When I wake up Drog is gone, probably back to hiding and sulking because I wouldn't let him go with Isabella. His pervertedness is starting to become a problem and I am not sure what to do about him. He is acting less like a demon and more like a petulant child which I have no patience for.

As I wait for breakfast I try to think of what I can do about him, ordering him to change his behavior is an option but not really a good one. That would just make him look for sneakier ways to act out against me, and that would mean I have to keep an eye on him at all times. I am starting to wonder if I really need him anymore, I originally wanted him around for information but I have gotten most of that out of him already.

Maybe it is time to end our contract and give him to Krenocia, she said she had a use for him in her realm. He is definitely not being useful around here, if anything he is a detriment since he won't leave the girls alone. My internal debate is interrupted by the arrival of breakfast and a guest, Vacker is apparently joining me for breakfast.

Vacker says "Mornin', hope you don't mind me joining you?"

"Not at all. Sorry I haven't stopped by to see how you are doing with the school setup."

Vacker says "No worries, from what Sarah says you have been pretty busy."

"That is true. So how is the setup going?"

Vacker says "Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. The setup is almost done so I wanted to find out what my criteria for recruiting students is."

"Your criteria? None. Recruit whoever you want to recruit."

Vacker says "But it is your school, you are paying for everything, and I owe you my life."

"It is your school, I am simply funding it. And no more talk about owing me your life, we are friends."

Vacker says "Didn't you bring me here so that I could train your beastmen for you?"

"No, I brought you here to start a school. Who you choose to teach is up to you. I hope you will keep your mind open but I will not interfere in any way."

Vacker says "You aren't going to force me to take beastmen?"

"No, that is not how a school should work. It is entirely your choice who you want to teach. Although, I do have some favors I plan to ask at some point."

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Vacker says "What favors?"

"Training for some of the girls, Myria and Isabella, I would like to know the basics so they can defend themselves if need be. Alannis I would like you to train as far as she can go."

Vacker says "That's it? That is all you are going to ask me for, after everything you have done for me?"

"Well, I still expect you to work with me when I have time."

Vacker says "And that's it? I can run the school however I want?"

"Yes, although I would like you to work towards an eventual goal."

Vacker says "Okay, what's the goal?"

"A school, a proper one. One so good that students come from the other nations to attend."

Vacker says "You are talking about a major institution? That kind of thing takes decades to build!"

"Yes, I want you to lay the groundwork. Before I leave for the last battle I will ensure that there are adequate funds set aside for you to continue building after I am gone."

Vacker says "You are really serious about this! My question is why? Why plan so much for something that won't be completed until long after you are dead?"

"So far Illium has been good to me, I simply want to leave it a better place than I found it."

Vacker says "Is it about immortality? Will the school be named after you?"

"No. Actually, I was thinking it should be named 'The Vacker School of Military Studies'."

Vacker says "You want to name it after me?!"

"Yes, I think it is fitting."

Vacker says "That's crazy! You should name it after yourself, or for the summoned! Anything but a washed up swordsman!"

"A sword master is calling himself a washed up swordsman? What is going on with you?"

Vacker says "I am realizing that I am not the man who was thrown into that prison all those years ago."

"Well, I would hope not. I would hope you at least learned a bit of common sense in the meantime."

Vacker laughs and finishes his breakfast and then leaves after making a weak excuse. I think I may have overwhelmed him a bit, but given time I think he will come to like the idea. Either way I am pretty sure I can count on him to lay the groundwork for the school.

That will all sort itself out in time, for right now I have to get moving, lots to do today. So I quickly finish breakfast and then head over to the adventurer's guild. The secretary greets me like she was waiting for me and quickly takes me and hands me over to Jezzel.

Jezzel says "Good morning, Lord Ash."

"Morning, Jezzel. I take it you are running me through my tests today?"

Jezzel says "Actually, I am going to take you to the infirmary to meet the survivors. Then I will take you through the written test while Ambrose finishes setting up the physical test."

"Okay, sounds good."

Jezzel turns and leads me upstairs and into a new area of the building I haven't been before. It is quieter here, almost like it is seperate from the rest of the building, and it gives me the same feeling that hospitals always gave me. Even the room she leads me into puts me in mind of a hospital room, everything is white and clean, and it smells of cleaning chemicals.

"How long has it been since they came out of the mines?"

Jezzel says "About two weeks."

"I'm surprised they are still here. Don't you have magical healing?"

Jezzel says "We don't have any healers on staff and getting a priestess from the temple is quite expensive. We only call on them if it is a life threatening injury."

"What about healing potions and magical herbs?"

Jezzel says "Again, they are very expensive here because the right herbs don't grow near Illium so it all has to be imported."