I had learned to fear the spoon. To dread the spoon. One day I would destroy the spoon.... probably. I still winced as I sat down on one of the chair's watching as dad popped one of my pills into his mouth.

  "Hmm, tastes better then a normal potion. The slow effect could also be useful in long protracted battles. "

  He mused with a thoughtful expression on his face. He seemed to sit their for a what felt like eternity before seemingly coming to a desicion.

  "These are to valuable to give to any of the alchemists in the city. I'll set up a deal with the city watch. Still,this is very impressive." He said and I felt a bubbling of pride. It was an emotion is rarely felt in my old life. In this life it was common.

  I stuffed down the feeling. I was NOT allowed to be proud of myself. Nor was I allowed to be happy, I had hurt far to many people for that.

  "HOWEVER, if you ever experiment on yourself again you'll be spending a week in the harness." He said his tone serious.

  It was a very real threat, I'd once had to spend a month being carried around by guards after dad had caught me sneaking out of the city walls. That was not an experience I was keen on repeating.

  I spent the rest of the night before bed creating more pills. Then placed them careful into small baskets for my dad to sell on my behalf. I wanted to do it myself, buuut dad was stubborn and would brook no argument on that front.

  So it was with a hard days work that I ploped myself in my bed. Not even bothering to cover myself in blankets. Who needed blankets? Exhaustion was all I needed for sleep. So, without much fanfare I passed out.

  I woke up to the sun beaming on my face and scowled as I realized dad had let me sleep in! He always did that. Sure maybe catlenè needed 10-12 hours of sleep, but I was trying to train my body to function on less sleep dammit! How else was I supposed to become a workaholic.

  You think just because I was reborn I was going to give up on my bad habits? No. Absolutely not. I was going to become a workaholic with a wine addiction! Nothing was going to stop... yawn... me.

  I fell back asleep as I felt one of my dad's skill hit me. Curse you and your high level skills making me actually get the ammount of sleep I need!!! One day... I would do something.

  I woke up an hour earlier and put on a simple shirt and trouser mix. They were what I usually on account of the fact that the others..... came from the seamstress. They were kept in a corner of closest hidden from view.

  Her dad made her keep them for special occasions. Luckily said occasions rarely happend because the outfits had so, sooo many frills.

  Dressed I stepped outside and grabbed a plate full of eggs that dad had made. He wasn't the greatest cook in the world, but at least the food wasn't burnt. I shivered at the memory of the last time I'd tried to cook. Though to be fair to myself their was no way I could have known that the Seris powder on my hands and eggs could get.... explosive.

  Of course the fact that I had even had seris powder had not gone over well with dear old dad.

  I agreed wit him on the fact that I should let him sell the dru.... pills. It didn't take much thought to immediately come to the conclusion that people would probably break my legs, steal the pills, and then have an alchemist reverse egineer said pills for potions far more nefarious then healing.

  It was the sort of thing I would have done. Though I'd probably had been more... tactful about it. Had my men threaten them before moving to immediate violence. Of course if it was a particularly inventive recipe I'd have them let's say I'd offer them a job they could not refuse.

  My musings were cut short as I noticed Harold attempting to steal my eggs. I graciously allowed him his meager reward of 1/3 of a plate of eggs. Let it not be said that I am without generosity towards my loyal he- friends. Though in this case brother was more applicable.

  Breakfast over well headed out and I pretended not to like the hug dad gave me on the way out. On the way I did the usual errands. All in all it took about an hour, and disappointment at more free stuff, for all the errands to be completed. With all that out of the way I made my begrudgingly towards the seamstress shop.

  I noticed Jerick and Markus were playing some kind of card game. It wasn't a game I was familiar with though. Still I would learn the game if only to prove I could master it. It would be a fun distraction in the future.

  "Good morning. Apologies for the wait, I had a few errands to run. Let's get you boys fitted for some appropriate atire"

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  They just blinked at me not comprehending what I had just said. I fought off a frustrating sigh. I would need to teach them some basic speech skills so they could at least understand me when I was trying to be proper with my words.

  "Come on." I said as I ushered them through the doors of needle works. The place could only be described in two words... hellish misery. The place catered mostly to young girls and was unfortunately the only place that did custom orders.

  It said something about this world that a clearly down on its luck city could still have places that catered towards a specific clientele. Needle works wasn't by any means unique in that aspect either. My prevailing theory was that the system played the roll of modern industrialization. In fact, it was better since it allowed for an industrialized personalization that was impossible in my old world.

