A comfortable quiet settled. Kei watched a bee drift among the garden flowers outside. Perhaps Nia was right – maybe he was having a positive effect here beyond the chaos and comedy. It felt… rewarding, in a way far deeper than any System XP bar filling up.
Eventually, as dusk approached, Kei and Nia finished their tea and left the lounge. Nia excused herself to freshen up before dinner. As Kei walked the halls alone, heading for the dining area, the System decided to pipe up again after a long silence.
A semi-transparent chat bubble popped in his vision with a winking face: "Date completed: +Reputation with Nia!" followed by a tally of some heart points.
Kei almost stumbled. Date? That was just tea… as friends… right? He hurriedly swiped the message away, face burning. The System conjured another line, as if laughing: Quest Hint: Other girls are waiting for their turn! and a cheeky emoji.
He groaned under his breath. It was just tea! he mentally scolded the System. And it wasn't a quest, I did that on my own. The System remained annoyingly silent now, its point made.
Refusing to let the System's romantic insinuations rattle him further, Kei straightened up and headed to dinner determinedly. He was making friends, yes. If some of them harbored crushes, he truly wasn't sure how to handle that yet. He reminded himself of his vow: focus on crafting and not be led astray by the System's matchmaking mischief.
Yet as he sat at dinner, surrounded by friendly faces, and recounted the day's adventures to a captivated audience (the tale of the wind-blown workshop papers got many giggles, and his "daring save" was met with gasps and applause until he downplayed it fervently), Kei realized something. He was mixing craft and social bonds, just as the System seemed to push. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a balance to be struck – one he was naturally finding.
Looking around the table – at Fiona's animated grin, Kara's playful banter, Nia's quiet adoration shining through her every word – Kei felt a swell of affection for them too. Not romantic necessarily, but deep and genuine. He cared about these people, these new friends who had given him acceptance and warmth in a strange land.
The thought settled in his chest like a gentle warmth. Maybe the System's goals and his own weren't so far apart after all. It wanted him to build relationships and skills. And here he was doing both, albeit stumblingly.
By the time Kei turned in that night, exhaustion pulled at his limbs but couldn't wipe the small, content smile from his face. As he laid in bed, staring at the dim outline of his mana-lamp on the desk, he replayed the day's myriad moments. The quiet morning courtyard, the chaotic breakfast, the excitement of project planning, the fright and relief of the workshop mishap, and the peaceful tea with Nia.
"Settling in, huh…" he murmured to the darkness. He felt more settled, yes, and also growing – stretching into this new life with each passing day. What a contrast to his first timid hours in Rosewallow village just a short while ago.
The System, listening as always, displayed a small notification: "Daily Summary: Progress made in Crafting, Friendship, and Reputation. Keep it up, Kei! (Maybe consider a proper date soon? wink)"
Kei huffed a soft laugh, too sleepy to do more than mutter, "Goodnight, you meddling thing," as he dismissed the text. He rolled over, pulling the quilt up. In his heart, he thanked whatever fate or goddess had given him this second chance – bizarre and humorous though it was. Not every day was easy, but each was meaningful.
And with that comforting thought, Kei drifted off to dream of whirring gears, smiling faces, and twinkling lights of an upcoming festival under a pair of foreign moons.
Chapter 7 – Guild Politics and Gentle Rivalries
A week later, Kei found himself seated in an ornate conference room high in the guild's administrative tower, feeling rather like a lone pigeon in a nest of eagles. He smoothed the front of his apprentice coat nervously. Guild Master Helena had invited – well, summoned – him to attend the monthly Artisans' Council meeting as a special guest. It was an unprecedented honor for an apprentice, but Helena insisted it would be a good experience.
Now Kei sat at a long table of polished mahogany, surrounded by some of the most influential craftswomen of Anderun. The high ceiling bore a fresco of forging and weaving goddesses, and the tall windows draped with burgundy silk overlooked the cityscape. Kei made sure to sit up straight and attentive, aware that many eyes drifted his way regularly.
Helena presided at the head of the table, exuding her usual commanding presence tempered with a hint of pride as she introduced Kei to everyone. "This is Apprentice Kieran Beckett – Kei – from our Woodcraft and Enchantment program," she announced. "He's the young man you've likely heard about."
A ripple of polite laughter moved through the group. Heard about, indeed – Kei's existence in the city had been a favorite gossip topic for weeks now. Kei bowed his head respectfully. "Thank you for having me."
To his right, Mistress Olara of the Smithing Guild leaned in with a broad grin. She was a brawny woman with arms corded from years at the forge and an easy, booming laugh. "Pleasure's ours, lad! We've been itching to meet the famous male apprentice." She reached under the table and pulled out a wrapped bundle. "In fact, I took the liberty of crafting a little welcome gift."
Olara presented Kei with a hammer – not a massive sledge, but a medium-sized craftsman's hammer, the kind useful for general work. Its steel head gleamed, and the wooden handle was intricately engraved with a pattern of ivy leaves. In the center of the head, Kei's initials K.B. were inlaid in copper.
"I… I don't know what to say," Kei stuttered, accepting the tool reverently. It was beautifully balanced, clearly the work of a master. "Thank you, Mistress Olara. It's wonderful."
Olara laughed and waved a hand. "Think nothing of it! I gift tools to all promising newcomers." She then winked conspiratorially. "Of course, I've never had the chance to gift one to a male newcomer before."
Across the table, a refined voice drawled, "At this rate, Olara, you'll spoil him rotten before the rest of us get a turn." This came from Chief Enchanter Yuna of the Magi-Tech Guild – a slender, elegant woman with silver hair and cool, appraising eyes. She gave Kei a nod. "I too hope you'll visit our laboratories sometime, Apprentice Kei. We have much that might interest someone of your creative bent. Consider this an open invitation."
Kei tried to maintain composure under the flurry of attention. "I would be honored, Chief Enchanter. And thank you, Mistress Olara, I'll put this hammer to good use."
Helena cleared her throat gently, though amusement twinkled in her eyes. "Now that we've officially welcomed Kei, shall we proceed with the agenda?"
The council meeting progressed, touching on various topics of artisan business. Kei mostly listened quietly, absorbing how the guilds coordinated with each other. It was fascinating – and occasionally bewildering – to witness the interplay of economics, craft, and culture at this level.
They discussed resource allocation (apparently the weavers were petitioning for more luminescent silkmoth cocoons – a rare ingredient – and the council was debating the budget for it). They talked about the city's upcoming Grand Artisans' Festival (the very one Kei had seen advertised as the Midsummer Masquerade) and which guilds would host which events. There was mention of craft competitions and showcases that made Kei's ears perk up – his own team's bellows project might be shown there if all went well.
Then came a point of contention: the Woodworkers' Guild – Kei's guild – reported a recent surge in commission requests. Helena explained with a slight smirk, "It appears some patrons believe having an item crafted or even touched by our rare male apprentice will make it particularly lucky or valuable."
A soft chuckle rippled through the table. Kei felt his face warm. They were talking about him and the effect of his presence on business.
A guild mistress from the Pottery Guild grumbled good-naturedly, "Save some prosperity for the rest of us, Helena. Ever since word got out, I have clients asking if that charming young man can perhaps bless a batch of clay for them!" She rolled her eyes.
Chief Enchanter Yuna gave Kei a sly glance. "Superstition moves markets, as we know. A man in the workshop is seen as a divine blessing by traditionalists. I'd wager any guild would relish hosting Kei for even an hour – the spike in orders could fund us for a month."
Mistress Olara barked a laugh. "Maybe we should schedule a Kei Tour – lend him to each guild in turn so everyone benefits. How about it, young man? Fancy stamping your seal of good luck across the city?" She was clearly joking, but there was an undertone of actual interest.
