When Jacob noticed the old woman, he realized that she had a horribly hunched back with calloused, gnarled hands that had been used for hard work over the years.
Jacob walked up to Sera to talk to the tired-looking girl.
"Hey, Sera, it is nice to hear your voice again. But you look worried, is something bothering you?"
Sera evaluated Jacob as she listened to him, deciding to let him know of her problems even though she was usually too proud to involve outsiders in the trouble she and her grandmother faced.
"It is my grandmother. She needs to be able to sew so we can eat, but lately the spinning wheel often breaks because it is so old. And the repairs at Thornhold are too expensive for us. We try to patch it up as we can, but it looks like we will need to find another way to make money."
Jacob nodded in understanding.
"Let me take a look. I am sure I can help out."
This caused Sera to smile brightly. "Would you really use some magic to help us?"
"Of course," Jacob replied with a bit of a giggle, "if I am able, why would I not?"
Jacob approached the wheel after being led inside by Sera and studied it, then pressed his hand against the frame.
"It is cracked, but it looks like it will still turn. Has she stopped to prevent it from completely falling apart?"
Sera nodded, and Jacob continued to check it out.
"Yes, I see . . . it has some old glue and shims holding it all together here and there . . . but I think I can make this work."
He pulled out his mithril inscribing tool and inscribed the runes needed for a simple strengthening enchantment. They had to be done all the way around the wheel to take hold, but with his visualization, the spinning wheel would be the last thing in the house to fall apart now.
After seeing the glow of the runes fading, Jacob dusted his hands to symbolize his completed work.
"And with that, even if this house falls down, this wheel will still stand."
Without a word, the old lady brought over some material and started working again. Her hands looked old and gnarled, but they moved with the grace that only came with years of practice.
Finally, the old woman spoke with a tear in her eye.
"It's not just fixed . . . it is flawless. This wheel has not spun like this in 30 years." Turning to Jacob, she continued, "Thank you, young man, you are always welcome here . . . wait around for a while and I will fix us up some lunch!"
Jacob smiled politely and nodded, but he took a step back.
"Thank you, ma'am, but I should be heading home soon. My mother would not be too happy if I vanished for lunch without telling anyone where I went."
The old woman nodded in understanding, already focused back on her work, and Sera gently pulled Jacob toward the door.
Once outside, the sunlight felt brighter. The sound of the spinning wheel kept going behind them, soft and steady.
Sera walked beside him quietly for a few moments before speaking again.
"I thought she was going to give up on the wheel. I thought this was the end of what we could do," she said, her voice low and serious. "But now, it looks like she is already making plans for what to sell next week. You really helped us here, Jacob."
Jacob shrugged, trying to downplay it, though he could not help but smile.
"It was just a few runes. I have done stronger enchantments on buckets and boots."
"Maybe," Sera said, stepping in front of him and turning around to face him as she walked backwards. "But this time, it meant something."
Jacob rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to respond to that, and she giggled.
"Where are you going now?"
"Probably to check the southern fields. I want to see how the enchantments on the oxen harnesses are holding up. They should be lasting longer now."
Sera's smile didn't fade.
"Then I'm coming too."
Jacob gave her a look, partially confused.
"You don't have to."
"I know . . . but I want to."
Jacob glanced at her again, but she had already fallen in step beside him, hands behind her back and eyes on the path.
By the time they reached his home, the sun was high overhead, signaling the time for the farmers to head to lunch. He could still see the ploughs moving through the fields seamlessly, though.
His father and brother were walking back to the house at about the same time as Jacob and Sera, which resulted in Jacob introducing her early.
Arthur gave Sera a nod as they approached, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Well, who's this?" he asked, giving Jacob a curious glance.
"This is Sera," Jacob said. "She helped me find something useful in the village, and I helped fix something for her and her grandmother."
Arthur looked her over for a moment, then offered a small, approving smile.
"Nice to meet you, Sera. Any friend of Jacob's is welcome here."
Sera nodded politely. "Thank you, sir."
Caleb was not feeling chatty, just gave both of them a tired nod while heading in to get some food.
May was already setting the table when they entered. She raised an eyebrow at the unfamiliar face but didn't question it. Instead, she just added an extra plate with her usual grace, as if she had expected one more all along.
Lunch passed quietly, with Sera answering a few questions about where she lived and how she helped her grandmother. She kept her words careful and brief, but May seemed to warm to her quickly. When the meal was done, Sera helped clear the dishes without being asked, and that was enough to earn a gentle smile from May.
Afterward, Jacob walked her back toward the village, the sun now past its peak and the day stretching lazily ahead of them.
"So," Jacob said, "are you really going to keep following me around?"
Sera gave him a look that said she wasn't in the mood for teasing. "You helped us when you didn't have to. That means something to me, and I don't know what yet . . . but I want to find out."
With her answer, Jacob nodded and continued to travel to their small village.