Chapter 4: City of Artisans and Awkward Introductions
"Wake up, sleepyhead," came Marna's voice, accompanied by a gentle nudge. Kei groaned softly and rubbed his eyes. Dawn's first light was just filtering blue and misty through the trees. Around him, the camp was already stirring—Brenna stamping out the last campfire embers, Fara feeding Bessie, others repacking the wagon.
Kei sat up, stretching away the stiffness of sleeping on the ground. Despite the early hour, his heart started thumping with anticipation. Today they'd reach Anderun City.
A quick breakfast of bread and dried fruit was had, and the caravan got moving as the sun climbed. Marna opted to walk alongside the wagon now, chatting with Bethel and Sorcha, while Kei remained on the bench with Fara and Brenna (Lina had traded to a walking position).
As they crested the big hill that the rangers had mentioned, a collective gasp rose from the group. Before them, still a few miles out but clearly visible in the morning haze, sprawled Anderun.
To Kei's eyes, accustomed to modern Earth cities of concrete and steel, Anderun looked like something from a fantasy painting come to life. Stately stone walls encircled a vast urban expanse. The city's skyline was an eclectic mix: ornate spires and minarets rose high, some topped with rotating windcatchers or glinting magical beacons; plumes of smoke and steam curled upward from clusters of workshops; and beyond the walls, he could see farmland and villas dotting the landscape.
Even from this distance, the city looked alive and bustling. The main road they were on led straight to a grand gate in the walls. Through it, Kei glimpsed a tapestry of movement—tiny figures (mostly women, he presumed) moving through the streets, carts and wagons going in and out. Overhead, a few winged shapes flitted; perhaps messenger hawks or even small flying constructs carrying letters.
Kei's breath caught at the sight of his new "home" to be. It was both intimidating and exhilarating. Anderun was many times larger than Rosewallow, a true metropolis.
He also felt a stab of nerves. In that metropolis waited opportunity and likely chaos, especially because of him. Unbeknownst to Kei (though not for long), word of a male traveler had indeed preceded them—thanks to a courier pigeon sent by an eager villager—and the city's rumor mill had been anxiously awaiting his arrival.
Marna placed a hand on his shoulder as the wagon paused briefly to take in the view. "Impressive, isn't it? Anderun's one of the largest cities in the queendom. The heart of craftsmanship around here."
"It's... incredible," Kei managed, eyes wide. There was so much to take in that he didn't know where to focus: the sun glinting off a golden-domed building, the faint sound of a distant bell, or the sheer size of the outer bazaar that sprawled just outside the gate where colorful tents were visible.
He was excited but also anxious. "And we're going through that?" he asked in a small voice, nodding toward the gates teeming with traffic.
"Aye," Fara said. "We'll be in the city within the hour. It'll be busy, so stick close."
Busy was an understatement. As they neared Anderun's gates, the dirt road turned to smooth cobblestone wide enough for five wagons abreast. Stalls and vendors lined the approach outside the walls, forming a lively outer market. Predominantly female crowds flowed around, merchants hawking wares, travelers of all sorts queuing to enter or depart.
Almost immediately, whispers trailed the wagon. Kei's hood was up (Marna had advised him to keep it on for as long as possible upon entry, just to avoid an immediate mob), but keen eyes still caught sight of his face when the hood slipped or when they passed close.
"Is that... a boy?" he heard a gasp from a fishmonger's stand as they rolled by.
"It must be the one the pigeon message was about," someone else murmured.
"He's here! The new male!" squealed a young girl perched on a fence, kicking her legs excitedly.
Ah, so the courier pigeon rumor truly had flown ahead. Kei felt a mix of trepidation and reluctant amusement. He wondered if someone had exaggerated his description in rumor—some people seemed to be looking for a seven-foot-tall prince, judging by the way they squinted until their eyes found him.
By the time the wagon passed under the immense stone arch of the city gate, Kei felt dozens of eyes on him. Two gate guards in polished breastplates all but tripped over themselves when they glimpsed his face beneath the hood.
"Halt! Er, I mean—welcome!" one guard blurted, a flush creeping up her neck. After a flustered moment checking Fara's entry documents (barely glancing at them), the guards waved them through hurriedly. One of them couldn't resist murmuring as they passed, "Blessings upon you, sir," with an awed little bow of her head. Kei responded with an awkward nod and thanks, which caused the guard to practically beam.
And then they were inside.
