Steven gave Julia a concerned look as the two of them got dressed. "I thought you weren't going to apply for the posting. We talked about this. That job just screams something about shady deals and dark alleyways. It's too dangerous. What were you thinking?"

  Julia sighed and turned to her husband. "I was thinking that I was desperate. That we are desperate. I know it's a risk, but it's one I'm willing to make. I believe I made that clear."

  "We can still get another job," Steven argued. "Just because you haven't had a job in a while, doesn't mean we can't find something else. There are many jobs out there that don't require you to sign a magic contract. The very idea is ludicrous!"

  She stopped and looked at him. "I've been looking for a job for over a month. Do you know how helpless I feel watching you work from dawn to dusk every single day to make up for my failing? Do you know how worthless I feel watching my kids walk away from the table, their stomachs still growling? I don't care what this job entails. Be it shady details or worse. We need the money. And this job pays very well. I've looked everywhere. This is the only one that hasn't rejected me the moment I step through the door. So I'm taking it. You can't change my mind, Steven."

  He stared at her, the determination and stubbornness clear on her face. "Julia..." He was speechless. "I... can understand that, I think. But... please. This just seems like a very big decision to rush into."

  "I'm not rushing into it, Steve. While you were off at the docks working until your fingers bled, I had plenty of time to sit and think about what I am and am not willing to do. I've already made up my mind." She finished putting on her shoes. "I'll be back in a bit. If they accept me, great. I'll come home and we can talk about what comes next. If not, then we're back to where we already were. You coming home, tired and exhausted, while I sit here feeling useless."

  Steven was silent. He nodded and walked up to his wife, hugging her close. "I understand. Good luck. But if this job isn't completely safe, we're finding you something better the first chance we get, salary be damned."

  Julia sighed, relaxing in his arms. "Thank you." She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Now, I should go. The interview starts soon, and I can't be late."

  She stepped out of her house and locked the door, heading north.

  It took almost two hours to walk across the city, and another half hour to actually find the address to report to. Julia had no way of telling the actual time, but it looked to be about mid-morning judging by the location of the sun. Was she late? Early? She had no idea.

  Julia wandered down the northern streets of the city for perhaps the first time in her life. The city was massive, but even still, she had trouble comprehending the vast dichotomy between the northern side and the southern side of the city. This was a different world. The roads were clean and well maintained, with no beggars or homeless in sight. She had passed several patrols of guards keeping the peace. Every house was an estate in its own right. She was clearly not meant to be here, and the few pedestrians that were out gave her wary or disgusted looks.

  It was almost enough to turn her away and back to the familiar streets of her home, but the promise of security for her family kept her feet planted. She ducked lower into her cloak, hiding herself. She kept her head down and avoided eye contact.

  She walked past massive manors, and rows of sturdy, yet artistic steel fences and brick walls that wrapped around the vast plots of land. She had no real reference for how wealthy these people were, but compared to her shabby abode, they might as well have been deities of wealth incarnate.

  Eventually, she found the house she was looking for. The manor was a sprawling estate, surrounded by an eight-foot wall that encircled the entire property. There was a small guardhouse and iron gate at the front, with a pair of well-armed and armored men standing. She cautiously approached, the guards instantly recognizing her as the outsider she was, and their hands tightened on their spears.

  "Name and business," the nearest guard demanded.

  Julia swallowed and stepped forward. "I'm here for an interview," she said. "Julia, no surname. For the position of caretaker."

  The guard grunted, pulling out a small booklet while the other guard kept watch on her. After flipping through a few pages and reading, he nodded, validating her. "Please follow me, miss." His words were clipped, yet professional. Julia was surprised by the formality. These weren't the rough sort of guards she was used to in the southern districts. These men were well-paid, professional, and clearly trained to a standard. It was more than a little intimidating.

  Julia followed the guard in silence. She was too nervous to speak. She was let through the gate without issue. The guard led her up an elegant cobblestone path towards the massive manor. She felt extremely out of place. Even the stonework below seemed to be violated by the mere act of someone like her stepping upon them.

  They approached the main doors, and the guard gave the massive oaken entrance a solid knock.

