Lutz arrived early the next morning at Myne's house. As soon as he saw Effa-san's face, he knew something was wrong. Her mouth was pinched into a small, worried line, even though she smiled at him a moment later.

"Oh, hello, Lutz," she said. Her voice was tired, like she'd stayed up all night. "I'm sorry, but Myne has to stay in bed today. She has a fever."

His chest squeezed. Not again. He swallowed, forgetting politeness to glance around her to the inside of the house. The fireplace crackled, but the table was empty. All was quiet.

"Can I...can I see her?"

Effa-san hesitated. Then stepped aside. "She's resting, so she might not be awake. Gunther's with her."

Lutz was already halfway through the doorway when he froze, and glanced back at her. "Doesn't he have work?"

"His boss let him have the day off to look after Myne."

"Oh." That was generous. Maybe his boss knew about Myne's condition, too. "Okay. Thank you."

His footsteps were quiet but sure when he headed for the bedroom; the small house was as familiar to him as his own. The door creaked open. It was dark, but he could still make out the gleam of Myne's hair, plastered around her pillow. Sitting on a stool beside her was Gunther-san.

He glanced up, stubble on his chin. "Myne said you'd be coming by."

"Yes, sir."

Gunther-san nodded, looking thoughtful. It was hard to make out in the dim light, but he seemed to be frowning.

"You've taken really good care of her. I'm grateful you're her partner and... friend." He stressed the last word. Lutz tensed, preparing himself for one of Gunther-san's overprotective speeches. But when he spoke again, his words were still soft. "I'm not sure I would've gotten to know Myne as long as I have if it weren't for you. ...Thank you."

Lutz's eyes widened in surprise. Why… why was he thanking him now? Was Myne—

"Lutz…?" came a whisper. They both looked at her. Myne was smiling weakly at him, and he exhaled.

"Gunther, sir, can I—can I have a moment to talk to Myne?"

"Better not be about work," he grunted. But he looked at Myne, and his expression softened. He stroked her hair back from her face. "Are you feeling up for it?"

"Mm-hmm. I'll be fine, Dad."

"...Alright. If you need anything, I'm just in the other room."

Gunther stood up with a sigh. He clapped Lutz on the shoulder as he passed him, then left the room. With the door ajar, Lutz noted.

Myne's face was flushed, but her eyes still shone, capturing what little light there was in the room. A damp towel draped across her forehead. He didn't have to press the back of his hand to her cheek to know she was burning up, but he did so anyway. "I'm fine, Lutz," she protested, but didn't turn away. Didn't have the strength for it, maybe?

Lutz let his hand fall to his side. The last time she was like this… It was before their Baptismal. Before Freida had let her use a magic item. That was only last winter, and she was already getting sick again. "Myne…"

"Sorry I'm not feeling well." She smiled. "You've been working so hard… Take the day off, Lutz."

But he shook his head. He hasn't worked hard enough .

Myne pressed a hand to his face, and he realized a tear had fallen. "Don't cry. I'll be up in no time. We still have a book to make."

When times are hard, the least you can do is care for her, smile and laugh for her sake. That's what it means to grow up.

Lutz hurriedly wiped his face on his sleeve. Then managed a smile. "Just one book? I thought you wanted a whole library."

She chuckled, but it came out more like a weak breath. "That's right, I do…"

Tell her that you'll make whatever she thinks of…

He clasped her feverish hands between his. Like holding a hot coal. "I'm working today anyways. Just tell me what I need to do, Myne. What can I build for you?"

Her eyes fluttered closed. He was afraid she'd fallen asleep again, but after a moment, she hummed. "Mm...I was thinking of a few more inventions… But I don't think I can talk you through them right now…"

... Then make them each and every time.

"Give me something to do, Myne."

She opened her eyes and looked at him; exhaled, a tired laugh. "And they call me a busybody… Mm... Can you… can you check on the shogi cards and the screw press for me?"

As a man, don't let her worry about anything.

He nodded vigorously. "Yeah, leave it to me! Even if—even if you're too tired to be there, I can still build them!" He tried to give her a reassuring look, but her eyes had closed again. "...Myne? Myne?"