Kei's senses were immediately assaulted—in the best way—by the city. The streets were paved and remarkably clean, though packed with people at this hour. Tall buildings of stone and timber rose three or four stories on either side of the main thoroughfare, many with shops at ground level whose doors were propped open, displaying goods and inviting in customers. Signs swung overhead depicting guild crests and trade symbols. He saw seamstresses' shops with dresses in the windows, a bakery exuding the scent of fresh bread, a blacksmith hammering away openly on an anvil in a side alley, sparks flying.
And the noise—women calling out to each other, laughing, bargaining. Somewhere a street performer was playing a flute tune that mingled with the clatter of horse (and other beast) hooves and the rumble of cart wheels on stone. It was vibrant and alive.
Yet, as the wagon trundled deeper into the city, all that hustle and bustle increasingly took on a focal point: him. It started subtly—hushed gasps, a ripple of silence cutting through conversations as he passed, then excited chatter trailing in their wake.
Within minutes, a small procession of onlookers had formed, mostly youths and apprentices who abandoned whatever they were doing to follow at a respectful distance and gawk. Some were whispering to each other, some just outright staring open-mouthed. Kei did his best to keep his eyes forward and pretend he didn't notice, but it was impossible not to feel the intensity of their fascination.
Marna walked slightly behind the wagon, a deliberate choice so that Kei appeared to be "independent" rather than under escort. This was advice Helena had given via the pigeon message: let the boy enter on his own standing to seem more approachable. The effect was indeed that Kei looked like a free young traveler arriving, which only fueled the crowd's curiosity further.
Whispered remarks floated to his ears from the throng along the street:
"Goddess above, he's real. And so cute!"
"Look at his hair, it's like ink. Do you think he's a noble from abroad?"
"I heard he fixed an entire village's fences in a day!"
"Hah, no, I heard he fought off a bear single-handed!"
(Kei nearly choked at that one—who was coming up with these wild rumors?)
A few braver souls approached as the wagon occasionally slowed for traffic. One was a stout older woman in an apron who bustled up with a small basket. "Welcome to Anderun, young man!" she called, rosy-cheeked. She plucked a sugared bun from the basket and all but thrust it at Kei. "On the house—please, enjoy!"
Kei, flushing, accepted the treat with both hands. "Thank you very much, ma'am," he replied sincerely. The fact that he responded at all seemed to send a ripple of delight through nearby onlookers. The older woman actually blushed as if she were the one being honored, and she retreated giggling with some other bakers.
Marna covered her smile with her hand, whispering up to Kei, "Might as well eat it now, dear, before more arrive."
She was right. Within moments, a trio of young craft apprentices—soot-stained and wide-eyed—trotted up. They each offered him something small: one shyly handed a single red flower, another pressed a piece of wrapped candy into his palm, the third, bolder girl said, "These are good-luck charms I made, please take one!" and tied a little woven bracelet of red string around his wrist before he could protest.
Kei barely had time to say thank you before they scurried back, breaking into excited giggles with their friends. He noticed many women in the crowd nodding in approval and cooing as if the entire exchange were the sweetest thing they'd ever seen.
Already his hands were getting full. He quickly bit into the sugared bun (it was delicious, by the way—fluffy and still warm) so that he could free one hand to hold the flower and candy and any future offerings. This polite, almost timid reaction of his—accepting gifts with a bowed head and quiet thanks—only fueled the city folk's fascination. Whispers of "soft-spoken" and "so polite" and "adorable" swirled around him. Kei wasn't sure he'd ever stop blushing at this rate.
Nevertheless, under the embarrassment, he felt a certain resolve hardening: he would have to get used to this if he wanted to function here. With effort, he tried to see the humor in it. Back home, he had been invisible; here he was practically a celebrity just for existing. There was a gentle comedy to the universe flipping his circumstances so completely.
"Almost there," Marna murmured discreetly as the wagon turned onto a broad avenue lined with trees and stately buildings. Ahead, at the end of the street, loomed an impressive structure of stone and wrought iron: the Anderun Artisan Guild Hall.
Kei recognized it immediately from Marna's description. It occupied an entire city block. The building was three stories tall and built from handsome white stone, with large arched windows along its façade. Banners displaying the crossed hammer-and-quill guild emblem hung from the second floor, fluttering in the breeze. The main entrance was a grand set of double doors reached by a short flight of marble steps. Even from outside, Kei could hear the faint din of activity within—clanging metal, a buzz of voices, maybe the whir of some machinery.
In front of the guild hall, a spacious courtyard opened up, providing a bit of respite from the narrow streets. It was paved with mosaic tiles depicting scenes of crafting: a woman at a forge, a weaver at a loom, a mage enchanting an amulet. There were benches and a fountain where a few people (mostly guild members in their work aprons, it looked like) were taking a break.