Kei nearly choked on his sip of water. He set the glass down carefully, searching for a respectful answer. "I, uh, I'm flattered, truly, but I'm still just learning the basics. I'd hardly be much help yet."
Helena stepped in, raising a hand. "Jests aside, I assure you all, Kei's training and well-being come first. The Woodworkers' Guild will not exploit him as a marketing gimmick." Her tone was firm, a subtle rebuke to anyone entertaining that notion seriously.
Several heads nodded in agreement; they had the grace to look a touch guilty for teasing.
Kei shot Helena a grateful glance. She met his eye and gave the smallest nod, a silent promise of protection. Warmth filled Kei's chest. It was comforting to have someone stand up for him like that at such a high level.
To lighten the mood, another council member, a jeweler guild head, piped up, "Oh, but when he graduates, imagine the scramble! Every guild will be vying to have him." She winked at Kei. "Start thinking about which path calls to you the most, dear. Though if you ask me, any patron or guild would be lucky to have a talented artisan like you, male or not."
Kei felt a mix of pride and discomfort at being the center of so much speculation. "I have a lot to learn before I can even think of graduation, ma'am," he replied modestly. "But I'm grateful for the support and opportunities I have here."
"Well spoken," Helena said, her voice carrying approval. She steered the discussion onward to more mundane matters of guild budgets and maintenance. Kei relaxed slightly, the spotlight shifting off him.
As the meeting went on, Kei's mind wandered for a moment. It struck him how surreal it was – he, a shy woodworker from another world, sitting among powerful women discussing city-wide festivals and budgets. If any of these council members had doubts about him, they didn't show it; instead, they treated him like a precious mascot and promising upstart all at once.
By meeting's end, Kei had received three more "open invitations" to visit various guild facilities, a dozen compliments (ranging from his "charming polite manners" to "keen mind"), and also a plate of guild-specialty cookies from the Baking Guild representative who insisted he try them. He couldn't carry all the gifts and papers alone, and embarrassingly, two attendants had to help him back down to Helena's office with his haul.
Helena chuckled as she dismissed the aides and saw Kei eye the pile of items awkwardly. "Council meetings are always a bit extravagant, but they really pulled out the stops for you."
Kei sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I appreciate it… I just hope I didn't cause any trouble."
"On the contrary," Helena said, sitting on the edge of her desk. "You handled yourself excellently. You listened, you answered when addressed without overstepping, and you made a good impression." She crossed her arms, a thoughtful smile on her lips. "Though I do apologize for the… commodity-like treatment. I know it can be uncomfortable."
Kei shook his head. "You stood up for me. Thank you. I'm starting to understand it's just how things are. They mean well, even if it's strange to feel like a lucky charm."
Helena regarded him kindly. "You're remarkably level-headed about it. Many would let it go to their head or grow resentful. You do neither." She then reached out and gently squeezed his shoulder. "I meant what I said: you're part of our guild family, not a tool for profit. As long as I'm Guild Master, that won't change."
Emotion swelled in Kei's chest – gratitude, relief. In that moment, Helena reminded him a bit of Marna and perhaps even of his mother from his past life: fiercely protective in a no-nonsense way. He bowed deeply to her. "I'll work hard to be worthy of the guild's trust."
Helena smiled. "You already are, Kei." Then, with a wry grin, she added, "Now, run along. I believe you have a workshop session to get to – and I suspect some of your friends are dying to hear how this meeting went."
He nodded and took his leave, carefully balancing Olara's gifted hammer and the box of cookies in his arms. Helena was right – Fiona, Kara, and Nia would no doubt pounce on him for details. The thought made him grin.
As Kei left the administrative tower, descending the spiral stairs back to the apprentice levels, he had a spring in his step. Despite the oddities, he felt respected and supported. His stakes in this world were rising; he wanted to succeed not just for himself, but for those like Helena who believed in him.
He found his classmates in the main workshop hall, busy with an open lab period. There was an excited chorus of greetings as Kei entered.
"Kei! There you are," Fiona called, waving from a table strewn with mechanical parts. The apprentices nearby all turned to look; his brief absence and the knowledge of where he'd been had clearly spread through the grapevine.
In fact, as Kei made his way over, a cluster of apprentices converged, barraging him with questions:
"What was it like up there with all the guild leaders?"
"Did they ask you to sign anything? My cousin said sometimes they try to pre-contract talented apprentices."
"Did you meet Mistress Olara? They say she's as strong as a troll!"
Kei laughed, trying to field the barrage. "One at a time! It was… interesting, to say the least. Yes, I met Mistress Olara – she was very kind and she did give me a hammer." He held up the hammer and the girls oohed appreciatively.
Kara elbowed through the small crowd, grinning. "Let the man breathe! We'll get the story." She clamped a friendly hand on Kei's shoulder and steered him to their project station where Fiona and Nia waited with keen expressions.
Once a semblance of privacy was attained (though many still listened in nearby, pretending to work but clearly eavesdropping), Kei recounted the council meeting highlights. He described the room ("fanciest place I've ever had a meeting in"), the people ("surprisingly down-to-earth, mostly"), and yes, the flurry of offers and gifts.
Fiona covered her mouth to hide a laugh when he mentioned the idea of a "Kei Tour" through each guild. "Oh goodness, can you imagine? A day as an honorary baker, then a day as a tailor, then a glassblower… You'd be exhausted!"
Kara snorted. "And extremely well-fed, fabulously dressed, and slightly singed, in that order."
Nia, ever earnest, frowned. "That wasn't very fair of them, to talk about you like… like you're a prized cow to lend around."
"It was mostly joking," Kei said, shrugging. "And Helena shut it down quickly. I'm okay, really." He offered her a cookie from the box he'd been gifted. "Here – sweet from the Baking Guild."
Nia accepted, mollified by his calm. She took a bite and her eyes widened. "Mmm! Apricot cream… oh, this is divine!"
Soon, cookies were making the rounds, and talk moved on to lighter things. They continued work on their magitech bellows project – fine-tuning and testing with more control this time. By now, word of their project had also spread, and other apprentices occasionally wandered by to watch or ask questions. Kei found himself happily explaining their design (and again acknowledging it was a team effort whenever anyone tried to give him all the credit).
During one such demonstration of the bellows (now producing a steady, adjustable airflow, thanks to Nia's moderation rune and Fiona's gear tweaks), a voice cut through the small applause they received.
"Hmph. Not bad… for woodcrafters." The tone was confident, faintly challenging.
Kei turned to see a newcomer – a girl about his age not from their guild, judging by her different apprentice sash color (a deep iron-gray as opposed to their forest-green). She had a strong, athletic build with braided auburn hair, and carried herself with the assured stance of a smith. Two other apprentices flanked her, also unfamiliar faces.
"Dahlia?" Kara blurted, eyebrows shooting up. It seemed she recognized the girl.
"Kara. Been a while," Dahlia greeted with a cordial nod. Then her eyes swept to Kei, and those keen amber irises appraised him head to toe. "So you're the famous Kei. I've heard a lot about you." Her lips curved in a half-smile that was not unfriendly, but certainly not fawning like most.
Kei felt a prickle of something – not hostility, but the air around her crackled with a competitive energy. "I'm Kei, yes. And you are?"
"This is Dahlia," Kara introduced, stepping in. "She's an apprentice from the Metalworkers Guild in Riverton. Top of her class there. We met at a summer skills exchange last year."
Dahlia folded her arms, looking at the bellows device on the table. "I'm in town for the festival competitions. We came to see what the Anderun guild's apprentices have been cooking up."
