CHAPTER 144: STRUCTURE

Aegis lay sprawled on her bed, surrounded by papers that looked suspiciously official for someone who’d been a commoner three months ago.

Supply lists. Contractor estimates. Material costs. The kind of bureaucratic nightmare that made her miss the days when her biggest problem was not dying from a mystery illness.

Eight men stood in her dorm room, shifting their weight awkwardly. Laborers she’d hired yesterday right after beating Kanna—workers who knew stone and wood and actually gave a shit about doing the job right. They smelled like sawdust and honest sweat.

"So the east wing needs full reconstruction," Aegis said, squinting at one of the papers. "Really? THAT much gold?"

The foreman—a grizzled guy named Jensen with hands like tree roots—nodded.

"Aye, milady. Frame’s salvageable but the walls are gone. We’ll need fresh timber, stone for the foundation, proper roofing materials. Glass for the windows alone will run you two thousand."

"Jesus. Windows are expensive."

"Quality glass is, milady."

"Right. Fine. What about the structural repairs?"

Another worker spoke up—younger guy, probably an apprentice.

"Foundation’s solid but the support beams in the main hall are compromised. We replace those first or the whole thing could collapse during renovations."

Aegis made notes in the margins of her papers, her handwriting a chaotic mess of arrows and abbreviations.

[Let’s see... Structural first, then east wing, then basement excavation... Fuck, this is gonna make my wallet tear up. Gonna need to start hunting soon.]

She glanced at the clock on Lune’s desk.

[It might have taken a while for the rumors to spread since the academy’s mostly empty, but they still should have spread by now. So, in about... one... two...]

The door slammed open.

"AEGIS!"

Scarlett burst in like she was storming a castle, red hair wild and eyes bright with barely contained energy.

The laborers jumped. One of them dropped his hammer.

Aegis didn’t even blink.

"Yeah?"

Scarlett stopped in the doorway, breathing hard like she’d sprinted across the entire academy. Which she probably had.

"I—" She caught herself, visibly trying to play it cool. She straightened up, crossed her arms, and leaned against the doorframe like this was all very casual and she definitely hadn’t just run here. "I heard Kanna was, like, working for you now... or something."

Aegis grinned.

[God, Scarlett, you’re so adorably predictable.]

This was exactly why she’d recruited Kanna first. She’d known—absolutely fucking known—that Scarlett would hear about it and immediately come running.

"She is," Aegis said, setting her papers aside.

"Oh?" Scarlett’s voice went up half an octave. "Like, uh... in what capacity?"

"Training specialist. She’ll be hunting monsters, maintaining combat readiness, training other retainers when I recruit them. Full official position with House Starcaller."

"Huh. Wow." Scarlett nodded like this was very interesting news that she was hearing for the first time and definitely not obsessing over. "That’s... that’s cool. Very cool. Good for her."

"Yep."

Silence.

Scarlett shifted her weight, still trying to look casual.

The laborers exchanged glances, clearly wondering if they should leave.

Aegis stood up, stretching until her back cracked.

"So... wanna ask me anything?"

Scarlett’s face went red.

"What? No. I’m just—I was just curious about your, uh, your retainer situation. Purely professional interest."

"Uh-huh."

"It’s not like I want to—I mean, obviously if you were looking for someone—but I’m not assuming—"

"Scarlett."

"What?"

"Do you want to work for me too?"

Scarlett opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

"...Maybe?"

Aegis laughed.

"That’s the least confident ’maybe’ I’ve ever heard."

"Okay fine! Yes! I want to work for you!" Scarlett threw her hands up. "Happy now?"

"Very." Aegis walked over, putting a hand on Scarlett’s shoulder. "Combat specialist position. Same deal as Kanna—competitive pay, access to resources, hunt monsters, train with me. You interested?"

"Yes. Obviously yes. I’ve been training with you for months anyway, might as well make it official."

"Plus you get to fight alongside Kanna."

Scarlett’s blush deepened.

"That’s—that’s not—I mean it’s a nice bonus but it’s not the reason—"

"Sure it’s not."

"I hate you."

"No you don’t." Aegis squeezed her shoulder. "Welcome to House Starcaller, retainer number two."

Scarlett grinned, all her nervous energy transforming into pure excitement.

"When do we start?"

"Tonight, actually. Gonna make it official with a ceremony."

"A ceremony? Like with oaths and stuff?"

"Exactly like that."

"That’s so fucking cool."

Jensen cleared his throat.

"Milady, should we... leave?"

"Yeah, we’re done for today anyway. Start on the foundation work tomorrow morning. I’ll have the first payment ready by then."

The laborers filed out, Jensen giving a respectful nod as he passed.

