Jake gave them a tour of the ground floor, where numerous guild members worked industriously. He pointed at the renovations by the central arcane consoles, where a ratfolk was nibbling on his tail while he threaded new wiring into the panel, ears pressed back against his head in utter focus. A female wolven held up a light, and threaded wiring up into the box in tandem.

  “As you can see, we have the biggest tasks mostly done. Silly little gilded rats took up residence so we chased them away, sealed up their little burrows, and are rewiring. You'll have a healthy dose of arcane power for all your needs,” Jake announced as they walked by. Fiona couldn't help but feel ecstatic. This could have been weeks of work! She doubted that she, Bonnie, or even Greg could have done this with such immense speed.

  “Over here,” Jake continued with a flourish of his hand, “we've set cleaning the tiling, buffing, fixing cracks. A smaller task, but presentation is everything. You'll have plenty of space to set up shop with your displays. Bonnie's shop will have a nice round display, access to extra arcane power, and a designated mixing zone for any alchemy projects, plus safety wash showers. We also have set up a small fabrication bench for any rune she could make!”

  “Jake, you're awesome!” Bonnie beamed wildly, giggling beside her at the display. “Thank you so much for this, I don't know how I can repay you guys–”

  “Bonnie, you've done pro bono work for rune enchantments for my guys. You saved a lot of lives with defensive enchantments over the past year. All of this, while still working on your professional enchanter class!” Jake replied with a gentle wave of his huge hands. “Anyway, you gals have both gone above and beyond for the guild. I can’t believe there’s no way out of this stupid bill for you,” he added with a sigh while waving to her.

  “Bah. You know what I realized? The best way to piss him off is to show he can't get under my skin. I mean, was I mean to him at some point? I doubt it. I’m only mean to things that try to kill me or eat me. Even then, sometimes I just smother them in hugs!” Fiona said with an emerging smile.

  "Don’t smother me with hugs, Fiona. You might get rug burn,” Jake pushed back with a hearty laugh.

  “Nonsense, you’re a smooth coat wolven! Unlike that other guy I knew who I went out with for a week. Yeesh. That was a little awkward, no offense meant toward him, but he was charmingly awkward and oblivious to me, and he–” Fiona started talking too fast, and knew her cheeks were slightly rosy. Jake laughed even harder, and Bonnie had to fight the urge to join in. “Anyway, so what about the staging?”

  “Oh, I got some guys already grabbing the stuff. Greg sketched out something, and I think you had some ideas, too. You realize this might take a couple of days,” Jake said while taking a look at a sketch she had out of her vest pocket. He made a contented sound and looked impressed. “Alright, then. That’ll work.”

  “Hang on, don’t you need a merchant class?” Bonnie asked, and Fiona smiled.

  “I’m picking the license tomorrow, I have to pass a written test and then they’ll accredit me for running the business. Now, your place will be independent, so I think you need a license, too?”

  “Fi, you are aware of how involved it is, right?” Bonnie insisted. “You have to really commit to a class, or it doesn’t work!”

  “Bonnie, please, I don’t half-arse things. I’m a hundred percent committed to this!” she assured her. Bonnie quickly checked her arcanist notepad and marked something on the paper. Or screen? Fiona couldn’t tell which it was, magic and technology seemed to flow together in this world. “I’ll be the merchant of fortunes!”

  “More like the merchant of hearts and warm, fuzzy feelings,” Jake offered with a sharp smile.

  "Merchant of soft feelings and rock-hard hammers," Bonnie jested.

  “Pssh,” Fiona uttered with a puff of air. “I’ve done my reading on business codes, I’ve been doing a little research over the past couple of nights. It should be a piece of cake! I don’t think King Lack-of-Beard–”

  “King Barry,” Greg corrected, trying not to smear paint on his face. Fiona narrowed her eyes at him.

  “He’s lacking a magnificent beard! Kings need beards for people to take them seriously!” she countered while throwing her arms into the air. Jake tried to not laugh at this. “Anyway, Barry will not appreciate me winning on this one. So, my best bet is to make this business work, and we have a means to get clients."

