44

I spent most of my time up until dinner reading a bestiary for the surrounding regions and continuing to raise my Appraisal skill through actual research. However, after reaching level six the skill just stopped growing even after I finished the small encyclopedia of monsters. So, I went outside to where the others were busy training against each other while listening to Oleander- the only full mage in the group- read lectures on magic from a book.

I actually put forth some effort into cultivating a sense for mana, sitting in a half lotus position and meditating quietly while FEELING for the moments when the others would use magic. Non-magical classes had trouble with this because most people could not empty their mind of thoughts and simply leave themselves open to stimuli.

This was one of the first things I was taught before I was allowed to throw a punch, something about awakening my reflexes before being able to use them. It took months before I could go longer than a minute without actually having any thoughts, but after that it became easier. Now, I just sat here breathing in and out while filling my ears with my own breathing to drown out the potential for thoughts.

Now and then there would be a moment in which I could have swore I felt the heat of fire or the chill of ice before one of the others would launch an attack. Sadly, they all took place too quickly before the actual magic happened for me to believe I actually felt their elemental qualities. Mostly because I was not trying to feel the elements but the raw energy of mana.

When this did not achieve anything after almost two hours of isolating myself from the world around me I simply gave up and went back inside to find Lana. When I found her and Lady Mara once more in the music room I asked for leave to visit the public smithy. I did not want to bring up the fact that I was actually going to train my Channeling skill so the smithy became my destination.

Lady Mara did not seem too pleased by this but I showed her that I had once again raised my Appraisal skill through studying. Since I really was the only person who had made these kinds of gains through the books we were given she felt that she needed to reward me to set an example for the others. If they wanted more freedom then they needed to earn it.

Were we your employees or your prisoners, lady?!

Regardless of what I thought or felt, I simply wore a smile and assured them that I would try to be back before morning. To my surprise, though, Lady Mara found a way to ensure this by having me escort Lana to the smithy where she would be able to meet Canley and get an impression of him as a craftsman. I was pretty sure that this also had something to do with how much Lana missed me when I was gone for a couple of days.

Not only Cweeper but Duck and the dog that Lana had affectionately been calling Pup ended up following us, creating quite the sight for a lady in a casual evening dress of dark gray and their brightly suited guardian walking with a group of animals. I thought it had all the makings for a cheap and cheesy date.

Canley, as it turned out, was currently hard at work helping somebody smithing what looked like solid steel axes. So, I simply introduced Lana to Agar without disturbing my younger craftsman friend. Agar, of course, had a lot to say about my new clothes and title but only some of it was positive.

Despite this I was actually excited to show Midnight Haunting to Agar so that he could see the new description about Kindred Classless to show he had been right. Of course, I was still trying to avoid going over level twenty-five just yet or I would have once again remade my sword. Lana, though, was disappointed that she would not get to see me crafting again.

I was almost five times as strong as I was when she watched me craft Fuller Haunting and she even missed the Blackened Fuller Haunting phase. To make up for this, though, I used my status as a bracket master craftsman, Sierra's Top Hammer Noob, and as a generally acknowledged blacksmith to walk her through the process of casting and crafting a simple dagger. When she was done she received the Blacksmith title just like I hoped.

Since I could not take her hunting like I had once promise I helped her spend a couple of hours working up her blacksmithing skill making daggers and then swords of all kinds and styles. I would later on sell them for fairly cheap since only a couple of the alloy pieces even got to twenty or more damage but they would still bring in profits. I traded loot for most of these materials so any gold coins they bring in will be grandfathered for almost one hundred times their value.

By the time we were done it was passed midnight and Lana was showing signs of growing tired but Canley had finally finished working for the moment. When I finally introduced the two of them it was both adorable and hilarious. Even though I had sadly been numbed to it, Lana was still a very beautiful young lady and Canley just could not keep his shit together.

He eventually calmed down after a minute or two of stuttering and even blushing when Lana laughed at him, though, and things became business as usual. As Lana started asking him about his skills, his work with me, and other things about himself he did not seem to understand that he was being interviewed. I could only smile and nod in the background.

Finally, though, when she started asking about his family and what kind of work they did he became very awkward and stopped everything by saying, "I'm sorry, Lady Lana, but I'm very sensitive about my family and I don't feel that it is your business."

My hands were covering my face in shame and regret in an instant, feeling bad for my young friend who had probably just offended one of the few people who could keep him out of the Legion and take care of his family. Lana, though, was a sweet girl who came from a humbler place and did not mind at all. Lady Mara, though, was like me and would have simply agreed with him before leaving had we been Lana.

"Of course it's not," she said with a light laugh as if she had been expecting that answer or even hoped for it. "However, how can I hire them if I know nothing about them? I'm currently building a household for myself and while I have wonderful guards I lack servants and craftsman. I understand this might come as a shock, just a week ago I was a farm girl in Olton but now I am being called Lady Lana. Strange, isn't it?"

