"Did you go to the Academy this morning?"

"No. After hearing the announcement, I'm still debating if I even need magic. I'm only going to be working at the Inn for the rest of my life anyway. It's not like I really need it."

"You should check it out. They have spells for everyday chores that you would probably find useful. There's waste disposal, grime remover and deodorizer. Honestly, you'd be quite shocked."

"They have a spell for smell removal? That's got to be advanced magic, right?"

"No. In fact, the Headmaster said that general cleaning spells were all in the novice tier. She recommends that everyone should at least train that far."

"Wait a minute. You spoke to the Headmaster?"

"No. There was a short lecture for new students once enrollment had finally finished. She spoke there. That's why I asked if you'd been. I didn't see you in the hall."

"Obviously. I didn't go... Wait a minute. The Headmaster's a woman?"

"Yeah. I was kinda shocked too. Her hair is also the same colour as yours."

"No way. That's actually quite progressive. Now that I think about it, women are quite dominant in this town, aren't they?"

"Yeah. Most of the businesses are run by women. Majority of the men that came to Varona with us joined the guard and even that's run by two women."

"They must hate that."

"What? Being bossed around by attractive ladies all day? I doubt it. I reckon that's the reason my Donald joined up."

"Don't be silly. Donald loves you and you know it. He joined because the job is a lot easier than it sounds. This is by far the most peaceful city I've ever been to, let alone lived in."

"You can say that again. Even though it had its bad spots, I used to think that nowhere could be safer than Crowley. This place is unreal though."

"I know. I went for a walk the other night and, even though I was still a bit scared because it was dark and I was alone, it was dreamy. I ended up just sitting in the park gazing at the stars."

"Why would you do that? Everyone knows it's dangerous for a lady to be walking around unattended at night. Even in a city as safe as this one."

"Well yes, but I wasn't alone."

"What!? What do you mean you weren't alone? You sneaky mare. Who were you with?"

"Technically no one. When I left my house I bumped into two guards and they asked what I was doing. I told them and they said they'd patrol behind me, at a distance where they wouldn't interrupt my stroll. Not that I'd have minded. If you know what I mean."

"Mary! How very crass of you."

"What can I say? Ever since Allen passed it's been rather lonely. We never had children and other than our tea mornings, life as a receptionist is quite lonely."

"Still, you didn't need to be so blunt about it."

"Sorry, Helen. I'm just being silly in my old age."

"Now you are being silly. You're only 41. You have many years left in those middle-aged bones of yours."

"Maybe those good-looking, young men can help energise them."

"Mary! Have you been adding something you shouldn't to your tea? You're being rather forward today."

"I can't help but notice how good everyone looks recently. I'm not just talking about the Varonians that were here before us. Surely, you must have noticed."

"Noticed what? That everyone looks attractive? People tend to look better when they're living well. It's when life gets you down that you begin to show the strain of your burden."

"That's not what I meant. You must have noticed a change in Donald? Or yourself?"

"Hmm... Well now that you mention, I did get a new cream from Lucinda's. It erased the crows feet that were starting to set in. Look. My skin is smoother than it ever has been before. It's absolutely amazing. Now that I think about it, you look pretty good too. It's almost like you've lost ten years somewhere. Did you buy some of Abi's Anti-Aging Cream as well? That Lucinda drove a hard bargain, but I managed to walk away with five tubs in the end. And who's this Abi her products are named after?"

"No. That's what I'm trying to tell you. I haven't bought, or used, any products since we arrived and I look better than you do."

"Well, I wouldn't go that far. Joking aside though, you do look very good, Mary."

"Thank you, Helen. I don't know whether it's because of what you said or just because of this city, but either way I love it. I don't just look good. I feel good as well."

"I know what you mean. It's almost as though I'm more motivated in the morning to get out of bed and get on with my day."

"Strange isn't it? Not that I'm complaining. I'm extremely grateful we were allowed to live here and don't think that I could ever find the words to express my gratitude."

"I know what you mean. It really is something else... As I was saying though, you should check out the magic school. I really think you'll appreciate what you can learn there."

"I'll have a quick peek tomorrow. Danielle's working and I'm off for the day. I suppose there's no harm in checking it out."

"You should, Mary. You don't want to be overlooked by these dashing young men just because you can't clean with magic."

