I woke up feeling the most relaxed and refreshed. On Earth sleep experts extolled getting deep sleep when a body experiences it is REM cycle. In deep sleep the body would release growth hormones and the body would repair tissue and detoxify itself. This was the only way I could describe the sensation I was feeling. It felt like my mana pool refreshed, repaired itself, and detoxified, at the same time my body felt strong. I at once realized more mana was traveling through my body and at a faster frequency. I cast rock amour and my body was immediately coated in solid rock. I could not believe it, I in my room not outside standing on dirt. I laughed, finally I felt confidence in defending myself. At the mock battle, I finally felt confident to perform well enough to keep my 15th place or maybe do slightly better.

Getting dressed, I grab a quick bite and ran to commissary to meet Marshall Rolf and begin my quartermaster duties.

"Quartermaster vont Ballard, reporting for duty, sir" I saluted.

"Welcome commander here is a folder of the merchant contracts. The last quartermaster arranged merchants, but other commanders were required to submit purchase orders directly to various shops. What will you need to succeed at your command post?" Marshall Rolf asked.

I wonder if he thinks he is testing me. Oh, how fun. Since I left the barony, I haven't negotiated with anyone. I enjoyed negotiations battling wit against wit. I decide to use this moment to milk every ounce of coin I could for my 'command post.'

"Marshall Rolf, is there a budget for the quartermaster command?"

"Yes, your budget is 20 gold coins a month, why? What do you require to run this command post effectively, unlike the last imbecile?"

"Guild master sir, I'll need two clerks, at minimum 50 gold coins, and mandate from you that every purchase order goes through my office, no exceptions. I will also need a recommendation from you addressed to the Guidon Merchant's Guild, Blacksmith's Guild, Alchemy Guild and inns within a 10-kilometer radius." Very few quests asked cadets to travel farther than 10 kilometers out of the Guidon.

Marshall Rolf raised an eyebrow at me, and sat thinking for a while before responding, "I can get you the two clerks, your budget will increase to 35 gold, I'll make the mandate, and write the recommendation letters."

"Guild master, the 50 dollars will be necessary for this office to function at the most efficient capacity. Also, I plan to pay the clerks from the quartermaster budget. Sir, when it comes to purchasing weapons, medicine, lodging, it is safer to have more money. Especially, if I need to bribe to someone." While Guardian Guild would engender support in the kingdom, nothing moved hearts and minds more than coin.

"40 coins is the highest I'll go for now. If you do good job, we can revisit budget after your biannual exams."

I saluted and walked to my office. Of all the commander offices, the quartermaster office was certainly the smallest. I sat down on a dusty chair and celebrated my small victory. Based on the file, I quick summarized, all I needed to run the office was an additional 10 gold. But every negotiator knows to start high, hold firm, and finally compromise. When the quartermaster agreed to 35 gold, I would have been satisfied. But the extra coin certainly made my plans easier to accomplish.

The most important part required all purchase order run through my office. This would allow me to purchase orders in bulk and reduce cost and save money. This would enable me to stretch my budget. Now that I controlled all guild purchases, I would use my company, The Silver Phoenix, to act as the middleman when purchasing from various guilds. Officially the Guardian Guild of the Knight's Academy, would pay The Silver Phoenix to purchase orders on the guild's behalf. The Silver Phoenix would purchase those items, at a discount, and hand the goods over to the Guardian Guild.

A perk of being a guild merchant, was the privileged of buying items at wholesale prices. This meant that I was given a further discount on goods and increased my purchasing power. Purchasing power was the value of currency in terms of the number of goods a unit of currency can buy. When I bulk buy goods at wholesale value, I'm able to purchase a larger amount of goods. The difference between the retail sale, and the wholesale would be the amount my company would earn. And all of this was legal in Fermion. This allowed me to begin making a profit while I was enrolled.

When I couple the profit with my allowance, I'm hopeful, I could build quite a bit of savings. Regretfully, this kingdom did not have banks. But that would change. I planned to use my knowledge of Earth to earn a king's ransom in gold.

As I stretched out plan, I realized that I did not have a plan for the quartermaster's office beside my own. Marshall Rolf said, this was my opportunity to build credibility with investors. If I did a good job, in two-years when I graduated, I could build quite the economic empire. Yes, I would take this job very seriously. I would build this office, the same way I would my business.

In my office, I check my desk drawer for any papers or thing on which to write. I finally found an old piece of paper in the bottom right-hand drawer. Taking this command position, I realized that not enough people had a good idea what a quartermaster's job duties entailed, and I would take this opportunity to reach and grab as much power as I could.

On a parchment I wrote, 'The mission of the Quartermaster's Office is to support guildmembers in their quest, by providing weapons, alchemical, and lodging support.' Most companies messed up their mission by being to long, a mission was supposed to be short and concise. Missions were solely to provide clarity.

After finishing the mission, I handed it to the guild master and him to distribute it to the other commanders. I told Marshall Rolf beginning next week, please ask the commanders to drop off their item or lodging requests in my office. I planned to spend the second day, in the city talking to the various guilds and negotiating wholesale prices.

