The Legend of the Meta-Defying Smith Who Saved the Kingdom

A maid hurried to bring over a glass of water, and the blonde Knight's retainer cleared his throat, and then for once his face went from red to normal, rather than the other way around as he looked at Isabella.

"Ahem, my apologies. However, I prefer not to talk about my Classes."

Isabella arched an eyebrow. It seemed pointless to her to keep them a secret, given they were inside the Enchanter's Guildhall and taking the basic course on Enchanting. Still, she knew some people were like that: other adults who worked with her father in matters of business, mainly.

"Is that because you're from a foreign land? Or is it because you're a Knight's retainer?"

He merely smiled mysteriously. "I suppose there are many reasons."

What a boor.

Isabella pointedly took a bite of her paella.

"What about yourself, Miss Isabella? You have yet to choose your Classes, no?" He took a bite of his sandwich, less than half remaining already.

"For some time I intended to take a Merchant Class, given my father's business," Isabella answered, "but recently I decided the profession wouldn't suit me my entire life, and all of my siblings so far have already become Merchants. It is a stressful profession, you know." She leaned in slightly, over her paella. She saw the retainer's eyes flicker downward a moment, but she knew she was well clear of her dish, so she continued. "When I went to check for magical aptitude, I lacked affinities but had a rather large mana pool, so Enchanter was a natural choice." She leaned back and scooped up another bite of paella. "Enchanters never have to worry about making money, after all." She ate the paella somewhat smugly, though she had no idea what a Knight's retainer's pay was like.

"I, uh, I see." The boy had one last bit of his sandwich left, but he refrained a moment, setting it down as he gazed at her intensely. "And what of your second Class? Have you begun training for it already, like you have with Enchanter?"

"I don't know," Isabella replied airily. "My mother recommends Knifewielder, though she's a Fencer herself."

"And your father? What does he think?" James asked seriously.

"Oh? You're interested in what my father thinks?" she teased him, but it went over his head.

"Yes, about your combat Class."

Indeed, a boor.

"He's said that he trusts me to pick the right Classes for myself." Isabella finished her paella—the socarrat at the bottom of the dish had been sublime—and a maid came to take the dish and spoon to be cleaned. It would be returned to her at the end of the day. She stood and gave just the slightest curtsy. "I'm afraid I must take my leave now, Mister James." She wouldn't thank him for his company, given his poor conversation skills.

"Ah, me too. Thanks for sharing the table with me, Miss Isabella." He tossed the last bit of sandwich into his mouth, and Isabella didn't see the rest. She quickly turned on her heel, skirt flaring out, and headed for the stairs back to the classroom.

She pointedly ignored him even as he followed her into the classroom less than a minute behind her.

Or, at least, she tried to ignore him.

More and more, any time she wasn't cramming as much enchanting knowledge into her head as she could, she was distracted by thoughts of the blonde foreigner.

Perhaps he was a Water Mage, and that was why he knew about undines? How did he come to be in Iberteria, and retainer to a Knight at that?

The days that followed were a whirlwind. She took after-class tea with her classmates, and joined in their conversations. Ricardo remained somewhat aloof, but that was just how he was. Ewan, though he had a bad habit of putting his foot in his mouth, was a good sort. His family was poor and he was hoping to provide for his younger siblings with his income as an Enchanter. Raven had pulled her aside one morning and explained why James kept blushing so much when he looked at her. Scandalous! Still, she found she rather didn't want to stop wearing the low-cut shirts. He was a Knight's retainer! He should be a gentleman!

It was always the oddest things that got a reaction out of James.

The days rushed by, and before she knew it, it was the day before Isabella's birthday. When they returned from lunch, Enchanter Melinda had assigned them all their final assignment for the course: applying an enchantment to an object.

Isabella was aghast. What had Raven done to upset their teacher so much? Poor Raven had been assigned to enchant a knife! That meant working with Smiths.

"Raven, I'm so sorry," Isabella whispered as Ricardo distracted their teacher with questions about what designs he was allowed to use.

Raven smiled and shook her head. "Isabella, nothing's wrong. My family's workshop works with Smiths all the time. I'll have no trouble getting this prepared."

Oh, right, that was Raven's workshop's specialty. She breathed a sigh of relief for her friend.

Isabella had been assigned a shirt to enchant with [Fire Resistance]. Normally such a shirt would be dyed to match the color of the magic thread, but in this case, it was a white shirt, to highlight her embroidery skills. The thread and a jug of Aqua Magia had also been provided, given she still hadn't had her Choosing Day yet.

But it was tomorrow!

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

They all passed their written exam, as well, and the last two days of the course would be spent working on the final assignment or asking questions of their teacher, who would be available if they needed her.

After class, Ricardo invited everyone out to celebrate at a nearby tasca. Isabella had been worried that she would be the only one not drinking alcohol, but it turned out James also ordered water when the barmaid took their orders. Even when Ewan and Raven teased him, he only smiled mysteriously. The teasing turned to celebration when he promised to carry anyone home who drank too much.