Once they were gone, Scarlett plopped onto Lune’s bed without asking.

"So we’re really doing this? Building a proper noble house?"

"We’re really doing this."

"And you think you can make it work? All the money and reputation and everything?"

Aegis sat back down on her own bed, looking at the scattered papers.

"I have to. Only way I’m... Only way i’m going to get ahead in life, you know?"

"Then we’ll make it work." Scarlett stood up, cracking her knuckles. "With me and Kanna? We’ll make sure nobody fucks with House Starcaller."

"That’s the plan."

---

That evening, as the sun started setting, Aegis stood in the academy courtyard with a small crowd gathered around.

Not a huge crowd—most students were gone for summer break. But the remaining teachers had shown up out of curiosity, along with maybe twenty students who had nothing better to do.

[More witnesses means more rumors. More rumors means more scandal points. This is basically free marketing.]

Commander Korvo stood off to the side, arms crossed, watching with a midly amused expression.

Sister Mirabel was there too, looking suspicious as always. Probably wondering if Aegis had used Shadow Magic to mentally enslave these people or something.

Even a few nobles Aegis didn’t recognize had wandered over to watch.

In the center of the courtyard stood Aegis, flanked by Scarlett and Kanna. Behind them, the eight laborers she’d hired—not retainers exactly, but part of House Starcaller now.

Aegis had borrowed a fancy jacket from Lady Roseheart for the occasion. Made her look more official.

She cleared her throat.

"Alright. Let’s keep this short because I know everyone has better things to do."

A few chuckles from the crowd.

"House Starcaller is new. Like, really new. I became a noble last week." More laughter. "But that doesn’t mean we’re not serious. We’re building something real here. Something based on merit, not inheritance. Partnership, not servitude."

She turned to face Scarlett and Kanna.

"These two are my first retainers. And I’m lucky as hell to have them."

Scarlett grinned. Kanna’s expression didn’t change, but Aegis caught the tiniest hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

"Scarlett Lionheart," Aegis said formally. "Do you swear to serve House Starcaller with loyalty and strength?"

Scarlett’s grin turned into a smirk.

"I swear to hit the things you point me at. Really hard."

The crowd laughed again.

"Good enough. Welcome, Combat Specialist."

Aegis turned to Kanna.

"Kanna Greaves. Do you swear to serve House Starcaller with loyalty and strength?"

Kanna’s voice was calm and clear.

"I swear to uphold House Starcaller’s honor through combat and discipline. My blade is yours."

Much more formal. Much more traditional.

"Welcome, Training Specialist."

Aegis addressed the crowd again.

"That’s it. Short and simple. House Starcaller is open for business."

Applause rippled through the courtyard—polite, curious, maybe a little amused.

But it was there.

Aegis’s HUD pinged.

SCANDAL POINTS EARNED: +15

Scandal Points: 143

HUD UPDATE:

House Starcaller Retainer Corps: 2

Scarlett Lionheart - Combat Specialist

Kanna Greaves - Training Specialist

Reputation Change:

Commoner Faction: +10 (Inspiring story of commoner success)

[Two down. Now let’s make these two ladies dangerous.]

As the crowd dispersed, Scarlett threw an arm around Aegis’s shoulders.

"That was awesome. I’m officially a retainer now. My mom’s gonna lose her shit when she hears."

"In a good way?"

"Probably? She’s always wanted me to do something respectable. Fighting for a noble house counts, right?"

"It better, because you’re stuck with me now."

Kanna walked over, her expression as unreadable as ever.

"When do we start training?"

"Tomorrow morning. I want to see what you two can do together."

"Together?" Scarlett’s eyes lit up. "Like sparring?"

"Exactly like sparring."

Scarlett looked at Kanna. Kanna looked back.

"Don’t hold back," Kanna said.

"Wasn’t planning on it," Scarlett replied, grinning.

[Oh this is gonna be good.]

Aegis glanced up at the academy’s towers, silhouetted against the darkening sky.

Somewhere in there, Talia was probably dealing with more bullshit meetings and forced dinners with Darius.

[Hold on just a little longer. I’m building something worth your time.]

She turned back to her retainers.

"Alright. Tomorrow, dawn. Training grounds. Don’t be late."

"Yes ma’am," Scarlett said with a mock salute.

Kanna just nodded.

They walked away together, already talking—or rather, Scarlett was talking while Kanna occasionally responded with single-word answers.

Aegis stood alone in the courtyard, watching the last traces of sunset fade into night.

Her HUD displayed her updated reputation stats, her retainer count, her slowly growing influence.

[Two down. A whole empire to go.]

She grinned.

[Let’s fucking do this.]