"Scouting the competition, Dahlia?" Fiona said lightly, though her eyes were sharp with curiosity.
Dahlia gave a small shrug, unapologetic. "Call it professional interest." She stepped closer to the bellows and the others parted to let her inspect. "Automated bellows, hmm? Clever. The smiths would love something like that – saves a lot of leg work. But…" She jostled the frame slightly, testing its sturdiness. "Is it robust enough for continuous use? Wood and leather might wear out fast under intense forging conditions."
Kei bristled slightly, but kept polite. Her critique wasn't wrong – durability was a question they'd need to address. "We plan to reinforce the frame with metal brackets and maybe add a cushioning enchantment to reduce wear," he explained.
Dahlia looked at him directly for the first time since initial greeting. Her gaze was intense, but not hostile. If anything, it was as if she was measuring him by how he responded. Kei met her eyes evenly.
After a beat, she nodded. "Noted. Our team is working on an automated hammer press. Full metal construction. It can shape ingots under variable power." Her tone implied a friendly challenge: Your project vs. mine – let's see which impresses more.
"Sounds impressive," Kei said genuinely. A hammer press was a significant undertaking. "I'd be interested to see it in action."
"You will, at the festival showcase," Dahlia replied. She then did something unexpected: she extended her hand across the table to him. Not for a handshake exactly – more like a firm clasp forearm to forearm, the way warriors might. "May the best project win, Kei."
Kei grasped her forearm, returning the gesture resolutely. He smiled, feeling a surge of excitement. "It'll be fun to compete, Dahlia."
A collective "ooooh" rose from nearby tables – apparently the exchange had drawn an audience, and now the workshop was abuzz with talk of a rivalry between Kei's team and Dahlia's.
As Dahlia departed with her entourage, Kara let out a breath she'd been holding. "I can't believe Dahlia is our rival. She's no joke. I heard she forged a chainmail by hand in a day for a contest."
Nia looked mildly worried. "Do you think our project will hold up against something like that?"
Fiona flipped one of her wrenches in hand, grinning. "Who cares? We're doing great work and we'll show it off proudly. Plus, the look on Dahlia's face when Kei didn't get flustered? Priceless. She expected him to be cocky or shy, but he was just right."
Kei rubbed the back of his neck. "I was nervous, to be honest."
"Couldn't tell," Kara said, punching his arm lightly. "You passed her test. I know Dahlia – if she thought you were riding on your 'male darling' status without skill, she'd have dismissed you. But now, looks like you've earned her respect."
Kei pondered that. It felt good, actually – to be seen as a craftsman first, not a novelty. Even if it came in the form of a competition, he was invigorated by the idea.
The rest of the week continued on a high note. Kei balanced classes, project work, and the occasional social "quest" that the System nudged at him.
One such quest came on a sunny afternoon after a long workshop session. The apprentices were cleaning up and Kara had worked up quite a sweat forging small gear components for their project. Wiping her brow, Kara mused aloud, "I could really go for a cold juice right now."
In Kei's view popped the familiarly meddlesome text: Special Quest: Rivalry or Romance? – Compliment Kara on her hard work and invite her for a refreshing drink (Reward: +Luck, +Relationship).
Kei nearly snorted out loud. The System truly had a flair for timing, and for dramatizing things. He glanced at Kara as she quenched a hot piece of metal in water, steam rising around her determined face. She had worked hard, and he did appreciate it.
Maybe, for once, he'd play along with the System's suggestion knowingly – not because it was pushing him, but because it felt right.
As Kara put down her tongs, Kei approached with an easy smile. "Kara, you've been at it for hours. That hilt bracket you made is perfect." He gestured to the polished metal piece that would secure their bellows to a forge. "Your design really tied the whole frame together. We couldn't have done it without your skill."
Kara blinked, then a pleased grin spread on her face. She wasn't used to such direct praise from him. "Thanks, Kei. I mean, I'm just doing my part. But I'm glad it came out well."
Kei scratched his cheek, feigning casualness to hide his slight nervousness at what he was about to say next. "You know, I was about to grab a fruit juice at the market stand outside to cool down. Want to join me? My treat – consider it a thank you for today's work."
For a moment, Kara looked taken aback. Kei inviting her somewhere? And complimenting her so earnestly? A faint flush crept up her neck. But Kara being Kara, she quickly recovered with a laugh. "If you're buying, I'm in! Goddess knows I'm parched."
From the corner of his eye, Kei noticed Fiona and Nia sharing a surprised look. He could practically hear Fiona's internal squeal of delight. The System chimed softly: Quest Complete! with a sparkle icon, but he ignored it, focusing instead on Kara.
They washed up quickly and headed out to a small juice stall near the guildhall gates. It was late afternoon, and the city's bustle had a lazy edge in the heat. The stall vendor nearly spilled her pitcher when Kei approached, but then gave them two tall glasses of chilled berry juice with perhaps an extra-generous heap of ice and fruit slices for him.
Kara and Kei found a shaded bench under a chestnut tree on the guild grounds to sit. The juice was tart and sweet, incredibly refreshing. Kei sighed in contentment after a long sip. "This hits the spot."
Kara watched a bead of condensation roll down her glass. "I've been wondering…" she began slowly. "Why are you so… determined?"
Kei turned to her, curious. "Determined?"
"To be treated like everyone else," Kara clarified. "Don't get me wrong – I admire it. It's just not what we expected. A lot of guys in your shoes would coast on the special treatment, avoid hard work, soak up the pampering."
Kei considered his answer. "Honestly, back in my old life, I was… well, nothing special. Just a guy who liked making things. When I found myself here, in a place where I'm suddenly 'special' by default, it felt… wrong, somehow. Like it wasn't earned. I don't want to be an ornament. I want to contribute, to prove I have worth beyond rarity."
Kara nodded thoughtfully, swirling her juice. "I respect that. And I'm glad, because if you were a spoiled prince type, we probably wouldn't be friends." She shot him a cheeky grin.
Kei chuckled. "Likewise. If you were a stuck-up master smith who looked down on a woodworker, we wouldn't click either."
"Perish the thought! I only look down on poor quality metal," she joked.
They clinked their glasses lightly in a mock toast. A comfortable silence stretched, during which a gentle breeze showered a few fallen chestnut blossoms around them.
Kara broke the silence, voice quieter. "You know, when I first challenged you in forging class, it wasn't just rivalry."
"I remember," Kei said. The friendly sword hilt competition had been a highlight.
"I did it because I needed to know if you were for real," Kara continued, gazing at the amber liquid in her glass. "If you had skill and seriousness, or if you were just some coddled pretty boy coasting by. Because…" She hesitated, then pushed on. "Because I kind of wanted to like you – as a friend, I mean – but not if you were fake. Does that make sense?"
Kei felt a surge of affection for this brash, honest girl. He appreciated her frankness. He nodded. "It makes sense. I'm glad I passed, then."
Kara laughed, bumping him with her shoulder. "With flying colors. You turned out even better than I thought. A crafting nerd and secretly gutsy."
"Secretly?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Well, you look so shy and harmless most of the time. Who'd guess you'd have the guts to stand up to council members or ask a girl out for juice," she teased, wagging her eyebrows.
It was Kei's turn to flush. "T-that… that was just friendly—"
"Relax, I know," Kara said, though a twinkle in her eye suggested she didn't mind the idea either way. "Still, it was sweet."
They finished their drinks chatting about simpler things – favorite materials to work with, funny anecdotes from childhood (Kara had once accidentally set a haystack on fire trying to practice a flame enchantment, earning a week of stable-cleaning duty).
Finally, as the sun dipped low, they walked back toward the dorms. Kara stretched her arms above her head. "I better hit the baths. I probably smell like a forge."
