[Time to wake up, mperkreig.]

As it had for nearly every night since he was employed by Lady Tome, a voice penetrated his pleasant dreams, dragging him to consciousness. Earl raised his head from his pillow, another luxury he wouldn’t have dreamed of mere months before, to find his mentor standing in the doorway of his room. Pink irises practically glowed in the gloom, her white teeth gleaming in a smile a touch too wide.

Carefully, he lifted his arm off a sleeping Anna and slipped out of bed. He pulled his uniform from their shared dresser and quickly began to dress.

[Do you know what mperkreig means?] her voice whispered into his mind. She never told him the name of the strange language she sometimes used and urged him to learn. Simply that it was not native to their realm, making it perfect for conveying secret messages should the need arise.

“I don’t, teacher,” he whispered.

[It means ‘man of clay’. Clay is very interesting. At first glance, it is no different from any other kind of earth people commonly trod on, but in the hands of a master, it becomes a priceless work of art.]

Doing up the last button of his jacket, he moved toward the doorway and presented himself. Before, Geneva’s scrutiny would have made him nervous, fearing the tiniest mistake would leave him ousted.

Geneva never reprimanded him. If he made a mistake, she told him why it was wrong, corrected him, and told him to do better. Earl always took her words to heart. He’d yet to make the same mistake twice.

[A poor water affinity. No talent for growing your mana, no talent for casting. An average physique. Average intelligence. You have a great will but is that due to strength or trauma? Perhaps the one good quality you can take pride in is abnormally good fortune.]

Finding his appearance acceptable, she turned and walked away. Earl followed behind her with measured steps. [Thousands of orphans die in this kingdom every year. Not only do you and your sister survive, but you meet the pinnacle existence perhaps in all of creation.]

Her chuckles make his lips twitch the urge to share her humor despite his lack of understanding. [You, Earl, are the embodiment of clay. Common, unremarkable earth that you are, you have managed to catch my summoner’s eyes while being trod on. So, I will shape you into a work of art that all on this plane will envy.]

“Yes, teacher.”

[Are you grateful, Earl?]

“I am very grateful.”

[Yes, you understand your place now. Will you feel the same way when you are strong?] Her voice turned peculiar, the words she spoke slightly echoing throughout his mind. They were all he could focus on. He could feel them in a way he’d struggle to describe. [When your knowledge eclipses this realm’s greatest scholars and you can stand against this world’s strongest fighter, will you remember when you were no better than a rat?]

“I will always remember my place,” he answered without emotion. The insult rolled off his shoulders. Her words were the truth. To the successful citizens of the capital, the unfortunates stalking their great city were the same as pests. People were not equal in the Harvest Kingdom and he’d been one of the lowest of the low.

[Everything you are, you owe to Lourianne Tome.] Her voice grew stronger. [Everything you will become, you owe to Lourianne Tome. For her, you will strive to become the best version of yourself you can.]

“I will do my best for my lady,” he replied.

[Everything you have, you owe to Lourianne Tome. Everything you achieve, you owe to Lourianne Tome. She is your master, your superior in every way. You live on her mercy. You owe her your life. Will you ever forget?]

“I will remember my place.”

As they moved to the living room, Earl could faintly hear twin voices raised in ecstasy, accompanied by powerful thumps and crashes. At first, hearing the going-ons of his lady’s bedroom embarrassed him. It felt as if he were eavesdropping, betraying her trust. The stirrings between his legs hadn’t helped his shame.

Geneva corrected him, blatantly telling him that shame had no place in his lady’s home. He was the only one who felt embarrassed. His lady was rather proud after particularly vocal nights, strutting through the house with a smug smile while her wife rested. He no longer worried she would be offended but he still had to contend with his own emerging lusts, something that amused Geneva to no end.

He learned quickly, as voices were the least he need be concerned about. More than once, he walked in on the act itself, neither woman caring much for time or place when their urges surged.

