Ganesh Deolalikar

As the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, Ranav made his way to the knights' training ground. The crisp morning air carried the faint scent of dew, mingled with the earthy aroma of freshly turned soil. A few workers were already busy cleaning and adjusting the field. Their rhythmic movements gave the space a quiet sense of purpose.

Ranav scanned the area, looking for Tenali Raman, but there was no sign of the old chief. Deciding to make the most of his time, he began running laps around the track. The steady rhythm of his feet hitting the ground was almost meditative, helping him focus and wake up fully.

After completing three laps, Ranav stopped to catch his breath near the sidelines. To his surprise, he spotted Tenali Raman standing nearby, observing the activity on the field. Ranav walked over to him, still slightly panting.

"Good morning, old chief," he greeted with a respectful nod.

"Good morning, Ranav," Tenali replied with a warm smile. "You're early. Honestly, I thought you wouldn't show up today."

"How could I not? I promised you yesterday," Ranav said confidently.

Tenali chuckled. "How many laps have you done?"

"Three laps," Ranav replied. "I think I'll stop here for today. If you're free, we could spar for a bit. I'd like to show you my improvements."

Tenali nodded. "Alright. Let's head inside. We'll need practice swords."

They walked toward the inner section of the training ground, where racks of wooden practice swords were neatly stacked. On the way, several knights and trainees greeted Tenali with respect. Some of them even acknowledged Ranav with nods or smiles. After his last duel with James, Ranav had earned a reputation as the old chief's protégé.

Once they had selected their swords, the two made their way to an open arena. Ranav tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and turned to Tenali.

"My attack speed has improved a lot since our last session," Ranav said earnestly. "I've been practicing freehand techniques. Please guide me."

Without waiting for a response, Ranav began demonstrating various slashes, each movement sharp and deliberate. Tenali observed him closely, his sharp eyes catching every flaw.

"Your speed has indeed improved," Tenali acknowledged. "But your trajectory still isn't straight. Watch my stance and movements carefully."

Tenali then demonstrated a series of precise slashes, his movements fluid and controlled. With Jessica's subtle guidance in his mind, Ranav quickly identified his mistakes. He practiced the corrected motions under Tenali's watchful eye and, after a few attempts, began to show noticeable improvement.

"You always amaze me, Ranav," Tenali said, clearly impressed. "You've already corrected your slashes. Good. Now, let's spar. Don't hold back… use your full strength."

The two clashed swords in a spirited sparring session. The sound of wood striking wood echoed across the arena as they tested each other's limits. After several minutes, they paused to catch their breath.

"You've improved a lot," Tenali said. "Now, what's on your mind? I can tell there's something you want to ask."

Ranav nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I need your help. I'm planning to build a new house for my family, but I don't know much about construction or who to hire."

"What about your current house? Has your father contacted any builders?" Tenali asked.

"Our current house is old and cramped," Ranav explained. "We need more space. I've saved some money and want to build a stone house, but I need the village chief's permission and a reliable mason. If you know anyone, that would be a huge help."

Tenali rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Building a stone house is no small task. Do you have enough funds for it?"

"I've earned some money during my time in the county," Ranav said. "How much would a stone house cost?"

"Around one hundred gold should be enough," Tenali estimated. "But you'll get a more accurate number once you finalize the design."

"Then I should have enough," Ranav said confidently. "If you can help me find a reliable mason, I can handle the rest."

"As it happens, you're in luck," Tenali said with a grin. "Ganesh Deolalikar, the best mason in our county, is currently working on some repairs at my house. He arrived this morning with his team and should be here until evening. He's built some of the most notable structures in the county, including the Count's Court and the Mage Association building."

Ranav's eyes lit up. "That's perfect! Can we meet him?"

"Of course. Let's go now," Tenali said, leading the way.

They walked to the village chief's house, a beautiful two-story building surrounded by lush greenery. The outer walls were undergoing repairs, and several workers were busy reinforcing the structure. The house exuded an air of quiet elegance, with a flower garden in the courtyard adding a touch of serenity.

As Ranav admired the house, Tenali called out to a towering figure overseeing the repairs. Ganesh Deolalikar was over eight feet tall with a sturdy build and dark skin. His presence was commanding, yet his expression was kind.

"Chief, don't worry. We'll have your house repaired by today," Ganesh assured as he approached.

"Thank you, Ganesh," Tenali said. "Actually, I wanted to discuss another project. Meet Ranav, a disciple of Mage Naria and a student of mine. He wants to build a stone house for his family."

Ranav clasped his hands and bowed slightly. "Pleased to meet you, sir."

Ganesh returned the gesture. "The pleasure is mine. I'm honored to meet the disciple of such esteemed mentors."

"Enough pleasantries," Tenali interjected with a laugh. "Ganesh, Ranav has some designs for his house. Take a look and see what you think. I'll go check on your team's work."

Ganesh carefully examined the blueprints Ranav handed him. His eyes narrowed as he studied the details.

"Who designed this?" Ganesh asked after a moment.

"I did," Ranav said. "I've read a lot about building structure, but I don't have practical experience. Let me know if anything isn't clear."

Ganesh nodded, clearly impressed. "Your designs are quite detailed. The floor plan is straightforward, but the staircase design is unfamiliar to me. Could you explain it?"

Ranav spent the next few minutes directing Ganesh through the plans, explaining each feature in detail. By the end of their discussion, Ganesh seemed satisfied.

"Your design is practical," Ganesh said. "I can work with it. But before we finalize anything, I need to inspect the site."

Ranav gestured toward his house. "It's about a ten-minute walk from here. I can show you now."

Ganesh called over his foreman, a tall, wiry man named Henry Irwin, and introduced him to Ranav. Together, they walked to Ranav's home, where Ranav led them to the back of the property.

"This is where we'd like to build," Ranav said. "The surrounding land is ours, so you can choose the exact location."

Ganesh inspected the area thoughtfully. "Do you plan to demolish your current house?"

"Yes. Once the new house is built, I'd like to turn the front area into a garden and courtyard," Ranav said.

"Understood. We'll test the soil and make the necessary calculations. Give us some time," Ganesh said.

As the two began their work, Ranav asked, "Would you like some snacks? Any dietary restrictions I should know about?"

Ganesh looked puzzled. "What are dietary restrictions?"

Ranav realized that he talked in Earth's language and quickly explained, "It's a term from healer's books. It means foods that might cause problem in someone."

Ganesh laughed. "Ah, I see. No, we're fine. Don't trouble yourself."

Ranav smiled. "No trouble at all. I'll bring something for you while you work." With that, he headed into the house, leaving Ganesh and Henry to begin their preparations.