“Welcome back.” Saluted Varisa, who was taking care of her Nadia’s business, and apprentice in her absence. “Where are your kids?”

“At their uncle’s. Where’s yours?” Varisa could have taught them directly, but they much preferred learning from their older cousins.

“Also, at his uncle’s place. He decided he wanted to be a merchant.” Despite inheriting both his parents’ talents in combat and spiritualism, he much preferred the quieter life of a trader.

Nadia shrugged. “That’s kids for you. Next month he’ll want to become a royal guard or a minister. More importantly though, look at this.” She conjured vapor from around her hand, it was hot but not scalding.

Shockingly, there were no reference to fire or heat in the spell. “Are you kidding me?”

“I’ve finally achieved it, the perfect steam bath spell.” Limited to a single element, and with almost no stamina drain, this truly was the ultimate spell.

“Oh, right, I almost forgot who I was talking to.” In a single decade, Nadia’s bathhouse had become a fixture of the city. There were three distinct chains catering to the poor, middle class and the wealthy, each with their own range of care products. It was also massively popular with students, and she had dozens of applications each year. “Here are the apprenticeship applications for the years.”

“What about you, making some progress?” She leaned very much toward the hands-on approach. That or she didn’t want to take away from her busy schedule to teach them something.

She didn’t mind helping as she wasn’t so busy, but it sometimes got annoying. Now was a good example. “Ignoring the question as always. As to answer your question, no progress whatsoever.”

“You’re too much of a perfectionist.” Varisa’s bows, were highly sought after and equipped the best of the royal guard. It wasn’t rare to see one of her ‘failures’ sell for hundreds of Gold Crowns.

“Says the woman who spent two years researching bubble bath.” Her goal was a legendary item, thousands of years old, and she always made sure to make time for her son and friends.

“The size of the bubble is important, you know? The composition too. It affects the smell and water quality and...” She could go on for hours if left alone.