  “The guild has a lot of connections, Fiona. We’re going to use them,” Greg pushed back, and frowned when he got a stripe of paint on his arm. “Ah, nuts. I was doing so well keeping the paint off.”

  She was convinced, however, Barry had some grudge that he was willing to risk her life on. “He is, though! One point six million gold? That screams ‘You pissed me off in another life, and I’m out to get you!’ He could buy another Kingdom with that amount, almost!” Fiona stated with a gnashing of teeth and green-eyed fury.

  Jake’s muzzle gaped, and he had no words for a few seconds. “Goodness, that much?”

  “Yeah, I know! I spend big, Jake, but I don’t spend anywhere close to that big. And usually, it’s on my friends, too!”

  “Of that, I can readily agree. On your first Slaghorn kill, you bought a few rounds of drinks for the rest of us.” She can’t help but notice the wolven rubbing his cheek anxiously. “Rest assured, I will get my friends in the merchant’s guild to ensure you get a fair assessment. You’ve studied the rules of commerce?”

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  “You know it. Quiz me.” Jake narrowed his eyes, put one finger to his muzzle, and settled his gaze on her while she put on her warrior face. That was the same as her cute face, but with a few extra ridges on her brow.

  “Alright. What is the standard customs rate for imports of incoming metals and minerals?” he asked after a moment. “I know this one from my smiths.”

  “Ten percent for raw resources, fifteen percent for refined, except for some items where additional refinement is required for the final product and has to be shipped off-site. The customs rate is deferred to the final deliverable site,” she stated coolly. Jake nodded, and Bonnie wore smug look. Or, was that her resting face?

  “Question two. The currency exchanges with Faredala are at what ratio?” he asked. Jake might be a strong-armed, burly looking fluffball, but his mind was sharper than his claws or teeth.

  “Trick question, the currencies are now on parity with Fiefdala. In the olden days before the kingdoms united as an alliance of defense, the ratio would have been 1.5 crones to 1 gold,” Fiona answered, and Jake nodded again, looking confident.

  “Damn Fiona, why are you trying to make boots out of monsters, when you could have just run a business as your class, and made a lot of money in a way easier manner?” he asked with a firm pat on her shoulder. “Alright then, I know we need to keep this moving, there is a lot of work to do.”

  They toured the rest of the floor, where scaffolding was still in place repairing a support beam. A metallurgist was removing corrosion on the support joints of the beams with sole focus. They chatted merrily for a few moments before moving on. Afterward, they held a spirited discussion about plans to keep the place running and sustain a profit.

  “So, you think you can sell these items? I mean, some items are high-end stuff, Fi. Buyers with deep pockets, only,” Jake commented after looking at the inventory. “Enchanted weapons, armor, equipment? Tasteless paintings of nearly nude women?”

  “I uh…might keep some of those off of display. For reasons.” She fidgeted with her ear and tried not to make a face, but Jake saw right through it, arms folded and looking smug.

  “Uh-huh. Maybe my tasteless comment was a bit off. Tasteful to someone.” Bonnie beside him looked like she wanted to make a squee sound, and Fiona could feel her cheeks burning. “I’m sure those can find a home. Art’s priceless, ya know.”

  “W-well, yes. Anyhow, wanna meet up after we finish work? I want to go with Bonnie back to the roof and get those tiles in place. We can’t have rain getting the merchandise all ruined.” Jake frowned and shook his head.

  “Can’t. I have something going on tonight after this task. And I, uh…well…” he scratched the back of his scruff, and Fiona’s eyes dazzled at this. Jake was seeing someone! She might pout a little that it wasn’t her, but she’d seen Jake flying solo as long as she’d known him!

  “Oh, got a little ‘something’ going on with a little ‘someone?’ Is Jake going on a date?” she teased, brushing away a dash of mortar from his vest. “Well, not like that! Clean up young man, and brush your fur! You must be presentable!”

