“The truth is that I don’t really make those anymore. Most people don’t want custom made wands anymore.” The old man said, shrugging. “Most of my business comes from dimensional bags and magical artifacts like rings, necklaces… you get the idea.”

  Jean looked over the display cabinet. Something inside him wanted to make things, not necessarily wands, but something. The intricate carvings in the wooden wands showed a great deal of care and passion went into creating them.

  “My mom uses a wand, do other mages not use them anymore or something?” Jean asked, thoughtfully rubbing his chin while he moved from the wand display back to a jewelry rack.

  “It’s not that they don’t use them, larger businesses found a way to mass produce wands. They aren’t quite as powerful as something made-to-order, but the difference in power isn’t enough to warrant paying someone to make them.” The old man came around the edge of the counter and stood near Jean. “Truthfully, hand-making them has become nearly a lost art. I used to love sitting and carving out the runes, embedding magical gems, the entire process. Now, though, I worry more about keeping my business afloat.”

  Jean turned to meet the man’s gaze. “It’s nice to meet you, I’m Jean.” He said, holding a hand out.

  The old man smiled, grabbing and shaking Jean’s hand. “So, how can I help you today, young man?”

  Jean thoughtfully looked around the room, but nothing really caught his eye like the wands did. “Truthfully, sir, I don’t have any money.” Jean said, turning back to the wand display. “My dad is meeting with someone named Alicia, and I’m just looking.”

  “I see.” The man said, sitting on a small wooden stool in front of the counter. “Then you won’t mind if an old man takes a seat?”

  “Of course not,” Jean said, turning back and smiling at the old man, “this is your place, after all.”

  Not long after Jean and the old man finished talking, Dougan and Alicia appeared out of the back room.

  “That didn’t take long, dad. Hopefully mom won't find out.” Jean said, without turning away from the display cabinets.

  The old man snorted a laugh, while Dougan’s face turned blood red. “I told you it’s not like that!” Dougan said, running a hand down his face.

  “He’s not my type, don’t worry.” Alicia said, putting a hand on the old man’s shoulder. “We didn’t mean to make you babysit, dad. Sorry about that.”

  “No worries dear,” the old man said, “I have honestly liked the company.”

  “Come on Jean… you annoying brat.” Dougan said, patting him on the back. “We really need to find somewhere available for you before you start putting the wrong ideas in your mother’s head.”

  “Available for him?” The old man said, standing up from the stool. “Is this young man looking for an apprenticeship by chance?”

  “That’s right.” Dougan said, “A good swordmaster would be best.”

  “That’s actually not true.” Jean said, glancing sideways at him. “Mom wants me to be a mage. But I–”

  “No, that’s enough. We already decided that you would be a swordsman.” Dougan said, holding out his hand.

  “No, you decided that. I don’t want to be a swordsman.” Jean said, turning around to face Dougan.

  “I didn’t ask, you need to learn to listen to your elders. In this life, you will have to learn to protect yourself.” Dougan said, standing upright.

  “I can already protect myself with magic, and I didn’t say I won’t learn the sword at all. I would like to know how to fight with a sword, too. But what I would like as a job is to try out being a craftsman.” Jean said, holding eye contact with Dougan. “Something like that.” He pointed at the wand display. “I want to try making something like those wands there.”

  “Jean… like i told you—”

  “Or… I can just tell mom that you spent alone time in the back room with a random woman. She is quite pretty, and I’m only a kid so I don’t know what all went on.” Jean said, turning halfway back to the displays, as if he were thinking of something. “I wonder if she’d be upset to hear that.”

  Dougan grimaced.

  Alicia walked around to Jean. “You don’t act your age, do you? I bet you get your negotiating skills from your father.” She said, chuckling.

  “Alicia, don’t condone that!” Dougan said, groaning. “Look, let’s just talk about it when we get home. Deal?”

  “Well, if he does end up winning this chat I wouldn’t mind taking him on as a paid apprentice.” The old man said, sitting back on the stool. “These old hands can’t do what they used to, and I have a soft spot for young ones wanting to learn the old craft.”

  “Octavio, we appreciate it but I can’t really say he’s going to be able to.” He turned back to Jean. “We’ll talk about it when we get home.”

  “If you can start in three days, be here after sunrise.” Octavio said, grinning at Jean.

  Jean smiled back, “Sounds like a plan to me.”

  “Jean, I didn’t say you were able to.” Dougan picked him up and threw him over his shoulder. “We appreciate your time, Octavio. Alicia, I am sorry to hear about Kael. He was a good man. I have to get this troublemaker home before he ages me to retirement.”

  Jean waved, smiling at Octavio. “See you later, old man!”

