The rest of the trip is without incident and we make it to the mining city in late afternoon the next day. They call the settlement Gounod. It doesn't feel like a normal living space. There is a terrible smell in the air. There are also no normal houses, only large buildings, some with open forging areas. As we walk through the city I see what I think is forges, metal being cast into shiny, blue and red ingots. There are also large stone vats I see people pour both rocks and liquid in. I wonder how it all works?

We follow Gol, the leader of the caravan to some sort of office building, where the successful completion of the request is confirmed. They seem very grateful, even though the issue still remains a problem. We also get offered to stay the night; to sleep in a bed, but Bosir rejects it, saying we'd lose a day that way. As we leave I wonder out loud. "Old Bosir, did we not get paid?"

He merely smirks "Ah, no, not yet. The deal I struck was not with the miners here but with the craftsmen's guild in Brahms. I get 10% of the profit of the next shipment of azurite, which should be a fine sum. Some 25 blue coins or so." Is he well connected?

The return trip takes us much less time, as we can keep up a good, jogging pace without the carts and we return by mid-afternoon two days later.

My new routine is drawn up quickly upon return. Complete daily request when I can, train until exhausted, magic training till dawn. I have gotten confirmed a few times now that all the hard work I was forced to undertake, and that which I took upon myself have brought amazing results, and I will continue doing that, at least until I can start mingling with nobility, as Jorgen predicted I someday would. Then I will use that influence to start up sports activities, though I am quite unsure if this world's physiques and physics will pose any problems. I also arrange to spar with Kamas and Atna each once a week.

And so, time passes with steady improvement. I find myself growing fast friends with both Asger and Atna. Three months in, Asger and Atna are offered their recommendations. Asger receives it tearfully, crying out the word "Finally" again and again, but Atna refuses. She says she can't very well become a hunter before me while I am still ahead of her. I have become friends with her, often enjoying our chats, but sometimes she lashes out. It is clear that the difference between us is increasing, but what could she expect? I literally have 50% more time on my hands thanks to her.

Another 3 months pass. I have recently mastered casting two different spells at once. This is significant because it allows me to imbue my creation magic with Force and literally shoot projectiles from nothing. I am only able to use about 5 of those per day though, and they eat significantly into my Reads, which have proven extremely handy. Shortly thereafter Bosir wants to talk to me.

"Take a break" he said suddenly after isolating me. "You are working too much, it is hard to see and you make the rest of us feel bad and lazy, heck even Mynie is taking jobs at an increased rate."

"Isn't that a good thing, old Bosir?"

"NO! One of the perks of being a hunter is supposed to be few work hours in exchange for danger, and you are making all of us feel guilty about it. At least one week of rest a month from now on, you hear me? Besides, going through life like that can't be fun, you gotta enjoy the world. You should have a fair amount of coin to your name by now."

Huh, I have heard this before, in my previous life. My mother would always nag me to skip out on training to join them on a trip to India or something, but I always declined. I am not allowed to be so brazen to my elders here though, so I will just leave town and go train in secret.

"Understood" is all I reply with.

If I am going to leave town to train, I should probably go back to my village. It will also be a pleasure to see Jorgen, Hannah, Mom and my little sister again. I have a good amount of coin, so I should get them something fancy like jewelry? And thus I seek Atna's advice since I have seen her wear some before.

"Sister Atna, do you know a store that sells jewelry?"

"Not really in Brahms. But if you go to the blacksmith he usually has some fancily forged metal you can put on a leather string. Why? Finally going to take care of your looks?"

How rude, my looks are none of her concern.

"Ah, no. Bosir told me take a week off and so-"

She displays a playful, teasing smile "Don't tell me you're going to buy a gift for a girl?"

"Well, actually yes. The cutest girl in the world in fact."

"Really?" She appears slightly dumbfounded.

"Yeah, I am going to my hometown to-"

"Don't care" Oof, you could feel the cold emanating from that tone of voice. Is she lashing out again? Does she have some problem with me going to my home town?. All I have learnt over the past six months is that it is better to just evacuate when she gets like this, so I quickly bail and head to the blacksmith.