  In the old world while their were some allowance for customization even it was limited by pre built designs and parts. In this world however skills allowed for endless personalization that just did not exist in my old world.

  "Welcome to Needle Works! Are you here... kitty! It's been ages since you came! Do you want to try on some dresses? I've got some lovely new bows that would look adorable in your hair." The bubbly voice broke through my concentration.

  I fought the oncoming scowl that threatened to break out across my face. With some effort I put on a polite smile.

  "No mam. I'm here to get some friends of mine new clothes."

  The women who was a pretty young lady in a surprisingly tame gown despite her profession. A simple green unadorned dress to be exact. Despite her plane clothes she had striking pale skin and one of those faces that made you look 10 years younger then you actually were.

  She gave the boys a once over and then gave me an arched eyebrow and an amused grin.

  "I don't think dresses would look good on them. And unfortunately I don't do pants and trousers... at least not usually. "

  I had Harold put a good third of the money I had earned over the years. It was by no means a small sum. I calculated that it was probably 3x what getting them sized up and fitted would normally ccost. However, the places that sold men's clothes didn't do requests.

  "Will this be enough? I can always offer more in the way of compensation.."

  The women who I honestly did not remember her name looked affronted. From what I could tell it was genuine. I was surprised, but I could see how it might be taken as an insult.

  "I would never steal from a child... alrhough."

  Oh no.

  "I might be willing to do it for a small favor."

  Please no.

  "If you'd be willing to model a few clothes for some nobal ladies I could do their clothing for let's say 2 Treydel. Otherwise I'd be more then happy to make you an adorable dress."

  Uuuuuuugggg.

  "1 hour."

  "2 hours."

  "1 hour 30 minutes"

  "Deal."

  With that and the prices paid the seamstress ushered them boys to a room with elegant curtains likely added for modesty. In essence a changing room. It was as she did so that one of the sleeves of her dress caught on something.

  For but the briefiest of moments my eyes sharpens as I noticed the bruising. They weren't new bruises either. They were the kind that I bet good money came from weekly beatings or more likely monthly beating judging by what I'd seen.

  "You saw that?" I asked Harold once I was sure she was out of earshot.

  "Yes. Husband?" He signed back with a questioning look. Behind it though was anger and memory. He'd come a long way from the boy who had been mobbed.

  Even then, some scars would never heal. I knew that. I had my own mental scars. In some ways I was only scars.

  I could ignore the seamstress but that was something old me would do. Even now I could hear that old wizend crone of what had been whisper in my ears.

  "It's not our problem. Your a child, what do you think you can even do about it?"

  No, I had to do something for this women. I'd promised myself I'd be better in this life. Besides, Harold would almost certainly tail the women. He'd done the same when one of the children at the playground showed up with bruises across her face.

  All I knew about that was that she had been crying about her dad being beaten bloody. It didn't take much to connect the dots. Of course Harold had been on the other end of mister spoon that day. Truthfully I knew Harold was higher level then he should be.

  He and dad would often go for "bonding" time. I knew they were actually going monster hunting because I would find a few healing potions missing.

  "Wait. It could be anything. Let's be sure that something is going on before we make any moves."

  Harold nodded begrudgingly. I let out a sigh of relief at that.

  Shortly after the seamstress came back and notified me that she would talk with dad about setting up a date for the "modelling". I had feeling that was going to have nightmares about lace afterwords.

  "Is their any particular design your looking for kitty?"

  I gave her a quick sketch I'd made of what I was looking for and she accepted. Letting me know that she would have the clothes done by tomorrow. She gave me an unwanted pat on the head and we made our way to the playground.

  huh? I was very surprised at the fact that I'd gotten a level from that. The class was strange. I could get levels even from the things that weren't crimes and that didn't make any sense. My alchemist class for example only gained levels from me doing alchemy.

  "Come on boys. If your going to be working for me. You need to at least know how to defend yourselfs." I said as I saw the boys come out. I gave each of them a single silveà. Which seemed to brighten them up even if they looked weary at the suddenly grinning Harold.

  "Don't worry. He's not going to beat you up. Although you'll be sore and a little bruised tomorrow."

  Harold went easier then I expected on the young boys. Mostly teaching them proper posture, how to a throw a punch properly and letting them spar amongst eachother.

  I didn't really pay attention.

  The seamstress had some secrets. I planned to find out what they were and prevent Any more harm if I could.