Reincarnated As A Peasant - Book 2 Chapter 6: A Budget For School Supplies

Gamera City

Day Before First Semester Begins

Sakura

I fidgeted with my new ‘toy’, attached to my wrist as I waited for the work around me to finish. The peasant workers, most low stage cultivators lifted the boxes and crates with ease.

“You’re sure these have been properly distilled?” Yu asked the alchemist guild representative. A short, stout, bald man who looked to be near middle aged and carried a comfortable paunch, though his arms bulged with heavy muscle as he moved the crates filled with material with ease.

“Of course my lady. I would not sully the name of my business, my house, or my guild by providing you with substandard goods. The capsules were made quickly, but they were made with quality in mind. They would not serve someone of your cultivation stage of course. But for students in the early years of their study, these pure mana and chie pills will do wonders.”

“And how have you found the potion quality that our new countrymen have gifted us?” Yu sounded concerned.

“I find the art . . .” the alchemist hesitated for a moment, then reached into one of the smaller clearly foreign made crates and pulled the small vial of clear liquid with a red cork stopper up to the sky to examine. I felt a shifting of mana as the man used one of his arts to examine it more closely.

“Interesting.” The short man said, handing the potion to Yu for her to examine. “The brewer is said to be one of their city’s minor leaders. Akin to a guild master, or so I have been told. Though her skill is not with this art, I was told she does quality work. These are said to be of . . .” he looked down at the parchment nailed to the crate. “Strong quality. Good for magically healing most wounds. I hesitate to recommend them however. It is an unknown art form, and an unknown region. It is possible that some of our people, the kin especially, could be allergic to some of the ingredients.”

“Hmmm.” I felt a shifting of mana again as Yu brushed her own aura through the liquid.

“Perhaps a test mother?” I said, intrigued by the potion. Yu and the guild leader both turned towards me. I was here to learn, listen, and give insight only if asked. But my mother knew me, and the guild leader was far beneath me socially for him to so much as dare raise a fuss for propriety’s sake.

“Perhaps, daughter. Under a healer’s watchful protection, and a master alchemist’s discerning eye. Yes . . . This afternoon. I’ll order my guards to use them during their practice, and have the healer normally on guard ready for any dramatic reactions. Guildleader Tesh, please get with the good captain, he will give you more details.”

“Of course my lady. I would be honored to offer my services.”

The guild leader left a few minutes later after delivering the last of the twelve crates of pills he had been delivering. Other workers loaded them onto one of the handful of shipping balloons that the city used for trade with nearby neighbors.

“That was good insight, daughter.” Yu said as she motioned for me to follow her onto the balloon ship’s cargo deck to finish the inspection. “And such insights will be expected of you one day.”

Today is not that day, were the words she left unsaid. But the smile she gave me removed much of the sting of that unspoken rebuke.

“Thank you mother.” I bowed my head slightly, acknowledging the gentle rebuke.

“You are seventeen years of age now, my daughter,” Yu nodded as workmen brought her samples of pills from each of the crates for her inspection. “You have many duties soon to be laid on your shoulders. This first semester for instance, you will be there not just to learn cultivation, magic, and the more martial arts. But you will be there to learn how the Silver Tower Academy operates, so as to best help with the integration of our own sect schools into this new, nearly empty realms current educational institutions.”

Yu finished inspecting a sample from the last box, and turned to look at me. Her eyes filled with concern, and love. “When you were young, you worked with the peasantry regularly. Doing your little projects, and helping small settlements along the path of our great walking city to make best use of their talents and resources. Sakura, you have an eye for seeing opportunity where others see frustration. I know over the last few years, in the Silver Star Sect you haven’t had much opportunity to use those skills. But here, in front of you, is one such opportunity.”

I bowed formally as a sign of respect. “Thank you for your confidence in me, mother. I will do my best.”

“I am sure you will. Speaking of your school work.” A servant appeared in our house colors, a man I hadn’t met yet. He was young and spry, clearly one of the newer hires. I blinked for a moment as I realized he had a wolf’s tail and ears. He bowed respectfully and offered my mother a fine leather bag filled with supplies. “Thank you Atracian. That was faster than I expected.”

