The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

Socrates

Change had come to the little Town of Wester in more ways than one. Barring our Silversea games which had been on our island and the bishop’s blessings which had filled the church I had never seen the entirety of the town turned out in the town square. Even on market days it never got this packed. But such gatherings had happened not once but three times in recent weeks, the town was waking up to change. After the Bishop’s announcements, the crowd split into different groups, each headed in a different direction for a different reason. We stood and watched not quite ready yet to return home. Especially if we were to be the bearers of bad news to our mother.

The first group were those who returned home. Mainly women and children they quickly dispersed having heard the worst and promptly realised that there was little that they could do about it. There were also some of the elderly going home with them but for the most part, it was those who would be unable to fight either on the wall or at the entrance as they were and were unwilling or unable to consider a change. There were a few boys who were dragged home by their hands or ears not quite ready to listen to the wisdom or fear of their elders. I didn’t doubt that in the coming weeks a fair few of them would not find a way to get involved somehow. But for tonight at least they wouldn’t be volunteering anytime soon.

The second group were the people already happy with their metiers and were keen to help out. Some of them seemed even eager for the opportunity. They went straight to Seneschal Smit. Here they were organised into forming either the Guard for the town or the Sentinels for the depths, they were not mutually exclusive. However, some metiers and skill sets were better for guarding a wall as opposed to blocking an exit from the lodestone. Everyone knew everyone so it was not long before a skeleton of the guard had formed alongside a group of eight Sentinels setting out to support the Compass Knights guarding the descent into the depths. Perhaps unsurprisingly they were accompanied by Grandfather, or rather Arawn Silversword, as he was known now. Between him and the Knights, I was a little less apprehensive of being woken up to find the town surrounded by monsters.

The third group were undecided. Listening to their conversations, these groups were discussing what to do and how to help. Either they had the wrong metiers to support combat or were missing skills they would need to fight. That or the weapons. I could foresee a brisk business in the weapons trade this year. If the weapons were not essential for our defence, we could have made a steep profit off selling some but that would probably be counterproductive. In the end, they too visited our Seneschal as underqualified volunteers suggesting ways in which they could help or asking how they could. It was wonderful to see our town coming together in the face of adversity.

This left the fourth and final group of people. They were those who had lined up at the church doors. The reason, they had the skills to select another metier and now had the desire to do so. They were the smallest group but the most interesting. Willing to change in light of the new circumstances they were looking to build on their foundations in a different direction. Father and Lady Acacia had been swept up by our Seneschal in organising the guard, the sentinels and now the volunteers. This meant we were free to follow the fourth group to the church to see what they would choose and how it would work. While normally a more private affair the number of people choosing new metiers in light of the crisis meant that all the clergy from the archbishop to our local priest were counselling them in their choices. At the same time, the acolytes organised the small crowd and escorted them to and fro from the Lodestar of Wester Ponente. This also meant that we could listen to their conversations as they happened.

“What should I choose?” One townsperson asked Archbishop Grigori in a plaintive whisper. His words were still easily heard by me who had spent an entire lifetime listening in on things that I probably shouldn’t have.

The archbishop laid his hand on the supplicant’s head and spoke. “I see you have an Archery skill but no other fighting skills other than the knife. Would you choose to support the town as a Guardsman or a Sentinel?”

“I . . .” they hesitated uncertain how to answer. He was not the only one. Many were uncertain having never thought about such choices before. “A guardsman.” He finally replied seeming to find confidence in himself now that he had made a decision.

“Then Archer is the class you should choose.” He responded having guided them to a choice through questioning rather than dictating one through commands. “The wall will welcome you.”

“Thank you, your excellency.” He made to rise and enter the chamber of the Lodestar.

“We are pressed for time, with so many selecting new metiers, I can guide the process from here.” Archbishop Grigori stopped him from leaving so soon. “In the light of the lodestar, take your new metier.” He commanded with the blue light spilling forth from his ring and covering the man.

He stared at a screen we remembered but only he could see before standing once more with a newfound confidence in his bearing as he bowed to the archbishop. “Thank you, your excellency.”

“It was a pleasure and my duty.” He replied with a smile. “Before you depart could you ask the Seneschal or Lady Acacia for a current list of metiers that those already volunteered have? That will help to guide us in helping your townsmen and women choose the best metier not only for themselves but for the town.”

“Of course.” He answered rushing off to complete the task and returning quickly with a list of metiers.

His absence and task though did not halt the flow of people as they visited the clergy for guidance. On the other side of the nave I could overhear Bishop Bailie asking, “What have you been offered before and what skills do you have to support them?”

Some people be able to select new ones immediately with the guidance of the archbishop. Others discussed their options with the lower ranking members of the church before making their way to the chamber of the Lodestar to finalise their decision and gain their new metier.

“Would you choose a new metier?” I asked my sister who stood beside me.

“Not yet. I have only just started this one. It would be a waste of the progress I have made so far. How about you?” she answered and returned my question post haste.

“I’m thinking about it,” I answered honestly enough. Although she was unaware of all the facts.

“But you have hardly had Singer long enough to have levelled it at all.” She was aware of how much I had sung, when, where and how much experience I had been gaining. All of this had been discussed with Lady Acacia. It was also the reason we had spent so much time creating the amphitheatre. It had all been created to power level both my singing as well as Aleera’s merchant class in selling tickets to the occasion as well as all of the merchandising and food that would have accompanied a performance. We had not created everything yet but with recent developments, I worried we would not be able to perform at all. Everyone would be focused on our defence for a while or at least until they got used to the new level of threat.