Kei smiled. "The baths sound like a good idea. I could use a soak too."
They parted ways at a junction – Kara heading to the women's bathhouse entrance on the east wing, Kei to the small men's section on the west wing.
As Kei approached the men's bathhouse – a facility so rarely used it often had weird hours – he noticed a sign posted by the entrance. It read: "Men's Hours: 7-8 PM Today" in tidy script. Kei checked a wall clock: 6:50 PM. Perfect timing.
He entered the quiet changing area, finding it empty. Hanging up his clothes and wrapping a towel around his waist, he felt the day's grime and stress ready to melt off. The men's bath was essentially a partitioned-off corner of the main baths, small but usually sufficient for the handful of male guild members or visitors that might appear.
Kei stepped through the door into the steaming bath chamber… and was instantly greeted by a chorus of alarmed shrieks.
Time seemed to slow. In front of him stretched not the empty men's pool he expected, but the expansive women's bath, currently occupied by at least a dozen bathing guild members. Nearest him, two apprentices were in the midst of scrubbing each other's backs and had turned, eyes wide. Further back, an older mage was halfway out of the water on the steps. All across the pool, women froze like startled deer.
Kei's brain short-circuited. Oh no. Oh NO. He realized in horror that either he had misread the sign or… or the staff had put the wrong sign. Either way, he was in the wrong side!
A split second of stunned silence, then pandemonium.
"EEK! A man!"
"Kyaaa— cover up!"
"Wh-what's he doing here?!"
Kei flushed red from head to toe. He spun around, instinctively clapping his hands over his eyes (which unfortunately did nothing to block the afterimage of bare skin now seared into his retinas). "I'M SORRY!" he yelped. "Mistake! It was a mistake!"
He took a blind step back toward the door, but the slippery tile betrayed him – his foot skidded on a wet spot. Kei windmilled comically for balance, refusing to open his eyes, and ended up slipping onto his rear with a splash of shallow water at the bath's edge.
More squeals erupted. He wasn't hurt, just mortified and disoriented. He kept his eyes shut tight and face turned down as he scrambled to get up, finding purchase on a wet floor tile.
Through the cacophony, a more authoritative female voice cut through: "Calm down, ladies! It's just Kei – someone fetch a towel for him, please, and stop screaming. He's not ogling, look, the poor boy's eyes are closed."
That voice… he recognized it dimly as Guild Master Helena's friend, Mistress Juli, who oversaw guild housekeeping (and thus the bath schedules). Trust her to be here now, of all times.
Kei felt a large towel being draped over his head and shoulders, mercifully covering most of his face and body. A firm hand (Juli's presumably) took him by the arm and guided him, still effectively blinded by the towel, out of the bath chamber amid a mixture of laughter and lingering shrieks.
As the door to the women's bath closed behind them, muffling the chaos, Kei dared to uncover his face slightly. Mistress Juli, a stocky middle-aged woman with a no-nonsense air, stood before him in a robe, shaking her head though her lips twitched in amusement.
"I-I'm so sorry," Kei began immediately, heart hammering like a drum. "The sign, it said—"
She held up a placating hand. "I know, dear. That fool attendant must've put the wrong sign. Men's hours are tomorrow, not today." She tutted. "Blessed Goddess, what a mix-up."
Kei's stomach sank. Tomorrow?! He had indeed misread – or rather the sign was wrong. Regardless, he felt sick with embarrassment. "I didn't… I wasn't trying to—"
Juli actually chuckled and patted his shoulder, which was still clutching the towel around his waist. "Oh, I'm aware. You should've seen your face – never seen a man more terrified of seeing a naked woman in my life."
Kei groaned, covering his face with one hand. He wanted to crawl into a hole. "Are… are they terribly upset? I didn't see anything! I mean I might have seen but I'm trying to forget—"
At that, Juli burst into hearty laughter. "Oh, don't you worry. Some might be ruffled for a minute, but mostly they thought it was both scandalous and hilarious." She raised an eyebrow. "It's not every day a man wanders cluelessly into girls' bath time. By dinner tomorrow, it'll be an anecdote making the rounds. 'Adorable Kei's latest cultural blunder.'"
Kei felt faint. "Oh no… it'll be guild gossip, won't it?"
Juli smiled sympathetically. "Probably. But honestly, they're not angry. If anything, a few were concerned you'd hurt yourself when you fell." She pointed to his elbow, which was stinging now that he thought of it. A mild scrape.
Juli took a small jar of balm from a shelf and dabbed his elbow. "There. Now, off you go, and try not to die of embarrassment. It really was our staff's fault for the sign, so no one blames you."
Kei nodded meekly. He returned to the changing room, dressed hastily (on wobbly legs), and slunk out of the bathhouse with the towel still draped over his head to hide his burning face.
That night, as he feared, the story spread like wildfire. By the time Kei reached the dining hall for a late dinner (he'd hid in his room until hunger drove him out), he could feel the stares and hear the giggles.
Fiona, Kara, and Nia rushed up to him the moment he entered, all looking both concerned and on the verge of laughing.
"Kei! Are you okay? We heard—" Fiona began, eyes wide.
Nia looked like she wanted to comfort him but also didn't know where to start. "That must have been so awful for you."
Kara, unable to keep a straight face, snorted. "I'm sorry, but the mental image is just—! Gods, Kei." She nudged him. "Accidentally peeping the whole guild? Bold move."
"Kara!" Fiona scolded, though she too had a strained smile. "He didn't mean to!"
Kei buried his face in his hands for a moment. "I will never live this down, will I?"
Fiona patted his back soothingly. "Oh, it'll pass. Honestly, people find it more amusing than anything. They all know it wasn't your fault."
"Helena just gave you a tiny lecture to check signs next time," Nia said, relief evident. "She wasn't even mad, just worried you were mortified."
"I am," Kei groaned. Then he peered between his fingers, lowering his hands. "So… everyone's really not upset?"
"No angry mobs, promise," Kara grinned. "Actually a few are joking that you've 'seen more of the guild than any man in history.'" She burst out laughing at her own joke.
Kei couldn't help but laugh weakly too. It was too ridiculous, and laughing was better than crying. "I swear I saw nothing clearly! It was all a blur and I shut my eyes."
Fiona squeezed his arm. "We know, we know. Honestly, it's fine. Better to just join in the laughter and shrug it off."
And so he did. Over dinner, Kei let them tease him gently, joining in with self-deprecating quips. With every chuckle, the knot of mortification in his stomach loosened. By the end of the meal, he was feeling much lighter about the whole debacle.
Kara even dramatically reenacted his supposed expression of horror (hand over her eyes, mouth in an "O"), which made Nia laugh so hard she snorted tea out her nose, which in turn made them all dissolve into hysterics.
If any other apprentices listened in, they would just hear Kei joking about it as well, which likely helped quell any lingering awkwardness.
Later that night, Kei lay in bed writing in his journal by lamplight. He had started this journal at some point to record not only craft ideas but also personal reflections, something Marna suggested to help process his whirlwind days.
He scribbled down the day's key events: the council meeting – how proud and grateful he felt; Dahlia's challenge – how it ignited his competitive spirit; the juice outing with Kara – how nice it was to bond one-on-one; and yes, the bathhouse fiasco – how utterly humiliating yet ultimately harmless it turned out.
He ended the entry with a somewhat humorous line: "Note to self: always double-check signs. Cultural misunderstandings are one thing; walking blind into literal steamy situations is another!"
Putting the quill down, Kei rubbed his temple. His life was nothing if not eventful.
He thought back on the past couple of weeks since arriving in Anderun. So much had happened in such little time: forging friendships, earning respect, navigating a minefield of social cues (and occasionally stepping squarely on them). He had grown more confident, he realized. The timid outsider who arrived at the guild was slowly giving way to someone more sure-footed – despite tonight's slip.
