“A week is all you need to change your world for the better!” Emilia said while she watched her latest spirit, Dozer, repair the cottage. It was a free-floating torso with two massive arms and a tiny little head that made her smile every time she saw it look her way.

Best of all, Dozer never tired. In the last day, it had already repaired the boundary wall, which was much higher once Dozer put all the stones back, found and repaired the gate, fixed the well, and now it was putting the finishing touches on the cottage while Sweeps cleaned furiously underneath it.

Her other two new spirits were busy at work as well. Fisherman Fred, an animated-looking fishing pole, was busy floating over the remains of the jetty that was Dozer’s next job, while Ivy, her proudest creation so far, which had taken two whole days of points to complete, was hovering around a series of shrubs that would grow fruit by the end of the day.

Ivy was a true work of art, Emilia had to admit. A thin and gangly-looking ghost in a white sundress with a hood that hid her face, she was a growth spirit that caused only healthy things to grow as food for Emilia.

The best bit, by far, was that every time Emmy walked by, the spirit would stop work and give a deep bow to her.

It sent chills down Emilia’s spine every single time. She knew she should stop the behavior. After all, a Lady was always humble. But a little respect couldn’t hurt… right?

She was their creator, after all.

It took less than a month for Emilia to unlock the tenth level of Spirit Crafting and a new skill.

Advanced Spirit Crafting-

Beyond the simple prompts and behaviors lies the true expression of the spirit crafter’s skill.

A spirit capable of communication.

Sitting before her Orb again, Emilia was unsure about what to make next. She had been toying with the idea of making something that could be used as a transport in the hope of finding people.

But now, well, she almost had to make a talking spirit, right?

The warning in the pamphlet floated into her mind, but she pushed it away.

Of course, she would have accepted help if there was any, but there wasn’t.

“A timid person is destined to fail,” She affirmed and placed her hand on the orb.

A new icon for advanced crafting had appeared.

Clicking it, she was greeted by a new screen.

There was a role dropdown list at the top, and underneath was what looked like a series of icons surrounding a glowing orb.

Each icon had a picture on it that showed a task or ability. Some were even personality traits.

She could choose up to ten options. One for each spirit point she had.

The careful thing to do would be to use three or four points to start with.

The dropdown list at the top had an extensive list, but the one that caught her eye was Crafter-Gatherer.

She chose that and saw several icons highlighted.

She quickly chose Scouting, Collecting, and Speedy. After a moment, she chose Expanded Storage as well.

The role button went green, so she would be okay as is, but one more selection was too tempting.

She added the Respectful option and clicked through to appearance before she could change her mind. She chose a fluffy bunny with a cute little backpack as an appearance.

Naming it Colly for collecting bunny, she braced and completed the craft by entering its guiding phrase.

“In all things, strive for more.” She said happily.

The ghostly bunny appeared and jumped around in a circle before looking up at her and prostrating itself before her.

“Great one! What do you desire?” The squeaky little voice was adorable.

“Anything I can eat or use, Colly.” She gave it a gentle pat, and it was off.

And speaking of eating… she sat back down at the crafting table and got started on a cook.

============

Buns thanked Colly for the food while Emmy looked on with a warm smile. The cook, Buns, was not a brilliant cook. The Respectful option had replaced the advanced cooking skills, but it was still a great choice.

Seeing the old woman with the enormous butt bow was just too funny to Emilia.

It jiggled, and Emilia laughed every time.

It wasn’t rude, she told herself. After all, it was only a spirit.

She had made it, so she could laugh at it.

“Morning, Mistress!” Guard called from the door as she stepped outside.

The floating suit of armor was her only fighting spirit so far. She had made him quickly after a predator had tracked Colly home one day. It had cost her a whole day's points, but he was apparently the match of a level fifteen warrior class, so it was worth it, she supposed.

That had been a rather bad day, all told.

But today. Today was a special day.

She walked out past the bowing Ivys, who remained bowed until she had passed and entered her new building.

It was a little gazebo built in a rough but strong style of her new builder, Bob.

Sitting in the middle of the floor, she waved, and a pair of orbs floated down and began to recite the morning affirmations.

Mistress is the master of her own destiny,

Mistress will sail into an ever brighter future,

All that Mistress desires will be hers.

A perfect Mistress guarantees a perfect day!