  A moment later, a young woman answered the door, clad in the most beautifully woven uniform Julia had ever seen. And it was just a maid's uniform! "Thank you, Samuel," the woman said, dismissing the guard with a nod. He departed without a word. The woman turned to Julia, giving her a once-over. Her eyes held an artificial quality that seemed to somehow insist that she was both happy to receive a guest, while at the same time would rather the peasant before her go away as quickly as possible. "May I help you?"

  "Um," Julia cleared her throat, incredibly nervous. She didn't want to offend whoever this woman was. She had no idea how to properly address the staff of a noble. Wait, was this actually a noble house or just a really wealthy family? Did she curtsy? She tried to curtsy. It didn't go well. "I'm Julia, no surname. I'm here for an interview, uh, with Randell Sinfreed." she stammered. "For the position of caretaker."

  "Please, come inside," the maid said, gesturing into the house.

  Julia nervously scurried inside, not daring to disobey an order.

  "Please wait here while I inform Master Randell." the maid said, bowing slightly, closing the door, and departing.

  Julia stood, awkwardly, in the main entrance room of the house. Her stained cloak draped around her, her soiled and worn shoes sticking to the expensive floor ever so slightly. Not for the first time, she started having second thoughts about this position. Was this even okay?

  She glanced about in awe, unable to believe the sheer wealth on display. The floors were made from polished marble, and the walls were adorned with fine paintings and decorations. Everything looked clean and well-maintained. The fluffy rug leading up the nearby stairs was bright red and looked more expensive than every house on her entire street combined. There were four finely stained oaken doors around the foyer leading into other areas of the house, each one designed with a unique and intricate carving.

  "Right this way, Miss Julia," the woman said, startling her. The two of them headed down a hallway, and the maid opened a door, ushering her into a private study. "Please, have a seat. Master Randell will be with you shortly."

  Julia nodded and obediently sat in front of the spacious desk. The door closed, and she was left alone with her thoughts. This room was a bit more sparse than the foyer or hallways, but it still had a few paintings and tapestries that held her attention while she waited.

  Minutes later, an older gentleman entered the room. He looked beyond haggard. Despite his professional demeanor, the bags under his eyes spoke volumes. And the nervous energy he radiated spoke of someone nearing the end of their rope. Though there was a light in his eye, an almost palpable sense of relief, like spotting a distant speck of land after being lost at sea for months.

  He took a seat and gave her a polite nod. His back was straight and his outfit was clean and professional.

  "Good morning, Miss Julia. Thank you for coming."

  She smiled nervously. "Um, yes, thank you, sir."

  The man took her awkwardness in stride. "I am Randell Sinfreed, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm afraid I must apologize in advance for making this quick, but I've unfortunately had my hands quite full these past weeks." The wince in his expression was subtle. "I'm quite behind on my work. So," he clapped. "Let's dive into it, shall we?"

  Julia just nodded mutely.

  Wait, why was he interviewing her directly if he was so busy? Didn't he have staff for this?

  "Good. Now, please tell me why you want this job."

  She squirmed with anxiety. "I, uh, need the money, sir. Badly. My family has been struggling recently, and my husband can't support us on his own. I've been searching for any job that will have me for some time now, and yours was the only one to respond to my application." She fiddled with the hem of her cloak. "I'm willing to do anything you might ask of me." That came out wrong. "Um, within reason," she quickly added, blushing lightly.

  "Excellent. Now, I'm sure you know the salary we are offering is quite generous for the type of work we are asking for. Do you understand what that entails?"

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "Not.. quite. The posting was a bit vague on the details. I'm taking care of one of your pets, I think?"

  He bobbed his head from side to side. "Something like that. I'm afraid I can't go into more details until after you've signed the contract, should I choose to hire you. But I can tell you that this is not going to be an easy job. It's going to be stressful, taxing, and potentially dangerous." His face grew grim. "However, I can promise you that should you choose to accept the position, the benefits would be worth the effort. I assure you that I will do my best to minimize the danger, but I cannot ensure there will not be any accidents. The creature you would be taking care of is not domesticated. Do you understand?"

  "Um, yes, sir. I am aware."

  "And you wish to continue?"

  "Yes."

  "Very good. Now, let us move on to the practical portion of the interview. I've prepared a few questions to help get an idea of what you are capable of. Are you ready to begin?" Randell asked, picking up a small stack of parchment from the desk.

  Julia nodded.

  "Good. Please answer the following questions to the best of your ability."

