Chương 38: Chapter 024 Placating A Worried Mother (Part 1)

When Jack woke the following morning feeling like an old army messenger who'd spent the night running through rain and mud with an urgent message.

"Ow… My body." He forced himself to sit on the edge of the bed, wincing as his muscles protested.

"Why do I keep waking up at this hour?" The wall clock showed just past six in the morning. With a resigned shrug, he got dressed and sat at his desk to craft another spell scroll. He needed the coin, and despite feeling sore, he wasn't going to waste the day. Having been reminded of the existence of training facilities at the Adventurers Guild, his plan was to spend the morning crafting spell scrolls before visiting the spell scrolls shop and spending an hour on archery training.

Before all that, he had to have breakfast and test the waters with his mother regarding archery training. The subject had been put aside due to his injuries, but he was certain his mom wouldn't have forgotten. Less than two hours later, Jack was at the kitchen table with Polly—his sister was awake before nine for once—and Zia, eating a delicious breakfast of pastries, cream, and fruit. Their mother was still tending the oven to complete an order for one of the Lundun businesses she supplied.

"So, why's this called a cornetto and not a croissant? It looks like a croissant, Mom." Jack took a bite into the golden baked cornetto topped with fresh cream and strawberries he'd been examining. To his untrained eye, it looked like a croissant. He groaned with delight, "Hmm… that's delicious." Zia nodded in agreement as she too took a second, much bigger bite of her cornetto, not caring what it was called.

The sweet crescent-shaped pastry was stuffed in her small mouth; the fresh cream spilt from the pastry's sides and down her chin. Polly was silent, too busy enjoying her breakfast. Anna laughed.

"You need to take your time, little one, or you'll lose most of the cream." She glanced at her son.

"The differences are that a croissant is made from puff pastry, making it flaky…" she paused to take something out of the oven, "…while a cornetto uses a richer dough that's not as flaky, and has a softer interior with a crisp exterior." Jack nodded while taking another big bite.

"It's really nice. We should have these every morning," he half-joked. Zia nodded while licking the cream from her chin and fingers.

"It's really nice," she mimicked Jack in an almost understandable mumble. Anna paused what she was doing.

"What are your plans for today, Jack?" He swallowed the bite of cornetto.

"I plan to practise my scribe skills and later check out the Adventurers Guild's training areas for archery practice." He grinned.

"And perhaps later, eat a delicious dinner with my mom…" Polly interrupted with a loud scoff.

"I hope they have barn doors for you to aim at." Jack ignored the insult. Their mother sat down in front of Jack.

"After what happened, you still plan to learn to use a deadly weapon?" She looked concerned, and the laughter lines around her eyes had become more visible.

"You're a scribe, Jack. Not a warrior!" Polly Laughed.

"A really boring scribe."

"Not now, Polly." Their mom's frown deepened. Polly went back to eating her breakfast in silence.

"I know, Mom," Jack smiled, "but what happened has made me more determined than ever to learn to defend myself." He looked at his sleeping younger brother in his cradle.

"What if we were all out on a hike with Dad and a…" he paused to look across at Zia, who was still enjoying her cornetto breakfast, "…and something happened?" Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. His mom forced a smile.

"That shouldn't happen." She interlaced her fingers together in thought.

"Your dad only ever takes us to safe areas." Jack nodded.

"Where I went to practise archery is supposed to be safe, but new dungeons can appear almost anywhere." He looked at Zia, not wanting to upset her.

"Well, you know what happened… I've heard the King's Army are recruiting Apprentice Scribes. It will be a while before I reach the apprentice level, but what if I have to spend time in the army like Dad had to?" Young people were conscripted into the army for a couple of years. The only reason Jack avoided conscription in his past life was a combination of being badly scarred, travelling, and spending most of his time living away from people like a hermit.

Also helped that the Kingdom's officials believed he died in the fire that burnt his home to the ground, so they weren't aware he was an Apprentice Scribe.

"Hmm…" Anna shook her head, but before she could continue, Jack interrupted.

"It's only the Adventurers Guild training area. I'm not planning any more trips to a forest to practice now that I know there's a much safer option. I just want to be fit and capable of defending myself and the people I love." He gave his mom a smile. Polly scoffed but kept quiet despite the look on her face suggesting she had a good insult ready. Jack continued, "I'll store my bow and dagger somewhere safe where small hands can't reach them." He'd already considered this.

His dagger could be kept out of reach on his bookshelf, and the bow and quiver stored on a hook, high on the wall in his room. His mother frowned.

"I don't like it… But you are an adult now, and we have to let you make your own choices… and mistakes." She gave him a stern look.

"If I find any of your deadly weapons on the floor or within a child's reach, I'll…" She paused before continuing, "…I'll cook them in my oven on full power." Jack laughed at the threat and the image of his mom stuffing his dagger, bow, and quiver in the oven; she had a huge oven, so they would all fit.

"I'm not joking, Jack." She pointed at him.

"One time and they're all ash." He nodded.

"I understand, Mom. And I appreciate your trust in me." He stood, groaning a little from his still-aching body, and gave his mother a hug, which she returned. Seeing a hug, Zia joined in. She had sticky fingers that managed to find only Jack's clothing.

A few hours had passed, and Polly had left the house; Anna and Zia were in the kitchen cooking. Jack was sitting at his desk inscribing another [Chronos Sphere] spell scroll. He'd spent most of the morning crafting scrolls. Less than an hour later, he leaned back and admired the completed scroll, a smile tugging at his lips.

"This feeling never gets old." His ink-stained fingers lifted the silver pen again. The gift from his father, perfect weight, balanced like a part of him, an extension of his craft. He held it for a little longer, reluctant to let it go, as if setting it down would break the moment.

"I love this feeling," he whispered, running his fingers along the edge of the scroll. Good quality paper, smooth as silk yet firm beneath his touch. The scroll was still warm from being inscribed. He leaned in and inhaled, letting the scent of drying ink fill his senses. It was sharp, earthy, and laced with a hint of something alchemical. To Jack, it was the second-best smell in the world. Of course, nothing compared to his mom's cooking.

The smell of ink was fresher than rain, richer than any spice, and more comforting than any hearth. Just breathing it in brought a sense of calm, purpose, and quiet pride. This is who he was. This is who he wanted to be… a scribe. I wish I could do this all the time, he thought, the joy of creation clouded by the grim reality of his obligations. His thoughts lingered on his class choice. One of the mage classes for the sheer joy of discovery, or a complementary combat skill?

He had to grow stronger to face the Baron.

"Five more years," he whispered while hoping for a better future, "and maybe I can give up archery… and focus on my craft and research." Jack studied the scroll anew, taking in the elegant sweep of each rune, the measured spacing, the curling flourishes of his calligraphy. Every mark was placed with precision, every syllable a dance between art and form. The words of the spell, now bound to the page, seemed to hum beneath the surface.

Alive, waiting, ready to be imbued with magic and unleashed like a whisper waiting to become a roar. This is what I was made for. Jack tapped the scroll. Not slaying goblins or fleeing adventurers, afraid for my life! This was his true calling, crafting order from chaos, beauty from knowledge, power from ink. A simple scribe… not a vengeful one. He blinked away a tear and stored the completed scroll inside a book before beginning another [Chronos Sphere] scroll.