It didn't take long for Myrese to doubt her decision to stay. Immediately after waking up, Talia had decided to help Alyssa with the morning pre-meeting at the main burger shack, which ended up with Lambwolves overrunning the outdoor kitchen, Erik shouting his head off trying to shoo them away while running from Illyanth, and Talia accidentally firing a hole in their house.

"Well, at least that gives us an actual reason to build a new home," Erik said as the three of them stood outside, staring at the hole. "That also lets me know to think of a way to Talia-proof the house."

As Talia indignantly questioned what Erik meant, Myrese couldn't help but chuckle at the chaotic scene before her. It was a stark contrast to the quiet, calculated life she had once led. She was surprised to find that she didn't hate it. In fact, it was almost... refreshing. Aside from the constant stress and chaos.

"Alright, let's get to it," Erik said, snapping her out of her thoughts. He pulled out the indestructible journal that Osiris had given him, flipping to a new page. "What do we need for this new place?"

"In-house tavern," Talia quickly answered.

"Denied."

"Home bar?"

"...I'm listening." Erik glanced up at her.

"We need a place where we can relax and have some drinks without worrying about causing trouble," Talia continued, a surprisingly focused look in her eyes. "And it'll be convenient to simply go to our rooms right after, instead of stumbling around outside."

Erik nodded, scribbling notes in the journal. "I can agree with that. It's always a good idea to keep the party close to home."

Myrese leaned over, her curiosity piqued. "What are you writing?"

Erik looked up from his journal, a smirk playing on his lips. "A shopping list for our dream house. You know, the one we're about to conjure out of thin air. Of course, it'd be easier if I had my phone-"

Erik paused. For some reason, Myrese thought she could hear gears turning in his head.

"Alright, so we're looking at a place with enough space for all of us. Maybe a few extra rooms for guests or... unexpected companions," he added with a knowing glance at Talia. "A decent kitchen because we all know I'm the only one who can cook- unless you do too, Myr. Then, a nice bathroom with a better shower system than the one outside the shack... what else?"

Myrese considered this for a moment. "I would like a garden," she said softly. "Where I can grow herbs for medicine, and just... a place to sit and think."

"Oh shit, that's a good idea," Erik murmured, scribbling in his journal. "I should build a room where I can do work..."

Talia rolled her eyes. "And I want a library. With actual books, not just scrolls. And magically reinforced walls that won't break if I throw all of my power at it."

Erik stopped writing to stare at her. "For that, you're gonna have to help me. I only remember a bit about what you said concerning the applications of runes, but that's as far as my knowledge of magic goes."

"Fine. It's nothing I can't handle anyway," Talia sighed. "I'll just think of something that can take the punishment of my magic."

"Sorry... pardon me for asking, but Taliana, what's your Circle rank?" Myrese interrupted with a curious look. "You speak as if it's pretty high."

"12th Circle, right? Whatever that means," Erik answered before Talia had a chance to.

Myrese choked, her eyes widening in surprise. "12th... 12th Circle?!"

Erik glanced at Myrese, who was staring in shock at Talia, the latter nonchalant. "Is that supposed to be pretty good?"

"Erik... the higher your Circle rank, the stronger your magic and prowess are. For reference... the strongest sorcerer currently alive has a 15th Circle, the highest rank in history," Myrese managed to get out, her voice shaking. "I'm only a 5th Circle myself. A 12th Circle sorceress is... incredibly powerful and rare. It's the highest rank ever recorded besides the 15th."

"Wait, what the fuck, really?" Erik's eyes widened. "I knew you were pretty good at magic, but I didn't know you were basically a wizard rockstar."

"I told you before, didn't I?" Talia tilted her head. "But it's not something to brag about. It just means I've studied a lot and have a bit more oomph in my spells. Compared to the others at the academy, I'm not specialized in anything."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Erik was completely lost on what Talia was saying, but Myrese gasped at her words.

"Wait... others? Don't tell me, you're part of the Prodigy Five?" Myrese's voice was filled with a mix of awe and disbelief.

"...The hell's the Prodigy Five?" Erik questioned, trying to wrap his head around things.

"The Prodigy Five are a group of sorcerers who have all achieved the 12th Circle," Myrese began. "Each of them are specialized in different types of magic techniques. Physical, continuous, reactive, hidden, and... adaption... Talia, you're known for the adaptation technique, aren't you?"

Talia nodded, her cheeks tinged pink. "It's nothing to get too excited about," she murmured, but the pride in her voice was clear. "Now, let's get back to the house."

"What the hell, so you are competent in at least one thing," Erik remarked, earning another indignant glare from Talia.