  “W-well, it’s not exactly a date–”

  “Nonsense, date, not-a-date, present yourself like a peacock!” she declared and adjusted the collar on his shirt. He sighed and still laughed.

  “I’m a wolven, Fiona, not a bird.”

  “It’s a figure of speech! Or, it was, where I came from,” she pouted. She was a little disappointed that Jake had prior arrangements. But the fact that he was making a venture on this path indicated he wasn’t letting his life pass by without companionship. “Alright mister big shot, Dress to impress! Also brush your canines, trim the fur out of your ear just a wee little bit, and you’ll be fine! You should also pick something that complements your fur color! I’m thinking something light green, maybe a little bluish!”

  “Now you’ve done it, Jake,” Bonnie laughed while itching a bit of mortar that had somehow gotten on one of her ears. “If you let her take control for even a second, she’ll smell your weakness, and try to expunge it! Sometimes hilariously, sometimes to your benefit!”

  “Which one is this one, hilarious or helpful?” Jake asked reluctantly.

  “Yes,” Bonnie grinned without elaborating. “C’mon Fi, we’ve pestered Jake long enough, we have work to finish! Unless you plan on letting Barry the Beardless get the better of you by sitting idle.”

  “Aw, Bonnie, way to remind me of that.” She tied her hair back up, before turning back to Jake and waving. “Alright Jake, we’ll take a raincheck. Are you guys still on for that little celebration?”

  “Yeah, we’re still on for the weekend! And it's hardly small, now. Bring Greg and Bonnie!” Jake said while hefting some equipment up and putting on a helmet. “We’ll catch up later, Fi!”

  “You betcha!” She clapped her gloved hands together and followed Bonnie up the scaffolding to the roof, where the job was still sitting unfinished. The unquenchable energy of her kitsune friend was remarkable, and they quickly got to work prying up damaged tiles, and gently sliding new ones in their place.

  All these things felt like routine for her. She’d done her own do-it-yourself activities for her old business to save money, and learned through trial and error. This was much the same, but with a body not limited in strength or agility.

  Back then, every victory felt hard-earned, but here? It felt like victories like this came easier to her. Eventually, it grew too dark, and Bonnie wrapped up with one last tile. “Alright Fi, let’s call it a day. We knew this might take a while. We’ve got another day, maybe two. I can’t believe Jake came through for us on such a level.” A content smile crossed her face while rubbing at calloused palm pads. “Man, how did I get this mortar all over the place?” she asked as she cleaned a bit off one of her claws, and Fiona giggled.

  “I find it funny that you’re getting dirty over this one. No magic spell for this task?” she asked, but shook her head in response.

  “Not everything can be just magicked away. It’s time and practice. Alright, I’m going to go home and wrap up.”

  "Alright, I’m going to stay for a bit, see if I can get one last tile,” Fiona answered while sticking out her tongue and getting the stone shifted. Bonnie waved and slid down the quick-access rappel line, and she heard her saying goodbye to the others before walking up the street. She was soon just a streak of orange fur, and that stylish hat that Fiona wished came in elf-shaped. It would be so cute to wear–if she were a more proper mage.

  She packed up her tools and took one last parting glance at the sunset, and took in that magnificent view of the pending twilight, against the cool violet and indigo sky above her, where a few stars dared to peek out.

  Adventuring times might be on hold for now, but there was plenty she could still appreciate here, in this town. It reminded her of when she was a kid and sitting on the roof, after climbing out the window of her house to look at the setting sun, with her sister.

  A low pang of regret emanated from that memory–something that was bittersweet, now. Her sister was all alone now. She wished she had a magic spell to make a call home, to let her world know she wasn't dead. Maybe if she sold all this dragon loot and had some leftovers, she could try to make that happen.

  In the meantime, she peered out at the night sky and the emerging city lights and let out an exhale of relaxation. She slung her bag over her shoulder before rappelling down to head home, and rest before the next day of industrious rework.

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