The next morning, I checked the system after spending a good bit in the outhouse. Let me say, this world’s common brand toilet paper was rough. Not quite sandpaper rough, but it sucked. I’m sure the nobles had better rolls for their precious little bottoms and now my calling in life would be to acquire some. Hell, I think even Milia complained about them at least once in an offhand mutter.

We had cleaning agents and sanitation spray. We can have soft toilet paper dammit, even if I had to invent it myself.

My realm didn’t increase, it was still on the fourth realm of the Highcore. Not that it did so on a daily basis. In fact, it mostly did so when I least expected it.

I walked over to the garden, marveling at its beauty and appreciated its ingredients. I felt something push against my leg, looked down, and allowed my heart to melt at the sight of Cheetara. I picked up the cat.

Just standing here really, observing stretches and stretches of hard work did give me an appreciation of life. A few things ran through my mind. What did the realms mean? I get that they were similar to an ancient belief system with an end goal of becoming immortal. Too similar, but not the same. Mana appeared to be the fuel of this world, the driving force behind the might makes right logic.

I shook my head. This knowledge could be found in some pricey books or at an academy. Two of my banes! Losing money and being around dickhead magicians. Hell, add nobility to that mix to sour things out a bit.

I placed my hand on the ground, gave the land a bit of my mana, then headed back inside to prepare for the day. Milia was making breakfast by the time I finished brushing up. I kissed her after a morning greeting.

**

Milia struggled to hold back and preserve the respected tradition of the human woman of Kyushu. It was a challenge, especially being downright in love. Sometimes she wished Nate would just jump her, tradition be damned, but he found it somewhat intriguing. He told her that she was worth the wait. It almost brought tears to her eyes. No one has ever told the woman such a thing.

Dryads either lived lonely lives protecting the forest and their friends or chose to build a family with a suitor, most being male fairies, though every now and then, rumors of someone meeting an angel, vampire, or elf and falling in love instantly, burst into the dryad social circles. There was also an instance of an ancient dryad fulfilling her “bad boy” fantasies with a rare human-form demon. A human lover on the other hand was rare. Sure, dryads mated with them in the past, but humans were known for keeping to themselves. Even Milia didn’t interact with the village much before Nate came along.

Milia’s past experiences with humans were mostly neutral, rarely friendly, almost like business rivals preparing to make a deal.

Sure, lustful men, brutes, or the occasional dreamer appeared every few cycles, human, elf, or fairy and her mother once tried to arrange a marriage. But none of these experiences compared to being with Nate. Perhaps the reward she truly didn’t deserve was him being a magician, which meant a lifespan as long as her own. A family line that followed his unique viewpoint on life, a perspective that seemed otherworldly.

A part of her, the divine blood, suspected that his original homeland was unreachable, perhaps it was a world that operated on different principles, but a certain fear always settled on her, preventing the woman from asking. Any girl in love would have it, but Milia couldn’t help but feel a little childish for it. She wouldn’t know how she’d react. Sure, given time, the woman would move on, but the old saying of the “one that got away” held almost divine meaning, especially with her kind.

The fear of course was Nate telling the dryad he wanted to go back, that magic will whisk him away and she’d be alone again. Having a person, one wanted to get to know intimately, to marry, and share a unique future with vanish without a trace would honestly hurt anyone.

That however was but a small, childish insecurity Milia certainly wouldn’t allow to get in the way of rational thought.

She also wasn’t concerned about others attempting to “steal” his heart. Sure some humans betrayed their spouses, but Milia would trust Nate, as he’d trust her. Though dryads didn’t betray their lovers, couldn’t. The land also protected them. Falling in love as a long living “seductive” being was difficult, a luxury, especially among young dryads. Yet…she found herself drawn to that silly man. The attention he gave her did things to her.

The shameless thoughts made Milia blush! She would maintain her divine purity until married to her lover. She would! No matter how much she currently scoffed at the tradition.

Milia of course wasn’t idling. Aside from running the shop with her betrothed, she continued her dryad duties, protecting the land, sharing donated mana, healing hurt plants and even wildlife in her forest, and just spreading her general blessings, which were overfilled with love due to her current state of mind. She’d have to not accidentally bloom an entirely new forest during an act of passion and intimacy. That’d be so embarrassing! Her family would immediately know when they arrived.

**

After a delicious breakfast with Milia, we boarded Beakwing. He was fed, cheery, and huggable. I considered just tossing the reply letter and delivering the message myself, but there was a shop to run, an apprentice to train, a future wife to be with, and projects to complete. In the end, I didn’t outright reject Lucas, but encouraged him to consider training under his wonderful master. A female blacksmith was just too cool! The teen himself being half dwarf and a magician did reveal its concerns. For one, he could attract attention, perhaps from an academy. That’d make both he and his master additional income. At least I hoped.

First, we greeted Harmony at her house, offering the teenager a ride so she wouldn’t have to walk.

“The exercise is good for you, so don’t expect this often,” I said, which gained myself a flat stare from her maid.

Harmony rolled her eyes. “You’re as cheerful as ever this morning.” She smiled at the spirit beasts. “Hi Cutie, hi Woofy, hi Wingy.”