The moment Kei's wagon rolled into this courtyard, all eyes turned to them. It was hard to miss the entrance of a small caravan with a male passenger in plain sight. Conversations among the guild apprentices and masters outside halted as if someone had pressed pause. Kei felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back.
One of the apprentices—a girl with soot on her face and goggles perched on her head—nearly dropped the box she was carrying. Another, who had been lounging by the fountain, sprang to her feet, whispering "Is that…?" to her companion.
Marna stepped forward to take the lead now. Fara drew the wagon to a stop and hopped down, giving Kei a nod and a smile as if to say good luck.
Kei carefully climbed off the wagon as well, legs a bit wobbly from nerves and the long ride. He straightened his cloak, clutching in one hand the small collection of tokens (flower, candy, etc.) he'd been given. He realized belatedly he probably looked a sight—travel-worn clothes, arms full of miscellaneous gifts, a half-eaten bun in one hand. Great first impression, he thought wryly.
But there was little time to fret. The guild hall's doors opened, and out strode a formidable figure who could only be Guild Master Helena.
Helena was in her mid-fifties and cut an imposing silhouette. Tall and solidly built, she wore a tailored burgundy artisan's coat with rolled sleeves, exposing forearms crisscrossed with old burn scars and ink stains. Her dark grey hair was piled in a loose bun, and a pair of brass spectacles perched on her nose. Sharp eyes—keen and assessing—took in the scene.
Marna's face broke into a grin at the sight of her friend. "Helena!" she called, waving.
Helena's stern expression transformed into one of astonishment and delight as she spotted Marna and then Kei beside her. She hastened forward down the steps, two assistants trailing behind trying to keep up.
Marna inclined her head respectfully but also moved in for a hug, which Helena returned warmly. They greeted each other with fond familiarity, but Helena's gaze kept flicking to Kei, her eyes alight with curiosity.
Kei took a steadying breath. Time to make a good impression. He stepped forward and bowed politely. "Guild Master Helena, I presume? I'm Kieran Beckett, though everyone calls me Kei. Thank you for welcoming us." His voice came out a bit quieter than he intended, but clear.
Helena stepped back from hugging Marna and looked at Kei squarely. The courtyard had gone silent around them; all those apprentices were watching this historic meeting with bated breath.
Then, to Kei's surprise, Helena performed a deep bow—deeper than his. It was a gesture of respect typically reserved for dignitaries. Gasps rippled through the onlookers. Kei quickly tried to bow even lower, alarmed at being bowed to by someone of her stature, but Helena straightened and held up a hand with a slight smile.
"Welcome to Anderun, Kieran Beckett," Helena said in a strong, clear voice that carried across the courtyard. "On behalf of the Artisan's Guild, allow me to say it is an honor to meet you. We are delighted you've come."
Kei was taken aback by such a formal welcome. He expected curiosity or even skepticism, but Helena was treating him like visiting royalty. He managed to respond, "Th-thank you, Guild Master. It's an honor to be here. I hope to learn and contribute as much as I can."
A small smile twitched at Helena's lips—she seemed pleased by his humble, earnest reply. She nodded. "I have no doubt you will." Then she swept an arm toward the open doors. "Come, let's continue inside. No need to have our important conversation on the street for every eavesdropper." She cast a mildly chiding glance around at the apprentices who had been gawking. Some flushed and pretended to busy themselves. With that, Helena turned and led the way in.
Marna shot Kei a reassuring look and gently nudged him to follow right behind Helena. He did so, ascending the few marble steps. As he passed by the cluster of apprentices at the fountain, they murmured greetings—one brave soul whispered "Welcome, sir!" and Kei gave a polite smile and nod that nearly caused the poor girl to faint.
Inside, the guild hall foyer took Kei's breath away. It was a vast open space with a high vaulted ceiling crisscrossed by wooden beams from which hung large glass lanterns glowing with steady white light. The floor was polished dark wood, strewn with overlapping rugs near sitting areas where a few crafters were chatting (until they noticed Kei and went silent, of course).
The walls were adorned with beautiful displays of craft: a row of masterwork swords, a tapestry depicting the founding of the guild, shelves with intricate pottery and clockwork devices ticking softly. It was part museum, part meeting hall.
Dozens of guild members milled about—apprentices in simple tunics, journeymen with the guild emblem pinned to their vests, a couple of older master artisans with long braids or elaborate toolbelts. As Kei and the group entered, a wave of awed whispers and gasps swept through like wind through grass.
