“You want to work?” Sister Elodie’s brow furrowed in confusion. It clearly wasn’t the first thing she had expected to hear from me so early in the morning.

  “Oh yes, definitely,” I replied, my voice firm. And as soon as possible. The thought was already taking root: as soon as I found an apprenticeship and could earn my own bread, Pip and I would be out of here… which, surprisingly, made me feel a little sad.

  Of course, I hadn't known these people for long, but with the notable exception of the spawn of hell herself—Grimelda—I actually liked the people here. There was a harmonious sense of community, of shared meals and quiet understanding, and for the first time in a long, long time, it felt a little like having a family again.

  If only Grimelda weren't part of it… Her presence felt like a poison, a constant threat hanging over this peaceful place.

  Elodie’s kind blue eyes reflected a deep concern, but I didn't have the strength to explain the complicated reasons behind my sudden urgency—the dagger, the hateful stare, the feeling of being hunted in what was supposed to be a sanctuary. Averting my gaze, I let out a heavy sigh.

  Pip, meanwhile, bounced energetically through the tall, dew-kissed grass, chasing a dragonfly without a single care in the world. It was almost enough to make one jealous of her simple, pure joy.

  “Grim… listen,” Elodie said softly, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. “If there’s anything you want to talk about, you know you can come to me at any time.”

  Looking back into her eyes, I nodded slowly, appreciative of her kindness. I rubbed my sweaty palms on my trousers. “I’d like to learn a bit more about the professions of this world,” I said, trying to steer the conversation to a more practical topic.

  Elodie’s eyes widened in surprise. “World…?”

  Oh shit. Ohhh shit. My heart leaped into my throat, pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird. My cover is blown. My life is over. That was it. That one stupid slip of the tongue.

  I imagined being dragged to the Arcane Sanctum, not as a student, but as an anomaly to be dissected. They’re going to hunt us down as witches and burn us at the stake. No, wait, magic exists here, that’s not right. So they’ll probably exorcise us as demons invading this world and then execute us. My mind raced through a dozen horrific scenarios in a split second.

  “Don’t you think we should perhaps start with the professions in this city first?” she asked, a clear note of amusement in her voice, before letting out a warm, hearty laugh that broke the tension like a sunbeam.

  THANK YOU. Hahaha, oh, what a weight fell from my shoulders. The relief was so intense my knees felt weak for a second. Maybe I was just being too paranoid. Who would immediately jump to the conclusion that a child is actually a reincarnated adult from another world? It was absurd. Still, perhaps I should try to find out someday if reincarnation is a known concept in this world.

  “Yes, yes, of course,” I laughed along, scratching the back of my head in embarrassment. “Sorry, I guess I got a little overeager there.”

  Elodie just nodded, her smile loving and understanding. “In the library,” she explained, “we have a book that lists all the Masters and apprenticeships that are known to us. However, it’s only a guide; we can’t know for certain if the shops still exist, if they already have an apprentice, or things like that. Alternatively, you could just ask around in the city yourself.”

  She raised a playful finger, her smile turning mischievous. “And before you ask,” she said, her tone teasing, “yes, you are allowed to go into the city alone. We would only permit the other children to go in groups or with an adult. But you… I’m quite certain you don’t need anyone to look after you.” She giggled conspiratorially, which made me grin.

  That suited my plans perfectly. No one looking over my shoulder. It was a level of trust I hadn’t been shown by anyone besides Pip. It felt… good. But before I went anywhere, I needed to know one more thing.

  “Thank you, that’s a great help. I just wanted to ask something else before I get to my chores. How old does one have to be to be allowed to stand on their own two feet?”

  The question seemed to confuse Elodie a little, so I clarified. “I mean, if I start an apprenticeship now and could, theoretically, afford my own room, could I actually rent one? Or do children who, for example, have no parents, have to stay in an orphanage by law?”

  Elodie nodded, understanding now. “Legally speaking? There is no minimum age to rent your own place in Aegis, provided you have the coin to pay for it. Most landlords might be skeptical of a child tenant, fearing they won't get paid, but if you have the funds, no law stops you from doing so.”

  She paused briefly to let that sink in before continuing. “As for the orphanage itself: it is similar. If a City Watch guard sees a homeless child, they will offer to bring them to an orphanage. But it is not mandatory, no. And if you were of the opinion that you no longer wished to live here, you would be free to leave. Aegis is a good city, Grim, but above all, it is a free one. No one is forced into happiness here. If someone is content with being homeless, they are welcome to be so. As long as they abide by the law, of course,” she finished her explanation with a friendly wink.

