"Congratulations on your baptisms," Benno-san greeted them when they arrived early at his store the next morning. He peered down his long nose at Myne. "Did you manage to keep out of trouble for once?"

Myne puffed out her cheeks in indignation. "Hey, I didn't even faint!"

"Good job, Lutz."

"You are welcome," the boy said, and Myne crossed her arms, pouting. The agony of betrayal!

"Now, we talk business," Benno-san said, leaning back into his chair. When he sat like that, not only did he look like a shrewd businessman, but with his graceful and confident stature, Myne could easily imagine him as a king, weighing decisions and passing out orders. "Have you thought about working from home for me, now that you're no longer my apprentice?"

"I have," Myne said. "Lutz works only every other day as an apprentice, anyways, so I figured on his days off, he could work with me on creating new inventions. And the days he's at the store, and I'm feeling well enough, I can do work for you and Otto-san."

Something glinted in Benno-san's eyes. Myne frowned. That wasn't good. "We can arrange that," he said equably.

"Alright…"

"Does this arrangement work for you, Lutz?"

"Yessir," he said. Lutz and Myne had already gone over their plans on their way to the store. Now that he was an apprentice and working with Myne, he wouldn't have as much time to help around home. But it was easier now that his mom and brothers finally valued the work he was doing. So long as he brought in the coin, they would support him. Myne didn't know if his father had changed his mind as well, but if he had complaints, he was outnumbered.

"Excellent," Benno-san said, leaning forward as he crossed his arms on the desk. "Then what work are you capable of, Myne?"

"Well, most of the time I did Otto-san's accounting. I also helped to teach some other kids how to read and write."

Benno-san looked surprised. "You taught—never mind, it's not important now. Alright. I have some accounting that you can take over from Mark, and I'll send over any other apprentices who need to learn their literacy."

"And my salary?"

"One small copper coin per page of accounting, and five small for a day of tutoring."

"Three small coins and one medium," she countered.

"Two small coins, and six small."

Myne held up her chin. "If you're not going to play fairly, I can always go to Otto-san."

Benno-san's lip curled up. "Two small coins and six small," he repeated.

Myne frowned. Benno-san had always haggled with her, not stuck with one price. Was he that confident Otto-san wouldn't give her a better deal? ...To be fair, the guard wasn't as rich as Benno-san, and was nearly as shrewd as a businessman, too. But she could've betted on their rivalry before! "Two small coins and eight small," she conceded.

"Deal."

They shook hands, but Myne had a sneaking suspicion she lost that round...

Benno-san smirked. "Very well. Lutz can bring you the work on his off-days when he visits you. Is there anything else?"

"Actually…" Myne hesitated. What she had planned wouldn't require her starting from square one like she had with the paper, but it wouldn't be easy either. She took a deep breath, then looked Benno-san in the eyes. "How long does it take for someone to write a book?"

"Months to years," he said. Then narrowed his eyes, his gaze suddenly sharp like a hawk's. "Why?"

"What if I told you there's a way to do it in days?"

Benno-san bolted upright from his chair. "Did you know about this?" he thundered at Lutz, who quickly raised his hands.

"She doesn't tell me half this stuff," he said defensively.

Myne turned on him. "Yes, I do!"

"Talking to yourself isn't the same as talking to me."

Ack.

Benno-san sighed heavily, the air blowing from his nostrils. "Have you told anyone else about this?" he ordered.

"Of course not," Myne snapped, but couldn't help but shudder. The last time she had an idea this big and signed a magical contract for it, Benno-san had warned the knowledge could've killed someone if word got out.

"Good. So what are you planning?"

But Myne crossed her index fingers over her mouth. "I can only say I know of a machine Lutz and I could build to speed up the printing process."

"Printing?" Benno-san repeated. Darn.

" Writing process," she corrected.

"How complicated is it?"

"There's less steps than the paper-making process," Myne explained, "but Lutz and I would need to make a prototype of it first, to make sure it works. I can't say more until we have a contract."

Benno-san took a deep breath. His eyes darted to Lutz, and something crossed between them. An understanding, of sorts, but of what Myne didn't know. "This sounds like another major undertaking. I'm interested, but you should also keep working on your smaller projects, too."

Myne already figured that. If she had only a year to make enough money to buy the use of another magical item, she'd have to work on multiple projects at once. She'd already thought up a list of handicrafts her family could do for the winter. It wouldn't exactly fire her up, but she could still work on her printing press—and soon, real books! —as her main project. That'll have to be enough to satiate her for now. "I already have some ideas," she said. "I'll bring them to you once I have some samples."

Benno-san nodded, settling back into his seat. "Very well. Mark? The order forms and contracts, please."

"Yes, Master," said the ever-present assistant, and a moment later, he set down the necessary supplies on the desk. The blade of the small knife glinted, and Myne shivered. More blood… But she felt Lutz grab her hand, and she looked to see him smiling at her. His hand was small, already rough with callouses, but it felt familiar in hers. She sighed. At least he'd be there to help…

"I assume a similar agreement to the paper-making process will suffice?" Benno-san asked.