After hearing those calm and casual words that touched down on the most sensitive topic in her life, I could not help but step forward and fondly rub the girl's head as if she were a little kid. "You've become much stronger than I thought, and I don't just meant your stats," I say softly to encourage her before stepping back and to the side in my original position.

Looking over her shoulder at me with wet eyes above a distant smile, Lana says, "I was until you said that, now pat my head and make it better again."

"Yes, m'lady," I say almost professionally before walking up to rub her head while she continued talking to Canley.

Canley started to open up a bit after that, talking about the different kinds of jobs he, his mom, and his oldest sister had to take over the past few years since his father disappeared. No note, no warning, just vanished without a trace. Then when he became old enough to understand what happened he hardened himself and took over the empty position of man of the house to help take care of his family.

I was not the only one touched by his story and Lana actually laughed while reaching out to rub his head the same way I do to her before saying, "Congratulations, Mr. Canley, you're hired. My aunt will have to meet your mother and sister before deciding to hire them and it will be some time before my estate is ready. However, if you are fine with continuing to work here until then I can assure you it will not be long."

"Does that mean I get to work WITH Hack instead of FOR him?" Canley asks with mischief in his smile as he looks at me while talking to Lana.

Smiling with the same mischief, Lana innocently says, "Most of the time. If he requires your services, though, you will be required to help him. Of course, we will also find you your own apprentice if you cannot and Hack will be the only person among the retainers who is senior to you, our head craftsman. Only the head butler, head maid, and certain people I take into the business side of things will be senior to you besides us here and my aunt."

Nodding his head in understanding, Canley says, "That's not a big deal. Even if I was his boss I would still hold steel for him while he hammered. That's just the kind of friends we are. But, are you sure you don't want to see me make something to evaluate my actual work?"

"I have fought in armor made by Hack and been hit several times by different creatures from large bugs to ferecats and goblins," she replies with a very slight smirk. "I never lost more than two tenths of my health even when he made me fight by myself. If Hack is satisfied with your work then I am willing to bet my life on it. As long as Hack is nearby, of course."

Glancing at me with a wicked gleam in his eyes, Canly says, "I can see you have a very good impression of our mutual friend and hold him in high regard. After seeing his works and even sparring with him, I can honestly say I understand why. In an entire hour I could not land a single proper hit and I was doing everything they teach you for joining the Legions."

"Yes, well…" Lana says with an unabashed smile while looking back at me. "My guardian has entire worlds of experience. If just anybody could hit him I would be very disappointed in him. However, it makes me very happy to hear him being praised. Thank you."

She was good. He tried to make things awkward by bringing up the fact she liked me to try and get a playful upper hand but she basically just admitted it and shrugged it off without a care in the world. Even Canley looked surprised by this.

"Would it make you happier to know he even gave me his own suit of armor to raise my Agility for the sparring?" Canley seems to grumble as if this actually upset him. "I still have it if you want me to show you."

"I would love to see you two sparring," Lana says softly and wickedly before lightly laughing and looking around. "There's the foreman, let's go ask if you two can fight here."

"I'm so sorry, Canley," I say after Lana walks off to talk to Agar. "You did, though, bring it upon yourself."

Shrugging, Canley just says, "You're not the only one who gets anything out of it. Dodging my attacks might raise your Agility but attacks you raises both my Endurance and my Agility. I don't mind at all, honestly, no matter how bad it might make me look to the other apprentices."

I could literally feel my face relaxing into an emotionless canvas after hearing that last part, making me look around the area to see that more than a few apprentices not currently working were looking in our direction. "Has anyone been giving you trouble about that?" I ask quietly, now looking straight ahead at nothing at all.

Something about the question or my tone must have caught Canley's attention because he looks over at me sharply and says, "Nothing I didn't already handle. Just because I can't punch you doesn't mean just anybody can dance around me in a fight. There are some not on duty tonight because of me, so don't worry about it."

"I see…" I say slowly, accepting that I might have underestimated my friend. I knew firsthand that he was nothing close to an inept fighter, he just lacked experience and the proper drive. His attacks were thrown just to hit, even though he used combos there was no targeting or initiative or even any deception.

Being a straightforward fighter might be reliable, but he did not even have an intent to kill or intimidating presence that would make me feel threatened by him. Not that it was easy to threaten me, but some people could just carry themselves a certain way and it becomes hard to judge their character. Those are usually the interesting fights, but they can just as often turn out to be a huge disappointment.

"Alright, but if they keep giving you problems because we sparred again then tell them to give it a shot if they have the heart for it," I say after a moment of silence, relaxing for real after deciding these were problems Canley could handle himself.

*