She was quiet. He looked at her chest, watched it rise and fall for at least a minute before he was convinced. She'd just fallen asleep.

His smile slipped. But this time, he didn't let any tears fall. He took the warm towel from her forehead and dipped it in the bucket of cool water beside the bed, wringing it out, before laying it back on her head. He padded out of the room. Gunther was waiting outside the door, clapping his hand on Lutz's shoulder again before heading back inside.

Effa-san was crocheting by the fire, a sad look on her face. "I'm sorry, Lutz. I know that you care for her. We'll let you know when she feels better."

She said it like they knew that Myne would.

No.

She had to get better. She had to.

He muttered his thanks, but couldn't do much more than that. Plans of what he needed to do were already mixing around in his head. Myne had asked him to check in with the shoji cards and the screw press. Which meant he'd need to talk to the woodcarver and the blacksmith specialists.

And that's exactly what he'd do.

But only after leaving did Lutz remember...he never worked with a specialist one-on-one before.

Mark-san listened patiently, waiting for Lutz to finish telling him what he needed to do. If he noticed him choking up or his hands shaking, he didn't say.

"I will accompany you," he agreed once Lutz finished, and he exhaled in relief. "But if you are acting on Myne-san's behalf, that means you must take responsibility." The man's expression was mild as ever, but something in his tone made Lutz swallow, and straighten up. That pressure in his chest was coming back….

The two stopped at the blacksmith's first. Picking up the...screw press? Was that its name? That was easy enough...if tedious. Johann had finished it, but had drilled Lutz with a series of precise questions to verify its dimensions and pitch and...whatever else... was right. Nodding along, Lutz tried to look like he knew what he was talking about. But when it soon became clear he wasn't as fluent at this as Myne was, Johann gave a resigned sigh. "You can take it for now, but if Myne-sama has any complaints—any whatsoever, no matter how minor," the blacksmith stressed, "—then bring it back to me."

Lutz tried not to feel insulted.

The next job was…harder. Their destination was the woodcarver's shop.

No matter how much he tried, Lutz couldn't bottle up the dread creeping through him. Zeke would be there. Apprentices had a silent rule not to encroach upon each other's territory, but even without that, Lutz wouldn't have visited his brother if he had a choice. The last time he had to go with Myne, he could feel the tension stiffen the air.

Things had gotten better at home. Ralph had started to keep his disapproval to himself since Myne had hired him, and although Zasha teased him, he usually did it only to imitate Zeke, and wouldn't take the initiative himself.

But Zeke?

Zeke came at Lutz the hardest. Always pestering him about how Mom would eat him alive if he made a single mistake and that Dad was silent because he disapproved so much he couldn't get the words out. ...Never mind that Dad was always quiet….

Lutz didn't listen to Zeke. It was his job, his future, and his problem—it didn't concern Zeke, his mom, or anyone else.

He reminded himself of that as he stood outside the door. Taking a deep breath, he entered the store and strode to the counter, keeping his eyes aimed straight ahead. Almost immediately another apprentice greeted him—not Zeke, thankfully. "I am looking for your master, please," announced Lutz. "I am here to check on his progress."

The apprentice nodded, and went to fetch the specialist. Lutz fixed his stare on the wall in front of him. But from the corner of his vision, he could see his brother's head of familiar hair. Even without looking at him, he could feel Zeke's stare boring into him.

The specialist strode over to the counter, a stack of small wood chips in his hands.

"Hello, little master," the man said. "I reckon you're here about the tiles?"

"Yes, sir."

"Where's the lil' miss?"

"She is occupied with other business," Mark-san smoothly cut in. Lutz glanced at him. It wasn't like Mark-san to lie, but maybe… maybe he thought that Myne's business would suffer if people learned she was sick? He'd have to ask him more about Myne's reputation later.

"I am acting on her behalf," Lutz declared. Zeke made a sound of protest from the corner of the shop, but Lutz ignored it.

"Very well, then. Here's a sample of my work so far." The specialist showed him the wood tiles. The negative space was carved away to show the letters.