  Three days had passed, and Jean was waiting outside of Octavio’s Magical Equipment. The sun hadn’t risen quite yet, and the dreary pre-dawn was a dark mess of fog and heavy atmosphere.

  The last three days went by surprisingly well. Jean apologized to Dougan for the “misunderstanding”, although Jean knew exactly what it was about and just wanted to defuse the tension. Needless to say, he didn’t mention anything about Dougan’s infidelity to Lydia.

  After a long, arduous chat back and forth about becoming a mage, a swordsman, and a craftsman, his parents finally met him with a compromise. He would pick up sword and magic training after his apprenticeship and on his days off. Along with that, he would be attending the small Averis School for Children to learn basic math and writing skills.

  There’s nothing wrong with school, and I wanted to learn magic and the sword anyway. This works out. Plus… mom and dad both looked pretty relieved to have some time for themselves.

  Over the years, Jean has progressed much faster than other children his age. The doctors all say that nothing is wrong, and that he is just a really smart kid, of which Dougan agrees. However, Lydia isn’t sold on that. She thinks that since Jean was a monster drop, he isn’t a kid at all. Still, she seems happy being Jean’s mother and he appreciates that.

  As Jean sat, lost in thought, the sun had already created a thumbnail of light on the horizon. The light created streams of illumination between the store fronts and into the alleyway. Cutting through the fog like a miraculous display of light magic.

  “Good gods, you are already here?” Octavio’s voice echoed from the thoroughfare into the alley. “I said AFTER sunrise boy!”

  “Dad said that if I wanted to do this I had to do it right. I had to be here waiting for the master to arrive.” Jean said, standing up and dusting off his pants. “But… you know how philanderers are with their ideals.”

  Octavio chuckled. “You really should cut your dad a break.” He walked behind Jean, his key ring rattling as he opened the bars that guarded the doorway. “He isn’t all that bad, at least by my Alicia’s standards.”

  “Of course she would say that,” Jean said, turning to walk in, “she's the one he’s philandering!”

  “Come on.” The old man said, holding back a laugh. “Let’s get you acquainted with the workshop.”

  Over the next several days, Octavio showed Jean the different parts of the workshop. There was a leatherworking station for bag making, a gem refining area for making cut gems, a wand station with a plinth that had an adjustable top for holding wands steady as they were made, and an altar that he used to imbue magic power into artifacts.

  There wasn’t much that he was able to do, so he watched the old man work throughout the day. He didn’t have to start his extra training yet, so after working each day he would walk to the forest and grab some decently sized sticks to practice carving.

  “So how is everything going?” Lydia asked as she poured stew into a bowl in front of Jean. “Is Octavio treating you well?”

  “Of course, mom.” Jean said with a half-smile. “I haven’t really been able to do anything yet, but he’s letting me watch him work. It’s actually a little boring.”

  “You have to walk before you run.” Dougan said from across the table. “Octavio is an old soul, he knows the best ways around magical equipment and he is probably just getting you used to how he operates before letting you get your hands dirty.”

  “That’s right, dear.” Lydia said as she sat in chair.

  “By the way Lydia, did you ever find out anything about… you know.” Dougan said, slightly above a whisper.

  “Not now, Dougan.” She said, smiling. Her smile changed, hiding a threat that told him to drop it immediately.

  “Find out about what?” Jean said, looking up from his bowl.

  “Nothing for you to worry about.” Lydia said, her smile easing.

  She has been acting weird for a while. I hope nothing actually happened with Alicia…

  “Changing the topic here, tomorrow you are going to start your sword training.” Dougan said, trying to break the tension. “I would teach you, but your mom told me I wouldn’t be fit as a teacher.” He said, giving her a sideways glance.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “You can’t help the truth, dear.” Lydia said, her smile still looking more rehearsed than genuine.

  Lydia, who has been his mother since he was born, always did what looked like her best to make sure Jean had what he needed in life. Something felt different compared to the other parents that he has seen in public. It was almost like she was keeping him at a distance, at least that is how it appeared to Jean.

  He came to the conclusion that it was just because she didn’t know how to deal with kids that well, but perhaps it was her way of trying.

  “I am still looking for a suitable magic tutor.” Lydia said, breaking the short silence. “I want to make sure you get decent training, after all.”

  The unease that lingered in the air made dinner pass slowly. In the end, Jean picked up his bowl and downed the rest of the stew before heading out the front door.

  “Where are you going at this hour?” Lydia asked. “You can’t go into town by yourself.”

  “Don’t worry,” Jean said, turning back toward her with a smile, “I’ll be outside.”

  He went out of the door and sat under the window of the dining area, reaching under the edge of the cottage to pull out the sticks he had gathered from the forest. He held the sticks in his hand, rolling them each over trying to figure out which one would work best.

