As the assistant came in and the Governor began ordering a meal for both of them, Harper recalled the changes she would experience. Gaining the first Domain rebuilt someone’s body to the ideal natural level, often called the baseline. After the changes had run their course, she would be at the peak of what a mundane person or creature could achieve. Or rather, her potential would be.
Without Domains, women generally had less muscle mass than men, and men generally had less muscle mass than many creatures. The first Domain changed that; everyone was capable of more than they had been before. Of course, some saw bigger changes. A small woman would see substantially bigger benefits in terms of strength than a bear of a man.
That wasn't to say that they would be equal in strength. Size, amount of muscle, and fitness would still play a large factor. The woman in this example would still lose in a direct contest of strength, but the difference would no longer be overwhelming. She may have other advantages over the man, such as being much faster than he could hope to be.
A humanoid would never beat a much larger creature in strength, such as a tyrannus. Well, she amended, maybe if the humanoid has an overwhelming number of Domains, and an Apex Solar Domain, but that is an extreme outlier.
Raw strength wasn’t the only thing improved of course. Everyone was faster, could think, clearer, exert themselves longer, heal faster and better, see an improvement in their senses, have a higher resistance to various ailments and more. Most of these improvements were negligible though, more significant benefits depended on the quality of the specific Domain.
The Sea Domain was particularly effective in improving one’s natural healing. At her level, it wouldn’t even come close to true regeneration. Her injuries would heal slightly faster and be less likely to heal in a detrimental way. Once she absorbed a core and integrated it, it’d be even better. Not anything to scoff at, even if it wasn’t one of the Domains she really wanted.
Gaining Domains did not produce miracles. Someone who was deaf before gaining a Domain was still very likely to be deaf afterwards. Manifesting a Domain while a fatal injury ravaged someone’s body would not heal it and save them.
Someone that hadn’t worked a day in their life would be substantially weaker than someone who trained daily.
At that thought, Harper grimaced. She wasn’t out of shape by any means but spending months on a ship and soon after riding in a caravan did not lend itself to the intensity of her usual training regimen. She resolved to get back to her peak as soon as possible.
Realizing she had zoned out, she looked back to the Governor, who was looking at her in amusement. “Lunch will be ready soon. For now, let’s decide where to put you.”
Ignoring the indignant outcry of her stomach, she latched onto something that had caught her interest earlier. “You said you needed couriers that could deliver between cities?”
He nodded. “You’re interested? I don’t have many people that I could trust to conduct themselves well, to be discreet, to be capable of venturing outside the city often, to accept the risk inherent in the position, and that don’t consider it below them.” He looked at her consideringly. “Despite your foolish goal, you seem like you’re pragmatic enough to realize that I don’t trust you that much yet either.”
Harper nodded unsurprised, showing she wasn't offended. She had suspected as much. “How can I prove myself?”
He gave her an approving look. “I will have you follow and assist one of my couriers for the next two months. You will both learn from them and prove your competence. You’ll be paid the equivalent of eight shillings, seven whole and four pieces Destonish dollars biweekly. Once you are a courier in full, you will be paid a laurel and three shillings, also exchanged for the Destonish equivalent. Additionally, there are occasionally more tedious or dangerous tasks that you can volunteer for and earn a decent bonus.”
It wasn’t glamorous, but it would do. “I accept. Thank you.”
It was annoying that she would be paid in Destone’s currency, rather than the Quilish currency she was used to, but she’d adapt. It was much better than having to deal with a local currency. She knew that Quilen's official currency was sparser in the colonies, mainly due to most being funneled back to her homeland and minting rights not being available to the colonies, but she had thought she’d at least be paid with the standard coinage.
They continued with idle chatter until the food was ready. The Governor inquired about news from the continent. Harper told him about how the war for upper Magnon was progressing. The takeover had been slow, the remnants of the former Empire of Tavenoc making them pay for every step. There was talk about another incoming tax to fund the invasion. The Governor looked disgruntled, if unsurprised, at the news.
They had moved into a dining room and Harper dug in. She did her best to follow every dining formality in front of the Governor, even if all she wanted to do was devour food until she was sated. It was a humble meal of meats, cheeses, fruits, and bread, but to Harper it wouldn’t have made a difference if it was a luxurious feast. She ate until she could no longer.
It was enough that she was self-conscious afterwards. Thankfully, the Governor didn’t seem to mind. She had no idea the first Domain would affect her to such a degree. It made her glad she was somewhere with plenty of food on hand. She wondered if she would have to continue eating at such a pace over the next couple weeks.
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Near the end of the meal, a young man walked in and began reporting to the Governor, shooting her a curious glance. Standing next to each other, the familial resemblance was obvious. The only noticeable differences other than age were his hazel eyes to the Governer’s green and his slightly softer facial features. She guessed he was only a couple years her senior.
In the report, he relayed the results of a hunt for a troll. Apparently, one had been stealing livestock and even killed a few villagers. The Governor had sent his rangers, this young man apparently among them, to find and kill it. They were successful, and while there were no casualties, one of the hunters lost the lower part of his leg.
He had no Alius, and so was now next to useless as a ranger. The Governor instructed that he was to be given a hefty compensation and offered a new job as a guard in one of the less strenuous positions.