The writing was easily legible. Lutz took one, weighing it in his hands. The tile weighed almost nothing. The wood would've been suitable for the tiles themselves, since it was cheaper and lighter, but not for printing the characters. He frowned, and handed it back to the specialist. "I am sorry, sir, but I do not think this wood is appropriate."

"LUTZ!" Zeke hissed. His brother had squirreled his way over to them. "Show the master res—"

"Quiet, Zeke," snapped the specialist. "Don't argue with the customer."

Zeke fumed, but Lutz ignored him. He'd get an earful later, anyways.

"What doesn't meet your qualifications?" the specialist asked.

"This wood is rusif, correct?"

"It is."

"Rusif is a softwood. It's too light and grainy for our needs. Can you make the set from a hardwood instead?"

The specialist rubbed his chin, looking him up and down. "It'll be harder to carve," he said slowly, "and more expensive, too… I'd have to raise my price."

Lutz frowned. Could he do that? He glanced at Mark-san, but the man was looking ahead; the picture of an obedient but detached attendant. He didn't doubt that Mark-san was paying astute attention, but he must be waiting to see how Lutz handled this.

How would Myne do this? Or Benno-san?

"Myne-sama had clearly outlined what she needed for her project," Lutz began in a firmer voice than he felt, "and you agreed on the deal for three small gold coins. Do I need to inform her that you are changing the deal?" Calling him out when they hadn't signed a magical contract was a risk, he knew. But he also knew that a merchant's word was his livelihood.

The specialist frowned, looking him up and down again. Sizing him up.

Lutz tensed, suddenly aware of the height difference between him and the man. With his fathers and his brothers, he was used to being the runt. But that was with his family. With them, he could tackle anyone who thought they could bully him.

But this was business. This was different.

His back was ramrod straight, but he forced his fists to stay loose by his sides. Did he—would he back out?

By, dezdance

Dezdance's A/N: our boy lutz is growing up 3

"The young master is correct," Mark-san said beside him, almost making Lutz jump. He slipped out a piece of paper from his pocket. "As you can see, three small gold coins was the agreed upon price. But I can inquire with Master Benno if you feel the need for further compensation. He is quite invested in this project, as well."

The specialist glanced over the piece of paper. Not a contract… A receipt, maybe? Lutz had seen Benno-san's employees give them to customers after a particularly large purchase. Mark-san must've gotten the receipt after their first visit.

"No," the specialist finally decided. "No need. We did agree upon three small gold. My apologies, little master. I'll use a hardwood instead."

Lutz breathed a sigh of relief—then remembered himself. He nodded stiffly. "Thank you, sir."

The rest of their business concluded with ease, although Lutz still felt Zeke's gawking from all the way across the store. He held back a groan. He wouldn't hear the end of it...

"Thank you for coming with me, Mark-san," Lutz said after they'd left. They hovered outside the door of the store. It was about time for Lutz to return home, and Mark-san to Benno-san.

The man smiled at him. "Of course, Lutz-san. I am sure Benno-san would've been proud of you."

Lutz looked down. "I'm not sure… I couldn't help Myne build her inventions today, and I didn't even remember to bring her receipt for the woodcarver."

"You are helping Myne-san," he insisted. "Making an invention is more than simply building it. You are a merchant; surely you have learnt that?"

"Yes, sir." Lutz blushed, lowering his head. "Sorry, sir."

"No apologies are necessary. As for the receipt, this is your first time handling a meeting almost entirely by yourself. That is no small feat. You will learn the tricks of the trade with time. You are already showing great promise."

"Thank you, sir." Lutz tried to hold onto the words and feel them. Absorb them. He had gotten farther than he ever thought possible. Already, this was a dream come true.

And yet he couldn't rid himself of the pressure in his chest.

Mark-san nodded. He was about to turn, looking like he would leave, but then he glanced back. "Lutz-san? That boy in there… do you know him?"

"He's my brother," he couldn't help but grumble.

"I see… Is your brother usually that… disagreeable?"

"Usually," he sighed.

"Mm." Mark-san looked thoughtful for a moment. Then inclined his head and smiled. "Good day, Lutz-san."

Lutz looked puzzled, but nodded. "Good day, Mark-san. And...thank you, sir. For everything."

Mark-san's eyes twinkled. "It's always a pleasure, sir."