"Not quite," Myne admitted. "I'm not making these to sell, but for you to use."

"We're talking about commissions, then?"

Myne hid her surprise. She had considered a set price, like how she sold Freida the Pound Cake recipe for a one-time payment. But...depending on how much paper they produced, this could work out better in the long-run. And if she ever planned on publishing her own books, it'd be better if she retained complete ownership of the printing presses.

Maybe she could get the best of both worlds?

"Yes…" Myne started slowly. "We would need financial support for the initial start-up costs to make the equipment. I would still retain the rights for the product under Workshop Myne, and in exchange, you may request commissions for a lower cost so your people can work the machines. After purchasing a membership fee," she added quickly.

"What's a membership fee?" asked Lutz.

Myne winked at him. "If you become a member, you have to pay a little more upfront to use a service for cheaper in the future, but if you're using the service a lot, then it usually costs less in the long-run than if you weren't a member. Since it'll benefit Benno-san to make and print paper in bulk, it'll be a good deal for him."

"That's an advanced theory of business," Benno-san noted, a hint of approval in his voice. Myne kept her expression neutral as he thought, a hand to his chin. "How much are you charging for membership?"

Myne hesitated. She sold the shampoo rights for five small gold coins to Benno-san before, and that had been too little. Freida had said that a new idea would easily be over a large gold coin. But she wasn't selling the idea to Benno-san, just access to the product.

...So, how much did memberships sell for in this world?

Sensing her hesitation, the corner of Benno-san's lips quirked. "Depending on what they're for, memberships for something like this are usually dealt in silver coins."

Okay. He didn't give her the exact price, but a range for her to work in. This was probably another one of his tests.

"Five large silver coins for a year's worth of membership," she declared.

"Three."

Overshot it. "Three large silvers and five small silvers."

Benno-san sighed. "Deal. I assume we will arrange the commission cost at a future date?"

"Yes, that should be fine."

He picked up his quill and started to write on the parchment. After a moment, he paused, looking up. "What is this process called?"

"A printing press," she said brightly.

For a moment, Benno-san gave her a measured look—probably reassessing her weirdness—before turning back to his writing. Once he was finished, he passed the contract to them. Myne leaned over, but then stopped. "Would you like to do the honors?" she asked Lutz.

The boy looked surprised, but then his mouth set into a determined line, and he nodded. "Okay." He licked his lips once, then read aloud in a slow, slightly halting voice:

"Benno will pay for all... expenses of Myne and Lutz's pro...production of printing presses. The rights to the printing press and who it will be made for belong to Myne. The rights to the sales of the printing press belongs to Lutz. Benno will purchase the...an...annu al mem…"

"Membership," Myne whispered under her breath.

"—membership, for three large silver coins and five small silver coins for a reduced...commision...cost."

Lutz smiled at his success. But then he frowned. "How would I sell the printing press if we're not really selling it?"

"If I ever decided to sell one we've built, you'd be in charge of it," Myne explained. "You'll also be in charge of the commissions, and making sure they go through smoothly."

Lutz nodded, the gears practically visible as they churned in his head. She smiled to herself. He was already taking his role seriously as an apprentice merchant. "I agree with this," he said after a moment.

"Excellent." Benno-san brought out the magical quill—

"WAIT!" Myne yelped.

Benno-san put a hand to his temple. "What now ?"

"We need a copy of the contract," she said firmly. She was never going to be without one again, not after the last time.

Benno-san's exasperated expression transformed into a grin. "Look who's learning." On a separate sheet of regular parchment, he wrote out a copy of the agreement. Myne looked it over, then gave it to Lutz, who read through it again before rolling it up.

The boy then took the magical quill, and signed his name on the contract; Myne did the same. She shuddered again when Benno-san grabbed the pocket knife, but shut her eyes and let Lutz take her hand, pricking her finger. Someday she'd have to reinvent antibiotic ointment…

He pressed her finger to her name for her, before doing his next. Only then did Myne open her eyes to see the parchment light up. Myne watched, transfixed, as flames danced over the dry surface, before flaking away into the air. That same sense of awe she felt when she'd first seen the magic washed over her. Was this how people felt the first times they saw electricity?

"Mark will help you write an order form," Benno-san continued, drawing away Myne's attention from the last of the embers. "But first, we need to check the new workshop."

He smiled. "It's a good thing you're well-dressed."

Carrying Myne, Benno-san brought them to the new workshop he'd arranged near the South Gate of the city, close to the forest's river. Steam rose from a fireplace inside the workshop. When she stepped inside, heat brushed her skin. The air was warm and dry, almost uncomfortably so. Several adults were hard at work, but Myne could catch them sneaking glances at her and Lutz. Probably wondering why children—although finely dressed ones—were with their boss. Myne was suddenly grateful they came properly attired.

