I didn't just care about Simon because of golems, sure I could in theory come up with some great ideas of what to do with them, but more importantly, he had access to an actual core. One of those was illegal to have around, a tool of extreme danger, the other, the other was normal, something anyone could have, something anyone could use.

Simon was also a friend though, so I wouldn't draw him into the worst of my ideas, but there were so many. Before we could do anything serious I wanted to see some basics first though. Everyone had their own way of doing things, and I wondered what his was.

“So can you show me some of the things you've made?” I inquired when we got back towards the dorm buildings.

“I can, but I'm surprised that you're not able to do it already. Is there a reason you've not fully built your first core yet?” he asked.

Cores came in three basic levels, and while the literature dithered on what each should be called it was a simple progression. The first level, often called the apprentice core, would allow the most basic of enchantments, and was as a point of fact what most used.

“No time,” I responded.

“You've been working on that kind of thing for like a year though?”

“And it normally takes a year or more for that first level to be complete. Thing is I can't put the kind of time I need into building upon it.”

“Why?”

“Have you seen my class schedule?” I laughed. It was well known among my friends that I hardly had free time for anything.

“Alright then, but can't you buy anything you want? Your family is easily as wealthy as mine.” That too was true, but it was true for almost everyone here.

“Hardly, my parents give me a budget, and custom made pieces for my own enjoyment are not in that budget.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Almost everyone at our school was wealthy in some way or another, that was just part of being able to wield magic. There was an endless need for enchantments, for spell-work, for powerhouses in any industry. Even the staff at my home that had minor magics like my sister weren't poor, and almost never could be. Her income, and the income of anyone with such abilities, was several times what a non-magical person would make.

“And I'm assuming you don't bother to make your own money either to supplement it?” I did, but that was hardly his business, particularly not because my money had come mostly from selling guns to the local government, or at least the plans.

“Now now, this is hardly the time to be speaking of such things. I just wanted to see what you can do.”

“So you can use me,” he griped.

I opened my mouth to respond, but then closed it again. He'd pointed it out too well, too quickly for me to deny.

“My apologies Simon, that was what I was doing wasn't it? I was seeing what I wanted, not what you wanted.”

“Well, you did get pulled into my mess so I wasn't going to complain too much...”

Simon wasn't my closest friend, but he was still a friend, and I'd wronged him. That... hurt, I knew people like that in both of my lives and I wanted to do better, be better. Too many people longed for a second chance like the one I'd gotten, a chance to live a life different from the one they'd had, a chance to fix the mistakes they'd made, and here I was making one of those. I stopped where I was, drifting off into thought.

“No, you're right to complain, I was being a proper fool. I'll agree, that it was annoying for me to get pulled into your nonsense, but you don't owe me anything at all for it do you? After all nothing really came of it. That said, I'd still love to see your work, if you'll show me.”

Simon didn't answer me at first, instead also stopping before finally laughing and reaching out to punch me in the shoulder.

“Ow!”

“Stop being serious, come now, let's go.”

Simon was feeling generous enough to show me some of his work, and honestly it wasn't all that impressive. Sure, everything was magic, but he wasn't doing much with it. There was a lamp, a heater for water, and a few other odds and ends that he'd made, but all were about the simplest version that could be made. There were no controls to change the intensity, no frills, barely an on/off control to them. Even if everything worked, it didn't work optimally, and it didn't do anything other than the most basic function.

“So, what do you think?” he asked.

“I think if this is your work you weren't ready for making a golem. Simon I know you're better than all this. Even if you don't like this kind of thing it's not something you should put away, or ignore.”

“Well, everything works does it not?” he griped.

“It could work better, which we both know. You were going to impress some girl with a fancy item but what would have happened had she ever seen you using this?” I asked, poking his lamp to turn it on, then off, it was a cube even, and frankly ugly. All of his items were unbelievably ugly.

“That's true...”

With a smile I made a proposition. “Maybe my eyes were getting a bit big for what I wanted too, but I do have a proposal if you're interested.” At his raised eyebrow I continued. “Why don't we remake these? I could certainly use the practice, and between the two of us we have the skills to make much nicer things for you.”

“And what are you getting out of this?” he asked.

“Practice, and seeing the process in action, though I won't complain if you decide to make a few extras that alone is enough. I know plenty of theory, and I'm sure I can machine out a few nice outer shells for these, but I've never done it. Even the professors have only shown us the whole thing once or twice.”

“Alright, let's do it,” he said with a smile.