Helena cleared her throat pointedly. "Alright, alright. Back to your stations, everyone. Don't you all have work to do?" Her tone was authoritative but had a hint of humor. The hall's occupants jolted into motion, many trying not to stare too blatantly at Kei as they dispersed.
One young woman carrying a stack of books was so busy craning her neck at Kei that she bumped into a pillar, sending her books tumbling. Kei instinctively hurried to help her pick them up, kneeling and gathering a couple of tomes. The apprentice's face turned crimson as she stammered thanks and scurried off, her friends practically dragging her away while casting incredulous looks at Kei's helpfulness.
Helena watched that little scene with raised eyebrows and a growing smile. "My, my. Helpful too, I see."
Marna laughed under her breath. "You expected anything less?"
Helena shook her head, then addressed Kei directly, voice kindly. "Please, make yourself at home, Kei. The guild is your guild now. We will of course arrange for your training, lodging, and anything you need. Officially, you're now an apprentice of the Artisan's Guild of Anderun."
Kei felt a rush of emotion at those words. It was exactly what he had hoped—to be accepted for training just like anyone else. "Thank you. I—I'll do my best not to disappoint," he said earnestly.
Helena actually chuckled. "I suspect you'll exceed expectations, if what Marna's told me about your enthusiasm is true."
Kei gave Marna a side-eye of affectionate accusation. "What did you tell her?"
Marna grinned. "Only the truth: that you're as passionate a young crafter as I've ever seen, and as modest as you are talented."
Kei groaned softly, embarrassed. Helena and Marna both laughed. The sound of two older women merrily teasing him in tandem made Kei realize he might have just acquired another "aunt" of sorts in Helena.
As they moved further into the hall, Helena signaled to one of her assistants. A lanky teen girl in an ink-stained smock came running up, nearly skidding on the polished floor in her haste.
"Fiona!" Helena called. "There you are. I want you to meet someone."
Kei looked curiously as the girl named Fiona approached. She was around his age, maybe a year or two younger, with a spray of freckles across her cheeks and bright amber eyes. Her hair was a vivid red-orange, pulled into two messy braids that stuck out in a rather endearing way. She had a smudge of grease on her chin and was wiping her hands on a rag, as if she'd been working in a machine shop or something similar.
When Fiona saw Kei, she froze in place. Her eyes got so wide it was almost comical behind her goggles. "I-It's— oh wow, it's true," she breathed, clearly flabbergasted.
Helena cleared her throat, a hint of amusement on her face. "Fiona, this is Kei. He'll be joining the apprentice cohort. Kei, this is my niece, Fiona. She's a second-year apprentice here and one of our most promising tinkers."
Fiona remained starstruck for a second longer, then seemed to remember her manners. She hastily pulled off her leather work gloves and wiped her palms on her smock, then bobbed an awkward curtsey. "Welcome, uh, welcome to the guild, sir! I mean, Kei! It's so, so cool to meet— I mean, it's an honor—" She stumbled over her words, face turning nearly as red as her hair. Finally, she just blurted out, "I'm Fiona. Hi."
Something about her overeager, stumbling greeting put Kei at ease—she was as nervous as he was, if not more. He gave her a warm, disarming smile. "Hi, Fiona. It's nice to meet you. And please, just Kei is fine. I'm an apprentice too, right? We're going to be classmates."
Fiona's face lit up at that, the tension breaking. "Classmates...! Right! Haha, yes, of course!" She flashed a grin, revealing a slight gap between her front teeth that somehow made her look even more endearing and genuine. "Oh wow, I've never had a, um, boy in class. This is wild. I mean, great! This is great." She was bouncing on the balls of her feet a little, clearly brimming with excitement.
Helena put a hand on her niece's shoulder to steady her. "Fiona, how about you give Kei a little tour while I speak with Marna and get his administrative details sorted? Show him the dormitory and the common workspaces, perhaps."
Fiona straightened up, eyes shining. "Absolutely! I can do that, yes!"
Helena looked to Kei. "Would that be alright with you? I'm sure you're eager to see the place. And it might be nicer to have someone your own age show you around while we old folks chatter."
"I'd love that," Kei said honestly. Fiona's contagious enthusiasm was making him feel excited too.
Marna put a gentle hand on Kei's arm. "I'll catch up with you soon, dear. I need to go over some paperwork with Helena. You go enjoy the tour."
Kei nodded. He realized Marna was probably going to formally hand over his introduction letter or discuss arrangements with Helena. He felt a pang of gratitude again—Marna had done so much for him so selflessly.
And so, with Helena and Marna heading off to a side office, Kei found himself being eagerly guided through the guild hall by Fiona.
