Chapter 14

  A Meal, A Deal, and A Seal

  Once classes were over, I went back to see my favorite pastry chef. True to form Ronaldo was right there, ready to talk terms and conditions.

  This was simple economics, he had a problem that I provided a unique, unintrusive response to, and only wanted minimal compensation. While there were many other struggling magic users who offered similar effects, none were ever as clean as mine.

  Yes, Fire mages are typically the ones most noted for trash services, but their effects often leave toxic residue and ashes. Often requiring them to work in tandem with Water mages who will then remove the toxic residue from the walls, floor, and ceiling. Or the other alternative is to have an Earth mage come in and remove the toxins by either altering their composition and allowing them to fuse with the earth, or changing the composition to be something non-toxic. One dedicated Mage might be versatile enough to do both tasks, but not at the cost that the shopkeepers are generally looking for.

  Which is why, my services are worth so much, as I am effectively two mages in one, and I don’t leave behind the potential for future structural issues, nor does my process endanger nearby persons with the release of toxic chemicals. Not that this world is really aware of toxic chemicals, but I am as that is a big thing for me, and likely why I got this particular Skill as my own personal Skill.

  Settling down at a table where a fresh pastry is already out and waiting for me, I sit and gesture for Ronaldo to begin.

  “I’ve been thinking about this, and I realize that you offer a unique solution, but not the only solution to my problem,” Ronaldo begins, his slow measured cadence lets me know he has practiced this, which is good. The fact that he has practiced this speech tells me that he wants this deal as much as I do, which means we will get a deal completed, and now the only issue will be the matter of compensation.

  I remain silent, only raising a slight eyebrow at the comment as I daintily eat a bite of my lemon custard. Absolutely delicious, and are those blueberry seeds for flavor and texture? Truly divine.

  “That said, I am willing to negotiate with you about what you think is a fair price,” Ronaldo states, putting the pressure right back onto me. Meaning if I shortchange myself, then the issue comes back to me.

  Taking a moment to stop nibbling on this custard, I pause. Making a note to purposefully put down my fork as I stare at and smile at Ronaldo. A power move.

  “One silver,” I begin pausing long enough for Ronaldo to take the bait, which he does.

  “One silver? One silver a day is way too much,” Ronaldo nearly hisses.

  Hearing his protest, I smile wider as I continue. “One silver is the price of the lowest trash collectors who only come once a week, often letting trash build up over time. And if the typical disposal day should come on a holiday, market day, or otherwise day of inconvenience they will skip you and make you wait with your trash until the next day of convenience for them. Whereas I come daily, allowing your work area to remain clean and clear of clutter. My method is less obtrusive, and ultimately cleaner for your entire shop. So instead, of paying the one silver each visit, what do you say to paying me a full day’s wage every time I show up. Along with the two custards one for breakfast and one for the afternoons.”

  I thought about getting two or more, but knowing that Mr. Wallace and his dumb mutt Narco will be waiting to grab me with that second pastry every morning. No, best to not deal with that drama.

  Hearing that Ronaldo twitches in his seat, lunging forward as if he is about to pounce, only to pause and retreat back a bit knowing he wants to remain calm during this negotiation. This is good, as it still shows he is passionate about what he is about to say, but doesn’t want to resort to yelling. While he is composing himself, I take a moment to begin slowly eating again, showing that this is just a formality for me. This too enrages Ronaldo, but not as much as the first action.

  Finally, after a second to gathers himself enough to speaks.

  “You want me to pay you a full day’s wages for a few minutes max worth of work?”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  I pause and smile widely, “exactly. You will host the cleanest shop, with no waste, no rotting food smells, and best of all no excess food to draw rodents or insects. We are talking daily care that even the best trash removal services wouldn’t be able to meet or offer. The fact that I get rid of a full day’s worth of waste materials in seconds should not be seen as a detriment to the conversation, but a bonus, as it clearly demonstrates the idea of paying for quality. Which is why people come to this restaurant to begin with.”

  “You think this is a shabby shop?” Ronaldo spits out, barely concealed rage holding back his words.

  I shake my head. “That is not what I said at all. I said, your shop supports quality from the very ground up. That is why you go for the cleanest trash removal service. One that even cleans up spots in your kitchen that might become hazards as time goes on. Bet you didn’t notice that, but if you look, you will see that what I am saying is the truth.”

  Ronaldo stared at me, clearly wanting to say something, but after a moment decided to check out the kitchen himself. That’s when he saw that I was right, the grease traps were cleaned, along with minor grease stains. The only thing of note in there now were the messes created from today’s activities. Coming back, he sat down across from me, during this time I had managed to finish the last of my custard in peace.

