Before going to lunch in a random town, Luke replaced a broken levitation stone on the wagon. He was worried that he only had three more spares. The earthquakes were getting stronger and more frequent, and even with updated stones, one was breaking every day.

  He needed more stones, but everyone else who owned a cart, wheelbarrow, or wagon also needed more stones. The demand was suddenly massive, and while the supply had grown, too, the number of proper rocks was finite. It took time to mine them from the earth, and time to tumble them into stones which would accept the rune. At this point, by the time supply grew big enough, the earthquakes would be over and demand would sharply drop off.

  It was a problem with no solution. At least, not for mortals.

  Luke crawled out from under the wagon and glared at the broken stone. He had an idea, but he hated it.

  “Everything ok?” Maeve asked, leaning against the wagon.

  “No,” he answered, looking at her. “Could you do me a favor?”

  “Yeah, anything,” she said, taking his hand.

  “Would you mind going into that church over there and asking Bonnie to give Runesmiths and Carvers a Skill to fix cracked or broken stones?”

  She nodded, smirking slightly. “You really don't want to ask yourself?”

  “I really don't, no,” Luke said.

  Maeve laughed and kissed his cheek. “Ok.” Smiling, she walked down the street and into a small, simple church building.

  After debating a few seconds, Luke walked over to the building and waited outside. There was some commotion going on, and the glow from Maeve’s golden hair radiated out through a tiny window.

  A few minutes later there was a gold flash, and a paper materialized in Luke’s hand.

  [HA. Kid, if you want something, you’re gonna have to ask yourself. And just for making your girlfriend do it, you’ll have to ask properly.]

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Luke glared at the sky, tail thrashing. Then he sighed, tossed the paper away, and stepped inside.

  There were four people in the building; a priest, Maeve, and a random couple. The woman looked pregnant, so Luke guessed they were probably here for a blessing of some sort.

  The priest saw Luke’s hair turn from blue to gold and nearly fainted. Maeve shrugged apologetically at Luke, talking to the couple.

  Luke sighed again and walked to the corner where a marble statue of Goddess Bonnie stood. She was gazing benevolently down upon all in the church. She was also depicted as a neko, which still bothered Luke slightly.

  With a third sigh, he got on his knees, pinning his twitching tail under a foot. He looked up at the statue and grumbled, “Oh great goddess, your faithful servant has a humble request for you.”

  There was a bright golden flash, and the statue was replaced with the real thing. She was doubled over with laughter. “Oh come on, a little more sarcasm! You can do it!”

  Behind Luke there was a thump as the priest passed out and hit the floor. Maeve ran to check on him as the couple fled the building.

  “Oh divine one, I beg your favor,” Luke hissed, his ears flattening in annoyance.

  “Almost there, try rolling your eyes,” Bonnie suggested cheerfully.

  Alongside sigh number four, Luke did as requested. “If it seems good and right, in your infinite wisdom, would you kindly- oh just let me fix rocks!”

  The Goddess snickered, reaching out. She touched his nose. “Boop!”

  Luke sneezed.

  She cackled. “Nekos are so cute- oh frick, I forgot.” With a snap, gold magic washed over her and she changed from a fairy into a neko. “There we go. So! The new Skill just lets you repair cracks in nonmagical stones at first, then full breaks, then magical stones at Level 10. People who get it are Runesmiths, Carvers, Masons, and Miners. That about cover it?”

  “Jewelers might want it, too,” Luke said.

  Maeve coughed politely. “You should give something similar to people who work with wood. There’s a lot of cracks forming in buildings.”

  “Good idea,” Bonnie said, looking at something only she could see. “Ok. Done!”

  “Thanks,” Luke said sincerely.

  “You know I’m only here to help,” the Goddess said, patting him between the ears. “Oh, and your mom asks if you’ve been eating enough vegetables.”

  “My… Mom?”

  Before she could explain, the door of the church opened and what must have been the whole town came running in.

  Luke scrambled to his feet, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible with glowing gold hair. Thankfully Bonnie smiled and welcomed the townsfolk in, drawing their attention.

  Maeve took Luke’s hand. “We should have come here after lunch.”

  “Yeah…”