The next few mornings were the same. Get up go to school, go home, repeat. It was on the 6th day that things changed. On that day we learned what the Queen had planned. We noticed that the class was missing one student. Our attacker was not there for the first time this year. As class started the Head Master entered and asked for our attention.

‘I wanted to let you all know the results of the inquiry into the attack’ stated the headmaster. ‘The good news is we identified the attacker and he has admitted to his crimes’ he stated. ‘Which means this issue is now resolved and you can drop your worry.’ I looked around the room and asked if it was Holison, to which the headmaster replied it was. With that, the headmaster tells us there will be no additional details and tells us to enjoy our day and leaves.

I look over at the princess and ask her what she knows. ‘Mother was not happy, you probably already knew that. She went herself along with over 100 royal guards to visit Holison’s home’ She stated. ‘It was not a good visit.’ It seems that Holison’s father expected the visit and had already decided to turn his son over. It seems dear old dad tended to look out for number 1 and to hell with anyone else, including his son.

‘Holison was taken to the castle and put to question. It only took a few minutes for him to admit everything’ she stated. I asked what happens to him now. ‘Well Mother would not say but if I had to guess, he will be executed in a very public manner. An example must be made’ she stated while looking at me. ‘People must know that cannot attack members of the crown.’

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that but I did understand the need, I just wasn’t sure I agreed with it fully. Holison was an ass but he was also 15 years old and if I had to guess part of his problem was related to his family. But I knew there wasn’t anything I could do about it so I wasn’t going to let it get me down. Classes that day were fairly normal if not a little subdued.

I returned home that night and spent the time reflecting on the day's events. I was reminded of the power the royal family had. They were able to decide a person's guilt and set a punishment without any outside influence. That was a lot of power in the hands of one person.

The following days saw things return to normal. My knowledge of the world grew and my skill with magic saw an increase as well. While I only had 1 known use for my divine skill it was powerful and not something I can really practice. My relationship with my peers changed as well. It seems that most of my issues resulted from the actions of Holison and without his interference most people didn’t seem to have an issue with me.

The next day I decided to visit Holison and see if I could make sense of things. They allowed me to visit him so I went to the dungeon and found him sitting in a cell staring at the wall. ‘Hello Holison’ I stated quietly. ‘Well so the prince decides to come rub in his victory’ Holison stated with a sneer. ‘You here to tell me how you won, how you are better than me’ he snaped. ‘No I came to ask why, what did I do that earned this kind of hate’ I stated. ‘You are here, that is all the reason I needed. You took what should have been mine and you had no right to do that.’ He stated without even looking at me. ‘You do not deserve her, or the things you will gain from marriage.’

I stood there quietly for a few minutes before I replied. ‘I know I do not deserve her, only a fool would think they were good enough but I will marry her and there isn’t anything either of us can do to stop that. What you did was stupid and a waste, did you really think the Queen wouldn’t find out it was you?’ I stated. Holison looked at me for the first time and in a quiet voice said ‘No I did not think about it, I acted and I will pay the price for my action, as foolish as they were. Leave me, the sight of you sickens me.’ With that, he turns away from me and I leave.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

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HIDDEN QUEST COMPLETE – Rub it in!!

Way to rub in the win, you reminded a dying boy what he is going to lose!

REWARDS: Title (Rubber)

Title – Rubber ‘Able to get the last word in and twist the knife a little harder during conversations.’

‘You know what Fuck you god of boxes. Smite me all you want but you can go to hell!’ I scream.

HIDDEN QUEST COMPLETE – Grow a pair!!

You finally grew a spine and stood up for yourself!

REWARDS: Title removed (Rubber), Title earned (Fearless)

Title – Fearless ‘Able to push back fear and resist it when needed’

Richard, while I could smite you and probably should, where would be the fun in that.

Remember what is given can be taken. That being said I am fair……..mostly.

With that last box I stop and stare. So you can hear me!

Well ya, I mean I have to know what is going on in order to properly interact.

I just normally do not get directly involved.

Then why? What are you talking to me then?

Well, you are the first person reborn here. I put in a lot of work to get you here and I

Would hate to see it wasted, also I like to watch 😊

Really so I was summoned by a perv. So why the entire thing, why the rebirth?

All in good time.

After that no matter what I did he would not respond.

Holison’s execution took place 10 days later. While it was a public affair and his list of crimes was long, the execution itself was quick. Once the guard was finished reading the order the execution took seconds, which was good I guess, at least they did not drag out his suffering. I learned after that his family didn’t claim the body and he was placed in an unmarked grave in the city cemetery. A sad end to a sad boy.

One of the good things about school was the access to crafting teachers and equipment. I was able to discover a joy in making things by hand. Wood became my new passion. I discovered something in those days. Casters used a focus to help them with their spells but they used wands only. It seems the idea of a staff wasn’t known. The first thing I made was a staff and I was laughed at. I was told not to worry about my size and that I needed to grow up. That laughter lasted until I used the staff. A wand tended to make a simple fire bolt spell twice as powerful as normal, my staff made it 10 times as powerful. I also learned that intent mattered. Others quickly tried to make staves but none of them worked. It seems that you had to understand that what you were making was a staff of power and if you didn’t focus on the intent all you did was make a large walking staff.

It was years before I understood the problem and could teach others how to make a true mage staff, but that is a story for another time.

I also made toys, lots of toys. Kids in town loved me. I would make dozens of toys and then just give them away. I had no real use for them and I didn’t really think they were that good, but to a young child with not much, any toy was a joy.