  Clatter.

  I made sure to drop my fork on my plate a second after he sat down. A power play if there ever was one.

  “Now, back to our arrangement. Our arrangement will be the removal of 40 cubic inches of trash each day in the morning. And I will return at night to clean off the cooking area to make sure it is clear of major sanitary concerns. Two meals, one prepared for me to eat here, the other prepared in a bag for me to leave once I am done with my cleansing. And you will track that as a full day’s worth of work. You will keep the money in an account that will be available to me with twenty-four hours head notice, should I need to leave. It will also be assumed that unless I state otherwise at the time of pick up that our contract will end on the next day. The date the payment will be received by me.”

  I state, telling him that he is my escape plan.

  Hearing my words, he looks from my eyes, then his eyes dart down to my new green blazer, which is where he asks, “things not going so well at your new home?”

  Scoff.

  I laugh at the idea of having a true home here. A bunch of backstabbers and pretentious Barbies all playing at being magical healing gods and goddesses. Not that I could say that here, especially with no one knowing what a Barbie is, but that might be something to work on in the future.

  “They are as one would expect when trying to find your new spot in an establish family’s hierarchy,” I reply as generously as possible.

  Ronaldo pauses as he truly seems to look at me. “If it gets bad, you can always come here.”

  “Thank you,” I reply.

  “I mean it, you’re a good kid, smart, ambitious. The type of kid any family would be proud to have. Our family especially,” Ronaldo pushes. As he states that, his eyes dart to the back where his son Junior is working.

  My eyes follow his and I just shake my head.

  “I am definitely not ready for any thoughts on relationships,” I respond.

  “What? I was referring to you being a new line chef. Look at you with your mind in the gutter, already making moves on my Junior,” Ronaldo replies teasingly.

  Chuckle.

  I laugh at his comment, one of the few genuine laughs I’ve had in a while. Then switching the conversation back on track.

  “As for our deal?”

  “I thought we were already settled, you did eat my special lemon custard after all,” Ronaldo declared, holding out his long powerful hand.

  I smiled, and shook it.

  “Seriously, your money will be kept safe. If you need it, that is truly need it, let me know and I might be able to get it to you day of.” Ronaldo commented.

  With that, it was clear that he was a truly decent person, and one who had for whatever reason decided to care about me.

  “Thank you,” I reply, before clearing off the crumbs on my plate with my Trash Skill. Then going to the back, I perform my quick area cleaning task.

  “Oh hey,” Ronaldo Junior called out, trying to pretend like he hadn’t been stealing glances at me all along.

  “Hey, just hear for a quick cleanup then I’m off,” I say stepping into the back with a practiced calm.

  “Oh yeah, for sure. Make yourself at home,” Ronaldo Junior states, only to then blush with embarrassment at the idea of this being my home. I pretend not to notice his lack of grace and just quickly walk through, cleansing the area. I even clean up a bit of the trash in the back, making it so my work in the morning will be that much easier.

  My goal with this afternoon is to use enough Mana to have clear progress, but not to drain myself completely as I still intend to head to the condemned Bloom Park after I am done here.

  With my task for the day complete, I head out, giving a wave to Ronaldo Junior, “see you tomorrow.”

  “Ye-yeah,” he stammers out, his face blushing brightly.

  I chuckle lightly, finding it cute that he is flustered so easily. Then I leave, waiting until I am at the end of the street, before I begin running. Making sure to practice controlled use of my Trash skill to remove my sweat and dirt I am attracting by running. Simultaneously, I focus on lightly singing a running cadence to help keep rhythm and speed.

  “Hey, hey Captain Jack.

  Meet me down by the railroad track.

  With that musket in my hand…”

  Suddenly the cadences of my old world come to me, from my time in the Military over there. Yet, they still work, as I can see and feel my Music Resonance Skill increasing as I run.

  Then somehow as if time itself parted, I find myself at the entrance to the condemned Bloom Park.

  I am about to wonder how this happened, when I get a system notification.

  With that Skill definition, it was clear that I didn’t actually run faster, but my mind was unable to relax while I focused on running. An interesting Skill, but ultimately not one I wanted, so I dismissed it as a possibility and instead focused on my goal for the day, that is cleaning up more of Bloom Park and hopefully lowering the Spirit Rift entrance to a more manageable level.

  Looking at the entrance, I paused remembering how I passed out here just yesterday, but that was an anomaly. This time I will be prepared. Hesitating at the threshold for just a moment, I pause, take a deep breath and then move forward.

  “Let’s do this,” I say to myself as I go in trying to see if I can find even more spirits that have come through the rift today.