“First, we will start with some carpenters. If you are so keen at the entire thing being wooden, there is no better place to look for them than their guild.” Setting off from Irea’s home, the duo made their way forward while discussing the situation.

Even though openly talking about their plans like that didn’t seem to be the smartest idea in the world, as long as they refrained from mentioning any of the vital parts, what could others derive from their wish to get something wooden done?

“How much it will cost? I mean, in magic stones.” More than a half of the hundred stones offered by the princes remained safely hidden in Irea’s place. With the treasure consuming less than twenty of the stones, about thirty of the unused ones remained in Layn’s pocket.

“Well, it depends on the size, the scale, everything. Since we need to get it done as soon as possible, even five grade one stones might not be enough.” Shaking her head with annoyance mixing with disbelief, it was clear for everyone to see that the topic of the professional craftsmen’s wages was a sore spot on her soul.

“You don’t like craftsmen?” Noticing the girl’s distraught, Layn stopped himself from laughing with only the utmost effort, before bringing his eyes up to the skies. “If it’s about how much they earn… Then as conceited as it might sound, there should be no upper limits to it.”

Surprising the girl with such an outrageous statement, Layn instantly had to dodge a nudge sent his waist way. Stepping to the side to avoid the attack, Layn grabbed Irea’s hand while openly laughing up.

“You see, no matter how great it feels to follow the path of power, how many great heroes can be out there? What will they wear if not for craftsmen? What will they eat if not for cooks? What will they fight with if not for the smiths?” As the corners’ of Layn’s lips moved up, his tone softened up a bit.

“Every civilization is defined by the mastery of its craftsmen. A thousand years from now, no one will care about one’s personal exploits. But those who will leave behind a legacy, something tangible…” Layn didn’t finish. Worried that speaking out more could bring some light to his real past, he decided that it was better not to open this can of worms yet.

“Either way, we are here. Would you like to go in or…?” Leaving the question open, Irea directed her eyes at Layn’s face.

“No, I will be okay out here.” Snapping open the small strap that held his pouch to his belt, Layn passed the bag with stones to the girl. “Obviously, the less you spend the better, but don’t be too stingy either. While we need it to be simplistic, it still needs to reach a minimal level of quality.”

Sending the girl off with a smile, Layn rested his back against some random wall that cut away the guild lands from the rest of the city. Stretching his hand forward, he pretended as if he was pulling out a smoke from his preferred box of choice.

Even after all this time in the ancient world, he could still remember the delicate engravings on the sides of the small, metal container. For some reason, even when a new style of disposable carton boxes started circulating on the market back in the past, Layn, still loyal to his traditional habits, opted to keep using his decorative box instead.

Yet, right now, all that the archmage could do was to pretend he was pulling out a slim, round piece before inserting its phantom in his mouth and pretending to light it up.

“Gosh, I would kill for a smoke…” Whispering to himself, Layn suddenly turned his head to the side when a rustling alerted him of someone’s presence.

‘What?’ This time, his instincts failed to work properly. Turning his head around, he expected to see some random stranger just happening to pass nearby. But rather than a random stranger, the side of the street Layn was waiting for was filled with people he already saw once.

“I finally found you.” Grinning from ear to ear, the same kid that bothered Layn and Irea back when they first entered the city stared daggers at the archmage. And just like before, he was surrounded by people likely to be on his payroll.

“Who are you again?” Pretending not to recognize the young rascal, Layn smiled kindly. In the end, he could understand the naivete of the youth as he himself had several stories he was too embarrassed to tell others. Yet, as amiable and lenient he was willing to be in regards to the youth, it all depended on whether he would be rational enough to back down when necessary. “You… No, there is no need for me to rage up…” Contrary to Layn’s expectations, the youth managed to wrestle the control over his body from his emotions, putting a wide smile on his face instead. “Senior, this is the man that shamed me. This is the man that dared to touch my fiancee. This is the man that spat on our glorious academy honor!”

Pointing his hand at the archmage, the young man started throwing curses at Layn while speaking to someone besides him. And surely enough, before the young man could even finish his outcry, an athletic-looking youth around twenty of age stepped forward from the crowd.

“You, what’s your name?” With his chin raised high, this newcomer to the situation clearly didn’t know any better. Yet, the fact that he had the very same emblem on his robes as the elders that tested Layn out a few days ago forced the archmage to act with more tact than he intentionally wished.

“Unless you are the elder of the academy, you are not qualified to know my name.” Finally moving away from the wall he was resting his back against, Layn shook his head before standing up to the random youth. “That is if your…”

Before Layn could finish his threat, a hand appearing on his shoulder stopped his lips from moving.

“I didn’t believe it when I heard the rumors…” With her head lowered, Irea shook her head in disbelief. Then, as she raised them on the same youth that bothered them since a while ago, her eyes tensed up in an ugly expression.

“I do not recall promising myself to you. You shamed yourself by trying to go against better than you. As for the academy honor,” Irea shook her shoulders before staring daggers at the man and asking, “you spat on it when you dared to disrespect the direct orders of your teacher.”

For the second time, Layn could see Irea’s face truly darkening. Not in annoyance, not in exhaustion or boredom. Her eyes filled with anger, while her lips quivered in wrath.

‘Woah… She’s really pissed…’ Unable to get enough of this new face of the girl, Layn simply enjoyed the moment when the same youth that the common annoyance referred to per senior, stepped two paces forward, putting him dangerously close to both Irea and Layn.

“I asked you for your name, vermin.” As happy as Layn was to see Irea stand up for him even against her own students, the attitude of that ‘senior’ was inexcusable.

“And he is clearly not willing to give it to you.” Before Layn could let the reins of his pride free, another voice appeared from behind his back. Yet, even when the archmage turned away and looked towards its source, he still had no idea who the newcomers were… if not for their tattered uniforms, full of sawdust and wooden scraps.

Stepping forward, the leader of the group couldn’t be bothered to act kindly. Stopping right in front of the arrogant youth, he calmly looked at his face. “You are in my way.. Scram.”