“Thank you, my lady.” He bowed again, turned and retreated to help the other servants working among the crates filled with school supplies.

“Your father and I talked it over, and have decided to include more of the Kin in our household employees.” She smiled fondly. “Hopefully we’ll set a trend among the other nobles of this new realm. There are far too many Kin without purpose or place at the moment. Here daughter, Atracian bought this for you.”

I took the bag with a small respectful tilt of my head, and opened it to reveal several books, half a dozen potions of the local variety, writing supplies, and a small vial containing what looked to be a tiny spirit.

“Your teachers will go over these things tomorrow during orientation, I am sure. For now, we have other things to deal with. Like you selecting your retinue for the practical class. No one woman can see or do everything, and as often your father is like to say, ‘many hands make light work.’ So. Have you chosen who you will invite into your retinue yet? Your brother already has his selection.”

Yu’s smile lessened slightly. She didn’t approve of the way Rayce and his two western friends tended to act around one another. “But I have yet to hear who you have asked to join you. The practical applications class I hear will require a team for parts of it.”

“I have given it some thought, mother.”

We made our way to the far side of the cargo deck of the still inflating balloon. The sound of fire warming the air and gasses that now filled the balloon filled the air around us. Once the sound died to a reasonable level, I finished explaining.

“There were some students from the Sect who helped me when I went to challenge the silver lords test. I think they might be good ones to ask.”

“And for servants? Do you have an idea as to who you wish to take with you?”

I could practically see the gears turning in my mothers mind. She had a whole slate already picked out for me. “I had some thoughts, but if you have wisdom on the matter I would be thankful to hear it.”

Yu finished inspecting the last set of practice equipment that was also being gifted to the Silver Tower Academy, turned with wide eyes, and gave me a genuinely happy smile. As if she had been hoping for this exact outcome.

“Oh, I’d be so glad to help you. I’ve already spoken to her, but I think we should send . . .”

***

“Six sets of practice armor,” the man read out. “Check. Three sets of spirit sealing jars for the priests on board, check.” The workman looked bored as he walked through doing one last check of cargo. “Twelve boxes of cultivation pills, check.” He rounded the corner and found me meditating on top of one of those boxes.

“One princess. . . nope. Not on the list.” I let myself smile as I pulled myself gently out of my cultivation. “Young miss, the cargo ship is about to depart. May I be of service in helping you find your way back?”

As I opened my eyes I found the brave man tapping a pen on a clipboard in his hands. “My apologies, workman. My mother asked me to see the budgeted supplies to the school at the last minute.”

She had most assuredly not asked me to do that. I was scheduled to leave in a grand sky caravan, with all of my retinue and servants. I had stayed behind when Yu had left, on the excuse of good sky aligned mana I had to cultivate for Sky King. But in reality, I just didn’t want to do all of that insanity. It could follow me if it had to. But I at least wanted one morning at that school before people knew me as the new big important person around.

I wasn’t running away, or so I told myself. I was . . . running ahead.

“Oh. Of course.” The Man’s voice had gone tense. Clearly annoyed at how the fickle whims of the great and powerful could change his paperwork. I caught the word at the top of a column he was tallying in. It said Weight, and he was tapping it annoyedly. For a moment I was confused, then my snake spirit companion enlightened me with his wisdom.

I, Sky, will educate you Sakura. When flying, one must know how much one weighs. You should tell the man how much you weigh so we don’t fall out of the air.

No, that will get around and everyone will think I’m bragging or something. Everyone already thinks I’m strange enough I don’t need more whispers.

“My apologies if this causes you any trouble.” I said diplomatically. “I’d be happy to provide extra mana, or compensate if this causes extra costs in coin.”

“No trouble. Not really. Just means I need to account for . . .” He scrutinized me, as if trying to figure out my weight by sight. I fought a smile and raised an eyebrow. “Some . . . extra cargo is all. A bit more fuel, a bit more time. But don’t worry, we’ll be on our way very shortly.”

The man went back round the corner he had come from, and two seconds later I heard him shouting for the captain. I shook my head, and went back to cultivating.

I couldn’t wait to have almost an entire day to just . . . explore.