Leo the builder once again

The next morning, Leo descended to the inn's common room to find it already packed with people. The innkeeper shot him an exasperated look over the crowd of bodies that filled every available space.

"Your doing, I take it?" The man gestured at the big amount of people.

Leo nodded. "I'll need somewhere to speak with them."

"Outside," the innkeeper said firmly. "My paying customers need somewhere to eat."

Leo stepped into the courtyard and raised his hands for attention. The crowd followed, jostling for position.

"One moment, please."

He knelt, placing both palms flat against the ground. The earth rippled beneath his touch. Stone flowed upward, coalescing into a solid rectangular table with smooth benches on either side. The crowd gasped.

"Now we can talk properly." Leo sat at the head of the table. "I'll need to see proof of land ownership before discussing specifics."

A balding merchant pushed forward, unfurling a deed. "I own three plots on Market Street."

Leo nodded, gesturing for the man to sit. "What sort of structure did you have in mind?"

Throughout the morning, Leo outlined his pricing structure. Simple one-room dwellings with basic amenities started at twenty silver coins. Larger family homes with multiple bedrooms cost fifty silver. The most elaborate designs—two-story houses with multiple rooms, cellars, and decorative elements—commanded several gold pieces.

"But that's few times less of what traditional builders charge," one woman exclaimed.

"And takes a fraction of the time," added another.

A weathered man with calloused hands approached three small children clinging to his legs. "Lost everything in the war," he explained quietly, showing his deed to a small plot. "Got twenty-two silvers to my name."

Leo studied the children's faces, noting their worn clothes and hopeful eyes. "Twenty silver for a two-room dwelling. Solid walls, good roof."

The man's shoulders sagged with relief. "Bless you, sir."

Not everyone received such consideration. When a well-dressed merchant tried haggling, citing his children as reason for discount, Leo merely raised an eyebrow at the man's gold rings and silk cravat.

"My price stands," he said firmly. "Thirty-five silver, not a coin less."

By midday, Leo had booked construction projects for the next two weeks, carefully noting each client's requirements in a ledger. He would begin tomorrow with the war victim's home, followed by two merchant shops near the market.

As Leo concluded his business with the townspeople, a pair of watchful eyes observed from the edge of the marketplace. Captain Elias, a third-circle knight and commander of the city guard, frowned deeply as he watched the young mage manipulate earth with casual ease. He signaled to his subordinate.

"Send word to the governor immediately," he muttered. "We have an unregistered earth mage conducting business within our walls."

The apprentice knight nodded sharply and hurried away. Within the hour, the governor's council chamber buzzed with urgent whispers.

"An earth mage? Here?" Governor Blackwell's normally composed face tightened with concern. "And no prior notification from the Mage Guild?"

Captain Elias stood at attention. "None, sir. He's been offering construction services to the populace. Creating entire structures from raw earth."

"That's at least apprentice level five, possibly higher," commented Magistrate Wren, the city's judicial authority. "The control required to form functional buildings..."

"Could be dangerous," finished the captain. "My twenty apprentice knights wouldn't stand a chance if he's hostile."

The governor drummed his fingers on the polished table. "Has he shown any aggressive tendencies?"

"No, sir. Quite the opposite. He's charging low prices, helping those in need."

"Still," interjected Lady Farnsworth, head of commerce, "unregistered mages must follow proper protocols. The guilds have rules for a reason."

The governor nodded gravely. "Send a messenger to the regional Mage Guild headquarters. Request assessment and support. Until then, maintain observation only. No confrontation."

"And if he leaves before support arrives?" asked the captain.

"Follow discreetly. Document his activities. But under no circumstances are you to engage him directly." The governor's gaze swept the room. "A mage capable of reshaping earth with such precision could level half this city if provoked."

Back in the marketplace, unaware of the administrative panic he'd caused, Leo collected his final payments of the day and organized his schedule. The small cluster of apprentice knights trying to look inconspicuous at various market stalls hadn't escaped his notice, but he paid them little mind. Their wary glances meant nothing to him as long as they kept their distance.

In the afternoon, a young family approached: a father, a mother, and a stunningly beautiful young woman. They inquired about a simple, one-room dwelling, flush with amenities.

"Thirty silver," Leo quoted.

The father sighed. "I'm afraid we only have five on us. Times are hard, and we lost our previous home in the war."

Leo's gaze flickered to the young women, noting her long lashes and full lips. An idea blossomed, one that heated his blood.

"Come here, dear." He patted the bench beside him.

The women complied, her cheeks staining pink.

"What's your name?" he asked gently.

"Marissa," she murmured.

"Well, Marissa, I can build your family a nice home, but I'll need payment." Leo leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper only her could hear. "How would you feel about spending a few nights with me?"

Marissa's eyes widened, but she bit her lip and nodded.

As the day waned, Leo booked the last slot for the following week. He'd start on Marissa's home after completing the shops. It would be a simple structure, but sturdy and warm.

That evening, as Leo dined alone in his room, his thoughts kept returning to Marissa. He pictured her face, the shy tilt of her head, the delicate slope of her shoulders. An unfamiliar heat curled low in his belly, and he found himself looking forward to the coming week with anticipation that bordered on discomfort.

Little did Leo know, this decision would set in motion a chain of events that would challenge his strategic mind and change the course of his life forever.