While I worked on improving our town I was not the only one with ideas. So I found myself confronted by Adhira and Ash.

  "My lady, we have come with a proposal." Ash said.

  "Oh, sure. What is it?" I replied.

  "Sprites! We need more sprites!" Adhira announced.

  "I have no problem with that, are you lonely or is there a specific task for them?" I wondered. Adhira was the only sprite in town. While we got a few fey to immigrate none of them had been sprites, or fairies. Actually, did fairies and sprites get along? Both of them were tiny winged fey. Maybe I should investigate that at some point.

  "Sprites are small so they don't need a lot of space but their magic allows them to complete many tasks better than mortals. Their small stature makes them look harmless, so they can mingle with mortals more easily." Ash added.

  "Hm, we met Adhira because she was robbing people." I pointed out.

  "I was collecting donations!" Adhira protested.

  My eyes narrowed. "Do you want more sprites to collect donations from our people?"

  "No no, Sandra explained to me that we collect taxes!" Adhira replied.

  "We do have tax collectors for that." I stated.

  "Adhira is actually a part of them." Ash replied. "Sandra has determined that she is good at it."

  Adhira beamed. "I have a lot of experience with people unwilling to pay!"

  Sandra had been a merchant and she had a lot of experience so I trusted her. She was in charge of a lot of our logistics and finances. Also I had not heard any complaints from the people. I did set a rather low tax rate, or so I was told, but I did not oversee the collection. Anyway, I was getting sidetracked.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "Ok, back to the sprites: You want them as tax collectors?" I still had not figured out their plan.

  "We want them to live inside the dryad trees. Not directly inside them, but inside the crowns. Tree sprites and dryads work well together in general. While our grove did not have any in the past, we would not mind their presence. They can defend the trees and help to take care of them. For our city they would make an excellent police force." Ash suggested.

  "Police? So this is not about tax collection?" I asked.

  "No, that is just my side business. I am the tax maid knight!" Adhira proclaimed. "But I could be the police maid knight. Most of us are focused on war, Iris trains soldiers, Minerva is like a special agent, Lily is sort of a force of nature at this point. Anyway, the dryads keep the peace around town, together with the regular guards, but I think sprites would make a great addition!"

  "While we do have bodies we cannot fly, or move as fast and easily as a sprite." Ash stated. "Our root network allows us to detect threats but sending people to investigate would be easier if we had sprites. We can create homes for them in the crowns of our trees so they would not need houses. It would improve the city greatly."

  "Sure, so where do we get sprites? And you said tree sprites earlier, do they get along with storm sprites?" I wondered.

  "Obviously storm sprites are the most fun but we get along with all of them. However, Ash thinks storm sprites would work best. I have to admit I am living in her tree and it is quite nice. All the storm mana in there makes it cosy. Might be a bit shocking for a tree sprite. Hehehehe." Adhira said.

  "And where do we find more storm sprites?" I asked.

  "We would need to find some in the fairy realm. I believe I could convince them easily if they knew how cosy a storm tree dryad is." Adhira said.

  "You want to travel there and go recruiting?" I asked.

  Adhira nodded. "Yes!"

  "Do you need an escort?" I asked.

  "With the bond I have actually grown quite a bit!" The tiny sprite flexed her muscles. She did look adorable in her maid outfit. While I was aware of her magic, her looks really did not help to ease my worries.

  "Adhira has managed to survive long before she became a maid knight. I believe she is quite capable, however we could send Minerva with her, if you deem it necessary." Ash suggested.

  "How good is your magic, Adhira?" I asked.

  "I am capable of 7th tier magic." She replied.

  I blinked. What? Was she not at the 4th level or something? I had forgotten how powerful she was, I certainly remembered 3rd tier magic, but 7th? I guess I had fed the maids quite a few snacks, not to mention that becoming a maid itself must have boosted her. Then there was the new storm mana…

  "Ok, If you are confident you can go and recruit more. But no robbing people! You are representing Lucy and myself. House Delphinium is an honourable House." I stated.

  Adhira saluted. "Yes, my Lady! I shall return with an army of sprites!"

  I wondered how much Tyrell would curse if he had to make a whole set of tiny armours. Then again, maybe he enjoyed the challenge. At least they did not need that much mithril and we had plenty of spider silk for any maid parts. Actually, would the sprites become maids too? Maybe we could create a maid police knight squad.

  Oh, that reminded me of the butler knights. Actually, if she recruited some male sprites they would become the first butlers as well. Hm. Should a random sprite be the head butler? Or would they all just fall into the existing structure and serve under Lily? Or should I try to recruit a head butler? But where would I find someone powerful and trustworthy? I had to give this some thought.