  I know I have to carve it, I remember some of the runes the old man used, but then I have to imbue it with magic? How am I supposed to do that without that altar he has?

  He sat in thought for a while, when he got a new notification.

  [Inspect - Level One: Unlocked]

  Inspect?

  [Inspect - Level 1]

  A revelation gives you the ability to understand an item, place, or entity. You can see a small amount of information regarding the item, place, or entity. This effect may change as the level increases.

  Inspect… this stick.

  [Inspect]

  Grottwood Branch

  Rarity: Common

  A branch from a Grottwood tree. This plant is slightly susceptible to magic manipulation.

  Jean sat for a moment, trying to grasp what this meant.

  I should be able to understand a little now, Grottwood are the trees that dad cut down when he was training the other day. Apparently they are pretty common, at least according to this.

  Jean pulled out his knife, and began carving the stick into a uniform rod shape. Taking care to form a handle and the neck, he didn’t have any magic stones, but perhaps he could get by without them.

  “Inspect.”

  [Inspect]

  Grottwood Wand - Basic

  Rarity: Common

  A basic wand created from a Grottwood branch. This wand is slightly susceptible to magic manipulation.

  Charge: None

  Augments: None

  Runes: None

  Grade: F

  Well, at least I know it worked.

  “I told you Lydia, we don’t have to worry about that.” Dougan’s voice came from the window.

  “I needed to make sure, and it looked like I was right.” Lydia said, sounding like a yelled whisper.

  I guess she found out about his infidelity… poor guy.

  “He’s a monster.” She said flatly.

  A monster?

  “Lydia, stop. You are overthinking this.” Dougan said, his tone trying to ease her.

  “I went to the church, the guild, and even the Magic Association, Dougan. I spoke with everyone, he was a monster drop. That means he is literally a dungeon monster, even though he looks like a person.” The sound of her voice crackling. “I can’t keep doing this, what if he evolves into something and attacks? Or even worse, what if he gets so strong we can’t contain him?”

  Jean sat silently, unable to feel anything from the shock of what he just heard.

  “I know, Lydia.” Dougan whispered. “I’ve always had a feeling that was the case, babies are born into this world, he was spawned.”

  The sounds got more muffled as they moved about the house, the sound of their footsteps echoing beneath the cottage.

  I don’t understand, is this why our relationship feels so different compared to the other kids I see? Why… What have I done to them to make them think I am a monster? I don’t– I don’t feel like a monster.

  Feelings started to wash over him as the reality of what he heard started to settle in his mind. Tears filled his eyes, and he sprinted away from the cottage to the forest.

  “I know, Lydia.” Dougan whispered. “I’ve always had a feeling that was the case, babies are born into this world, he was spawned.”

  “Exactly!” Lydia half-shouted. “He was SPAWNED as a dungeon drop by the dungeon itself.”

  “So?” Dougan asked, scratching his head. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “What do you mean? Are you dense or something?” Lydia groaned.

  “If anyone is dense it’s you, Lydia.” Dougan said flatly, standing up. “How he came into being doesn’t matter. He’s a five year-old child, our child.”

  “Don’t you walk away, Dougan. You need to understand this.” Lydia shouted.

  “No, Lydia. I don’t.” He walked toward the door and stepped outside.

  “What an idiot, how can he not understand?” Lydia whispered to herself. “How can us finding a baby in a loot chest, just be normal to him?”

  “Lydia… Can you come out here.” Dougan said, his voice echoing through the window.

  Lydia ran out of the door, circling around the side of the cottage to where Dougan was standing. Outside of the house, under the window they were just talking near, laid shavings and sticks where Jean was sitting only a short time before.

  Dougan walked back around the edge of the cottage. “He’s gone.”

  “Where did he go?” Lydia whispered.

  “Who knows.” He looked up at the window. “I think he overheard everything, that’s just great.”

  Lydia covered her mouth, the realization of what just happened washing over her. “No, he didn’t run away did he?”

  “Honestly, I’d be more surprised if he heard that and was still here.” Dougan said flatly. “You really need to learn to stop before you get carried away. Like I said, he’s a five year-old kid. And now, who knows where he ran off to.”

  Dougan walked back inside the cottage, Lydia following close behind. “What are you doing? We need to go find him!” She shouted.

  “How, Lydia? It’s dark, and he can literally be anywhere.” Dougan said, sitting in a chair at the table with his face in his hands.

  “Fine, I’ll do it.” Lydia said, running back out of the house.