"All right, where to start!" Fiona chattered as they walked. She seemed to have an endless well of energy. "This here is the main atrium—you saw some of it. To the left is the mess hall, where we eat. You can smell breakfast still lingering, haha. To the right is the assembly hall for meetings and presentations. But lemme show you the workshops! That's the fun part."
She led him down a wide corridor off the atrium. As soon as they turned the corner, the sounds of industry grew louder. They passed through an open archway and Kei found himself in a cavernous workshop space that took up what must have been half of the ground floor.
It was glorious chaos. Dozens of artisans were at work: in one corner, sparks flew as a woman welded metal strips; across the way, two young enchanters were bent over an array of glowing runes on a table, carefully inscribing something; near a row of anvils, several smiths were hammering away at various projects, the clang of metal ringing rhythmically.
The air smelled of hot metal, sawdust, and magical ozone. Large windows along one wall let in natural light and, combined with skylights, kept the workshop well-lit and airy despite the clutter.
Kei's eyes shone. This was the heart of it—a place where magic and craft coexisted. Half-finished inventions and tools hung from racks or lay on benches. One area had a line of looms and spinning wheels (textile section, presumably) while another was lined with pottery wheels and a big kiln in the back (ceramics section).
He realized after a moment that most of the active work had actually ground to a halt—many of the craftspeople had paused to stare at him. An older smith had her hammer suspended mid-swing as she openly gawked. A young enchantress accidentally let a quill continue drawing a rune off-target because her eyes weren't on her work (her partner elbowed her sharply to refocus, shooting Kei an apologetic yet amused glance).
Fiona, noticing the lull, put her hands on her hips and raised her voice in a surprisingly commanding tone for her stature. "Alright folks, show's over! He's an apprentice like me, not a dragon. Get back to work before Mistress Bellows comes in and scolds the lot of us!"
A few of the onlookers had the grace to look embarrassed and laughter rippled through the workshop at Fiona's cheek. The normal noise cautiously resumed. Kei gave Fiona a grateful smile. He hadn't quite mastered that firm tone she used—she treated them like siblings rather than living legends, which was refreshing.
Fiona winked. "Don't mind them. You're probably the first guy to step foot in here since, like, Master Leander visited from the capital twenty years ago, and he's an old man. None of us have seen a boy our own age in here, ever. They'll get used to you soon."
Kei nodded. "I figured as much. It's okay. I... I honestly can't blame them for being curious." He himself would be gawking if roles were reversed.
Fiona proceeded to show him around the various sections of the workshop, introducing him to a few people as they went. Her manner put Kei at ease; she was talkative and bubbly enough for both of them, filling silences with fun facts and jokes.
"And here's the woodshop—smells good, right?" Fiona gestured to a side room where lathes and saws were arranged. A couple of apprentices were carving a chair leg together, stealing glances at Kei as he passed. "We've got pedal-driven lathes and a magic-powered one that Master Oren built last year, see? It can turn on its own when you channel mana, super neat for precision work."
Kei practically had to drag himself away from admiring the clever mechanism of the enchanted lathe. Fiona giggled. "Oh, you like? You'll have plenty of time to play with it later. I know that look—you're already figuring out how it works, aren't you?"
He sheepishly admitted, "Maybe a little."
She teased, "I almost forgot you're a celebrity because you seem more interested in gears and wood than the fact that you're the only guy here."
Kei laughed sheepishly, easing the tension as they continued the tour and started forming a genuine friendship.
During the tour, however, Kei did make a small cultural misstep. Fiona brought him over to meet a master craftswoman who was overseeing the metal shop—a burly woman with a thick braid of black hair and kind, if surprised, eyes.
"This is Master Elina," Fiona introduced. "She's our metallurgy master. Master Elina, this is Kei."
Kei, falling back on old habits, extended his hand to shake, just as he would have done meeting someone in his old world. The motion caused a few nearby apprentices to suck in their breath—apparently this was not the norm.
Master Elina blinked in surprise at his offered hand, a brief awkward beat passing. In this society, men of Kei's apparent status typically waited for the woman to initiate any greeting, often with a bow or a gentle pat on the shoulder. Kei had effectively flipped the script by sticking his hand out first.
Realizing his error as the master craftswoman looked at his hand, Kei felt panic spike in him. He began to withdraw it and bow instead, stammering, "Oh! I'm sorry, I—"
But Master Elina let out a hearty chuckle before he could finish. With a warm smile, she clasped his extended hand between both of hers briefly, then—much to Kei's surprise—reached up and patted him on the head as one might an innocent youth. "What a polite gesture, Kei. No need to apologize," she said kindly. "We'll smooth out the etiquette later. We're just happy to have you with us." She didn't seem offended in the least; if anything, she looked charmed by his earnest handshake attempt.
