stirring of her whiskers as she sniffed.

Treeka peeked inside, “Has he really been that bad?”

Aliami nodded, “There’s a special word for people like him, it’s called ‘workaholic’.”

Aeric raised a hand in protest, but before he spoke up he frowned and put his hand back down. Well damn, now that he thought about it, he hadn’t done anything other than tailoring and things attached to tailoring since he got here. He was a workaholic… He hadn’t expected that, he never really thought himself the type. He had to admit he was a little proud of how focused he had been on his job, he had gotten good fast. Insanely fast even, he was aware of how fast he was growing it’s not like he was an idiot. No matter how much he liked acting like one most of the time.

He sighed, “Guess I have been a little too focused on work lately, and it would make sense to at least get to know the city I live in right?”

Treeka grinned at him, “Well you should also make some guy friends you know, you’ll forget how to be properly manly if you just keep hanging with us ladies the whole time.”

Aeric snorted, “I’ll have you know I’m as properly masculine as any other man, just because I don’t smash things and drink beer by the bucket doesn’t mean I’m not manly!”

Treeka stuck her tongue out, “Doesn’t mean you are either!”

Yassilia laughed, filling the room with the crystal clear sound, “It might do you some good to look for a romantic interest while you’re at it.”

Aeric looked at her and folded his arms, he scoffed, “Want me to look somewhere else when I’m surrounded by all these lovely ladies? For shame!”

Hurma pushed him from his chair with a friendly shove, sending him to the ground with a snort. “You know perfectly well that neither you nor any of us are interested in romantic relationships between each other.”

Aeric rolled his eyes, “Yes, yes. Eccentric little brother status has been achieved. Very proud of myself and all that, but it’s far too early to go lookin for a partner. I’ve barely settled down in the city yet, plus a relationship takes time. Time that is better spent creating fashion.” He spread his arms dramatically at the declaration, causing the bunch of them to roll their eyes.

He stopped his drama as he pulled his chair back upright and sat down, “That gives me the idea to actually do a fashion show at some point, it would be fun. Later though, when I’ve made some more custom stuff and actually have a line to show off.”

He tapped his chin in thought, “A heterosexual white male doing a fashion show. My old world would eat me alive.” He smirked at the thought, take that social justice warriors. Will you fight for me or against me? Mwahahahahaha.

As the others just watched him go through his evil internal monologue, they shook their heads and turned to Aliami. “Where did you want to take him?” Hurma asked as she started cleaning up her workbench.

Xii raised her hand in excitement, “I’m volunteering myself to take him through the red-light district!”

Aeric snapped himself out of his thoughts and looked up, “The what now? I don’t need to know where to find the prostitutes. I’m perfectly capable of finding myself a girl for the night if necessary thankyouverymuch.” Rushing out the last words as a whole.

Xii grinned, “Doesn’t matter it’s where a lot of the entertainment is, not just the brothels. Gambling halls, pubs, drug dens, and all the other stuff people tend to get lost in.”

Aeric looked at her and folded his arms, “I don’t drink alcohol, don't do drugs, hate gambling so I’m not sure what it is you think you’re gonna find for me there.”

Xii shrugged, “We’ll see when we get there, but at the very least you should know the area. If only because you want to avoid it.” She grinned and turned her crimson eyes on him, “I’ll make sure you’re safe and have fun don’t worry.”

Aeric waved his hand dismissively, “Fine, fine. Whatever you want mother duck.”

She snorted and looked at the rest of the group, “Each of us show him a district or do we just go as a group?”

Yissilia stood up and stretched a bit, “I think each of us should do a district, get some one-on-one time while we showcase the district we each are most familiar with?”

Lshrkr tilted her head, “Does that mean I should show him the embassies and the palace?”

Yissilia smiled and turned her emerald eyes to the insectoid. “Well he does have to know about the place and he should get to know at least some of the government people. I’ll take him to the churches and the Guard’s quarter.”

Treeka smirked, “Shopping district for me obviously.” She grinned over at Aeric and winked, “I’ll show you all the competition you’re gonna be beating into the ground later.”

Aeric snorted and then looked over at Hurma who shrugged, “Guess that leaves the residential district for me and the upper district to Aliami.”

Aliami nodded approvingly, “Each of us gets him for an hour and a half and since the shop is nicely near the center we just drop him off here for the next person to take.”

Aeric rolled his eyes, “You make me sound like a piece of cargo.”

Treeka laughed, “You are a piece of cargo, just a good-looking one.” She winked at him.