First Day of August, In the Year of the Empire 6777 Continued

After reviewing all the documents a few times, I finally put them away and placed the box in the middle of my table.

I had missed a page in the General's letter the first time through. It was an introduction to the Royal Bank and relayed that I would receive monthly stipends for both my rank as a Major in the Kingdom's Army and as an Honored High Mage of the Kingdom in addition to some other funds.

The army stipend was only twenty-five gold a month, as I was not active. It was the mage stipend that left me in shock. Five-hundred gold a month plus another one-hundred gold for being an Honored ranked.

It also informed me that one-tenth of all instructor fees collected would be going to the mage college. Any worries about my barony costs were gone, though now I'm sure there were more significant problems. Why do I think I just gained far less than I thought?

After putting my just cleaned and repaired, needed or not, dress clothes on again, I placed the letter to the bank into my bag. My crappy school bag. First stop, the Emporium.

It was nearly three hours later when I returned to the Emporium. Mr. Green must have been watching for me, for as soon as I stepped in, he was motioning me over to the counter with the books I had selected earlier. At least I think so. I don't remember selecting so many.

"Viscount Hartson?" Mr. Green both greeted and asked me at the same time.

"Yes, that is correct, Sir. Also, I'm now a Major in the army, but more importantly, an Honored High Mage and an Independent Instructor. It all still seems impossible."

Mr. Green's eyebrows had risen at my response. Then he just shook his head in amazement. "That is quite a rise in rank, Sir. Do I take it that this is the result of our private conversations recently?"

"That would be a wise conclusion, but we must leave it at that, please."

Returning to a serious expression, Mr. Green nodded, saying, "Yes, that is not a problem, Sir."

Holding up my old school bag, "Do you have something, that is, just much better?"

Mr. Green laughed, "Yes, I certainly do." Waving me over to another counter, he shows me pouches, satchels, bags, and packs. Each one is more costly than the last. It's not long before I pick out a satchel with a sizable carrying capacity. I can hide its strap under my sash and have access to it with my left hand.

With it, I transfer everything from my old school bag. Placing all the new books into it is impressive. That is when Mr. Green gives me a small cloth pouch saying, "Take a look."

In it is a ring that, at first glance, is oddly shaped. It is a pair of rings that link together, so they appear as one. There is only an empty circle at the top where a gem might go. I can feel magic in it, but I do not recognize it at all.

"Okay, what is this?"

With a grin, Mr. Green asks me for my Life ring.

Handing it over, he takes the three rings and somehow fits them all together with a small snap. The two new pieces now wrap around the older, now center ring. It now looks as if the band is now wider while holding the same black stone.

"Is this the second ring I was asking about?"

Mr. Green nods. "I had a chance to speak with the mage that made your other ring. Not only could he make you a second, but he could also improve it further. As we discussed before, the second ring will allow you to sleep for two hours and eat one meal every four days. It's the third part that is much more. If you always feed a little of your mana to the ring, you will only need two hours of sleep and one meal every ten days. Though you may sleep or eat more if you wish."

"Wow!" I try to curb my excitement, "Um, how much?"

Grinning Mr. Green says, "Normally two-thousand-five-hundred for each piece, but today is worth celebrating, so only two-thousand for each. For the two new parts, only four-thousand gold."

Money is getting tight, but I can't refuse. I take them both to complete the set very happily.

"Thank you, Mr. Green, I do appreciate your effort."

First Day of August, In the Year of the Empire 6777 Continued

Returning to my basement home briefly, I added the case of documents to my new satchel. Then I emptied all the books still in the trunks into it as well. Leaving the hidden rune and ritual notes and the rune book under the floor, I made my way back to the school library.

As I approached the gates, the guards saluted, causing me to stop abruptly. "Please excuse my ignorance, but why are you saluting me?"

The guards grinned, and one spoke up. "For two reasons, Sir. First, your rank is Major, requiring a salute as you have a greater military rank. Second, you have become known to us due to your spell, helping the wounded. Thus, you have earned our thanks and respect, Sir."

What does it mean that the guards offer me respect because of a spell? I feel proud, but I need to give them back the respect they offer me. Noticing I've blanked out for a moment, I quickly try to copy their salutes. "Thank you, gentlemen, I'm delighted to help in such a way."

Before I leave them, I ask a question. "Sergeant, do you have a moment to teach me how to salute correctly?"

The sergeant was happy to help me, and we stepped away from the gate, in ten minutes, he had me properly saluting. After thanking him again, I headed to the library.

The guards were not the only ones taking notice. Several students had to take a second look at my sash and seemed to be confused by its new markings. None stopped to ask me about it as we both had somewhere to go. I just nodded to those that met my eye.

Stopping at the main desk to ask for Head Librarian Moss, I looked around at the many new faces.

With a genuine smile, Moss greeted me. "Good morning to our newest Honored High Mage and Independent Instructor, how can I help you today, Sir?"

I'll get used to hearing those titles someday, I hope. "Thank you, Head Librarian Moss. I've never investigated it before, but is it possible to get copies of the library books?"

Nodding, "Yes, certainly. We have to charge the same prices as buying each book to avoid profiteering by those who would sell the copies made here."

"Excellent, I will not be around as often with my new duties, so I will update my requests on the Student Aid Board to take the books to the main desk for copying. Would you be able to send them to me, say once a week?"

Moss quickly agrees. I give him a book listing all the books I have, save one, and fifty gold to get things started. He is to send the copies to my new Viscount of Westcroft Manson here in the city.