  Randell started with a few mundane questions about her work history, her experience as a barmaid, and why was she no longer working at the tavern. She explained that a customer had slapped her behind as she passed, and she had scolded the individual quite thoroughly in response. Her previous employer was less than pleased with her reaction and let her go.

  Randell seemed understanding and moved on. She also explained her brief time working as a maid and as an assistant seamstress years before. She had been forced to switch careers a few times over the years, much to her chagrin. She was also asked a couple of questions about her personality, like if she was stressed easily or was capable of working in noisy environments.

  When asked if she had any experience taking care of others, she mentioned that she was a mother of two young children and had babysat for friends and family many times. That seemed like the right answer because Randell was extremely pleased with that.

  A few questions were exchanged and answered before they came to what Julia suspected were the questions that really mattered.

  The hypothetical questions.

  "Now, say that you are alone with your charge. You have no one else to help. You notice a fire has broken out on your stove. What do you do?" Randell asked, leaning forward, his gaze fixed on Julia.

  She thought for a moment. "Well, I would make sure my charge is safe first, taking them outside if needed. Then I'd either try to put out the fire, or call for help."

  Randell nodded, scribbling notes. "Let's say your charge is very mischievous and enjoys exploring. One day you find them missing, and you're unable to locate them. How would you react?"

  After having taken care of two kids of her own for so long, this was an easy one. "Bait them out. Be that food, a new toy, or promises for something. When my kids were younger, I'd often keep candy in my pockets for that exact reason. Works every time." She smiled, reminiscing.

  "If your charge was ill or injured, would you know how to care for them?"

  "Yes. I know basic first aid, and how to treat common illness."

  "Last question. In a hypothetical situation, where you learn some information that is... sensitive, and you're offered a large sum of money for this information. What would you do?" Randell stared at her. "Assume you won't get caught." His gaze was intense for the first time this entire meeting.

  Ah, there it was. The only question that Randell actually cared about. This whole interview was just for this, to ask if she knew how to keep her head down and pretend not to notice what happened behind closed doors.

  Julia frowned. "I grew up in the south side of Saltbrook, sir. People learn quickly not to look too deeply into things they have no business in. People who can't keep their eyes from wandering tend to disappear. I'm no snitch, sir. Money or not, those habits die hard."

  She laid it on thick, trying to make him see the point. She needed this job, and she didn't mind working in less-than-ideal conditions. Randell Sinfreed seemed to be pleased with her answers. The tension in his shoulders disappeared. He sighed in relief. And in that, she knew she had already won him over.

  "Very good," he said, nodding his head. "Thank you, Julia. I believe you would be a great candidate for this position." Randell paused, shifting through a few papers on his desk. "This last bit is more of a formality." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device. "Are you familiar with these devices?"

  It took a moment, but Julia quickly recognized it. "An Essence Reader? I've seen them a few times in guilds and similar, but I've never used one myself." They varied wildly in design, precision, and price, but all of them generally functioned in the same way. Some gave more information, detailing everything from affinities to physical attributes, while others just gave generalities and broad strokes.

  This Essence Reader almost looked like an iron pocket watch with a large glass face top. The glass was clear, and through it, she could see a collection of minuscule, yet complex intertwined lines of thin metals and bits of jewel. On the bottom of the iron casing was a small exposed piece of cloudy quartz that was cut and polished to lay flush with the iron it was inlaid in. There were specks of an unknown metal alloy studded into the quartz, circling it.

  "Indeed," he confirmed. "I'm going to need to scan your level and classes. It's a requirement for all my employees. Do you consent to an Essence scan?"

  "Yes."

  She offered her hand, palm down. Randell placed the reader against the back of her hand, the quartz pressed against her skin. She wasn't quite sure if she felt something or if it was just her imagination. Just the barest hint of something inside her shifting, but so distant she believed she just imagined it.

  A moment later, the glass top began to glow. A series of interlocking rings of different colors appeared. Numbers and words flashed by in an incomprehensible sequence. It was beautiful. Julia had never seen a magical device this complicated before.

  Randell's eyes were fixed on the display as her Mana was measured and analyzed. Words appeared on the glass, written in lights of various hues.