The spirit beasts returned the greeting, Wolverine barking and panting, tailing wagging in excitement. Cheetara meowed and Beakwing huffed.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Nate and Milia. Well met on this fine morning.”

Still standing in front of Harmony’s open door, I turned to see Tom, holding a bag of tools, preparing to work for the day.

“Good morning,” Milia said. She gave him a nod.

“Tom, well met my friend,” I said, clasping the man’s hand. “I see things are going well at home with the wife and kids.” I pointed at his lunch.

He grinned. “Indeed things are. Say, you may not think much is happening, but your shop is far more effective than you give it credit for.”

I blinked. “It is? I thought it’d take months at the very least before it could integrate with the local economy.”

“You should give credit to your lovely betrothed there,” Tom said. “She’s fierce at advertising.”

My grin widened. Milia gave me a mischievous smile.

“She is the heart of my shop,” I said truthfully. Harmony pouted, unsurprisingly. Milia’s smile only deepened.

After finishing the town errands, including delivering the mail to the carrier and paying his fee, we headed back to the shop. Unfortunately, Mandi and her two cousins were waiting for us, ready to ruin today’s array of fun and debauchery. You know, chores. Scrubbing shit, making potions, sweeping. Sure, Harmony’s handling most of that, but that’s beside the point. I didn’t feel like dealing with the idiot trio. I dubbed them that to knock away some of that “superiority” bullshit and partly to make interacting with them feel like comedic relief. In a way, it kind of was, especially with the flustered redhead.

“Great, what could they possibly want,” Harmony said. She brushed off her gray trousers when I made Beakwing land in a way that kicked up a little cloud dust.

“It will be an hour or two before I open the shop,” I told the trio. “We hadn’t started any batches.”

“Mistress, this really isn’t a good idea,” Howie said. “Your father’s going to seriously be angry. How will I explain—”

“My father doesn’t control my actions,” Mandi snapped. “Besides, I told you already, I’m just asking.”

“Asking? What can I do for you?” I said as a professional shop keeper. If this girl wanted to make a business arrangement that could make me or even both of us filthy rich, why the hell would I stop her? Her following words made me frown.

“If one wanted to learn the trade of potion making, what should one do to apply?” Mandi asked, though even her cousins cringed at her terrible attempt to make it seem as if she wasn’t asking for herself. But I needed to be direct.

“I’m afraid I’m currently not taking in any apprentices at the moment,” I said. “Besides, this isn’t a trade most people would want to get involved in. There are far better activities from cooks, to blacksmithing. In your case, perhaps learning the way of the scholar or working for your father’s business.”

Howie nodded, visibly appreciating my gentle letdown. I didn’t see the need to be a dick after all.

“Are you sure?” Mandi pushed. “What will it take?” She seemed to be hinting at something with her expression, but I kept calm. Kept the sneer off my face, though I was sure my gaze probably felt icy.

“You aren’t worthy enough to be among my apprentices,” I said after a bit. If we weren’t hiding our powers, Milia would’ve conjured up a windstorm for effect.

“Wha…what?” Mandi stammered.

“Your purpose for coming here was flawed and I’m sure Sir Howie over there tried everything to talk you out of it,” I said. “You wanted to teach peasants a lesson. You were quite rude to the people around here.” I narrowed my eyes. “The relationship between mortal and magicians are strained enough as is. Do you think bullying them because of an offense was the right action to take?” I remained calm and collected, almost feeling like a real master. “Your cousins would’ve attacked if they hadn’t caught onto…an old career I once had.”

Sometimes setting the scene with a little bullshit worked wonders, especially when it came to magicians who couldn’t so much as scan. Or at least they couldn’t scan me.

Judging by the looks on their faces, my misleading words worked. The only old job that could be close to my fake implication was as a security guard, before I ended up as a corporate pencil pusher, Home Depot connoisseur.

Mandi pouted, but deflated, knowing damn well that everything I said was true.

“Then I shall reflect on my actions and unladylike manners,” she said. “Only then should I return, contribute to the town, and ask again.”

I sighed. This girl wasn’t going to go away easily, was she?

“It will take more than that,” I stated. “You will have to earn these people’s respect. Of course someone who wears their emotions on her face will be unable to lie, so if you pull that feat off, I’d actually be impressed.”

Howie winced, detecting the meaning in my parting harsh words. But the redhead proved to be quite dense. That kind of dedication…If I hadn’t introduced Milia as my betrothed, I’d almost think the teenager was pushing this far from a misguided crush. That or got it in her head that I had secret potion recipes. The latter was true, but she didn’t come across as someone who had any fucks to give about a potion.

“It was interesting talking to you all, but I’m afraid if we do not get started on the morning batch, there will be some angry customers soon,” Milia interjected.

“Oh, then let us not disturb you any further,” Howie said. “Let us get going. Your mother may lesson your punishment if we can return before Gaston arrives.”

“Ugh, I don’t want to go back,” she said.

“Enough!” Winn snapped. “It’s time to drop your fantasies and act like a member of House Wingston.”

He raised his aura, which made the redhead flinch.