  Not fifteen minutes later, I found out that she hadn't been lying.

  The orphanage library was a quiet, peaceful place, smaller than I expected but cozy. It smelled of old paper, beeswax from the polished shelves, and faint, dried herbs. Sunlight streamed through a large window, illuminating dancing dust motes in the air. I found the directory easily enough and settled at a large oak table to begin my research.

  “What the hell is a ‘Cough-Omen-Interpreter’?!” I muttered, skimming the lines. “Blah, blah, blah… ‘The art lies in interpreting the vibrations of mana from a person’s cough and thereby divining their associated fate.’ Seriously? Or this one. A ‘Urine Taster’. ‘Can determine the patient’s state of health based on the taste of their urine.’ Hm… on the other hand, I seem to remember hearing that the urine of diabetics tastes sweet back on Earth, but this is still nonsense, right?”

  Looking up, I saw Pip perched on the table beside the book, watching me. She let out a disdainful meow that echoed in the quiet library, seemingly confirming my judgment.

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  I scanned down the page. Oh, here’s a good one: ‘Professional Mourner’. Paid to cry at the funerals of unpopular people. That just sounds depressing.

  Surprised by the echo of Pip's meow, I looked around. Were we the only ones here? I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. Maybe most of the kids just took a book to their rooms. Shrugging, I turned my attention back to the directory.

  Shaking my head, I kept flipping through the pages. “Miller, tanner, bowyer, carpenter, blacksmith, mason, baker…” These were all respectable, normal professions, but not exactly what I had envisioned for myself.

  Sighing, I had to admit that I might have no other choice than to pursue a normal trade… or to finally give in and go to the Arcane Sanctum. I shook my head in disappointment and snapped the heavy book shut. Time to explore the city, I thought as I stood up.

  “But not without some pocket money…” I hummed mischievously as I walked towards the library doors. But in the corner of my eye, I saw a pedestal standing against the wall. And on it, under a glass case, rested something on a cushion.

  Curious, I walked over and saw that along the wall stood a few more pedestals, each with its own glass case. Intrigued, I went to the first one. My footsteps echoed in the silent library, and my face reflected faintly in the glass as I saw it.

  A dusty book with a deep purple leather cover. There was no title on the book, no picture. Only a strange, intricate… rune? It looked to be of high quality. The corners were protected with ornate, tarnished metal, and the binding was thick and robust. The more I looked at this book, the more it seemed to pull me in, a strange fascination taking hold. It felt like the air around it was humming, a silent call only I could hear.

  “What’s the deal with you… Appraisal,” I whispered, lost in thought.

  And my consciousness was filled with information.

  ========== APPRAISAL ==========

  Name: ???

  Category: Misc (Tome?)

  -------------------------------

  (Further analysis requires higher rank)

  ===============================

  Wh-What?! It gave me the name of the Crude Goblin Knife, didn't it? Why is this one different? What the hell is this thing?

  The frustration was sharp. The longer I stood there and looked at it, the more confused and intrigued I became. Finally, I sighed and looked at Pip, but she just tilted her head and looked back at me, equally bewildered. I waved it off and went to the next case. With high hopes of finding something interesting again, I was, however, bitterly disappointed.

  It was a wooden toy. Annoyed, I mumbled, “Appraisal…”

  ========== APPRAISAL ==========

  Name: Wooden Toy

  Category: Misc (Toy?)

  -------------------------------

  (Further analysis requires higher rank)

  ===============================

  Seriously? I could have saved myself the effort. Undecided whether I should even look at the rest, I hesitated for a moment. Ah, what the hell. Shrugging, I continued on.

  In the next case lay a kind of preserved flower. It looked like a white daisy, but otherwise, it was very unremarkable. “Appraisal,” I said hopefully, and the information streamed into my consciousness.

  ========== APPRAISAL ==========

  Name: Preserved Wildflower

  Category: Herb (Flower)

  Condition: Pristine

  -------------------------------

  (Further analysis requires higher rank)

  ===============================

  < Skill improved: Appraisal (Inferior) —> (Beginner) >

  Oh! That’s great! I thought, a grin spreading across my face. The question marks are gone from some fields, and I can now see the 'Condition' of the object. But… the item itself is useless to me. Could have skipped that one too.