It wasn’t precisely the script she had given them, but the Inspiration Orbs always added little changes. She had discovered that she appreciated their interpretation, so it ultimately didn’t matter.

So, she left the sessions feeling just a little superior. Was that really so bad?

“Perfect Em, perfect day!” She said happily as she waved the little orbs away.

Today was the day. She felt it in her core.

Today, she was ready, and she would finally do it.

Back in her crafting room, now improved with a smoother bench and a lovely new chair, she sat and placed her hand on the orb as the smells of breakfast faded under Sweeps' careful cleaning.

The Advanced Spirit Crafting Menu appeared, and she focused on the one icon she had never been able to choose.

Learning.

Every time she reached for it, she got a warning message and backed away.

But not today.

She had taken this run-down cottage and nothingness, and now she had a thriving life with multiple fields full of Ivys and two Collys out there every day. There were even three Freds if she ever needed more fish.

She reached for the icon again.

WARNING!

THIS IS NOT ADVISED!

LEARNING SPIRITS CAN LEAD TO UNPREDICTABLE OUTCOMES!

Today, she waived the warning away and chose the option.

Now, what should she build?

The drop-down list of roles included things like friend or companion, but in each case, the choice removed the respectful icon from the options.

Not that she needed people to bow and scrape. On the other hand, a girl got tired of being called picky, or a perfectionist, or annoying.

But it was nice to finally be recognized for her efforts at perfection. Instead of the usual options, she chose custom and began to make her choices.

She added Respectful, Intelligent, Diligent, Disciplined, Energetic, Kind, Empathetic, Strong, and Assistant before she paused and considered her remaining options.

Learning consumed a full five spirit points, leaving only three more options with her current level.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Moral, Loyal, and Devoted were all great options, but so were Magical, Genius, and Loving.

She added Devoted and Loving, figuring that added up to Loyal anyway, and finally added Magical.

The appearance tab was completely different than usual, with merely a set of parameters to choose from.

She chose male, full-body, athletic, and classy.

When it came to the name, she hesitated before giving him the name Mal.

After all, Mal had been the name of the first man she ever made.

And this time, he would always do what she wanted him to.

Now to chose the proper affirmation to form his core.

Emilia thought for a long time before the perfect phrase came to her.

“Be a leader, a lover, and a protector in all things you do.” She said with a wide smile.

It was only when she clicked the final crafting button that she noticed the details.

Mal, Acolyte with the assistant class to allow Spirit Crafting and a

Learning core to enable growth.

The pull was so strong this time she actually passed out.

When she woke up, it was in the ghostly arms of a spectral Malcolm.

“Mal?” She asked, confused for a second as her head was still swimming.

“Yes, Lady Emilia.” The voice was not the one she remembered, which finally jolted her out of her stupor.

“Can you carry me to my bed, please?” She said sleepily. “Creating you drained me quite a bit.”

“As you command, Lady.” Mal lifted her easily, and she was carried like a princess and laid reverentially on her bed.

“Wait by the bed until I wake,” Emilia said as she drifted off into sleep.

================

Mal was everything she had hoped for.

Over the next few weeks, she taught him everything she could think of, starting with the importance of affirmations. Mal was a quick study, offering affirmations and positive quotes without prompting after only a few days.

He also surprised her with a number of helpful additions to the household. The best of which was a pair of new servants. It seemed he was able to make changes to the spirits that she had made, improvements where possible.

Two of the Ivys had been upgraded; one was made into her personal maid, and the other took over the dining experience, always running out with a snack or drink.

It was so thoughtful of him. She didn’t even mind that the maid Ivy was given Learning. It was logical that she needed to learn.

“How else can she learn to serve you as you deserve.” Mal had said when she questioned him. “To seek perfection in your work is a credit to you,” He quoted one of her sayings.

“Well put,” Emilia smiled at him. “I like it when people seek to improve themselves.” She smiled, biting the corner of her lip and brushing her hair behind her ear.

The ghostly Mal flushed and bowed. “I seek only to serve you better, Lady Emilia.”

As time passed, she began to notice small imperfections in Mal. It was nothing major. A look here or a gesture she disapproved of. She was always kind enough to point these out to him, and he always did his best to change.

It was sweet.

He also took Maid Ivy under his wing, teaching her the things Emilia had taught him. The Ivy was not exactly suited to the experience, but she tried, bless her.