Yet, a part of him was still that shy craftsman too. Especially when it came to the hints of deeper affection he occasionally sensed around him. He wasn't oblivious now to the way Fiona's eyes sometimes lingered, or how Nia's voice softened when she spoke just to him, or how Kara found excuses to challenge him or be near. It was flattering and confusing all at once.
Kei closed his journal and gazed at the sleepy golden light of the mana lamp. Did he want to pursue romance here? The System clearly nudged him that way at every turn. But his heart… it was still tentative. These girls were his dear friends – the first close friends he'd made in ages. The thought of altering those relationships, risking them, made his chest tight. And yet… he couldn't deny he was curious what it might be like.
He exhaled. Not yet. He decided to let things be as they were for now – warm, supportive friendships. If something blossomed naturally, he'd face it then. The System would just have to deal with his pace.
As if on cue, a soft ping: "New Title Unlocked: Bathhouse Blunderer – You've experienced a cultural mishap and lived to laugh about it!" with a cheeky splash emoji.
Kei rolled his eyes and shut the lamp off. "Goodnight, System," he whispered dryly.
In the darkness, he allowed himself a final thought: he truly felt like he belonged here now. Despite the comedic missteps, or perhaps partly because of them, people accepted him. He was Kei, one of their own – talented, quirky, kind-hearted Kei. Not just a novelty, but a person with a growing place in their hearts.
That realization was comforting beyond words. With a small smile on his lips, Kei drifted into sleep, ready to see what tomorrow – and all the rising action of life in this artisan's matriarchy – would bring next.
Chapter 8 – Tea Parties and Cultural Lessons
"Stand still, Kei, or I'll never get this right," Fiona giggled, perched on tiptoe as she fussed with the collar of his formal jacket.
Kei obeyed, though he felt a bit like a dress-up doll. "It's just tea, why am I wearing this again?"
"Because you're meeting Lady Seraphine," Fiona emphasized, as if that explained everything.
It was the following weekend, and Kei had received an unexpected engraved invitation to a small afternoon tea at the estate of Lady Seraphine Talwyn. She was a well-known local noblewoman and a major patron of artisan guilds, Helena had told him. The lady had apparently heard of the new male apprentice and was keen to make his acquaintance (and possibly flaunt hosting such a rarity to her circle).
Helena had thought it a good networking opportunity and gently nudged Kei to accept. And that was why Kei now found himself in a tailored formal suit jacket in deep charcoal grey, with subtle emerald embroidery – the guild's colors – along the cuffs and lapels. The outfit had been provided by the guild staff, likely stitched overnight for him. It fit nearly perfectly, save for Fiona adjusting the collar and straightening the silver craftsperson's brooch pinned on his chest.
They were in the entry hall of Lady Seraphine's manor, having arrived moments ago. The estate was a sumptuous town-house with high ceilings, marble floors, and artful magical lighting that gave everything a warm glow. Kei could smell fresh flowers and polished wood, an ambience of refined wealth.
He tugged at the cuffs self-consciously. "I feel like an imposter," he murmured to Fiona.
She stepped back to admire her adjustments. "You look distinguished." With a teasing twinkle, she added, "And very handsome, if I might say."
Kei flushed. "Thanks… for accompanying me. I don't think I could do this alone."
It was customary that a man not be sent alone to such events; Fiona was his guild-appointed chaperone, though she seemed more excited than protective at the prospect.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss this for the world," she whispered, then nodded toward the drawing room doors where a butler waited to announce them.
Kei took a deep breath. "Alright. Let's do this."
They entered the drawing room to a modest gathering of six or seven elegantly dressed ladies in their twenties to middle age. Lady Seraphine herself glided forward to meet them – a statuesque woman in her early thirties with flowing dark hair and a gown of midnight blue. Her features were refined, her eyes keen with curiosity and intelligence.
"Welcome, welcome!" Lady Seraphine greeted warmly. She executed a graceful bow – lower than Kei expected given her station – indicating respect. Kei recalled Helena mentioning that some nobles were almost reverent toward men.
Kei returned a polite bow. "Thank you for the invitation, Lady Seraphine. I'm honored to be here."
Seraphine's red-painted lips curved into a delighted smile at his well-mannered reply. "The honor is ours. Such a rare guest! And please, call me Seraphine if you wish. This is meant to be a casual tea among friends." She gestured for them to join the circle of plush chairs and settees where the other ladies observed with avid interest.
Fiona was offered a seat as well (a bit apart to subtly mark her as escort rather than one of the highborn, though none were rude about it). Kei was guided to a prominent seat beside Seraphine's chaise lounge.
Almost immediately, attendants began pouring fragrant tea and presenting tiers of delicate pastries. Kei tried to remember his quickly taught etiquette: don't sip until the hostess does, use two hands on the cup for extra politeness, and compliment the spread early.
"This chamomile blend smells wonderful," Kei said earnestly after Lady Seraphine took her first sip. "And the lemon tarts look delightful."
A ripple of pleased looks went around the group. A white-haired dowager to his right practically glowed. "Oh, what a courteous young man. Wherever did you find him, Helena?" she directed at Guild Master Helena – who Kei now noticed, was actually present, seated at the far end. Perhaps to oversee or just as an additional guest.
Helena gave a wry smile. "I can't take credit for 'finding' him, Lady Vernise. Fate delivered Kei to us."
Kei felt a bit like a show horse being appraised. But he kept a pleasant smile and tried not to fidget under the attention.
Lady Seraphine took it upon herself to lead the conversation. She asked Kei about how he was finding Anderun, how his training was going. Kei answered honestly that the city was amazing, that he learned something new every day, and that everyone had been welcoming. He shared a sanitized amusing anecdote of helping fix a guild fence in Rosewallow and the crowd it drew, which got laughs.
The questions inevitably grew more personal. A younger noblewoman in a peach gown leaned forward, eyes alight. "Do you enjoy music, Kei? We have concerts sometimes. I play the harp, perhaps you'd like to attend one?"
Another lady, a raven-haired beauty with a confident demeanor, purred, "Are you by chance related to any of the old families from the east? Your eyes are such a striking blue; I recall a lineage in Varennes known for that."
Kei politely explained his family was not of any known noble line (understatement, considering his origins were literally out of this world). He deftly deflected heavy questions by steering back to neutral topics, but it was tricky.
At one point, Lady Seraphine, with a sly but harmless smile, asked, "Have you given any thought to courtship yet, dear boy? You must have half the city smitten. Present company included, perhaps." She gave a little conspiratorial wink that made Kei nearly drop his teacup.
Fiona almost choked on a cucumber sandwich she was nibbling, eyes widening at Kei from behind the ladies.
Kei's face went red as the surrounding women tittered. He fumbled for a proper response. Courtship? The truth was, he hadn't – beyond the daily comedic flirts of life. Under so many expectant gazes, he cleared his throat. "Ah… at the moment, Lady Seraphine, I'm quite… um… focused on my craft and studies. There's so much to learn, I hardly have time to think of anything else."
It wasn't a suave answer, but it was genuine and diplomatic enough. Lady Seraphine let out a melodious laugh. "Oh, isn't that refreshing! A young man dedicated to his work. That's rarer than you know."
One of the younger ladies sighed dreamily, "Devotion is very attractive, in its own way." To Kei's alarm, she had edged a bit closer on the settee.
Sensing rescue was needed, Fiona piped up with a cheerful, "Kei has actually invented a clever lamp enhancement in class, Lady Seraphine. You should have seen it – twice the brightness with the same mana! He's being quite humble about his accomplishments."