“True, but I’ve made some progress,” I replied defensively.

“Not enough to justify a change.” She countered ending the conversation. We stood and watched the remainder of the group go through their selection.

. . . .

“Unfortunately, she does have a point.” Callen agreed with her in the secret space of my mind.

“It just seems a shame to miss out on all the levels and experience,” I replied to my internal mental twin.

“Honestly, what are we going to do? How are we going to kill those monsters? We can run away just fine but getting in close and personal seems like a recipe for disaster with our height.” He argued.

“Fine. But there has to be a way we can use magic to kill them from a distance.” I replied unprepared to give up on the experience I might be able to acquire. The large bump in experience gained from our short flight was a little frighteningly enticing. On top of the rush of adrenaline, I had received. Sure, it had been terrifying at the time but it had all worked out in the end. Much like my first fall off the cliff. Repetition had been the key to skill levels and stat gains.

“Very well, but at least consult Lady Acacia and Grandfather before you attempt anything inane. One of them will know how to weaponize an infant but my money is on our grandfather.” Callen added.

“Okay, time’s up,” I confirmed before ending the skill. The pressure had been mounting and I wanted to end it before it became a debilitating headache.

. . .

“I hesitate to ask Lord and Lady Silversea. But would you like to change your metier?” Archbishop Grigori approached and asked now that the remainder of the group had finally left the church the acolytes had left with them to help with the organisation of the people and tasks required. Along with Bishop Bailie, this left just the four of us in the church.

“Thank you for the offer but we currently have a plan in place for our progression,” Aleera replied intercepting any response I might make.

“Clearly.” He agreed. “But plans have to be flexible in response to changes in circumstances.” Still hopeful for something.

“Thank you for the advice and we will take it under advisement but we really must consult with our family before we make any changes.” She was non-committal in her reply.

“I’m sure a merchant will be able to make a lot of progress with the new circumstances. But I never got young Kai’s metier.” He waited to see if anything would be forthcoming.

“You didn’t,” she replied in such a manner that it could be taken as either a question or a statement.

“No, I did not,” I repeated. “I only ask out of hope to guide you.” He humbly explained.

We had spent enough time going around in a circle avoiding responding and it did not seem too much like a state secret to me.

“I’m a singer.” I finally put us all out of our misery.

“A singer?” he asked confused. “Surely not.” He added somewhat flabbergasted. “But with such high amounts of mana available surely other options were offered. Why would you choose . . .” he stopped critiquing my choice long enough for me to reply.

“I’m a new lord. A young Lord, still only a child, there’s no rush. Under Lady Acacia's advisement, I took the metier. We were hoping to help increase my charisma stat alongside gaining levels. Besides it makes my family happy, Singer for my mother, sailor for my father, merchant for my sister, maybe . . . mage assassin for my grandfather.” I finished half joking half serious. “We were due to start performing next month. A talent show if you will. Though whether that will happen now who can tell.”

“That all sounds very intriguing.” He replied and it was difficult to tell from his words how he truly felt.

“Thank you?” I replied.

“You're welcome, once you have completed your performance, might I suggest skipping the sailor and merchant metier and going straight to the mage metier. It is clear from your blessing and more recently your astounding flight that you have plenty of mana to spare. Singing is a wonderful talent and profession but in times like these you need to consider what will be best not only for yourself but, now that you are a Lord, your subjects too.” He could not help but give his advice.

“I will consider your advice but as my sister said we will make our choice should we decide to change in consultation with our family,” I replied.

“Of course, of course.” He reigned himself in. “They must be wondering where you have wandered off to. Just remember that the Lodestar Church is always open to the Silversea family and both Bishop Bailie and Compass Knight Sir Jacques will be ready and willing to support you and your family in whatever manner you wish.” Despite his probing and unasked for advice, he was keen to end the conversation as amicably as possible. Furthermore, with our favours riding on his support we were equally keen to depart on equally friendly terms.

“Your excellency and grace.” We nodded our heads together in equality before turning to depart.

“Lord and Lady Silversea, may you always walk in the light.” They responded by rote and in unison.

. . .

“Where have you been?” Father shouted exasperated. He had pounced on us as soon as we emerged from the church. We both looked at him rather than respond. He had seen us both leave the church so there was hardly any point in responding in the first place. “Yes, yes. It’s time for us to go home. Your Grandpa has everything in hand here for the town but we need to consider our own home too. Grandfather has gone with the sentinels. So it is high time we made it back to our isle to tell your mother. I know she was not expecting us home anytime soon today but we need to go home sooner rather than later.” He scolded us. It was unusual for him to do so but then today had been an unusual day. He led us back through the town to our boat.

The usually quiet town was a hive of activity as people attempted to prepare for what they feared might be oncoming hordes of monsters. There was little that many could do in the grand scheme of things but being busy seemed to be allaying the panic the initial announcement and our production of the beast had caused.

“Maybe downplay the danger just a little.” We raised our eyebrows at that statement in scepticism. “Fine, but can we at least avoid discussing in too much detail your grandfather’s decision to run away with you and then throw you to the eels.”