"It's not about being competent," Talia said defensively. "It's about understanding the flow of magic and being able to adapt to the situation. It's a versatile technique, but it's also very... unpredictable. That's why I'm able to quickly learn and replicate any magic that gets thrown my way. It's kind of like the reactive technique, but that centers more on analyzing and understanding the magic on a more complex level, ultimately trying to disable or modify it-"

Erik's jaw had slightly dropped open during her explanation. He never expected to hear Talia talk about something with so much expertise. It was honestly a little unsettling.

"Alright, I get it," he said, raising his hands in a peaceful gesture. "You're a big deal in the sorcery department. So, let's get this house in order." He could understand why Talia wanted to go into the medical field now. Being able to quickly learn and adapt was definitely a good trait for a doctor.

The trio spent the next few hours conjuring and organizing their new living space. Erik's magic was limited, but his ability to conjure materials made the actual construction process a breeze. With Talia's help, they managed to conjure and construct a beautiful, two-story cottage with a quaint garden out back. The garden was Myrese's doing, despite the fact that they still needed to search for the plants to inhabit it.

Finally finished, the three stepped back to admire their handiwork. Erik noticed Illyanth walking out of the old shack nearby and realized something.

"God... dammit. We built the new house too close to the old hut and the burger shack."

----------------------------------------

Another few hours later, after dismantling and relocating the house near the village yet within walking distance of the burger shack and water park, the trio stood in front of their new two-story abode.

Erik had taken the liberty of giving it a slightly modern look, basing it off a colonial style home he remembered from his childhood. It had a wrap-around porch and a steeply pitched roof, the kind that was reminiscent of the buildings in the village. Talia had insisted on a library, and her enthusiasm was contagious. The library took up a significant portion of the first floor, the walls lined with shelves that were already filling up with books of various sizes and colors. A large, wooden desk sat in the corner, surrounded by scrolls and parchments that held spells and incantations she hadn't had the luxury of studying in her old life.

For the kitchen, Erik had conjured a sleek, stainless steel kitchen with a large island that served as both a prep area and a place to eat. It was equipped with all the latest magical appliances that would make cooking a breeze. Myrese had her own room on the first floor, filled with the comforts she requested, including a cozy bed and a small space for her to practice her archery. Her window had a full view of the garden she would be tending to.

Erik had made sure to build three bathrooms, each with a tub and shower that could be filled with hot water at the flick of a wrist. The second floor was mostly open, with three separate bedrooms branching off from a hallway. Each room had its own unique charm, with Erik's boasting a king-sized bed and a large window that offered a view of the village below. Talia's room was smaller, but it had a cozy loft space where she could meditate and study her spells. The last room was empty, reserved for any guests that might be in need of shelter. Other than that, the house was mostly open concept, with the living room, dining room, and kitchen flowing into one another.

"Now this is luxury," Erik murmured, lounging lazily on the plush couch he conjured up. Physically, he was exhausted, but mentally, he was buzzing with excitement. "This is what I call a home upgrade."

Myrese chuckled, her eyes scanning the room with a hint of amazement. "It's certainly more than I ever had in my old life," she admitted. "I'm not very familiar with some of these... structures."

Erik smirked. "You haven't seen anything yet. Just wait until I come up with a better power system than the rune generators. I'll be able to conjure up things beyond your wildest dreams."

Myrese arched an eyebrow. "Such as?"

"Well, for starters, I was thinking about implementing some sort of mobile phone system. Back in my world, people could just call each other with a tap of a screen or send instant messages in seconds. Here, we have to inform people in person, by carrier, or through communication magic. All of which I either can't do or don't have time for," Erik mused, flipping through his journal for notes on his tech projects.

Talia looked at him skeptically. "What sorcery is this 'mobile phone' you speak of?"

"It's not something I can just conjure up and show you right away," Erik sighed, glancing at the aforementioned designs. "Just trust me on it."

Illyanth padded softly into the living room, leaping up onto the couch that Erik was lounging on. He scowled, but shifted around to allow the baby dragon space to curl on. Erik wasn't brave enough to challenge Illyanth just yet.

"Okay, so first things first," he said, turning to Myrese. "We need to talk to the village doctors and see if they're willing to train you. With your healing abilities, you could be a real asset to the community."

"Back to business already? It's late afternoon, and we just finished building our home," Talia protested.

"We can't just sit around and wait for things to happen," Erik said, getting up and stretching. "Not until we achieve everything we need to. That's when we'll be able to laze around all day."

Myrese had to admit, she was impressed with the speed and efficiency with which Erik could work. It was as if he had a blueprint in his mind, and all he needed was the will to make it happen. Though it was a bit strange, seeing Erik put in the most work in order to live a lazy and rich life. Myrese decided not to bring up how it seemed like an infinite cycle, considering that one would never be able to truly be lazy and rich if they had to work to maintain their wealth.