Fiona exhaled in relief and grinned. The crisis was no crisis at all, thanks to Master Elina's graciousness.
As they walked away, Fiona leaned in and explained softly, "Handshakes aren't common from men here. Usually you'd bow or wait for us to reach out first. But don't worry—many will overlook mistakes because, well, men often aren't taught all the formalities deeply. They're usually shielded from that stuff."
Kei felt a mix of gratitude and irritation at that implication. Grateful that people would forgive his social blunders, but irritated at the idea that men weren't taught etiquette "because they're shielded." Once again, coddling reared its head. "I'll learn quickly," he said with a determined nod. "I don't want to make everyone accommodate me more than they already are."
Fiona gave him a thumbs up. "I'm sure you will. But truly, don't stress. Today's an exception—everyone's excited. By tomorrow or next week, we'll be back to normal training routines and you'll just be one of us. Well, one of us who has an army of fangirls," she joked, pointing her thumb at two junior apprentices peeking around a doorframe at Kei and giggling.
Kei sighed, though he smiled. "Great. Exactly what I was missing in life."
Fiona laughed and patted his shoulder. "Better get used to it, Friendly Boy." She had overheard someone use that moniker in the hall earlier after seeing how politely Kei spoke to everyone, and it seemed to amuse her. Kei wondered with chagrin how fast that little nickname would spread (if only she knew the System had literally titled him that).
By late afternoon, Kei had been shown the apprentice dormitory—an entire wing of the guild hall upstairs. Normally apprentices bunked four to a room, but naturally, the guild had set aside a private chamber for Kei's use. Fiona swung open the door to a cozy little bedroom.
To accommodate him, the guild had truly gone above and beyond: the room was comfortably furnished to the point of excess. A bed piled with fine linens and an extra quilt, a wardrobe already stocked with a few sets of tailored apprentice uniforms (someone had estimated his measurements, apparently), a washbasin with not just a pitcher of water but a small magical stone that kept the water warm, even a writing desk with a brand-new notebook and pen awaiting him.
They had also installed an extra lock on the inside of the door—something no other apprentice room had. And on the nightstand was a curious small glass orb. Fiona pointed to it, explaining, "That's a call orb. If you need help or feel unsafe, just tap it twice and it'll alert the matrons. Not that you'll need it, but, um, guild regulations for male residents and all."
Kei sighed as he examined the orb. A small engraving read "For Aid – Press Twice." He appreciated the thought behind it, but it hammered home how differently he was being treated.
He set down the various keepsakes he'd collected (the city flower, gifts, etc.) on his desk and took a moment to soak in the fact that this was his new living space. "This is too much," he said quietly. "It's more comfortable than I'm used to. I don't know how I feel about being pampered like this."
Fiona bit her lip, watching him carefully. "You... don't like it? We can remove anything that makes you uncomfortable."
"No, no, it's not that," Kei assured quickly. "It's wonderful. I'm grateful. Truly. I guess I just feel a bit… guilty? There are dozens of apprentices who have to share rooms and haul hot water for baths, and here I am with a private room and a magical warm water stone." He gave a half-smile. "It feels like I'm being difficult without having done anything to earn it."
Fiona looked at him as if he'd sprouted another head. She shook her head vigorously. "Kei, trust me, no one begrudges you this. If anything, lots of the girls were clamoring to volunteer to be your roommate or to fetch things for you." She giggled at his horrified expression. "The matrons decided it's best you have your own room for everyone's sanity. And safety, I suppose. Besides, think of it this way: you being comfortable and happy is in everyone's interest. If that means an extra quilt and some warm water, then so be it."
Kei ran a hand through his hair, still not entirely comfortable but seeing her point. "I just hope I don't come across as... spoiled. I really don't want special treatment beyond what's needed."
Fiona gave him a surprisingly stern look, planting her hands on her hips. "Now you listen. It's not you demanding this treatment. It's us giving it because we want to, and because it's how our society operates for now. We all know you're not some bratty prince." Her eyes twinkled. "You fixed a fence and washed dishes in a village, for crying out loud. Everyone's heard that by now."
Kei groaned playfully and flopped face-down onto the plush bed in embarrassment, muffling a response into the pillow. Fiona laughed and poked him. "Hey, don't suffocate yourself!"
He rolled over, staring at the ceiling. "It's just… a lot to take in."
