"Father, I'm serious!" I insisted, my small hands gripping the edge of his desk.
Count Merendez, a man rarely moved by emotion, raised an eyebrow at my outburst. "You want me to give you craftsmen, money, and a shop? Akio, you're seven. Your brother Elias didn't even get his first private tutor until he was ten."
I sighed, trying to temper my frustration. "This isn't about just me, Father. It's about the family, the kingdom. You've seen what I can do. If you give me resources now, I promise you'll see results."
For a moment, the room was silent. Then, to my surprise, Father leaned back and laughed.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that," he said. "Fine. I'll give you five craftsmen, ten gold coins, and one of the smaller workshops in the town. But if you waste it, you'll answer to me."
I nearly jumped with excitement. "Thank you, Father! You won't regret this."
The Workshop and the Goal
The workshop wasn't much—a dusty, dimly lit building on the outskirts of town—but it was mine. The five craftsmen, all middle-aged men with years of experience, looked less than enthusiastic about working for a child.
"This better not be a waste of time," one of them muttered as I laid out my plans.
"It won't be," I assured them. "We're going to create something that everyone in the kingdom will want. Something even nobles will envy."
Their skepticism didn't disappear, but they agreed to give me a chance.
The goal? Soap and deodorant. It might not sound impressive, but in a world where only nobles could afford cleaning spells, these products could revolutionize daily life for merchants, soldiers, and the middle class.
Three Months of Progress
The first month was all trial and error. Making soap wasn't as simple as I'd imagined. We needed to experiment with fats, oils, and lye, which wasn't exactly easy to source. Several batches failed spectacularly, leaving us with nothing but foul-smelling sludge.
Emilia visited during one particularly messy day and wrinkled her nose at the sight of me covered in soot and oil.
"You look like a chimney sweep," she teased.
"Laugh all you want," I shot back. "This stuff will make me rich one day."
By the second month, we had our first successful batch of soap. It was rough and unrefined, but it worked. The craftsmen, who had been doubting me all along, started to come around.
"Not bad, kid," one of them admitted. "What's next?"
"Deodorant," I replied, already sketching out ideas for a simple, powder-based formula.
The Magician's Arrival
Halfway through the third month, Father surprised me with a visit. He wasn't alone.
"This is Adeon," he said, gesturing to a tall, wiry man in deep blue robes. "A Fifth Circle magician specializing in production spells. He'll assist you with your work."
I stared at the magician, who gave me a polite nod.
"Production spells?" I asked.
Adeon smiled faintly. "Spells that enhance efficiency in crafting, manufacturing, and agriculture. For example…" He waved a hand, and the air shimmered around one of the soap molds. The process sped up dramatically, solidifying the soap in seconds.
"Impressive," I admitted, though inwardly I was already thinking about how to use him more effectively.
Magic and Its Masters
That evening, Adeon gave me a crash course in magical history.
"The world's magical hierarchy is divided into circles," he began. "The first and second circles are for beginners—apprentices and novices."
I nodded, already familiar with the basics.
"By the third circle, a mage is considered competent, capable of performing advanced spells and serving as a generalist. Fourth-circle mages often lead armies or advise nobles. Fifth-circle mages, like myself, are rare—only one in ten thousand have the talent to reach this level unaided."
"What about higher levels?" I asked.
Adeon's expression grew serious. "The sixth circle is the domain of high mages—academy instructors and researchers. Seventh-circle mages are prodigies, often shaping the magical advancements of their generation. At the eighth circle, we enter the realm of grandmasters, who are capable of feats that border on the divine.
"Ninth-circle mages are legends. The kingdom's Magnus, an elf who has lived for over three centuries, is one such figure. And the tenth circle… Well, few beings in history have reached that pinnacle. The greatest dragons, and perhaps a handful of elves and fairies, have attained such power."
"And the eleventh circle?"
Adeon hesitated. "That is a story of caution, not inspiration. Five centuries ago, the Dragon King—a being of unparalleled might—reached this level. He could bend time itself. It took an alliance of the world's greatest mages, including three tenth-circle magi, to defeat him. Entire branches of magic were lost in the battle, along with countless lives."
A New Era
By the end of the third month, the workshop was producing enough soap and deodorant to start selling. The products were a hit among merchants and minor nobles, who were eager for a cheaper alternative to cleaning spells.
Father visited again, this time with a look of approval.
"You've done well, Akio," he said. "Better than I expected."
His praise was short-lived, however. "This success brings new responsibilities. As of today, you are officially my heir. Elias will focus on his magic, but you will lead this family into the future."
Elias, who had accompanied him, smiled warmly. "I always knew you'd surpass me, little brother."
I swallowed hard, the weight of the title settling on my shoulders. Heir to the count's estate. It wasn't what I'd planned, but it was an opportunity I couldn't ignore.
"Thank you, Father," I said. "I won't let you down."
As I looked around the bustling workshop, filled with the hum of progress and promise, I couldn't help but feel like this was just the beginning.
Ha guys author here still no one's read yet but that's fine so I know it's a fast pace story sorry it's just this is not big part of the story and needs to go by decently fast.
Ps please put down some power stones and more importantly comment what kind of worlds you want what type of characters you know that type of comments