Originally, I had thought designing and building a house would be a great ordeal, but the biggest challenge was figuring out where to start. With the support of Master, it wasn’t hard to learn whatever I needed about more advanced home design. I was honestly surprised when the dwarven books even included designs for plumbing and water lines. It took some time to design something that Sis was satisfied with, but eventually a plan was drawn up and the real work could begin.

  I made most of the tools we used temporarily while Master made the permanent fixtures. The difference in Mana and Will stats made his work last longer, but the runes themselves had apparently reached the dwarven standard for a skilled master. Regardless, we made tools to dry and cut the wood into the needed shapes. Master Gam also took this opportunity to teach me how to make detailed metal shapes, and soon I was making artistic engravings on the back of every nail. While smithing had been simpler to learn, the effort required was undoubtedly a match for runecraft.

  I ended up designing a three-story building with a personal workshop off to the side. I used a lot of inspiration from my past life in designing the appliances and amenities. Rune marks that when pressed light up a room, running water being fed from a tank built onto the roof with a pipe to refill it from the ground floor, and Sis even forced me into designing a family-size hot tub. For Mom, I ended up getting roped into designing a dishwasher and laundromat for their convenience, though Mom insisted on doing the dishes and clothes at home personally. However, when it came to home dishes and clothes, she insisted we continue to help at home, but I think that’s because it was what she got to spend the most time with us doing.

  Dad had returned to his role as a knight of the town. Apparently he had a new skill that strengthened his prosthetic hands and had been able to level it enough to consistently fight at a level sufficient to prove himself again. However, he had made sure to make it clear he wasn’t going to spend long periods away from us. His return had dispelled most of the overt isolationism from the other villagers, and Sis’s friends had even sought her out to apologize to her. Apparently they had been pressured by the older kids to stay away, and they had promised to make it up to her eventually.

  Sis had, of course, tested their determination with a variety of different pranks, but Nixie and Reesia took their determination a step further and ended up taking apprenticeships with soldiers in town so they can join Sis as a team in the future. Nixie was becoming a trapper/stealth specialist, and Reesia had decided on the path of a guardian. This newfound determination was reflected in their work ethic, and soon their efforts might’ve even surpassed ours. Though that was hard to judge because it seemed every day passed in a blur of new projects.

  This new state of affairs continued on for a bit more than two years, and soon we were celebrating our first birthday party. Apparently because of how fragile children are, successfully raising a child to ten years is a notable achievement. In addition, for orphans, this is the age when paths are chosen for children who haven’t chosen the path of a warrior. With the constant need for new soldiers and fighters, children are always encouraged to seek guidance onto this path. If an orphan wants to be a civilian, then they need to be chosen by prospective masters in a town event. This was also a chance for non-orphans, as a large number of townsfolk took this chance to have their children compete for a master.

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  Somehow in this big event Grandpa, Yoren, and Gam all decided it was time for me to get another master. So I found myself wandering through the fair-like grounds as one of the many ten-year-olds looking for a master willing to take them in. There were all kinds of different jobs; some, like ship carpenters, seemed open to just about everyone, and others were very picky, like one of the village weaponsmiths, who seemed more interested in sharpening an exaggeratedly large sword. I thought about the outside again and decided the sword might actually not be big enough. Among all the masters present, the most exclusive were undoubtedly any master who had some level of magic-type skills, and this even included Master Yoren, who was scaring away any children nearby with his scowl.

  In the spot next to Master Yoren is what appears to be an elf. With pointed ears and a tall, slender body that stood about a foot above the largest humans present. I also consider maybe a dryad or some kind of nature being because her hair is actually a cascade of black flower petals. If I’m honest, her beauty has me completely stunned. It seems that others got the opposite impression and kept their distance.

  I shake my head to clear it of the distractions and focus on my purpose here. Out of every job I’ve heard of in town, Enchanter seems the most interesting, but I can’t seem to find anyone offering that impression. Before I gave up, I decided to ask if Master knows anyone.

  “Master, do you know if any enchanters are here?” Master just grabs his specially made whacking stick, a special runic tool to enable violence without limit without actually inflicting injuries. I have no time to dodge as he uses the stick for its namesake. I groan on the ground, clutching my head in pain, and Master declares.

  “Don’t call me master here, boy. I’m nae your master an' tha town's enchanter be sitting next ta me.” He winks at me, indicating his attempt at covering up our connection and reminding me that having two different masters on different paths is something most would consider foolish and destined for failure. He also points out the elven lady standing off to the side.

  As I approach the lady, I don’t notice as the townsfolk nearby go quiet and begin watching in a shocked silence. For her part, I don’t notice any change in her expression as I approach her. Not sure where to go from here, I bow before the lady and state my intentions.

  “Excuse me, I would like to learn the path of enchanting.” At first I’m greeted by silence, but then I notice mana swirling in front of her and shaped into invisible words.

  ‘Do You Truly Dare Wish For My Guidance?’

  I focus myself and shape my mana in return. ‘Yes.’ It’s hard to see it, but I notice her eyes widen slightly. Before she slightly nods and stands up, elegantly striding away from her spot as townsfolk scatter from her path. I chase behind her, unsure if this was rejection but determined to see her answer.

  Dedication and Loyalty

  Reesia struggled, rising back to her feet. Trying to raise her shield and stop the incoming punch, she was sent falling backwards as she was overpowered. She could feel something in her arm break from the impact, but her mentor didn’t care. A year ago her friend's dad had gotten badly hurt, and some of the older orphans demanded she stay away from her. At first Reesia refused, but then the older girl began to harass her, and it escalated over time.

  It had escalated from pushing her over randomly to tugging her hair and dumping trash into her meals. The continued harassment made Reesia jealous of her friend, and in a moment of weakness, she begged Nixie to break away from Callia with her. They agreed to gently break off, but the guilt remained and even grew as Reesia saw the town abandon her former friend. Eventually Reesia blamed herself, deciding it was all the fault of her inability to resist. If weakness led to this guilt and jealousy, then she would make herself tougher than everyone.

  So she sought the toughest warrior in the village, an older knight by the name of Turolf. Hearing her story, he made an offer. He will train her, but only if she earns Callia's forgiveness and swears to dedicate all her training in service to this friend. A lifetime of repentance but also a chance to receive guidance from a knight.

  There was no hesitation; she, Reesia, would prove herself above the weakness that had tormented her into betraying her friend and never let herself fail a friend again.