"I know," Fiona said sympathetically, sitting on the edge of the bed. "But you're doing great, honestly. People here already adore you, and not just because you're a guy. They adore how shy and earnest you are. It's sort of a relief, I think, for many. They half expected you to arrive and be either terrified or arrogantly thinking you're better than us."
Kei frowned. "Why would I think that?"
"Well, because some rare men are raised to think they're little princes whose feet can't touch the ground," Fiona said matter-of-factly. "You're clearly not like that. It's... refreshing." She bumped his shoulder with hers lightly. "Anyway, give it a week. The shock will die down, and then we'll all be too busy studying and crafting to gawk at you constantly."
Kei certainly hoped so.
A soft knock came at the open door then. It was Marna, peeking in with a gentle smile. "There's my boy," she chimed. "Settling in alright?"
Fiona hopped up. "Auntie Helena finished paperwork, I take it?" She'd reverted to calling Helena "Auntie" now that formal introductions were done.
Helena herself strode in behind Marna. "All sorted. Kei is officially enrolled as an apprentice. Classes start the day after tomorrow—he'll have tomorrow free to get oriented and rest."
Kei sat up on the bed. Helena approached him and pressed a small wooden box into his hands. "This is for you, Kei."
He opened it curiously. Inside, on dark velvet, lay a bronze pin in the shape of the crossed hammer-and-quill symbol. The emblem of the Artisan's Guild. "That pin marks you as one of us," Helena said, her tone almost ceremonial. "An apprentice of Anderun's Guild. Wear it on your lapel with pride."
Kei lifted the pin reverently and fixed it to the front of his cloak where a small embroidered guild crest already was sewn. He felt a swell of pride and belonging. "I will. Thank you."
Marna, standing beside Helena, watched with slightly misty eyes. "Look at you," she said tenderly. "All set up and official."
Kei turned to her and, without a word, hugged her tightly. Marna let out a surprised sound then wrapped him in a warm, motherly embrace. "Thank you, Auntie Marna," he whispered. "For everything. I wouldn't be here without you."
Marna patted his back, her own voice a bit thick. "You're more than welcome, my dear. You promise you'll visit my cottage whenever you need a break, alright? And write me letters about your progress."
He nodded against her shoulder. "I promise."
Helena sniffed once and then clapped her hands briskly, not unkindly interrupting the emotional moment. "Now then. I suspect someone could use a bit of rest and maybe a bath." She cast a critical but humorous eye at Kei's travel-dusty clothes. "We'll have a welcome dinner tonight with a few of the masters, just informal. Until then, Kei, you are free to do as you please. Fiona here will stick to you like glue, I'm sure."
Fiona grinned unabashedly. "Darn right!"
Helena smirked and added, "Also, Kei—I think half the apprentices are lining up outside this dorm to 'casually' catch a glimpse. I'm tempted to shoo them off, but..." She shot Fiona a look.
Fiona raised her hand. "I'll handle it, Auntie. Maybe I can organize a quick introduction session or something so they all say hi at once and get it over with, instead of popping up like gophers everywhere."
Kei blanched slightly. "An introduction session?"
Marna chuckled softly. "Better to rip the bandage off, love. Meet them en masse and break the ice."
Helena nodded. "Up to you, Kei. No pressure. We could also just enforce some space if you prefer."
Kei thought about it. The System's pesky quest from earlier flashed in his memory: "Introduce yourself to at least three girls in your class (Reward: +Reputation)." He hadn't paid it much heed, but it was almost as if it anticipated this scenario. He realized with a wry internal smile that he was going to end up fulfilling that quest not by design but by necessity.
He squared his shoulders. "It's alright. I'll meet them. I... should meet my peers anyway, right? I might as well start now."
Helena beamed approvingly. "Spoken like a true guild member."
Marna gave his hand one last squeeze. "I'm so proud of you, Kei." She then sighed theatrically. "And now, I suppose I must let you get on with your new life."
"You're leaving?" Kei asked, suddenly a bit forlorn. He knew she would head home, but the time had come faster than he realized.
"I must. I've a shop to run and a village to get back to," Marna said gently. "But I'll visit soon. Anderun's just half a day by fast horse. And you, young man, are welcome at my cottage any time."
He nodded, giving her another quick hug. "Thank you... Auntie."
Marna kissed his forehead in an uncharacteristic show of affection that made Kei flush but smile. With that, she and Helena made their exit, Helena promising to watch over him.
Fiona let out a breath. "Your Auntie Marna is lovely. I like her."
Kei nodded, looking at the doorway where Marna's form had disappeared. "Yeah. She is."
After a quiet moment, Fiona rubbed her hands together and turned to Kei with a mischievous grin. "Alright! Let's not keep your adoring fans waiting, shall we?"
