Published at 21st of January 2026 7:47 am

Chapter 129: A Busy Day

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I jolt out of bed a full half hour sooner than usual, feeling conscious that school resumes tomorrow and that I wont have time to do anything I dont get done today for another week. I start by ringing Marcus, who groggily comes into the room with a light breakfast tray about ten minutes later. Just a soft-boiled egg, untoasted bread, sliced fruit and a chunk of cheese with juice on the side.

While eating, I instruct him to find a solicitor and have them draw up a standard client contract of the type appropriate to Tobys situation, but modified according to a list I wrote out last night. I also have them send someone to the house at the agreed upon time to review the purchase contract with me.

After that, I head immediately to the property where Im met by a servant of the current owner who lets me in and accompanies me as I examine it. Its a solid wooden structure, two stories, in a good part of town with a small garden in the back and an attached stable where a carriage and three horses can be kept. It has good access to water from a nearby canal, though Ill be buying an accumulator for the indoor needs.

It has all the expected functions: Kitchen, reception room, bathroom, a study upstairs and six bedrooms. Some of the rooms are rather cramp, but theyre for servants anyways. Likewise, the bathtub isnt enchanted, but I can remedy that quickly enough. Itll probably take another large gold to buy all the enchanted items Im thinking of, but theyll eventually pay for themselves on reduced fuel alone.

The location is also rather convenient. Close to the school and on the way to the low sec section. Apparently, turnover rates for houses near the school are high, as there are a lot of prestigious individuals who come in to teach for a few years, then leave. Wealthy students will likewise decide to purchase a house rather than stay at the dormitories for reasons of comfort. After all, it is close enough for arriving to class by carriage to be convenient. Closer than Allans house, at least. Though I think Ill still stay at my dorm most of the time anyways.

Once Im satisfied with the general shape of it, I begin inspecting the condition. Technically, Ill be able to return it for nearly a full refund after a month, giving me time to bring in outside experts to examine everything while the coin is held in escrow by their bank. But I should of course examine what I can.

Theres nothing obviously wrong with it, but I do a series of divinations (setting up an array of wooden rods in the sitting room) to be sure. Everything comes back negative: No mould, no rot, no threat of imminent collapse, no holes in the walls and no vermin infestation beyond the norm. Everything looks good, so I tell the servant to inform their master to go ahead and meet at the appointed time.

This gives me about a half hour for lunch, which I take at the inn where Ill be meeting my soon to be new client, Toby Grenhal. Ive been here before when I first came to the city and was out exploring. Its a decent establishment with a private room that people can rent. In addition to food, I make a reservation for it at the correct time.

After eating a light stew with bread, I head back to the house where the owner is waiting. I dont pay much attention to them, other than for signs of deception. My new solicitor arrives soon after, and we all go over the terms of purchase together. Nothing is out of the ordinary, so I quickly sign and hand the coin over to their solicitor, who will be holding it for the full month. The solicitor then hands me the deed, for which everyone stands around as I divine the authenticity, then they all leave.

Theres a thrill as I hand over the coin, as expected, but less than I assumed. I suppose a mere three large gold no longer seems like a hefty sum to me. But I think its also mitigated by this sense of lightness I have over the possession of the building. Its strange. Possessing land has never been a particular ambition of mine, but gaining it fills me with a sense of pride. Which is of course silly, as its not like I laboured for it over the course of years or anything like that. Still, it is my first.

A little after they go, Marcus comes in with a trio of figures he selected as potential servants for me to select from. After a few inquiries and divinations, I eventually pick a woman in her thirties whose name I immediately forget after learning it. What matters though is that she cooks and cleans, though wont do laundry and will instead take the clothes to a service down the street. Which I suppose is acceptable. If it becomes a problem, I suppose I can just hire another servant, as the house has space for more.

After that, I have an hour of free time before my meeting with Toby, which I decide to fill at the inn. Annoyingly, hes already there, sitting at a table and playing cards with a group of peasants.

His face brightens when he sees me and his voice is slurred, clearly from excessive drink. He must have been here for a while. Raising his tankard, he shouts, Hey, Malichi! My good good Hey! You know, Ive been thinking. Im actually pretty good at this game. Maybe I could just pay you back if I won enough at

I cut him off by whacking the top of his head with the back of my hand. And how do you intend to do that? Hm? By taking copper antes from peasants who can barely afford their dinner? Theres barely a hundred raem between them. Youd have to beat hundreds of tables. Just finding them would take more than a month, but of course, when people hear a noble is scumming it for a few raem, then theyll start laying traps. Theyll bring in sharks, and youll be back where you started. Now give their coin back, squire, and take a walk with me.

Theres a glare from the players when I reveal his enhancement level, prompting him to return his easily won copper as suggested. Then I drag him out and head away from the inn.

Hey, he drawls, why are you angry?

Why indeed? Probably because hes once again being an idiot. Its making me doubt the whole idea of taking him as a client in the first place Sigh, well, maybe that means Ill be able to extract more value out of him.

With that thought, we reach the canal, and I immediately trip and shove him over the edge, sending him crashing into the water below.

Sober up, I leer from above, the contract wont be valid if youre too drunk to understand it.

