After the family had walked away, the old mage turned to him to say, "Hubert, you have a good family."

Smiling, Hubert said, "Thank you, sir. Is there something else you need?"

Nodding, the mage continued, "I am curious Hubert. Do I understand that you made this beautiful carriage?"

"Yes, sir, that is correct. It is a showpiece to help me sell other carriages and wagons."

"How much would you want for your 'showpiece'?" The mage asked while walking around the carriage, admiring the craftsmanship.

Hubert coughed, "It has far more hours of delicate work than my other carriages. Nearly a full year's worth. Plus, other master artisans who have helped me, especially with the silverwork. That said, it is easily worth twenty-one thousand gold. But I'll never be able to sell it at that price, nor do I ever intend to sell it. At least not until I need to make a better display if that ever happens. Even then, I will sell this one at a great loss."

Shining a bit of the sliver with his sleeve where someone has smudged it, the mage responds, "You are mistaken. A carriage of this quality is easily worth that and more to a mage that enchants items. Once properly enchanted, it would go for five times as much in the capital where there are buyers for such things. If sold to the right mage, this carriage could make them quite a lot of gold as well."

Hubert was nervous about what the old mage was suggesting. He had not been this tense since starting his workshop. Quietly he asked, "Would you be such a mage, sir?"

Still looking over the carriage, the old mage smiled happily. "Yes, Hubert, I would be such a mage."

Turning to face Hubert, the mage made an offer, and what an offer it was. "Hubert, I will offer you thirty-thousand gold for the carriage. I will pay you twenty-thousand now and put the other ten-thousand gold in the school bank for your son. Training to be a mage is mightily expensive, especially in the later years of schooling. This amount would cover many of those needs, but not the tuition, unfortunately. The education costs for ten summers would require you to sell a dozen or more carriages of this quality. Very few students can pay so much unless they come from wealthy families. Like nearly all students, your son will be beholden to the kingdom for years to come. With the coin I'm offering you, those years would be far from lean."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Hubert just stood there, looking at the carriage while thinking through the offer. "Thank you, I can hardly believe what you are offering my son, but know that it is very appreciated. I accept your offer, sir."

The mage was proudly looking at his carriage, shining more of the bright silver with his sleeve. "Of course, my good man, of course."

"How might Hartson be protected from overspending?" Hubert asked worriedly.

"Ah, fear not. We require that parents, and others, put any funds they wish to provide into a student's school account. We limit all students to withdrawing up to five gold per month for each year they attend the school. To access more significant funds, the student must submit a proposal detailing how they will spend their funds and for what gain. A rotating group of five mages then reviews each project request to either approve or deny it. If approved, the student must have monthly reviews of their spending and progress. Then when students complete their schooling, they have the option to take all, some, or none of the remaining funds out of the school bank. Any remaining funds go to their debt."

The old mage continued, "Now, if the student is unable to complete school for any reason, those funds will be drawn upon to pay any outstanding tuition and other debts incurred by the student. If funds remain after all the student's debts are paid, the funds return to the family. However, if the student reaches sixteen summers, they are considered adult, and the funds belong to the student."

Hubert nods, "Those rules are all valid and wise, sir. Thank you."

Climbing up and sitting in the carriage, the mage answers distractedly. "Yes, of course."

Hubert smiles, "I am willing to build more of these carriages if perhaps someone there in the capital will find orders for me to fill. For a generous fee, of course."

The mage laughs, "Hubert, we are going to have a great partnership. As for your next order, make another 'Hartson' with white paint, white seats, but in gold, not silver. It will be for me again, so no fee necessary. I'll put another ten-thousand gold into your son's account and pay you thirty-thousand gold at the next Mid-Summer Festival when I pick it up."

Hubert reaches up to shake the old mage's hand happily, "I do not even know your name yet, sir."

“My name is High Mage Thomas Saxon,” the mage replied with a kind smile.