Kei shot Fiona a grateful glance, albeit embarrassed. Lady Seraphine was suitably intrigued. "Is that so? Do tell us more."
So Kei described, in modest terms, the lamp project. The ladies listened intently; some may not have grasped the technical details but they were clearly impressed by his passion when he spoke of crafting. Lady Seraphine exchanged a knowing look with Helena, something like we have a prodigy here.
Servants refilled cups, more sweets were offered (and lovingly insisted upon that Kei try them – by the end he'd sampled so many confections he feared a sugar crash).
As the tea concluded, Lady Seraphine stood and clapped softly. "My dear ladies, this has been such a treat. Kei, you have been utterly delightful." She took his hand lightly (causing another suppressed gasp from some). "I hope you'll allow me to sponsor some of your materials in the future. Consider my manor's workshop open to you if you ever need a change of scenery or resources. Many an artisan finds inspiration in our gardens."
Kei bowed over her hand politely. "You're most generous, Lady Seraphine. Thank you."
With that, the gathering dissolved into genteel farewells. As Fiona and Kei made to leave, several guests pressed small cards or notes into Fiona's hands ("for Kei, do have him read it later, won't you?" they whispered not-so-subtly). It seemed he'd received a few invitations for dinners or events from those fascinated nobles. Fiona's eyes danced with mischief as she accepted them on his behalf (Kei, overhearing, felt a mix of panic and amusement).
Outside, once safely in the carriage that Helena had arranged for their transport, Kei slumped back against the seat and exhaled loudly. "By the goddess, that was intense."
Fiona burst into laughter, unable to hold it. "You – you should have seen your face when Lady Seraphine asked if you were considering courtship!" She mimicked a wide-eyed, frozen expression. "Priceless."
Kei covered his face with his hands. "I nearly died."
"You did splendidly," Fiona reassured, patting his knee. "They adored you. And you handled the questions well. Very diplomatic, Mr. 'married to his craft'." She winked.
He peeked through his fingers. "I wasn't lying. It does feel like the craft is all I can handle right now."
"I know. And that made them like you even more. Trust me, if you'd started flirting or boasting, some might've lost interest. But you being earnest and a bit shy? That probably tripled their interest." Fiona shook her head in amusement.
Kei groaned. "Great, so I accidentally encouraged them by being myself."
Fiona's teasing smile softened. "Being yourself is nothing to apologize for. You made a positive impression for the guild too. Helena looked pleased."
Kei thought back. Helena had indeed looked quietly proud whenever he spoke thoughtfully. That was good; he wanted to do right by her and the guild.
He noticed Fiona clutching the little stack of cards given to her. "What's all that?"
"Oh, these?" She fanned them. "Let's see… invites, invites… ahem." She pretended to read formally, "Lady Vernise cordially invites Apprentice Kei to a luncheon next Sunday. Lady Mila requests the honor of Kei's presence at her garden party. Oh and this one – Celestine invites Kei to her family's masquerade ball, plus one guest."
"Stop, stop," Kei laughed, gently grabbing her hands to halt the dramatic reading. "I can't possibly attend all those! Or any, really. I have training and – and who would I even—?"
His protest trailed off, realizing he was still holding Fiona's hands from stopping her. Both suddenly became aware of the contact. Fiona's cheeks turned a soft pink, but she didn't pull away. The carriage hit a bump, jostling them, and they naturally leaned closer for balance.
Their eyes met; for once, Kei noticed how striking Fiona's green eyes were up close, how a tiny gold ring encircled her irises. Her freckles across her nose, usually just a cute detail, seemed suddenly… endearing. Fiona, heart thumping, noticed a tiny stray eyelash on Kei's cheek. Without thinking, she reached and brushed it off lightly with her fingertip.
That broke the spell – Kei blinked, and Fiona quickly released her hands from his, both turning to look out opposite windows, flustered.
The silence in the carriage was filled with unsaid words. Kei's mind raced. Was that… a moment? Did he want it to be? He felt his face heating. Perhaps the romantic atmosphere of the tea and all the talk had gotten to him a little.
He cleared his throat softly. "Um, thanks for, you know, looking out for me today."
Fiona smiled, still gazing out her window. "Always. That's what friends are for."
"Friends, right," he echoed. Somehow the word gave him both relief and a tiny twinge of disappointment? No, that was silly. Fiona was indeed a dear friend. A wonderful, charming friend who smelled faintly of machine oil and jasmine from the tea.
He nearly chuckled at himself. Get a grip, Kei. The System must be messing with his head.
In fact, he realized the System had been eerily quiet through the tea event. Perhaps it understood the need for discretion around so many onlookers. Now though, just as he thought of it, a tiny heart icon popped in his field of view with a dancing teacup emoji and "Reputation with Noble Faction +10".
Kei dismissed it wryly. At least that was a useful gain and not something like "Seduction XP" or nonsense.
The carriage ride ended at the guild hall. As they disembarked, Fiona handed him the invite cards. "For your consideration," she said lightly. "Helena might want you to accept at least one, but she'll let you decide."
Kei sighed, pocketing them. "I think I've had enough high society for now. But I'll think about it."
Fiona helped him shrug off the formal jacket as they entered the guild, heading toward the dorms. She folded it neatly over her arm. "I'll return this to the wardrobe department. You should change and meet the others for dinner – they're dying to hear about today."
Kei smiled. "Alright. Thanks again, Fiona." He mustered his courage and added, "I had more fun than I expected. Mostly because you were there."
Fiona's eyes lit in surprise and pleasure. "Same here," she said softly. A heartbeat of hesitation, then she stood on tiptoe and planted a quick kiss on his cheek – an innocent peck. "You did good," she whispered, and before he could react, she spun and hurried off down the corridor, red braid swaying behind her.
Kei touched the spot on his cheek, heart thudding. That… that had definitely happened. He watched her retreating figure and found himself grinning like an idiot. The guild sisters who saw were sure to gossip about that as well – but in that moment, he didn't care.
He headed to his room in a daze. The System, of course, threw up a huge flashing heart icon filling his vision, with text: "Critical Hit! Fiona's Affection Greatly Increased!" plus some undoubtedly snarky comment he ignored as he laughed and swatted the air like batting away a fly.
He said to himself quietly, "Maybe this world isn't so bad," before quickly ducking into his room to change, lest anyone see his goofy, lovestruck expression.
The next few days, life resumed its somewhat normal routine. Classes, project work (their team was finalizing the bellows and practicing a presentation for the festival showcase), and lots of small slice-of-life moments that kept Kei's days full.
Madame Elisia, the etiquette instructor Helena had arranged, began giving Kei brief private lessons in the evenings. She was a kindly but firm older woman who drilled him on formal greetings, dinner etiquette, and even dancing.
"You never know when you might be at a ball, young man," she had said with a twinkle. "And here the women will expect to lead, so you must learn to follow gracefully – a unique challenge for men from other cultures, I hear."
Thus Kei found himself one twilight in an empty guild ballroom, awkwardly learning the steps of a traditional waltz with none other than Fiona as his practice partner (she eagerly volunteered).
It was quite the role reversal for him: Fiona's hand on his waist, the other clasping his, as she guided him through the sweeping motions. The experience was initially mortifying for Kei, who stumbled and stepped on her toes twice.
"Ow—" Fiona yelped lightly on the second misstep, then burst out laughing at his mortified face. "Relax! I've got sturdy boots on." (She did, in fact, wear her work boots under her practice dress.)
Madame Elisia clucked, adjusting their posture. "Closer, more naturally… yes, like that. No stiff arms, Kei. Good. Now follow Miss Fiona's lead… one-two-three, one-two-three."