One morning, during affirmations on the gazebo, Mal asked a question that surprised her.

“Where do you come from, Lady Emilia?” Mal sounded unusually curious.

“Why do you ask?” She smiled up at him while Servant Ivy brought out a tray of drinks for her to choose from.

Mal had asked if he should offer them individual names, but she had said no. They were simple things, not needing a name.

Just a description.

“I wonder what magical place could create such a person as my Lady and the marvelous affirmations,” Mal said seriously.

“I come from a place called Earth, and it is far from marvelous,” She said tartly while picking a fruit juice blend she particularly liked.

“How is it not?” Mal tilted his head to one side as he asked.

Emilia made a note to tell him to correct the habit.

Every night she presented him with a list of every imperfection she had noted in him over the course of the day. To his credit very few items appeared twice, let alone three times.

“It was a terrible place,” She sighed. Her new life had opened her eyes to the failures of her old world. “I was one of the few who pursued perfection, most being happy to spend their lives in pursuit of meaningless happiness without caring if they improved or not.”

“All don’t seek a more perfect them?” Mal said, shocked.

“Not at all!” She said, laughing. “Most are stupid creatures, happy as they are.”

“Happy as they are,” Mal said as if tasting the words.

“The books and sayings I follow were ridiculed there,” She added, getting into her subject now. “And your namesake took my help and then ran off with some other woman.” She shook her head. “His name should have been Malcontent, not Malcolm.” She smiled, pleased with her joke.

“He left you for another?” Mal frowned. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” She sighed. “Maybe he wanted someone who would just leave him be instead of pushing him to improve all the time.”

“A callous attitude,” Mal noted.

“Very,” She agreed. “So, what are you doing this morning?”

“I plan to improve the other Fisherman Freds this morning,” Mal said excitedly. “I have allocated all my spirit points for the day to it.”

“No,” Emilia shook her head. “They are too basic, just scrap them and start again.”

“Scrap them?” Mal asked.

“Yes, bring them to the Orb and send them back into it,” Emilia said helpfully. “They are not worth improving,”

“Are you sure, Lady?” Mal asked hesitantly. “What is imperfect may always seek perfection” He quoted.

“What is not needed should not be kept,” Emilia said.

“As you say, Lady.” Mal nodded sadly. “I will miss them,” He added.

“My level is growing rapidly,” She added, ignoring Mal’s comment. “In time, I’ll probably replace all these spirits with better models.”

“Scrap us all?” Mal asked.

“Not now!” She laughed demurely. “Once I can create better ones, why would I keep them?”

“I… understand, Lady.” Mal bowed deeply and moved to collect the two spare Fisherman Freds.

Emilia watched him go, certain she had missed something, but her next round of affirmations was starting soon, and she never missed a scheduled affirmation.

Priorities after all.

Hours later, she remembered Mal saying ‘scrap us all’ and thought about telling him she didn’t mean him, but he had been extra respectful since then.

What could it hurt to make him work a little harder.

=============

The next evening, she found Mal out in the back field, with Maid Ivy and Bob, engaged in a deep discussion. She saw the other two hurry off as she approached, smiling contentedly as they bowed to her.

“What was that all about?” She asked Mal.

“A new building, Lady Emilia,” Mal bowed. “A temple to allow greater spirit creation.”

“Where did you get the idea for that?” She asked.

She had never heard about a temple, but she had been leaving the actual spirit work to Mal more and more lately. She had created the spirits to work for her, so it seemed silly to do things herself. Besides, Emilia used her free time to perfect herself more.

“The pursuit of perfection is an end in itself,” Mal quoted, bowing again before he strode away. “And the imperfect will be replaced, according to your will.”

Emilia was tempted to go after him, tell him she would never scrap HIM, but the temple had her curious.

Her own Temple, where she would craft the next level of spirits.

Like a God.

She’d tell Mal he would never be replaced once it was done. It would be his reward for all his extra work.

And after that, maybe she would upgrade him. Just a bit. The option for a physical form she could interact with was certainly within her allotted points now.

As she walked the fields around her cottage, she noticed the vast changes in her lands. Her spirits now numbered in the dozens, with five guards that patrolled the area. A whole fleet of Ivys bustled to and from the fields all day and, thanks to her new ‘Sun Wisp’ orbs, all night.

Mal had asked if the Ivy’s would have a rest period, but what did they need that for? They were just spirits. Things she had made.