  For over an hour, he could hear her calling his name in the darkness. Until finally, she came in covered in tears and dirt. “He’s– I can’t find him…”

  Dougan stood up, wrapping her in a hug. “He’ll be alright, he’s a strong kid. We will look for him in the morning.”

  They sat embraced until Lydia fell asleep in Dougan’s arms.

  “You can be so sweet, but I guess this is the curse of high intelligence… periodic insanity.” Dougan whispered, moving her hair from her face. “Our kid will be alright. We just need to find him.”

  In the forest, Jean had found a felled tree with the core rotten out and pulled in some moss. Him working on something helped take his mind off of what just happened at the cottage. But as the night progressed, his new reality was settling in his mind.

  I can’t be a monster…

  The sunrise and warm mist of the morning woke Jean up. He was still nestled inside the hollow tree, when he realized something important… he was late.

  “I’m going to be late!” He jumped to his feet and ran away from the forest, back toward the shops on the thoroughfare.

  The store was already open, so he moved the curtains out of the way and ran inside.

  “I’m sorry I’m late!” He yelled as he walked into the back room.

  “Don’t worry, I just finished opening the store.” Octavio said, as he turned toward Jean. “Why do you look like you fought your way through a stable… and lost?”

  Jean looked down at himself, his pants covered in dirt, leaves, and wood chips.

  “Sorry…” He said.

  “One moment.” Octavio said, his wand materializing. “Cleanse.”

  A warm wind swirled around Jean, his dirty clothes turning clean and the dirt and debris falling to the floor. Leaving him feeling like he just took a bath.

  “There, now you won’t scare the customers away.” The old man said, chuckling. “Care to share what happened?”

  “It’s nothing.” Jean said, looking down. “Is there anything I can help you with today?”

  I don’t want to burden him with my problems, everything will work out. I’m not as upset as I was yesterday, but I still don’t understand why she called me a monster. Maybe I did something wrong, but I… I don’t know.

  “Hmm…” Octavio said, rubbing his chin. “How about this, grab a piece of Grottwood over there and try your hand at carving a basic wand. You’ve seen me using pretty much everything around the workshop, I think it’s time you get a little hands-on experience.”

  Jeans face lit up, “Really?”

  “Go for it. Let me know when you are done, I’ll be out front if you need anything.”

  An hour went by, using the tools Octavio had was much easier than the old knife he had at home.

  “Inspect.”

  [Inspect]

  Grottwood Wand - Basic+

  Rarity: Common

  A basic wand created from a Grottwood branch, made with magical tooling. This wand is slightly susceptible to magic manipulation.

  Charge: None

  Augments: None

  Runes: None

  Grade: F+

  What does the plus mean? Is it better now? These tools are nice, but I don’t feel any type of magic coming from them.

  “How is everything coming along?” Octavio asked as he came in. “Oh, wow.” He held out his hand, which Jean placed the wand into.

  “This is…” He said, looking the wand over. “This is very nice. Have you done this before?”

  “I have been practicing on sticks, using a knife. Your tools definitely made the job easier.” Jean said, a little bit of pride filling his chest.

  “Well, congratulations on a job well done. Now, let’s try adding some magic into it.” He said, walking over to the altar in the corner.

  “All you need to do is place it in the magic circle here, and channel some of your magic into it.” Octavio said, handing the wand back to Jean.

  “Channel magic?” Jean asked, placing the wand on the ornate circle carved into the stone tablet atop the altar.

  “Yes, just hold out your hands and let your magic flow into it.” He said, stepping back.

  Just… let my magic flow into it?

  Jean held out his hand, trying to feel his magic. Unsure if the altar itself was the cause, but it felt almost like a vacuum was trying to pull something toward the stone tablet.

  After a moment, a warm feeling felt like it was moving from his chest to his hands. Like water pouring down a roof, the vacuum sipping the magic from his fingertips.

  “Great job!” Octavio exclaimed. “Now pick it up from the tablet and see how it feels.”

  Jean grabbed the wand, an energy pulsing from it in his hand.

  The bell on the counter rang.

  “Ah. I’ll be right back. Great job, Jean! I’m proud of you, that was immaculate work!” Octavio said, heading back toward the lobby.

  “Inspect.”

  [Inspect]

  Grottwood Wand - Basic+

  Rarity: Uncommon

  A basic magical wand created from a Grottwood branch, made with magical tooling. This wand can assist with casting spells up to rank 1.

  Charge: Mana

  Augments: None

  Runes: None

  Grade: G+

  Now it’s a magical wand… so this is a finished wand. I made a magic wand… completely by myself…

  “Hey Jean, someone wanted to speak with you. Can you come up here, please?” Octavio’s voice rang out from the front.

  “Hey, kid.” Alicia said. “Someone’s looking for you.”