Once he got over the self-consciousness and focused on the rhythm, Kei found he could do it. It was rather like following the flow of a project: respond to subtle cues, move in harmony. Fiona was patient and, despite her own suppressed giggles, quite adept at steering him.
At one point, Madame Elisia stepped out to fetch a phonograph for music, leaving them momentarily twirling in silence but for their own scuffling steps and breaths.
Fiona met Kei's eyes with a lopsided smile. "See? You're doing it."
He smiled back, genuinely enjoying the moment now. The balcony doors were open, letting in the cool night air and a view of twin moons rising above the city. It cast a silvery light across the ballroom floor.
Kei, emboldened by the serene atmosphere, said quietly, "Thank you… for everything, Fiona. You've been a really good friend to me."
She misstepped slightly at that, almost as if his words threw her off more than any dance move. "I—I mean, of course. You too, Kei." She regained the beat and they continued a gentle sway rather than full steps, turning slowly under the moonlight.
"Do you miss your home?" she asked softly after a moment, curious and caring.
Kei looked up at the larger of the two moons. It reminded him of Earth's moon, though with a slightly bluish tint. He thought of his old life – the solitude of his workshop, the hum of late-night city traffic beyond his small apartment window, the lack of purpose he sometimes felt. And here… here he felt alive, challenged, needed even.
"I do, sometimes," he answered, which was truth. "I miss… certain people. And familiar things." He glanced at her, adding a half-truth to cover his actual origin. "I had a mentor, kind of like Helena's role but in woodworking back home. Taught me a lot. I wonder what he'd say if he saw me now."
Fiona's hand tightened slightly on his shoulder in reassurance. "He'd be proud, I bet. And a bit shocked at the circumstances!" she joked.
Kei laughed. "Yeah… definitely that."
They lapsed into a comfortable quiet, just the shuffling of their feet. Fiona eventually murmured, "We can be your new family here, you know. The guild, I mean. You have us."
"I feel that. And I'm grateful," Kei replied earnestly.
Fiona seemed to want to say more – her eyes searched his, and there was a tenderness there that made Kei's heart flutter unexpectedly. The closeness of the dance, her perfume (lavender and a hint of machine oil still, so distinctly her), it was all suddenly very intense.
The System pinged with a heart icon and something like "Romance Route Detected!" causing Kei to flush and abruptly take a half-step back, breaking the hold.
Fiona blinked, coming out of whatever moment she too had been in. Madame Elisia's return with scratchy phonograph music further broke the spell.
The lesson wrapped up soon after, with Kei at least proficient enough not to embarrass himself on a dance floor. The more valuable part, though, was the newfound dimension in his bond with Fiona. Something unspoken lingered between them after that dance – not yet acted upon, but acknowledged in shy smiles and warmer glances.
By week's end, Act II of Kei's new life was drawing to a natural close.
In the workshop, their team put final touches on the magitech bellows, painting the guild emblem on it proudly. Their test runs were smooth, and they felt ready for the festival presentation.
Kei's skills had tangibly grown – he could see it on his status screen in quiet moments: Woodworking and Enchanting both leveled up modestly, a couple of new minor skills like "Team Coordination" and "Etiquette Basics" had popped up amusingly. The System had a whole tab for "Relationships" now too, which he gingerly peeked at one night: it showed names like Fiona, Kara, Nia, Helena, Lina, etc., each with little notes ("friendship strong", "budding affection", "mentorly love") which made him blush and close it quickly. Cheeky system.
He started feeling secure enough to share knowledge with others; a few times when classmates struggled, he found himself offering advice or demonstration like he did with the lamp. Rather than being resented for it, he was increasingly respected. Some even began asking him first for input. It was a bit surreal.
But not all was idyllic. One day, toward the end of Act II's timeframe, reality reminded them of the dangers still present.
Kei was walking back to the dorms one evening after a late crafting session. The corridor lights were low, most apprentices already in their rooms or at dinner. Kei had stayed behind to catalogue some supplies.
As he passed a side hallway leading to a rear exit (one seldom used, leading to a back alley), he heard a strange scuffle. A muffled cry.
Curious and concerned, Kei slowed. The back alley door was ajar, lamplight spilling out. He peeked through the gap.
In the alley, two cloaked figures were struggling with a third smaller figure. A woman's voice hissed, "Let go of me!" It was Lina! What on earth?
Without pausing to think, Kei burst through the door. "Hey! What's going on?!" he shouted.
The cloaked assailants snapped their heads up. Upon seeing Kei – their eyes widened. One was a scraggly man (a rare male criminal it seemed), the other a rough-looking woman with a scar across her jaw. They had Lina – who must have been visiting, perhaps on guard duty – by the arms.
"It's him, the guild boy!" the man exclaimed in a raspy voice.
The woman grinned wickedly, "Well well, two for one." She lunged forward, reaching for Kei with surprising speed.
Kei stumbled back, heart punching his ribs. This wasn't an abstract threat now – it was happening. He tried to shout for help but the woman clapped a grimy hand over his mouth. The man moved to restrain Lina further, but Lina, free one arm now, delivered a vicious kick to the man's knee, making him howl.
In the split second the woman was distracted by her partner's cry, Kei bit down on her palm hard. She yelped and loosened her grip. Kei wrenched free and did the only thing he could think of – he hurled the heavy supply ledger he was carrying straight at her face.
The book smacked her forehead, buying a precious moment. Lina wrenched away from the limping man and drew a short knife from her boot, placing herself between Kei and the attackers.
The man swore and hissed, "Abort! Grab him if you can, but we gotta go!"
He rushed at Lina with a club. Lina parried, the club cracking against her forearm but she held ground. The scarred woman, dazed, still tried to snatch at Kei's arm.
Suddenly, a fierce growl sounded and a blur of fur launched out of the shadows. A small creature – looking like a fox with faintly glowing stripes – latched onto the woman's cloak, tearing at it and snarling.
Kei recognized it with shock: it was the little creature he had fed at the guild's garden a few days ago – a wild fox-like critter that often hung around campus (the apprentices dubbed it a "mana-fox" since it seemed drawn to magic residue). It had been timid but friendly to Kei after he shared some dried meat. Now here it was, bristling and protecting him.
The woman shrieked, trying to shake off the creature. Lina delivered a swift pommel strike to the man's jaw, sending him reeling. Voices and running steps echoed from inside – others had heard the commotion at last.
The attackers realized the tide had turned. The man cursed and threw a smoke pellet to the ground. A burst of choking smoke obscured them. When it cleared, they were gone into the night, leaving only a torn piece of cloak and the faint echo of footsteps.
Kei stood there trembling, back against the alley wall, as guild guards and apprentices poured out. Lina was at his side in an instant, gripping his shoulders. "Kei! Are you hurt?"
He shook his head numbly. "I-I'm fine," he managed, though his voice shook. In truth, he felt like a small child in that moment – frightened by how close that was.
The mana-fox trotted to Kei's feet, sniffing him, then sat, leaning against his leg as if to comfort. Absentmindedly, Kei patted its head, drawing some looks of surprise from onlookers.
Guild Master Helena arrived, her face a mask of worry and barely restrained fury. "What happened?"
Lina quickly explained: she had spotted suspicious figures skulking near the guild and went to investigate, but got ambushed. Kei stumbled onto it by pure chance. The attackers were likely part of a ring of traffickers rumored to be in the region.
At the word traffickers, Kei felt nauseous. Yes, that's exactly what could have happened – he could have been snatched. A rare male artisan like him would fetch unimaginable prices in the black market.
The reality of the danger, always spoken of in hypotheticals, crystallized in his mind now.