He sputters in indignation. Come on, Im not drunk.

The fact that youre down there suggests otherwise. I snap back at him.

You caught me by surprise! He protests.

My point exactly. A squire should never be caught by surprise.

He tilts his head quizzically. Thats a pretty high standard you have for us.

I grimace and turn away. I suppose we surprised enough knights back in Caethlon, though in their defence, I did have a spell to help us. Whatever. Just climb back up when youre ready to talk intelligently. I walk back inside and get something light to eat, knowing that I wont have time later.

A few minutes later, Toby comes in, the last traces of water being squeezed onto the floor by the cleaning enchantment on his clothes. You didnt need to do that, he says, pulling up the seat next to me, his voice rapidly recovered. My enhanced healing would have sobered me in time regardless.

I shrug. Only if you stopped drinking. Besides, this was faster. I cast gather water, which quickly produces a palm-sized orb, then I puncture the top to allow drinking and hand it to him. Drink some water.

He stares dubiously at the orb, then shrugs and puts the visible tear in the membrane-like surface to his lips, quickly sucking the whole thing dry.

So clean as to be tasteless, he says, looking at his now empty hand with disdain.

Are you trying for a metaphor? I ask, showing disdain for his disdain.

He chuckls, looking straight at me with clear meaning. Certainly not.

I narrow my eyes at his obvious attempt at wit, but before I can say anything, the solicitor arrives. I greet him and we go into the room, where he promptly sets out the long scroll that the contract is on, which we spend the next hour going through to make certain that we both understand everything on it. There was a slight twist along the way as one of the requested addenda to the contract being for his tower to assist my tower, which suggests illegality. Fortunately, this sort of addition isnt unheard of, and while the contract cant reference them directly, there are ways to bind the needed action without overt reference.

Finally, we get to the signing, which includes both of us adding a short standard paragraph written in our own hands agreeing to the contract before signing our names (a simple signature would suffice for a good diviner, but its better to give them more to work with).

I quickly write my paragraph with precise motions, but Toby hesitates. What is it? I ask, overtly impatient. You arent hesitating now, are you?

He squirms in his seat, I dont know. If I sign this, will you be throwing me in more bodies of water?

I shrug. I think its more likely that Ill be throwing you if you dont sign. At least if you cant keep up with the interest.

Maybe I should just tell my dad after all. Hell yell at me and take back my inheritance, but hed probably pay you I dont know. I mean, isnt signing this more of a permanent outcome than having to wait a little longer for whats coming to me anyways?

I stare at him, thinking about what Ive seen of him. Has he even done anything that I didnt think was at least a little stupid? Do I even want him as a client? He seems like hell be exhausting to manage. Of course, if he doesnt become my client, he would ideally not tell his father and just continue trying to keep up with the interest, getting me more and more coin. But even if his lord father does pay off his debt, Ill still get something extra for having lent it to him, since standard loans require three months of interest to be paid, no matter how quickly its settled. Besides, there is an appeal in having that much coin on hand, even if Ill get more in the long run by lending it.

Still, hes the heir of a viscounty, and thats not a little thing. If I can benefit him enough as a patron, then he might remain my client even after he ascends. It doesnt seem likely, but the potential would be enormous. Precisely the sort of thing I should be doing. Besides, his gang may prove vital in the short term.

So, I guess I should convince him. So tedious once again. I stare him straight in the eye and sigh, causing him to blush. If you want, sure. I dont know him. Maybe hell even let you keep your assets. I hear its practically a rite of passage here to get into gambling debts. He flinches, and I know I chose the correct route. He clearly does not think his father would be so nonchalant over the sum as others in this city are said to be. He hadnt even considered the possibility, but now that I have, he feels silly for thinking things might be better with that approach. Still, its not enough. I need more.

But tell me, what do you want? I continue. What sort of viscount will you even be? Why do you think your father gave you that property anyways? It was to prepare you for running things when you succeed him. I dont mean keeping a ledger. I mean solving problems. Problems that you wont learn to solve if you run to him to fix them. Signing this contract is how you fix this by yourself, without his help.

But will signing really fix things, or just make new problems? He asks, nervously fidgeting with the pen while returning my level stare. Besides, its not like Ill be doing much to fix things. You just want the prestige of having someone of a higher rank as your client.

I chuckle. Trust me, Ill be putting you to a lot more work than that. But dont worry, I intend to help raise your tower high enough that you could repay me even at the higher rate.

Hes clearly taken aback by this, his eyes searching my face. You mean that, or are you just bluffing again?

I shrug. A permanent ally is more useful to me than a throwaway asset.

How high are you talking?

I gesture to the window. High enough to see it from here.

He scrunches his face at my extending the metaphor to its literal interpretation, but then smirks. Yeah? I might like that.

Good. Now sign, and I can get on with my day.

He complies, and I hand over the extended loan. A thrill goes through me as the metal leaves my hand. Odd that, I hadnt even considered that I might not be getting this back. I suppose the excitement is an added benefit.

Excellent, I say, gaze lingering on my now empty hand just long enough to draw his notice. Well, I suppose thats another thing settled. Just a few more left to go.

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