After the orders were given, he turned the younger man in her direction. “This is Harper of House Waspen. Lady Waspen, this is my son, Gavin.” At his mention of her house, he stiffened. “I just agreed to hire Harper as one of our couriers. Take her to the armory and have them prepare her uniforms and equipment befitting her.”
Then he turned to Harper. “You have enough coin to rent out a room and for necessities until your first salary payment?” At her nod, he continued. “Good. Report to the courier room this next Starday morning at seven. You walked past it on your way here, second door on the right.”
After the Governor took his leave, probably back to his office, Gavin gestured out brusquely and began walking, clearly expecting her to follow. She wondered what his issue was. She found it unlikely he disliked her house in particular.
She’d be surprised if he had encountered members of her house. They had few interests outside Magnon and Zecura, none in Vanax she knew of. She supposed it was possible he followed the Solian or a similar religion and disdained her house for its association and specialty with the Lunar Domain. Many had a dislike for the Domain of Moon outside of religion as well. He could just dislike her house on principle. That was also unlikely though, his father seemed to hold no such scruples, nor was it a common belief here in Vanax.
Regardless, she found all these possibilities implausible. Chances were it wasn’t her house, but noble houses in general. She had heard of unrest on Vanax regarding decisions of the nobility. Poor decisions made by those half a world away that the people of the colonies suffered for as a result of instilled a general discontent with nobility.
It would fade in time, she thought, especially once the colonies were more established and the monarchy granted noble titles to those deserving of them. True nobility was currently rare on the continent. Most that were here were landless lords and ladies looking to leverage what they had and grow their wealth on a continent plentiful in raw resources. Now that she thought about it, she likely had was one of the highest ranks in the colonies, being a mid-level noble on Magnon.
Not that it meant much here. If she attempted to throw around her noble name, she would probably be shunned. While she was unlikely to be blatantly insulted or targeted, for fear of retribution from her house, most would give her no support, especially seeing as she was estranged from her family.
Gavin led her outside and to a neighboring building. It was designed with practicality over aesthetic in mind. It was two stories and made almost entirely of stone. Only a few secure looking windows adorned it. He held the door open for her and she strolled inside. A stout man stood behind a counter.
Gavin walked up to him. “Requisition for new courier hire. Have it fitted to Lady Waspen here.” He turned to her. “What Domain do you have?”
Harper responded, “Sea, why?”
“So that if we have artifact equipment with an enchantment applicable to you, we can supply it,” he responded curtly.
The man behind the counter spoke up. “Nice to meet you, Lady Waspen. My name’s Wilbur Brogen. I’ll oversee your occupational equipment. Anything breaks or wears out, bring it to me. I’ll see it fixed or replaced. Unfortunately, we don’t have much that uses the Sea Domain. Most of our firearms are artifacts, but there is no Sea enhancement for them that is considered good enough for us to make or stock. I’ll see what else I can dig up though.”
“Thank you, Mr. Brogen. Nice to meet you as well. I presume you need to take my measurements?”
He nodded. “Aye, we probably have enough sets that are close enough. Some minor touch ups and they’ll work.”
Gavin spoke then, announcing that he’d be taking his leave. Harper politely thanked him; he grunted neutrally and walked out.
After taking her measurements and telling her to come back in a few days, he sent her off. Now to find a place to live... How do I do that?
After asking around, she was told to check the local newspapers. She found a boy selling them and exchanged a halfpenny for one. The Arboren Gazette. The front page was about the troll attack she had overheard the Governor and his son discussing. In a section in the back, she found listings advertising places to rent.
The first that she checked was quickly dismissed after meeting with the leering landlord. The next she had barely gotten to before hearing a chorus of dogs barking. Nope, need a place to meditate on Domains in peace. She tried several more places, finding something dissatisfactory with either the room or the landowner each time. She’d have to either lower her standards or choose a pricier place, which would slow down how much she could save up.
Eventually, just before she gave up and picked somewhere that would eat into her savings far more than she was pleased with, she found a place she was surprised she knew. Sure enough, when she knocked on the door, Laytia opened it. “Hey! I didn’t expect to see you so soon! Missed me already?”
Harper let slip a small chuckle. “I’m actually here because I saw an advertisement for a spare room your aunt posted. Is that still available?”
The excitable tetran woman’s face lit up. “There’s another room next to mine open. It must be what she’s renting out. I’ll check with her.”
Harper ended up taking the room. Laytia’s aunt and her husband had recently had their last son and daughter move out, leaving a couple rooms open. In exchange for a modest monthly payment of three shillings, Harper would get a room to sleep, and meals in the morning and night.
Her landlord and landlady were named Arvin and Belice Tubble. He was a non-descript human who worked as an accountant for several businesses in town. She was a tetran with similar features to her niece, save having lighter stripes instead of spots and straighter horns. She was a retired guard, now she managed the house and their livestock.
Harper was overall satisfied with how the day had gone, even if she was still bitter over having little option but to manifest the Aquatic Domain. It just meant that she’d have to work harder to achieve her goals. She would come out the other end stronger and reclaim leadership of her house.
