After Sis gave me the news of her success with dynamic meditation, the pressure to push my meditation skill was greatly relieved. It was ironic that in the next meditation I finally broke through my second skill barrier into level 75. It was a reminder to myself that the key to self-improvement isn’t just thoughtless repetition but understanding and improving. Meditation was the practice of clearing thoughts and concerns; the hidden stresses to push myself had been holding me back. I went home in a good mood, and even the raining pinecone trap Sis had set on the route home didn’t disturb my mood. My meditation training had thoroughly increased my ability to brush off Sis’s traps, and seeing her frustration when failing to get a response made it worth it.

  Getting home, we were greeted by an unusually excited mom.

  “Callen, Callia! The mayor decided to hold the apprentice festival this year!” Sis and I just look at each other, but neither of us has any clue what Mom is talking about. It’s at this point Dad comes up from behind Mom, giving her a one-armed hug, and elaborates.

  “Dear, the kids probably haven’t been taught about the festival. Callia is almost entirely self-guided now, and Callen’s teacher doesn’t participate.” He turns to us. “The apprentice festival is held every 15 years. It's an opportunity for the younger generation to show off the skills they have developed. You're at a bit of an awkward age since it only allows participants from 11 to 26 to join.”

  Mom eagerly picks up from there. “Since travelling is hard, the town gets a surge of new merchants or powerful individuals scouting talent. It’s how your dad and I met when he was brought into a noble’s service, where they refined his skills and raised him into knighthood.”

  Dad takes over again. “I’ve heard word from the captain that there is a lot more interest this year than there has been in many years. We’re expecting attendance from a number of nobles, but the big news is that one of the Dwarven Grandmasters sent word of their intent to attend. The messenger claimed the Grandmaster was visiting his disciple, but this is still a big deal.”

  That was a big deal. As the disciple of Masters Yoren and Gam, I know just what it means for any Grandmaster to be moved. Typically once anyone reaches the rank of Grandmaster, they are considered a national asset and are restricted to whatever city they live in. Travelling at a high level, not specialized for combat, was a huge ordeal, as it provoked powerful monsters whose territory was passed through. At a minimum, a team of specialized bodyguards, including knight-level warriors.

  That’s not including politics. Our town was something special, as it was specially supported to maintain a naval presence, but it was still just a town. A grandmaster visiting a town like ours was like Albert Einstein visiting a science fair in rural Kansas. It didn’t make sense for the visit, but being known for promoting craftsmanship and eccentricity made most accept and ignore it. Still, a big shot was coming, and that would draw interest, making this event something that would be remembered for a long time in our community.

  These are my main thoughts, but I can feel the excitement vibrating off of Sis. Her flamboyant personality has led her to become something of a show-off. However, when you have the levels of success she has, it only feels fair to take pride in the results of the dedication and hard work that pushed you. I can’t say I’m much better. I can barely wait to show off any new devices I make and often flaunt my runic skills in making traps for revenge on Sis. After all, if you can make a rune to alter the color of clothes, why not install a surprise rainbow to be triggered during stealth training with Grandpa?

  “Wait! Dad, how is anyone under 15 meant to compete with those who have their stats?” Sis brings up a solid point. Even at lower levels the boost in effect from stats can dramatically increase the success of projects. Sis and I are definitely an anomaly, but in most cases it’s hard to imagine any kids our age matching up to someone not just older but also amplified with stats.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “Of course! The festival is sorted into two divisions: the first three days are for children under 15 or those whose stats are still locked, like people from the cities. At the end of those three days the mayor chooses from among the most promising to join the adult-level events. It’s meant to be a reward and encouragement to keep pushing for improvement. It’s not just limited to crafts. Master Yoren recently developed a means of making weapons nonlethal, so the mayor has been pushing for a big expansion for the warrior showings.”

  Now Sis is practically vibrating as Dad goes over the planned combat events, but among those certain events interested her the most. Sis had full intention of joining the various events, including.

  

  
1. 
   
     1v1 duel until ‘lethal’ threat
   
     


  
2. 
   
     4v4 team fight while protecting someone registered as a craftsman
   
     


  
3. 
   
     4-person defensive position wave defense
   
     


  
4. 
   
     Archery contest
   
     


  

  Each event would pit teams into a tournament-style challenge except the Defense challenge, which would record the teams' final record. There was no event for craftsmen except a voluntary poll for the best stall, and the top three would be invited to do a special showing before the closing ceremony. As Dad finished, Sis immediately looked at me with a conspiratorial look. As a student of Master Yoren, I would undoubtedly be registered as a craftsman, which personally I felt might be unfair since other craftsmen wouldn’t have an extensive set of survival skills.

  While Sis was scheming to dominate the combat tournament, I was more focused on what I would show for the craftsmen event. Did I go for something easy to make to sell so people had something to take, or did I make something showy for the ‘wow’ factor? The family gathers to have an animated dinner, but afterwards I go to my personal workshop and begin plotting my display. Then an idea I’ve been wanting to try strikes me: I'm going to make an enchanted runic item. I’m going to break the limitation of use for a runic tool with the power of enchantment.

  Ela and Marek

  Marek caressed the face of his beloved Ela, leaving her with a gentle kiss. Marek had spent the last five years under the brutal training of Baron Grammark, but it was hardly a challenge, as after each hunting expedition he got to spend time with the women who had quickly become the driving purpose in his life.

  Ela was a child taken in by the Baron to serve as the early childhood maid for his family. If the Baron’s wife became pregnant, Ela was expected to bear a child of her own so that her body would be able to provide for his child. Additionally, it was unacceptable for someone of lower standing to provide that child, as they could leverage a relationship against his child. Marek had been brought into his house by his son as a promising individual, but they never intended to keep him, instead raising him into a knight for Port Town so they received the royal stipend for contributing a knight in support of a nationally propped location.

  Marek wasn’t yet a knight when the baron’s wife had become pregnant. She had been given two months to present someone suitable or be provided with someone. Marek wasn’t yet a knight, and countless before him had failed the final task to claim material from a powerful monster. The process often lasted years as knight candidates waited for a suitable monster for their style to be located, but Marek had no time. He had to become a knight and return, or Ela would suffer.

  There was only one place close enough to qualify for his knighthood challenge, but it was considered suicide: The Wither Tree. Just off the coast of his home on a barren island rested an ancient tree that warded away the coastline predators. Being near the tree would permanently damage someone's vitality, and while immobile, the trunk of the tree was far too hard to harm, and the branches would move with incredible speed as they pierced countless holes into any who approached.

  He never told Ela of his target, only gave her a promise he would return. So she waited and prayed. One month, no news, but she waited and believed. As the second month closed in, knights began to circle around her, whispering how he was long dead. They whispered how he had run off to the Wither Tree and was now nothing but a pristine skeleton as his flesh rotted from his bones. Those around her tried to entice her even with a temporary affair, trying to establish a special connection with their lord’s heir’s caretaker.

  Finally two months had passed, and Ella was brought before the Baron. He was generous and presented Ela with a choice between 3 knights. The first cared little about the child she would have and had only volunteered out of loyalty to the Baron. The second was the leader of the men who had harassed her trying to get her to give in. Then she saw the final, and tears came to her eyes. Marek stood unsteady before her. His skin shriveled like he had gone through years of starvation, but his eyes were bright and steady as he firmly held in his hand the branch of the Wither Tree.

  They embraced.

  Should I keeping adding images to every chapter