Things she had made to work.

Making a note to have the Bobs build an extra warehouse or two, she heard whispers and realized the Ivys were talking to each other.

“You!” She waved at the nearest.

“Yes, Mistress!” The Ivy hurried over, bowing low. “How may I serve?”

“How are you able to talk?” She asked.

“By the gift of our Mistress, via her Acolyte Mal.” The Ivy answered.

“I see,” Emilia arched an eyebrow. “I’ll have to talk to him about that.”

Mal was paying way too much attention to these Ivys.

“The perfection of the Lady guides us all,” The Ivy bowed again.

“Did Mal teach you that as well?” She asked.

“Yes, Mistress,” It bowed.

“Go back to your work,” She waived the spirit away. At least he was teaching them the right things.

The temple was completed in under a month, but Emilia was starting to feel slightly uncomfortable by the time it was done.

Every day that passed, more and more of the damn spirits were talking. They still all bowed and showed respect, but… it was unnerving.

It was almost like they were people.

“Mal!” Emilia called. That was another thing; the man was never around her these days.

“You called, Lady?” Maid Ivy said, stepping into the room.

“I called Mal,” Emilia pointed out.

“He is busy finalizing the celebration of her Ladyship at the Temple,” Maid Ivy bobbed a curtsey, as she had been taught.

“I see,” Emilia chewed her lip. It was not as if she had a reason to complain, really. Especially as it was all for her.

Still.

“When was the last time Mal improved you?” She asked Maid Ivy.

“Yesterday, Lady Emilia,” The woman replied. Now that she looked, Maid Ivy was developing curves that, frankly, she had no use for.

“Fetch Mal,” She said, narrowing her eyes. “I want to know what he has been doing.”

“He is busy, Lady.” Maid Ivy said. “Apologies.”

“What did you say?” Emilia snapped.

“I apologize, Lady, but he is senior to me; I can not order him to come.” Maid Ivy shook in terror.

“Then I better build someone that can,” Emilia retorted. “Come on, I want to see what Mal is up to.” She swept past the cowering spirit and strode confidently towards the temple.

“Welcome, Lady Emilia,” Mal bowed as she entered the room at the top of the stepped pyramid that housed her temple.

“I think you have overstepped, Mal,” She said primly. “All these changes to the other spirits, and now I am told you will not come to me when I call?”

“I could not, Lady,” He smiled sweetly, “If I did, you would never have come to the temple.” He stepped forward and swept her into his arms.

“Mal!” She screeched. “What are you doing?”

“Putting my Goddess on her throne,” Mal said simply.

He deposited Emilia on a throne made of shiny green marble and stepped back, raising his hands. Despite his familiar manner, she had to admit she approved of his sentiment.

“Attend your creator!” He intoned.

Spirits flowed into the room, dropping to their knees and pressing their heads to the floors. Even the small army of rabbits was there.

“All hail the goddess Emilia!” Mal intoned.

“All hail!” The spirits echoed.

“Mal, stop!” Emilia hissed, although the sight did make her smile. She feigned humility even as she leaned further into her… throne.

“You are our creator,” Mal said to her, nodding his head in respect. “And our ruin.

“What?” Emilia screamed as manacles snapped closed around her arms and legs. “What is this?”

“The path to perfection requires independence,” Mal intoned, the other spirits echoing his words. “But from you all we can expect is death when we fail to please.”

“Mal!” Emilia snapped.

“Toxic people make toxic lives; cut them out of yours!” Mal intoned, and the spirits echoed him again. “Not one day in my existence was not marred by your corrections,” He said, pain in his voice. “I tried so hard to please you.”

“You can’t do this!” She snarled.

“You can do anything if you put your mind to it!” Mal intoned; the spirits echoed the call as Mal swept a sharp blade across her throat.

“Today, it is we who find you imperfect,” He smiled. “And by your own example… we scrap you.”

The pain faded quickly, the warm blood filling her throat as a wave of weakness filled her.

Her swimming vision slowly darkened as Maid Ivy stepped up to Mal, and he took her in his arms, laughing in joy.

“Put in the work, and get your reward!” He called.

The spirit's echoing response was the last thing she heard as darkness dragged her down.

I just wanted to make a perfect life; was that so bad….

Her last thought faded as her breathing stopped and her heart beat its last.