Kei groaned dramatically and flopped back onto the bed. "Be gentle..."
Fiona laughed and tugged at his arm. "C'mon, charming boy. Time to face the music."
And so, not even an hour into arriving at the guild, Kei was subjected to a whirlwind of new introductions. Fiona organized it cleverly: she rounded up the gaggle of apprentices who had been lurking in the dorm hallway and shepherded everyone to a common room. There, Kei greeted about twenty girls ranging from 16 to 20 years old, all fellow apprentices in various crafts.
It was a blur of names and faces and a lot of curtsies and handshakes (the girls had apparently been briefed by Fiona that Kei might try that, and a couple boldly shook his hand, while others shyly waved). Kei, true to form, was polite, a bit soft-spoken, and unfailingly gracious even as his face ached from smiling.
The apprentices, for their part, were mostly welcoming and kind—if intensely curious. A few bolder ones peppered him with questions (Where are you from? Do you have any magical skills? What's your favorite food? Will you join our study group?). A couple of quieter ones just wanted to get a closer look or say hello and then giggle with their friends from the sidelines.
Through it all, Kei felt the System quietly observing, and at one point it flashed a little notice in the corner of his vision: Reputation Up: +5 (New Friends). He mentally hushed it away.
By the end of it, Kei was exhausted but relieved. The first encounter with his new "classmates" was done. The initial barrier broken. Fiona gave him an exaggerated pat on the back as the others dispersed for dinner. "Survived, see?"
He exhaled with a faint laugh. "Survived."
That evening, as promised, a low-key welcome dinner was held in the guild dining hall with a handful of masters and senior apprentices. Kei sat at a long table laden with hearty stew, bread, and cheese, feeling a bit like an animal in a petting zoo under all the fond gazes—yet he also felt a warm sense of belonging creeping in. These people genuinely wanted him here, not just as a mascot but as a member of their craft family.
Helena made a short toast to "new beginnings and new bonds," looking pointedly at Kei, which made everyone cheer and raise their cups. Kei blushed for the hundredth time but smiled, a quiet contentment settling in his chest.
Later that night, Kei lay in his new bed—far softer than any he'd slept on before—staring at the moonlight filtering through his window. He replayed the events of Act I in his mind: from waking up disoriented in Rosewallow, to forming a family-like bond with Marna, to enduring comedic misunderstandings, to the journey where he made friends like Lina, to arriving here and being embraced by a whole community of artisans.
So much had happened, yet it was just the beginning of his story. Gentle comedy, flirtations, confusion and wonder—they had colored his first days in this world, and likely would continue. And underlying all of it was that push-pull between his crafting passion and the System's insistence on nudging him toward social and romantic endeavors.
Kei chuckled softly in the dark. Romantic reputation be damned, I'm focusing on craft, he had sworn. But he had to admit, each time he followed his heart—whether complimenting Marna's chair or asking about Lina's life—he had inadvertently fulfilled the System's quests anyway. Perhaps there was a lesson in that: by simply being himself and caring about others, he was going to end up balancing both craft and companionship, whether he set out to or not.
With that thought, Kei closed his eyes, letting the sounds of the guildhall at night comfort him—the distant whir of a late-working tinkerer's gear, the murmur of girls chatting two rooms over, the creak of the building settling. He felt an overwhelming gratitude: for a second chance at life, for the people who had welcomed him, and even for the oddball System that, in its own meddling way, was helping him grow.
Tomorrow would bring Act II—settling into society, training in his craft, deeper relationships, and undoubtedly new challenges. Kei found himself looking forward to it, butterflies and all.
As he drifted to sleep, the System popped up one final time that night with a summary, glowing faintly in the darkness like a bedside night-light:
Progress Report:
Crafting Skills improved (Woodworking +5, minor gains from helping out)
Social Quests completed: 2/5 newbie quests
New Quest: Guild Introduction – Introduce yourself to at least three girls in your class (Reward: +Reputation) – Completed!
Kei groaned half-heartedly at the cheek of it, but then smiled. He flopped an arm over his eyes, letting out a content sigh.
Today, he had not only entered a new world—he had begun to find his place in it.
Act I of his new life closed with him safe in bed, determination in his heart, and the first sparks of conflicts and friendships that would carry forward. And as much as Kei protested the System's romantic antics, he suspected, with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity, that the gentle comedy of his culture-shocked beginnings was only the prelude to a much grander adventure.
With that comforting thought, Kei fell asleep, ready to greet the dawn of whatever came next in this artisan's matriarchy he now called home.