The new, adult-sized equipment seemed to be in good working order. Stacked in one corner was a large pile of sticks, likely collected from the forest. Near the front of the workshop, people sat by stands to peel the barks; in the back, large pots were set in fireplaces to boil; while the walls were lined with tall drying racks. Myne was in awe as much as she was jealous. What she wouldn't have given to have had a system this orderly to begin with.

She stepped forward to investigate more closely, but a hand on her shoulder held her back. She looked up to see Benno-san frowning at her.

"You're not in charge, remember? Lutz is." He looked at the boy. "Tell me. Do you think everything is in order?"

Lutz pursed his lips, but he carefully scanned the workshop. Myne waited. He knew the physical process of building the materials, and she'd explained a few steps to him before, but knowing the process well enough to not only correct a mistake but understand why it was wrong took another level. But then his gaze settled on a female, middle-aged worker nearby, in the process of peeling the outer bark from the white bark inside.

"She's not taking off enough white bark," he said to Benno-san. "It's wasting materials."

Benno-san nodded. "Good. Now tell her that."

Lutz looked surprised, but Benno-san stared evenly at him. "You're a merchant now, representing Myne. You must learn how to talk to your employees. If they don't take you seriously, they won't take her seriously."

Lutz's mouth pressed into a hard line, and a look of resolve glinted in his eyes. Myne wanted to reach out and hold his hand, like she had when they'd first met Benno-san, but she held back.

"Yes, Master. I understand." He squared his shoulders, and strode over to the worker.

"Excuse me," he said. Politely, but firmly. "Let me look, please."

The woman glanced at him. She might've looked nice enough, but she still frowned, eyeing Lutz warily. Myne felt like cowering vicariously for him. She had the advantage of feeling like an adult, even if she didn't look like one. But if she was a child like Lutz, talking to an elder as if you were the boss, she would've trembled. Thankfully, if Lutz felt the same, he didn't show it.

"Alright," the woman said cautiously, handing him the bark.

Lutz took it, and turned it over carefully in his hands, his eyebrows scrunched as he inspected it. He nodded to himself, and then kneeled, his fingers shifting through the bark scraps in the bucket beside her. He grabbed out a piece and showed it to the woman.

"You are not taking off enough white bark." He bent the supple dark bark back with his thumb, and a layer of white slivers sprung up. "See? I think your knife is too dull. You need to sharpen it frequently, or else it will be harder to make the fine cuts you need to strip the outer bark. Here." He gestured for her knife, and she handed it to him. He sharpened it against the whetstone, inspecting the edge carefully, before setting the bark scrap once again on the stand. Like slicing watermelon from its rind, he ran his knife smoothly through the peel until the brown bark came away from the white. He did the same with the newer piece of bark, until the dark skin was shorn into a thin, curling strip with no white left.

"Now you try," he offered.

The woman took the knife from him and set to work on another piece of bark.

"If you hold the edge of the white bark as you peel, it will help steady it," he instructed. After watching her for a few minutes, giving a suggestion here and there, he deemed her work satisfactory, and stood back up. "Thank you, ma'am," he said.

The woman smiled at him, her expression softer now. "Thank you , sir."

Lutz returned to them. Myne beamed, resisting the urge to pat his head—that wouldn't look professional. She settled for holding his hand. "You did great," she whispered excitedly to him.

"Thanks," he beamed, holding his head high.

Benno-san grinned, his hands on his hips. "Firm, but respectful. We'll make a merchant of you yet."

"Thank you, Master," he responded graciously.

They continued through the workshop. Myne pointed out a few techniques that could be improved here and there, but now that Lutz was watching, too, he caught some even she hadn't. Little ways to make the process smoother, like which steps you could afford to multitask on, which ones needed more focus, and even combining a few, like using the fire from boiling the ash and white bark to dry the paper at the same time.

Myne smiled. She felt the smallest guilty pleasure that Lutz chose to use his artisan skills for her, rather than elsewhere. She wouldn't even be alive without the promise he'd held her to, never mind have a workshop modeled after all of their hard work making paper together.

And if all went well, she hoped they'd see many more of their inventions come to fruition.

Myne's Current Account:

(S) Copper Coin: 8

(M) Copper Coin: 5

(L) Copper Coin: 3

(S) Silver Coin: 4

(L) Silver Coin: 1

(S) Gold Coin: 11

(L) Gold Coin: 3

Total: 41,143,580 Lyons

A/N: (11/09/2021)

* Had to ret-con a detail in Chapter 2: "Meeting with Benno-san" (AKA, this chapter). I originally wrote that the workshop and the workers by the river were right next to each other, but… after looking at the canon's map of the town, Myne's Workshop is actually within the town walls, while the river would presumably be outside of the town walls in the forest. Sorry for the mix-up. ...Also, I know that Ralph isn't the eldest in canon, but that's another ret-conned detail (^^")