Spring had fully sprung. The city was covered in blankets of green with flowers and their petals drifting daintily over the cobblestone streets. The weather was getting warmer and summer was peeking in and waiting for his turn at the seasonal wheel. Seren used their binder to fan themselves as they walked back towards their new home. They felt the sunburn on the back of their neck and arms. 

They disliked having to dress in their unofficial work uniform. The button up white shirt and black vest and black slacks. Even with their sleeves rolled all the way up they were sweating buckets. They adjusted their sunglasses so they could read the last address on their list. A spring district collection, Seren smiled. There was nothing quite like the spring district in spring. Covered in all the flowers and smelling a little confused but still wonderful and unique. Seren stepped out of the alcove and started toward the city center. The autumn district was busy as always but that didn’t stop people from moving out of Seren’s way as they walked. 

Seren’s mind wandered as they did. Thinking over the last book they read and its plot. Exploring the different ideas and possibilities that could have occurred within the lore, had they been the one to write it. Blinking back to reality whenever they recognized a place they needed to turn. They waited to cross the road with others along the sidewalks. Waiting for the horses and carriages to pass. Which prompted Seren to consider the prospect of getting a hold of their own horse. How much faster their work would go, but also considering the work involved with caring for a horse. Seren came to the conclusion that getting and caring for a horse would save them as much time as it would take to care for it. 

By the time they finished their train of thought they’d reached the Spring district. Seren checked their binder again for the address. Having completely forgotten it in the travel time. They hummed as they walked down the dirty, uneven cobblestone sidewalk, finding their way into the small pig farm detailed in their binder. The noise and the smell were equally unbearable. Seren couldn’t help wrinkling their nose at it all. The butcher worked at the side, slopping his piglets.

“Morning,” Seren called. 

“Morn- oh.” The butcher said as they turned, seeing who was greeting them. “Here for business?”

“Always,” Seren said as they removed their sunglasses. “Is there a place you’d prefer to do business?”

“Let’s go to the shop, that’s where the money is.” The butcher said gruffly. Leading Seren away from the pens and toward the butcher stall.

“You’ve got a good looking litter this year.” Seren remarked. “Those piglets alone are worth twice their weight, the full grown ones will sell quite a bit in meat.”

“Is that so?” The butcher asked, a bit of hopefulness in their voice. 

“Mhm,” Seren nodded. “The market for bacon is on an upturn. Summer roasting parties will be starting here soon as well. Those pigs will be selling well in a week or two, whole and in parts.” 

“What authority do you have this information?” The butcher asked, sliding behind the stall and opening the cash box. Seren’s pupilless green eyes looked into the butcher’s.

“My own,” they said. The butcher nodded.

“Understood.” The butcher said. They looked into the cash box and counted out the bars.

“Is fifty enough?” The butcher asked, Seren opened their binder.

“I’d prefer something closer to a hundred.” They said, tapping the paper thoughtfully. “Especially with the uptick in sales you’re about to have.”

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“That's speculative.” The butcher said, “As much as I trust the wisdom of a fae-touched, there’s no real proof your premonition has any weight to it.” 

“You and I both know I don’t take half's or IOU’s. But seventy-five would be a happy medium.” Seren said, closing their binder.”But I’ll have you know, I’m not leaving here with less.”

“That’s all the cash I have in my box!” The butcher scoffed, Seren raised an eyebrow at them. The butcher swallowed. “I mean, quite a lot if not most of it.” Seren nodded. They checked their watch and contemplated the time.

“Tell you what. If you doubt my claim to worth then I’ll cut you a deal.” Seren said, closing their watch and putting it back in their vest pocket. “In the next half hour, one of those piglets will be sold for a graduation party. If I’m wrong and no sale comes, I’ll take fifty. If the sale comes then I take a hundred.” 

“hah! Deal.” The butcher said. Seren put away their binder and the two shook on it. Seren walked to the side and took a seat. Pulling out their book to get reading done.

“Aren’t you going to do something? Work the fae magic or whatever?” The butcher asked.

‘Nope.” Seren said. “I don’t have to. I just have to wait.” They had no real confidence the sale was going to come, but they knew that this account was nearly closed, and if it didn’t close today then it would be by the end of the summer. They had every confidence in that.

And when you win no matter the outcome, then there’s no stakes in which outcome turned out. But as luck would have it, someone did walk up and begin scrutinizing the piglets. 

“How much is the rate for the piglets?” The prospective buyer asked. Seren leaned back, unable to help smiling into the pages of their book. The butcher stumbled through the sale of a piglet, stealing looks over to Seren every so often. The butcher offered to slaughter the piglet as well and offered the buyer to return in an hour’s time and the piglet will be slaughtered and cleaned. The buyer thanked and paid and left the farm. Leaving Seren to stand up.

“Well I do believe we had a deal.” They said, “for a hundred if I’m not mistaken?” 

“You worked some kind of magic.” The butcher said, narrowing their eyes at Seren distrustfully. 

“I worked no magic, and you got one piglet’s price richer. Stop whining.” Seren said, a tone as severe as a slice of guillotine. The butcher flinched but held out the ingts, dropping them into Seren’s hand carelessly. Seren took the time to count them before putting them into their bag. 

“Pleasure,” Seren said. They walked a short distance away before checking their binder again. Smiling in satisfaction as they wrote down the numbers beside the last task of the day. A bit later than they’d have liked, but still they were done for the day. They placed their binder back into their messenger bag and headed for home. Humming their usual tunes as they journeyed. Hearing their adopted parent; Eric, yelling halfway down the block. Seren picked up their pace, wanting to see the drama play out. 

Seren launched up the steps and entered the door excitedly. Mrs. Houper looked around the corner, she had been listening from the base of the staircase. 

“What’s happening?!” Seren asked, hastily pulling off their boots. 

“Lady Summers is here to get her son’s apprenticeship back,” Mrs. Houper answered. 

“Is she winning?” Seren grinned, putting their boots away in the shoe closet. 

“I don’t think anyone’s winning here.” Mrs. Houper said. 

“Wish me luck then.” Seren winked and walked up the stairs.

“Serenity, no!” Mrs. Houper snapped but Seren only laughed and moved faster to the third floor. The yelling intensified as they reached the third floor study. Giggling to themself, Seren knocked twice, paused then knocked twice again. Not waiting for an answer before entering the study.

“I’m back!” Seren sang. The room felt crowded as the three occupants watched them enter. Nicole Summers, who took over the Summer family when her inlaws stepped down, stood in the middle of the room with her eldest son. A boy of seventeen and three years older than Seren, looked bashfully at the ground. His name was Wilbur and Seren found him very unsuited to the apprenticeship he seemingly wanted. 

Eric stood behind his desk, Seren could practically feel the heat coming off of him he was so mad. Seren clenched their teeth hard to refrain from smiling as the rage being directed at someone else. 

“Don’t mind me, I’m just turning in for the day.” Seren said, walking to the second desk, THEIR desk. Placing their bag on it and pulling their chair up. Ready to pretend to work and just soak up all the drama. Deliberately taking out their binder and then their ledger from inside the desk. Moving slowly. Waiting for someone to speak.