The two entered the study, the closed door drowning out much of the noise. Usually, he would take a seat while Geneva stood at the front of the room to lecture. This time, after he sat in his usual seat, she stepped behind him, placing her hands on either side of his head.

[Danger approaches, mperkreig. The first true conflict my summoner will face, mayhap. You will not be a burden.]

“I will be strong for my lady.”

[You have a little sister to protect as well. For all her ferocity, she is still a little girl. Completely at the mercy of any villains that would seek to harm this house.]

Earls hands balled into fists as vague images invaded his mind. His sister, alternately crying and fighting like mad while held down by faceless men. He wasn’t ignorant enough to think such men didn’t exist. He’d fended them off several times. A few hadn’t been satisfied with a verbal refusal and he’d had to show that he wasn’t to be underestimated, despite his youth.

[Your sister is depending on you. Your lady expects much of you. Will you fail them?]

“I won’t fail.”

[Prepare yourself. Tonight’s lesson will be special.]

Earl blinked and the study faded away, replaced by gray walls of stone. There was a dampness to the air and he could faintly hear the rattling of chains. Finding himself on his back, he quickly stood up, examining his surroundings in more detail. Most notably, the fact that the furthest wall was comprised of thick iron bars, cutting him off from a wide hallway.

[There is a chance the kingdom will take action against your lady. As you are, you can hardly be counted on to fight. The most you can do is to remain out of their hands but even that asks for much if they make a dedicated effort. So, we will make sure they at least have to work to keep you. This is the dungeon run by Summer Spire’s guard watch. Your task is to escape.]

Earl moved forward. He scanned the bars and craned his neck to see more of the hallway. In the distance, a wall torch illuminated a small table with a single seated guard, slouched in a way that suggested sleep. At least, Earl thought so until the guard clumsily grabbed reached forward before tilting their head backward. Drinking, he assumed.

Turning his attention back to his cell, he found a moldy bedroll was rolled up in one corner and there was a length of frayed rope beside it, likely his binding from being captured. Very little to work with but his teacher was not fond of excuses.

-

[Time to wake up, mperkreig.]

Earl blinked. The wilderness outside of Summer Spire was slowly replaced by the study, the sun spilling through the open curtains. The cuts and bruises he’d suffered roughing it while avoiding the king’s knights disappeared like a bad dream. Days had begun to blend together and he couldn’t recall how long he'd been on the run. Days. Weeks. Months.

…years?

He stood, swaying on his feet from a mixture of exhaustion and confusion. In the very realistic training, he’d grown up and was used to being taller.

The confusion faded with a touch from his teacher. [That will take care of the confusion. Do you need my help to stay awake?]

“I can stand,” he said confidently, locking his quivering knees and straightening up. His eyelids felt like stones were weighing them down but he forced them to remain open.

[Very good. Your performance was…as expected.]

Earl winced. It had taken eleven tries to escape the dungeon and he felt each failure. The first time, he was run through with a sword, slain by the guard in a drunken rage after making enough noise to raise the dead. The fourth time, he’d mistimed his escape attempt during shift change and the two guards had beaten him within an inch of his life. He died in the night from his injuries.

After months of Geneva’s lessons, Earl was well-accustomed to death. He feared it, being of sound mind, and he was no fan of pain, but their threat was no longer enough to cowl him.

[We must attend to our duties.]

Earls smoothed out his jacket, making sure his appearance had remained immaculate.

[As the steward, the house takes its cue from you. If you are dedicated, the others will feel motivated. If you are tired, then they will also lack energy. Are you tired?]

He pasted on a smile that exuded exuberance. “No need to worry! I’m ready to start the day!”

Geneva’s answering smile was wide and mischievous, her tail whipping behind her. “Off you go.”

“Thank you for the instruction!” Earl replied energetically as he hurried from the room. Their big house took quite a lot of work to maintain and with their minimum staff, most of the duties fell to him and his sister.