As Helena directed security to sweep the area and double the guards, she came to Kei and gently said, "Come inside. You're safe now."
Kei nodded, but his legs felt weak. Lina had a protective arm around him. The mana-fox still pressed to his side. With Lina on one side and Helena on the other, they led Kei back into the guild.
In Helena's office, Kei was given a warm blanket, water to sip, and time to steady himself. He wasn't physically hurt aside from a bruise where the woman's hand had clamped on his jaw, but inside, he was shaken to the core.
Lina knelt in front of him. "I'm so sorry, Kei. I should have been more careful. I let them get the drop on me."
Kei looked at the brave guard who had become a friend. Her lip was cut and her forearm bruised from the club. "No… it's not your fault. You… you protected me." His voice cracked. "Thank you, Lina. If you hadn't been there—" He couldn't finish.
Helena placed a hand on his back, her voice gentle. "This is the reason for all the precautions, Kei. And we'll do even better. I promise you."
Kei swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. He felt a bit embarrassed for the tears that pricked his eyes, but he couldn't help it. Lina's fierce sisterly hug around his shoulders when she saw those tears actually made him feel safer.
The mana-fox, somehow having followed them into the office unnoticed by busy staff, hopped onto Kei's lap lightly and licked his hand. A hiccup of laughter escaped Kei. He stroked its fur, finding comfort in the soft, warm presence.
Helena raised an eyebrow at the creature. "It seems you've made a new friend."
Sniffling, Kei managed a small smile. "I think so. It… helped me. It was brave."
Helena smiled softly. "Animals know a kind soul when they see one. Perhaps the Goddess sent it to you in that moment." She sighed, crouching to meet Kei's eyes directly. "We can assign you personal guards at all times, if you want. I know you've resisted, but—"
"I… I'll think about it," Kei said quietly. He truly disliked the idea of being constantly shadowed, but tonight's scare had jolted him to reality. "At least during festival when things are busy, maybe."
Helena nodded, accepting that for now.
After ensuring Kei was calm and well enough, Helena left to oversee the investigation and security arrangements. Lina insisted on escorting Kei to his dorm personally (no one argued this time).
When Kei finally got to his room, he felt exhaustion hit like a wave. Lina hovered. "Do you want me to stay awhile? We could talk, or I can just be outside."
Kei shook his head slowly. He could see the concern etched on her face. "I'll be okay, Lina. You should rest too – you had a rough night."
She bit her lip, then gave him a gentle one-armed hug, mindful of not overwhelming him. "If you need anything, use that call orb, alright? I'll sprint here in seconds, festival guard duty or not."
"I will," he promised. "Good night, Lina. And… thanks. Truly."
After she left, Kei sat on his bed, the mana-fox curled at his feet (it had pattered in after him, seemingly adopting him now). He scratched its ears, taking slow breaths.
So, this was the real danger of his existence here. It had been an almost comedic footnote earlier – "beware kidnappers" – but now it was personal.
He shuddered, recalling the cold hunger in that woman's eyes and the iron grip on his face. A precious commodity to be stolen.
No deep societal critiques, he reminded himself of his earlier vow. But he could not help a swirl of conflicted feelings. This world had given him friendship, purpose, even hints of love… yet it also held such risk simply because of who he was (or rather, what).
The mana-fox sensed his distress and crawled onto his lap, a small warm weight. He hugged it gratefully, tears finally spilling silently.
After a while, drained, Kei wiped his face and found a bit of solace. He was safe, Lina was safe. And the outpouring of support after – Helena, Lina, even this little creature – showed him he wasn't alone.
He decided to give the fox a name – something to mark this bond. It had stripes… "How about Stripey?" he whispered. The fox sneezed, as if in disagreement. "Hmm, maybe something grander. Ember? Because you glow a bit." The fox tilted its head, then licked his hand, seemingly content enough.
"Ember it is," Kei smiled softly.
Eventually, he slipped into a troubled sleep, Ember curled up by his pillow.
The next morning, news had spread but in a carefully managed way. The guild assured all that an attempted incident had been thwarted and that Kei was fine. Extra guards (plainclothes and uniformed) were visibly around. Kei found that whenever he went to class or workshop, at least one friendly-faced guard or senior apprentice conveniently happened to be going the same way. He wasn't ignorant – it was protective, but he accepted it.
His friends didn't bring it up in a heavy way; they took their cues from him. Kara made a joke about the "vicious guard-fox" that now trailed Kei's heels everywhere (Ember did follow him almost like a trained pet, to the point the guild just let it stay). Fiona and Nia each found excuses to check on him more often ("Hey Kei, want to partner in class today?" "Kei, need help polishing that piece?"). He appreciated it – the normalcy and unspoken care.
As the final days of Act II came, Kei felt a mixture of pride and weariness. He had accomplished and grown so much, yet also tasted fear he hadn't before.
On the last evening before the festival (which was to mark Act III's start), Kei found himself alone in the workshop after hours, needing some space. Ember was curled in a pile of sawdust shavings nearby, snoozing.
Kei sat at a bench, a lantern lighting his journal as he wrote. He penned down the kidnapping attempt plainly, as a way to confront it. The quill scratched softly:
"...It terrified me. More than I want to admit. I keep thinking what if I hadn't gotten free. But I must remember that I wasn't alone – Lina was there, and others came. I am protected, even if I chafe at it. I need to be more careful too, for their sake as much as mine."
He paused, ink dripping a blot. Taking a steadying breath, he continued:
"This world can be dangerous, but it's also full of warmth. Ember sleeping at my side, Kara's fearless encouragement, Nia's kindness, Fiona's laughter, Helena's guidance... I have so many reasons to be strong and stay safe. I won't live in fear, but I won't be naive either.
The festival is tomorrow. Our project will be shown to the city. I should be excited – I am, underneath the nerves. This will be my chance to really prove myself to a wider world, not just inside guild walls. And I want to make them proud – all of them.
Tonight, sitting here with the smell of wood and metal and magic around me, I think of where I was when I first arrived: scared, unsure, lonely. I'm different now. Still me, but more.
Am I happy? I think yes. Busy, occasionally overwhelmed, often confused – but happy. This act of my life, Settling into Society, is closing. I feel settled, at least enough to call this place home.
I wonder what comes next… In a matriarchy full of wonders and surprises, I suspect life will only get more interesting. And I'll face it, one day at a time, craft in hand and heart on sleeve."
Kei set down the quill. He gently closed the journal and smiled to himself. Ember stirred and yawned, trotting over to nudge Kei's leg, sensing it was time to head back.
Blowing out the lantern, Kei scooped Ember into his arms and walked through the quiet halls toward his dorm. The moonlight streaming through the windows illuminated his path, and for a moment he stopped by one of those windows to gaze out at the city beyond.
Lanterns hung in the streets in preparation for the festival, giving the skyline a festive twinkle. He thought of Act I – him looking at this city from afar, anxious and hopeful. Now here he was on the inside, looking out, a part of it all.
Kei placed a hand on the cool glass. "My place in this world," he murmured, "I think I've found the start of it."
Ember licked his chin, making him chuckle. "Alright, alright, bedtime."
He continued to his room, the quiet reflection settling in his chest like a gentle hum.
As he lay down to sleep, Ember at his feet, he felt calm. Tomorrow would bring whatever it would – excitement, challenge, maybe chaos – and he would meet it.
In the silence, the System displayed a final message for him in soft glowing text:
"Act II Complete – Settled into Society. New Bonds Forged. New Challenges Await."
Kei smiled faintly in the darkness. For once, he didn't mind the System having the last word.
With a contented sigh, he closed his eyes, drifting off with thoughts of friendly faces, magical lights, and the steady rhythm of a bright future being built one step at a time.