I make my way over to the Student Aid Board and nod to another instructor sitting at the desk, but he seems more asleep than not. I take down my old postings and write out a new request with a smile. After updating the logbook, I drop a handful of coppers into the jar and head out.

Just as I leave the library, I hear my name from a familiar voice.

Sienna does not have her usual smile, "Instructor Hartson, is it true you're no longer going to teach here?"

"Yes." Why am I unhappy to see her frown?

Now she is staring at me. "Was there something you were needing?"

Suddenly she is back to speaking too fast. "I wanted to take your runes and rituals classes. I mean, we, mostly students you've been helping in the library. Everyone likes learning things from you. We signed up for your class as an optional course. Now they canceled it."

"Oh. I'm sorry about that. I didn't know that was an option, probably missed hearing about it yesterday. Maybe I'll be able to after I get some things sorted out. If you're still interested?"

With a smile, she asked, "Really?"

"Yes, I could still teach you. I just don't know when right now. Maybe on seven-days? If you still wanted to."

"What about the next one?" She asked, hopefully.

"Maybe. I have to leave the city soon." Embarrassed, I quietly added, "I've got to figure out three baronies and my viscount lands."

Sienna brightened, "I've never been out of the city. Maybe you could take me to see them?"

"Um, sure. Yes, I could do that if your schedule allows." Why did I just say that? "The coach ride is nearly four hours, so I could teach you about the runes and rituals if you like."

"Great, let me know when you're going." She said, blushing again, then looking away. "I've got to get back to class. Bye." And with that, she hurried away.

Why did she leave so fast? Never mind, I've got other things to do.

Now, how did Jim say to find his nursery? When I finally found it hidden away behind other buildings, it was nearly opposite from the library across the campus. Once the large glass structure came into sight, there was no mistaking it.

Opening the door was surprising due to the rush of humidity and warmth that pushed outward into me.

Behind me, the heavy door swung shut with a bang, but I barely noticed. The glass building was overflowing with green plants of every kind it seemed. Some were pushing against the glass ceiling even. There was a path wondering into the greenery, but no one was in sight.

"Jim!" I called out loudly. No one answered, so I followed the path further into the sea of green.

Calling for him several times, he finally answered, "Over here!"

Following the sound of his voice past some tall thin plant numbering in the thousands, I found him scooping handfuls of moist dirt into a bed before mixing it in. Then I got a whiff of the wet soil, horse dung.

I silently told myself to remember not to shake his hand right now.

"Ah, Hartson. How are you today?" He asked after only a glance at me and went back to work.

"I'm doing well, Jim. Yourself?" It looked like he is about to complete this plant bed, which measured one meter wide and seemed to be ten meters long.

"Good. Be right with you once I finish this bed off. Then I just let it sit for a few days, turn it again, and it might be ready for planting."

I continued to watch, "What will you plant there then?"

Jim sounded quite happy when he answered. "Carrots. I love carrots, eat them by the armload. Don't you? Want some?"

"No, no, thank you," I answered, hoping not to upset him.

He laughed a bit then, before standing, "Just pulling your leg Hartson."

"Good to hear, I thought maybe you'd start turning orange."

Jim muttered something, and all the dirt fell away from him, leaving him spotless.

After a moment, Jim asked, "So Hartson, what can I do for you today?"

"I wanted to buy a few Dragon Fern sprouts if that would be okay? I want to study them some myself."

He shook his head, "No need to buy the blasted things, we have hundreds sprouting here all the time. I must send batches to the castle every week. They are easily damaged, so if those metal headed guards are lucky, they might get half of them to take when they replant them. I'm fairly certain they just shove the things into any place they can squeeze them into and walk away."

"Seems kind of wasteful, though, don't you think?"

Jim starts to walk away, "Follow me." Then he responds, "Yes, it's a bit wasteful. The Kingdom supports the school, and we could not do it without them. So, we give them all the spouts they could want."

Another section of twenty beds is where Jim leads me. "Here, this bunch will be off next. How are you going to carry them?"

I open the flap to my satchel, "In here."

Jim pondered a moment, "Is that one of those magical ones?"

Somewhat surprised, I answer, "Yes. Is that a problem?"

Nodding, he tells me, "Won't work. They die in there if you just put them in." Looking around, he spots something and goes to get it.

Jim came back with an oddly wide jar that looks more like a bowl with a glass lid. Setting it down near the plants, he started to dig out sprouts with his hands. With a handful of dirt and all, Jim set them in the bottom of the jar. Once it was full, put the glass lid on.

"The way to beat those bags is you have to cheat a little." With that, he began casting a mending spell causing the glass lid and jar to become a solid piece. "There you go, now it's airtight, and those sprouts will last a week at least in there. Hells, they might just live on forever inside there knowing them."

With that, he cast another cleaning spell and handed me the spotless on the outside, glass container?

I carefully put it into the dimensional space without any problems. "Thank you, Jim, that is very considerate of you."

He grins at me, "Now, if you should happen to find a faster way to grow those, just remember Jim here got you started."

I laughed, "Thanks, Jim. We'll see what happens."

We talked a bit more as we left the nursery. Then we used the cleaning and repair spells, taking away all the humidity and grime.

I took the nearest exit off the campus. Walking around the school for a bit, I eventually turned down another street to the clothier.

They greeted me properly when I went in and told them that I needed more outfits and listed off what I needed. A dress military uniform with the rank of major, and attire suitable for a viscount, but conservative. I told them that I am trying not to attract notice.

They quickly got to work, and soon more gold coins were gone.