“You’re our favorite little cousin, but don’t make us drag you back to your mother,” Lou said. “She’s going to kill us too after all. And your big brother.”

That made her flinch.

“Fine! Wanda’s bottom, you two are so…ugh!” She stomped off into the wagon.

“Please excuse us,” Howie said. “I can only hope the mistress doesn’t trouble you again.”

I waved off his concern. “It’s probably a young person thing.”

The older man nodded again and after Winn and Lou were seated, did he board himself as the wagon operator. Soon, they were gone and out of my goddamn hair. I considered popping some imaginary wine and celebrating. Imaginary because buying it in this town was a goddamn rip off. If I had the tools, I’d just make it myself. Perhaps beer too. Things for later.

“Thank fuck she’s gone,” I said as I entered the shop. “Maybe if we’re lucky, she’d become one of the few nobles capable of talking to people properly.”

Milia had already set up the cauldrons and added the ingredients. Her smile was as bright as ever.

“You sure she didn’t have any ideas of stealing you away from me?” Milia quipped, her eyes beaming with playfulness.

I laughed. “Flattering, but kids these days should focus on careers and callings in life. What’s a spark of love when you have no passion?”

“What’s passion with no love?” Harmony challenged.

“A lot of things,” I told her. “There’s also more than one type of passion. A passion of the goal you wish to accomplish. A passion for intimacy. The list goes on.” I added water to the cauldrons.

The answer didn’t seem to satisfy the cheeky teenager, but even Milia couldn’t expect the youth to read my meaning. Or Harmony pretended not to understand. Perhaps hiring one more disciple to work with her may bring her down to earth a bit.

I glanced at the cauldrons. Harmony’s lack of revelation brought me back to the potion maker mindset and a working theory. “I wonder…what if the reason why I can’t do anything with the skeleton king’s dust is because I’m not using the proper equipment. Are there cauldrons with special purposes?”

Milia’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t even considered that. There are. I’m just not sure how to get a hold of one.”

“But we do know a blacksmith and a half dwarf that could make it if asked,” I said. “I just hope it isn’t costly.”

“You did save their village,” Harmony said. “I’m positive you’ll get a discount. The downside is finding the materials for the blacksmith to use.”

I nodded. “We’ll never know unless we go ask them. Let’s bottle the potions for now and get moving.”

“So much for that letter you sent earlier,” Harmony said.

“I know right,” I replied. “Well, they’ll still get it.”

I’d have to play the mysterious master role, tell them my answer will come when they least expect it.

**

Even as an hour and a half passed, Winn’s bratty little cousin said nothing, just stared out the window, lost in thought. Sometimes she pouted, sometimes she sighed. It appeared that the words of the potential ex-assassin got to her more than he expected. Usually with Mandi, things slid in one ear, only to exit the other. Sure, her selfishness got them payment, but the truth was, Winn and Lou were asked to protect her by her brother. Their big cousin, Hector. Fortunately for them, Mandi would never tell him of the details of this trip. She’d certainly never tell Gaston either. After all, her mother planned to arrange a marriage between she and Gaston to further tie the Wingston family to an even bigger house, that is House Astral.

Winn hated the idea. They were pricks after all. They may not be so much of a bother to the Wingston family, but if Mandi decided to make a return trip with Gaston, there could be trouble. Also, if word got out that she grew smitten with a peasant potion maker from a backwater town, well, things would certainly get interesting. Hector however being as frightening as he is, had a spot so soft for his little sister, that he may as well be her pillow. He could get the idea in his head that Mandi went out and found her destined one. Not that it would matter. The potion maker was getting married and there wasn’t a thing Mandi or Hector could do. Even if he tried killing the man’s wife, he’d not only find himself a target of a dangerous assassin but get tossed out of the family for extreme shame. The guards would execute him on the spot for murder. The magician guards of course. No mortal guard could touch Hector.

Abruptly, the wagon suddenly skidded to a halt. Winn snapped out of his thoughts and looked outside. They’ve been on the road for almost two hours and the sky was blue and clear the entire time. Where did these black storm clouds come from? A strange feeling of uneasiness sank into the man.

“Howie, what’s the hold up?” he asked. He looked at Mandi, her eyes already glistening with fear. Howie didn’t reply.

“Howie? Wanda’s ass,” Lou said. “I’ll check on him.”

“I’ll go too,” Winn said and both men exited the vehicle. Howie was pale, staring at something in the distance.

Winn patted his shoulder, which caused the man to jump. If he could leap out of his own skin, Winn wouldn’t be surprised.

“A…ahead,” Howie said, his voice barely a whisper. “We…we have to run. Leave the horses, so it can have its meal. Come back for the wagon later.”

Winn gave him a skeptical look then turned to the direction the old man eyed. There, he saw a mass of inky blackness.

It gave him a chill so deep that the only thing that prevented him from trembling was the magic that raged within his veins.

The shadow began to move toward them. Howie, a man usually without fear, Mandi’s personal bodyguard, whimpered. The killing intent from the…thing nearly choked the breath out of Winn.

If it effected Howie, they were all doomed.

“M…Mandi hide,” Lou managed to get out.

**