  Julia blinked as she read her own Status for the first time in her life. It felt surreal and wonderful at the same time. And she was already level 8? She didn't think she had achieved that much in her life, but she couldn't help but feel a little pride at the proof of her accomplishments. Levels were something obscure and impossible to notice at low levels like this but had a sort of passive effect. She would be ever-so-slightly stronger and healthier than level 0 individuals. Nothing in the realm of superhuman, of course, but just a slight boost. She would also perform just a bit better at actions that related in some way to her classes.

  She was quite surprised to see her highest affinity class was Caretaker. Though, given how significantly her life revolved around providing for her family, it made perfect sense. The more a class resonated with a person, the higher their affinity with it was, and in turn, the more their natural magics would bend themselves towards that end. Affinity was a complex topic and Julia only knew the basics of it, but she knew it was an essential part of leveling. The most essential part, even.

  "Very interesting," Randell murmured to himself, his eyebrows raised. "It seems you are even more qualified for this position than I had hoped." He put the device away and went back to his papers.

  "Well then, Miss Julia, I'm pleased to announce that the position is yours, should you wish for it."

  Even before he finished the sentence, a relieved expression appeared on her face. Her shoulders slumped as the anxiety she had been carrying for weeks finally left her. Finally, she'd be able to contribute, again.

  The man continued. "I'll just need you to sign this contract of secrecy. If you are unfamiliar with magical contracts, they will place a sort of hold on your Essence. Should one party break their end of the agreement, a pre-specified allocation of their Essence is given to the other party. In your case, all eight of your levels will be placed as collateral."

  Julia's eyes widened a bit at the thought. While it might not affect her as much as it might affect someone more important, she didn't feel like giving up the levels after suddenly learning she had eight of them. She was almost in the second stage!

  Randell handed over the contract and she read through it thoroughly. After a brief instant of consideration, she signed. She didn't feel any different, but she was somehow suddenly completely aware of the contract in the back of her mind. She could recall every word as if she had spent hours memorizing it.

  The academic took the paper with a satisfied smile. "Thank you." He grabbed the small stack of papers and placed them inside one of the desk drawers. "Now, I'll be explaining the details of your position as we walk. If you don't mind, please follow me."

  She stood up, eager to get started.

  They strode out of the room and down a long hallway and down a flight of stairs.

  "As I mentioned before, you will become the primary caretaker for a creature. A monster to be specific."

  Her back straightened. "A... monster?"

  "Yes. I'm currently studying this little beastie, but managing its day-to-day maintenance has proven to be a bigger chore than I had been expecting." He visibly grimaced. "Needless to say, my studies are not to be mentioned to anyone. Not people on the street, not my staff, not even your own family. All knowledge of this monster must be kept secret at all costs."

  She was getting nervous. "Um, w-what is it?"

  Randell gave her a strained smile as they stopped before a door. It was locked and heavily reinforced, clearly made to keep people out. He swiftly unlocked the door and pushed it open, indicating for her to enter, and she did so hesitantly.

  "This, Miss Julia, is the monster."

  The room wasn't too big, but there was a massive window on the opposite side and a large steel door next to it. Through the window, she could see a massive enclosure, with metal walls and flooring. The enclosure itself was fairly spacious, large enough for someone to live in comfortably.

  It wasn't furnished very well, however. Only a few miscellaneous objects were strewn around. They looked like... chew toys? Half of them were shredded beyond recognition. There was also a pet bed flipped upside down in one of the corners, and it was also partially shredded and covered in what looked like blood stains.

  In fact, tiny splatters of blood and minuscule bits of meat were stuck to the walls and floor all over the room, leading to a somewhat traumatizing scene.

  In the middle of the room, there was a creature, swinging around one of the few stuffed animals that were still intact, if only barely. At first glance, the new caretaker believed there was a little girl in the enclosure, but instantly discarded the thought. The chitin plates, the wings, the antennae; they all stood out like beacons in her sight.

  She suddenly got a bad feeling about what this creature might be. A tingle went up her spine as she recalled Lucia's fury and sorrow from the night before.

  The young creature, having heard something, turned around, an excited expression on her face; the expectation of mealtime was clear. Then the Vex caught sight of her new caretaker through the window, the second person she had ever seen, and froze. The woman and the monster stared at each other, motionless, jaws hanging open. A pair of soft brown human eyes locked with bright violet compound eyes. The tension and unease was palpable.

  "This is Rythica. A juvenile Vex hive queen. She's your new charge for the foreseeable future."