He told me the letters of recommendation would be ready in two days time. On that date, I would pop in here before heading out the city on guild business. Furthermore, Marshall Rolf told me two new cadets agreed to clerks, and they were on their way over now. This was the first-time that guild would have three people serving in the quartermaster's office, and what did I planned to do with two clerks? One clerk would keep track of guild weapon, alchemical, and lodging requests. The other clerk would be responsible for sending those requests to the merchant, blacksmith, alchemist guilds; and inns. This way one person could keep track of the accounts received and the other payable accounts. That would provide a double-entry bookkeeping system. What I did not say, was that I would be responsible for my company's account. If people received their requested items in a timely matter, the money would continue to flow.

As I was talking to the Marshall Rolf, two female cadets shouted, "Grace vont Allen reporting for duty," "Sarah Taylor reporting for duty." The guild master informed me these two friends agreed to work in the Quartermaster's Command to earn guild points. I bowed and welcomed both noble cadets to the office.

Grace was the daughter of an agricultural baron, like me, and Sarah was the daughter of successful tradesman. Both girls were friends who wanted a way to earn guild points while continuing to spend time together.

I introduced the girls to the dusty office and told them the Marshall would bring in two desk and chairs this afternoon, as well as the paper and pencils for recordkeeping. I asked them to describe themselves and if they knew anything about being a clerk or bookkeeping.

Grace did not know anything, but Sarah had watched her father keep his accounts. Knowing that Sarah was the daughter of a prominent tradesmen, I assigned her to the accounts payable position and Grace to the receivable accounts. I described their jobs in detail. Reenforcing the need to record transactions between guild members or merchants. It was imperative that both accounts matched, but if there were discrepancies, I could easily examine their records to resolve the matter. These two cadets would ensure my business builds capital, I was very dependent on these women, as was the guild of course.

We spent the rest of the morning and afternoon cleaning the office and arranging furniture. Finally, the office albeit small, looked presentable. Grace and Sarah's desk were parallel to the front wall. As soon as guildmembers came file request they would be greeted by both cadets. My desk sat behind them adject to the backwall. In the between us was a small gap. In this medieval landscape file cabinets did not exist, and I asked Marshall Rolf to buy a chest for the office. Instead, he offhandedly told me to use my budget to purchase the chest myself. There was no harm in asking, my budget was still more than effort for my needs.

Before I left, I told Grace and Sarah to meet me by the academy gate after breakfast to begin negotiations with various guilds.

By the time I left the guild, I was only able to grab quick lunch before heading to physical training. By now the laps and calisthenics did not bother me. Marshall Rolf also insulted our class less, but not by much.

"Will, Mark go spar" Marshall Rolf yelled. Deciding when to call him Marshall or guild master was confusing.

This was the first time sparing for Mark and I. Mark was stronger than I was, his sword swings were forceful, but I was more agile than him. As our duel began, Mark ran to the center of the stage to gain advantage, while I circle close to the edge. By now Mark and I knew how each other fought. Mark's sword skill surpassed the class, but he could be defeated, by quick movements that chip away at his stamina.

Focusing on my dexterity, I circled Mark dodging his heavy strikes, and countering with quick short jabs. This was not by preferred style of play, but this was the only way I saw myself winning. After about 30 minutes of the plan, I could see Mark growing tired and his enhanced body waring off. I knew this would be my moment to make a stand. I casted rock armor and enhanced sword, my mana pool dipped but I felt I could hold both spells for 5 minutes and joined Mark in the center of the stage to trade blows. Mark was astonished a minute before giving his all to end the fight. We looked like two boxers at the end of a bout trading blows to win the scorecard. Mark's heavy hits slammed against my amour, and my trust jabbed against his enhancement, while our enhanced swords occasionally parried. After five minutes, with my armor and enhancement fading, Marshall Rolf stepped in to call the match in Mark's favor.

Both Mark and fell to the ground exhausted with our back pressed against the other. I realized that earlier guess of Mark tiredness was a ruse, Mark used to get me to use my enhancements. How strong and strategic was Mark to game plan my defeat. I was amazed at Mark's talents. He was certainly worthy to be ranked first in our year. I congratulated Mark and told him how much I admired his tactics. I had no doubt the Mark would retain his rank in the mock battles and mid-year exam.

As I left the stage, I my screen appeared in my eyes.

Name: William vont Ballard Race: Human Rank: 0 Class: Merchant Subclass: Attribute: Constitution-21 Strenght--25 Dexterity--19 (+5) Intellect--32 Charisma--12 Rank Skills: Management (23), Diplomacy (23), Accounting (43) Class Skills: Appraisal (1, 100) Abilities: Apprentice Swordsmanship (12,25) Novice Terramancer (10,10)

My match with increased my dexterity and swordsmanship. While completing the rock armor skill maxed out my novice terramancer ability. Tomorrow, I would start practicing rock spike. Then I realized, Elder Thaddeus would teach me how to set up an array to create a whirlpool in my mana pool. After a big dinner to replenish my lost mana, I placed the last herb under my tongue and went to sleep nervous about what tomorrow would bring.