Leo fell into a comfortable rhythm as the weeks passed. Riverstone's transformation continued under his hands—one house rising from the earth each day, far less taxing than his earlier pace. Mornings he'd meet with the family whose home he'd build, discussing their needs and preferences. By afternoon, another structure would stand complete, and Leo would return to his own modest dwelling, no longer exhausted.
His evenings belonged to Marissa and occasionally to the tavern, where locals no longer gawked when he entered. He'd become a fixture in Riverstone, just another face—albeit one who could reshape the landscape with a gesture.
"You've stopped looking over your shoulder," Marissa noted one evening as they walked along the newly constructed main street.
Leo realized she was right. The constant vigilance that had followed him since leaving the inheritance grounds had eased. Here, among these simple folk, he'd found something resembling peace.
On a bright Tuesday morning, Leo finished constructing a two-room cottage for a cobbler and his pregnant wife. The woman had tears in her eyes as she ran her hands over the smooth stone walls.
"Bless you, Master Leo. We never thought to have a home of our own."
Leo nodded, uncomfortable with gratitude as always. He turned to leave when a figure approached—a man in travel-worn robes with the unmistakable bearing of a trained magic user. The stranger's eyes held the calculating assessment Leo recognized from his academy days.
"Leo Shmidt?" The man's voice carried the cultured accent of the capital.
Leo stiffened, hand instinctively dropping to his side where he could quickly channel earth magic if needed. "Who's asking?"
The stranger offered a formal bow. "Darian Voss, fifth level apprentice mage, earth affinity." He straightened, producing a sealed letter from his robes. "I represent the Mage Association. They've taken notice of your... activities here in Riverstone."
Leo's jaw tightened. "Have they now?"
"Indeed." Darian glanced around at the newly constructed buildings. "Quite impressive work for someone operating independently. The Association would like a word."
Leo sized up the Association representative, keeping his expression neutral. "My business is my own, Darian. I'm helping rebuild a town that needs it."
"The Association requires more... specifics." Darian's tone remained professional, but his eyes betrayed curiosity. "What brings an earth mage to the outskirts of the Emerald Empire? What are your long-term goals here?"
Leo crossed his arms. "I go where I'm needed. My goal is simple—provide shelter for good people. Does the Association take issue with that?"
"Not at all." Darian produced a small crystal orb from his robes. "However, protocol demands we update your status in our registry. Your last assessment was... when exactly?"
"Some time ago," Leo answered vaguely.
"Then you won't mind a quick measurement." Darian held out the crystal. "Standard procedure. Place your hand on it and channel your power."
Leo hesitated. He placed his palm against the cool surface and allowed a controlled trickle of his earth magic to flow into the crystal.
The orb illuminated, numbers flickering across its surface before settling on a glowing figure: 1147.
Darian's professional demeanour cracked. The crystal nearly slipped from his fingers as he gaped at Leo.
"That's—" he stammered, "that's impossible."
Leo withdrew his hand, face impassive.
"You're a full mage," Darian whispered, looking up at Leo with new eyes. "Not an apprentice—a true earth mage. At your age..." He shook his head in disbelief. "Twenty years old and already crossing the threshold? The youngest recorded mage in the last century was twenty-eight."
Leo remained silent, watching Darian process this revelation.
"The Association must be informed immediately," Darian muttered, more to himself than to Leo. "A mage of your caliber, operating independently—" He caught himself, straightening his robes. "That is to say, the opportunities available to someone of your... status... are considerable."
"I came to Riverstone for peace," Leo said, his voice low but firm. "Not recognition, not advancement. Just peace."
Darian tucked the crystal away, his movements deliberate as he processed this unexpected development. "The Association offers protection, resources—"
"What I need is to be left alone." Leo gestured at the newly built homes around them. "These people needed help. I could provide it. That's the extent of my ambition right now."
A thoughtful expression crossed Darian's face. "Perhaps we could reach a compromise." He straightened his robes. "The Academies always seeks exceptional tutors for promising students. Your practical knowledge of earth manipulation clearly exceeds theoretical standards."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"The compensation would be... substantial," Darian continued. "And the time commitment flexible. Perhaps one or two days per week, teaching advanced techniques to apprentices who show particular promise with earth magic."
The suggestion caught Leo off guard. Teaching hadn't crossed his mind, but the idea of sharing knowledge rather than being studied himself held some appeal.
"I'll consider it," Leo said after a moment. "No promises."
Relief washed over Darian's features. "Excellent. I'll leave contact information with the town administrator." He bowed again, deeper this time. "It's been... illuminating, Master Shmidt."
Leo watched as Darian departed, still visibly processing what he'd discovered. Before leaving town, the Association representative made a final stop at the administrative building. Leo later learned from the gossipy clerk that Darian had declared Leo "off limits" to local officials.
"Said you were a talent the Empire couldn't afford to alienate," the clerk told him with wide eyes. "Said anyone interfering with your work would answer directly to the Mage Association. What exactly did you do to earn that kind of protection?"
Leo merely shrugged. "Built some houses."
That evening, as he described the encounter to Marissa over dinner, she studied his face with those perceptive blue eyes.
"Will you do it? Teach for them?"
Leo broke a piece of bread, considering. "Maybe. Might be nice to share part of what I know."
Leo spent the next few days mulling over Darian's offer. The morning after making his decision, he found himself sitting at his kitchen table, sketching lesson plans in a worn notebook.
"Not going to teach them fancy spells," he muttered to himself, crossing out a section where he'd started detailing Earth Crusher. "That's not what they need."
Marissa peered over his shoulder, setting a steaming mug beside him. "What will you teach them, then?"
Leo tapped his pencil against the table. "Connection. Understanding. Most apprentices waste half their power on flashy techniques they barely comprehend." He traced his finger along a crude diagram of mana flow. "I want them to feel the earth, to love it like I do. The way Old Stone taught me."
"You think the Academy will approve of that approach?" Marissa asked, settling into the chair across from him.
Leo shrugged. "They're getting a full mage as an instructor at apprentice rates. They can deal with my methods." He closed the notebook. "I won't have much knowledge to impart compared to my mentors. Those people had centuries of experience."
"But you have something they don't," Marissa pointed out.
"What's that?"
"Patience. And kindness." She smiled. "I can't imagine those cranky old spirits were gentle teachers."
Leo laughed, remembering Old Stone's blistering criticisms. "Gentle? No. Effective, though." He reopened his notes. "I can teach these apprentices to stop fighting against their element. To work with it instead of forcing it. If they learn that, they'll waste less energy in manipulation and become much stronger."
"You're going to be a good teacher," Marissa said softly.
Leo looked up, surprised by the certainty in her voice.
Leo nodded, a plan forming in his mind. These apprentices might arrive expecting combat techniques and impressive displays. Instead, he would teach them something far more valuable—how to reach their true potential by loving the element they commanded.