"Perish the thought!"

Conversations from Varona

Mary and Helen

Not only is the Academy in full swing, but I also have an actual education system in place now too for the regular citizens. Inside City Hall, one of the ground floor rooms has been converted so that we can teach reading and writing. There is also a second training room aimed at calculus and further studies, but there aren't many students in that one yet.

After opening the teacher sub-class, it makes sense to get the most use out of it as possible. Children attend classes during the day and adults come later in the evening, once the working day is over. Even a few shopkeepers take the class after they close up. I suppose it's always good to stay on top of your numbers.

Also inside City Hall is the office of contracts. The room itself is mainly autonomous, but Deputy Mayor Sacha keeps a watchful eye on it regardless of whether it runs itself or not. Within, many filing cabinets fill the rectangular room from wall to wall on both sides. The only other feature is a small desk in the middle of the office which Sacha uses for reading.

Every mission undertaken by one of my family members gets filed away inside this room. The process of filing happens twice. Once when the contract is accepted and again upon its completion. Each cabinet has four drawers. The drawers themselves are as strange as the room because of the space magic present in them. They open out much further than they should and due to this, my contracts are still being stored in the first drawer of the first filing cabinet.

I get the urge to throw some blame towards the System, but realise there isn't any to be found as nothing has actually happened. For a moment I got slightly frustrated and don't know why. I put it down to things usually going wrong, even though they haven't, and move on.

It's been a few weeks since Wheeler and Aaron left my city. Wheeler said he had to sort out his affairs back home before committing to help Varona full time. It also turns out he has a family in the capital and will be bringing them back with him. Aaron's a hired guard so he went with the stodgy merchant. He was, however, hesitant to leave. Life in my little piece of heaven must have really been to the young guard's liking.

Speaking of people hesitant to leave, I wonder how Noir and the others are doing. It's been less than 24 hours since they left and I really want their missions to succeed. Not only will I obtain the credibility I need to call myself a legitimate city, but Lord Aldor also agreed to establish a trade route between our two cities.

I'm not an expert on trade relations, or item pricing, or deliveries and order fulfillment for that matter. Luckily, Deputy Mayor Sacha and another capable council member are on hand to deal with this should my Assassins succeed in their missions.

Varona isn't anything to scoff at these days, but unlike Ishda, our city doesn't have a rich heritage, or an established line of nobles that have a say in their ruler's ear. Instead, we operate on an 'everyone is equal policy' and if you don't like it you're free to leave. Unless course-correction is needed that is.

What started out with The Cramped Coop, The Forgotten Forge, The Stark Stable and the Fucking-Useless Hay Bale, is now a fully-functioning factory, dedicated to the production of DP. The citizens are the cogs and gears. So long as I keep them well lubricated, they'll keep pumping that juicy goodness into me. Night after night in ridiculously-large quantities.

The thought makes me shiver.

The Cramped Coop is now the Chick Shack and unlike its name would suggest, it's actually a rather large tin building capable of housing hundreds of chickens. Three of these features run alongside the Fields of Fertility of the outskirts of town. The fields themselves are in the dozens now and more than a hundred subclass farmers tend to them and the coops in turn.

There's also the Pretty Pugly Pigs, the Cow Pits and the Golly Gosh Goats, but they're some of the more recent builds. Either way, it's nice that food is now supplied to my city without me constantly having to foot the bill. Not to mention the citizens can't complain about not knowing where their dinner comes from.

The Forgotten Forge has become the Forge of Finalising and has been placed inside the artisan district of Varona. Weapons and armour made there are sold at Cloak and Dagger. The store in the center of town run by Tara and Lara and the equipment supplied to them sells for a good amount.

The Stark Stables are now the Shimmering Stables and the Hay Bale is no different now to when I very first created it. Except for the cost of the upgrade that is. 2560DP is just appalling, especially when I'm 99.9% certain that nothing will be achieved from it. Except a further increase to the cost of the next upgrade that is. It's bullshit! It's a good job we have an abundance of vegetables to feed our animals with.

The cost is still quite high, even when compared to what I now retain overnight, but I still can't bring myself to stay near the useless hay for too long. Arriving next to the unchanged feature, I barely have time to blink before a rush of power appears inside my dungeon.

It would appear that the rest of my family have returned.