Isabella looked down at the glass of water in front of her, cupping both hands around it.

Would James carry her home, too?

She banished the thought, shook her head, and simply enjoyed celebrating with her friends.

At least, until Ewan ruined things.

"So, you're finally gonna get yer Classes, huh, Isabella?" he asked around a mouthful of patatas fritas, this tasca's specialty.

"Ewan, don't talk with your mouth full!" Raven smiled as she smacked him rather hard on the arm, but then turned to Isabella. "Your Choosing Day is soon? Wonderful. Congratulations!" She beamed at Isabella and then flagged down the barmaid to order another round, including a taster for Isabella.

"Yes, congratulations," Ricardo said coolly. "No doubt you'll get an excellent Enchanter Class, given how well you've done in this course."

"Really, you think so?" Isabella asked hopefully.

"Of course!" Raven insisted. "I still can't believe you kept up with Enchanter Melinda all this time without a class! Even I was getting overwhelmed."

"Have you given any more thought to your second Class?" James asked. For once, he wasn't blushing.

"Well," Isabella began, "I thought about it some more, and I'm starting to think perhaps I'll take Merchant for my second Class. I could start a workshop under my father's trading company."

James choked on his drink—really, he tended to choke on things a lot—and Ricardo's eyes narrowed.

"Really? That's a bad idea, you know. You should take a combat Class."

But Ewan disagreed. "I dunno, it sounds like she'd make a lot of money that way. Just imagine…"

Isabella nodded. "Yes, and my father is a Baronet. I'm used to having guards, and won't lack for money to hire as many as I need once my workshop is up and running.

Raven frowned. "Isabella, having guards before your Choosing day is one thing, but after…"

Ewan jumped in again. "Oh, Raven, don't be such a downer. If it's been fine so far, it'll probably be fine."

Wham!

Everyone twitched as James slammed his hand down on the table, causing all their glasses and dishes to bounce. Everyone looked at him in shock.

"Ewan!" James raised his voice. "That's incredibly irresponsible!"

"But James," he pleaded, "think of the money!"

James pointed a finger at Ewan and the air grew tense.

"The money?" Then he pointed at Isabella. She felt like she was being put on the spot even though James was still scolding Ewan. "Think about Isabella! No amount of money is worth the danger not taking a combat Class would bring. You have no idea…"

He trailed off, suddenly. Realized that everyone was staring at him, and not just everyone at their table.

James stood up straight and cleared his throat.

"Isabella." He looked directly into her eyes with his piercing blues. "As tempting as it may be, do not take both Enchanter and Merchant. Pick one, and take a combat Class. Better, take the combat Class first so you're not tempted."

"And who are you to tell me what to take for my Classes?" Isabella protested hotly.

"He's right, Isabella," Raven said quietly. "It's different, after your Choosing day."

Ricardo had pulled Ewan aside and was scolding him quietly.

"Have you talked to your parents about not taking a combat Class?" James pressed.

"My father said he trusts my judgment!"

"And your mother?"

Isabella looked away, unable to continue meeting his gaze.

"You haven't told them at all, have you? The world is so dangerous, you have no idea—"

"I thought Knights and their retainers were supposed to be brave," Isabella cut him off angrily. "The world isn't that dangerous, and certainly not a city like Cordova! I don't know what kind of lawless place you come from, James, but things are fine here! Nobody ever threatened me, even with no Classes!"

"That's because—" Raven started quietly.

"That's because of the Avenger Class," James said forcefully, and several people at other tables made warding signs. Others dropped money on their table and fled. "Nobody would be so foolish as to wrong a child before they got their Classes. It would be suicide."

"Are you calling me a child?!" Isabella exclaimed, nearly shouting. "I've never even heard of such a Class!"

"Your parents never explained that?" Raven asked, and James paled.

"Isabella, where are your guards?" he asked urgently, but Isabella was furious.

"That's none of your business, retainer, nor is it any of your business which Classes I choose!" She angrily threw a half-dollar onto the table, more than enough to cover her share of the food and drinks, and stormed off.

"Ricardo, sorry, I owe you!" James said, and Ricardo nodded understandingly.

Raven smacked Ewan upside the head.

James dashed back out into the street, following the unclassed girl and her guards back to her family home. They shouted back and forth at each other, adding to the din of the city's nightlife. Isabella ordered her guards to arrest James, but Geraldo and Tomás knew James, and they knew their charge. They shrugged, and when they told her he clearly didn't mean any harm and so they couldn't do anything, she grew even more furious. It was only at the entry gate to the manor that, finally, the guards stopped James as Isabella stormed inside.

"Sorry, this is as far as you go, Mister James."

"We understand your concern, and agree with you, but the young mistress' Classes are internal family business."

And so the Smith and Enchanter was turned away from the Izguardia manor after dark, in an unfamiliar part of the city, and the agents of the Sanchez family fell upon him.

"So, you're the Smith who got Captain Flores arrested, huh? You don't look so tough."