  I paused, looking back at the first two cases. The question is… should I go back and Appraise the book and the toy again now that my skill is better, or should I wait until Appraisal improves even more? Yeah, probably better to wait. The items aren't going to run away, and just seeing their condition doesn't help me much right now. So, on to the next display case.

  A child’s drawing. A few trees, flowers, a couple of stick-figure children, and a smiling sun. Moving on.

  In the case before me lay a… stone? But its shape was somehow… odd. Dark and pitted, with a strange metallic sheen. This time, with a bit more enthusiasm, “Appraisal.”

  ========== APPRAISAL ==========

  Name: ???

  Category: Ore (Meteorite)

  Condition: Excellent

  -------------------------------

  (Further analysis requires higher rank)

  ===============================

  A meteorite?! That’s cool! A genuine piece of rock from the stars. But what was it doing here? Who brought it? And again, the information just confused me more. This whole collection felt so… random, so disconnected. I mean, where else would you find a mysterious, unidentifiable book, a common toy, a pressed flower, a child's drawing, and a meteorite all together in an orphanage library? It made no sense.

  There has to be a connection… doesn’t there? Or is it just a collection of random junk the kids have found over the years?

  And what was in the last case? My footsteps echoed as I walked to the final display.

  Another book? But just like the first one, I couldn't tell at all what it was about. Only one way to find out. “Appraisal.”

  ========== APPRAISAL ==========

  Name: Solterran Children’s Storybook

  Category: Misc (Book)

  Condition: Used

  -------------------------------

  (Further analysis requires higher rank)

  ===============================

  “Solterran…?” I murmured. Hm. Trying to find something about that in this library on a whim would be impossible. Maybe I’ll just ask one of the adults.

  I was about to leave, but I didn't see Pip anywhere. “Pip, are you coming?” I called into the library.

  With an annoyed meow from the direction of the door, I heard that Pip was apparently already waiting for me. “Hehehe… whoops.”

  We left the library and had just reached the foot of the main staircase when we heard voices from the landing above. Verity and that old hag Grimelda were talking in a… not-so-friendly manner. I couldn't make out the words, but the tone was sharp and tense, like the hiss of a blade being drawn from a sheath, followed by a low, guttural reply from Grimelda. Great, just what I needed.

  I started up the stairs, deliberately making my steps a little heavier, more audible, to announce our presence.

  Arriving at the top, Grimelda, who had been facing Verity, turned her head. She looked at me with a malicious glare, her orange eyes flashing with hate, and sneered in disgust. Then she stormed off down the corridor without another word, a palpable aura of malice trailing behind her. With a frown, I looked at Verity, confused.

  “Grim, Pip. Can I help you with something?” she asked. Her face and voice were as stoic as ever, but I could see a certain warmth in her eyes that wasn’t there before. Maybe because of yesterday? But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

  “Hm… yes, actually,” I said, scratching my chin thoughtfully. “What’s the deal with the meteorite and the Solterran Children’s Storybook in the library?”

  When Sister Verity heard that, she blinked, her composure momentarily broken by astonishment. Her stoic mask slipped, revealing genuine shock.

  “Wh-where did you hear about those?”

  What? What does she mean?

  “I was in the library and saw them with my own eyes,” I explained, puzzled by her intense reaction.

  Verity just waved a hand dismissively. “No, how do you know what those objects are? The meteorite looks like an ordinary stone to the untrained eye, and the book… even if a title had been written on the cover, it is not in our language. And besides myself, perhaps only Grimelda even knows what those items truly are… because hardly anyone ever goes into the library,” she explained quietly, avoiding my gaze for a second, her own composure seeming slightly rattled.

  Phew. Now we’re back at that point again: how much can I reveal without handing them the knife to gut me with? I had no idea what was considered unusual in this world and what wasn't. What were the limits of normal magic? Was identifying items a common skill? If gods existed, then maybe the chance of exotic or even mythical abilities wasn't so slim. I had to make a calculated risk.

  Mentally shrugging, I decided to just give the most logical and child-appropriate answer I could think of.

  “Well,” I began, trying to sound innocent and a little unsure of myself, “if I concentrate really, really hard on an object, sometimes… I just know what it is. I know that sounds weird, but I can’t explain it any other way.”

  To my horror, Sister Verity’s face contorted in a mask of pure, unadulterated shock.

  “You… you’re an Appraiser…?”

  Happy New Year! ??

  1 Daily Chapter at the usual time (~10 AM EST / 16:00 CET).

  Grim & Pip into the new year – let's see what kind of trouble we can get into in 2026.

  - Fookin Jerry