The smallest plant shoots would sprout in the palace garden. As someone who missed the last portion of summer in his old world, seeing the plants grow healed an ache he didn’t realize he had carried.

Mikhail would find him in the palace garden, and he would acknowledge Lukas with a certain air of stoicism. The hairs pricked on the back of Lukas’ neck. As he looked around the area, he would hope Lord Alik wouldn’t be found here. Or that no one had grown suspicious of either of them. Had Mikhail known about the excursion?

“Good to see you have done quite well,” Mikhail said. “Now, the lead gardner is an older man named Ptyor, and I would advise you to be careful around him. He tends to be rather strict. He does carry a ruler around, and he might threaten to smack people, but he’s usually harmless in that fashion. But a lot of newbies get unnecessarily scared because of him.”

“I could understand,” Lukas said. He found a man with a shorter beard, brown hair with grey speckled into it, and then a scowl which could send shivers down his spine. “Hello, Sir.”

Ptyor looked him over. “So you have magic over plants? How far along are you in studying your magic?”

“Well, I can do the basics. I can revitalize old plants, I can add nutritional value, and then I can create old roots,” Lukas said. “Usually, folks only have one ability. Or at least, that’s according to the studies at the university back in my old realm. But most of their studies on magic related to those who weren’t realm crossers.”

“I suppose you could do manual labor in the meantime,” Ptyor said. “Do you carry heavy things?”

“Frequently,” Lukas said. “I was a frequent stocker at my food market. I would carry big bags of flour all the time.”

“So carrying potting soil wouldn’t be too different for you, then,” Ptyor said. “Probably for the best, then. What else could you do for me?”

“Regenerating roses is complicated, but I am certain I could earn that ability,” Lukas said. “We could keep that for folks who want to give flowers to the emperor and his family. Make some extra money off of it.”

“And how often can you practice?”

“Quite a bit,” Lukas said. “I still have a lot I need to learn, but I could promise to learn it. And show you on a daily basis.”

“You see, I like how you think,” Ptyor said. “Always thinking about money. And if there’s something you should know about the aristocrats, it’s that they love spending money on unnecessary things.”

“I mean, the fact that I have given my artwork to some of them has to be a part of it,” Lukas said. “I am usually not the best at it.”

“I don’t know if I would believe that. Rumors have stirred,” Ptyor said. “Most of the time, when a strange person enters this realm, they usually try to settle in some of the southern countries. Partially because of the weather, and partially because of the current situation.”

“I know,” Lukas said. “It has been wonderful here, but I still feel somewhat guilty over everything.”

Ptyor grimaced, showcasing a missing tooth. “I mean, you’re not the one who made this situation, are you?”

Lukas shook his head. “I certainly hope not. But I know what it feels like to be on the other side, and so sometimes I feel like a traitor.”

“Listen,” Ptyor said. “I don’t tend to think too much about the politics. At least, not if there are things I can’t change. I stay here because of my wife and my son. They both have a future here. Can you showcase one of your abilities? Can you help the tulips bloom? Or at least one of them.”

Lukas knelt next to the flower. With his hand hovering over it, and then the power of the stone flowing through, he had clenched his fist. In connecting with the plant’s energy, he released a long breath before flexing his fingers. A gentle tingling spread through his hand as the tulip would shoot upward and then unfurl.

“One thing I will say, though,” Lukas said. “Once I grow a plant, I cannot take it back to the dead.”

Ptyor knelt down, looking at the plant, before turning to another pot. “This plant is just dead. Can you revive it?”

Lukas flinched. Reviving a dead plant would be challenging. In most situations, if a plant had died altogether, he couldn’t bring it back. But there was just the faint flicker of energy. In focusing on it, he revitalized the roots, before gesturing at a watering can. Ptyor would pour the water over it. Lukas would use the water to naturally bring energy back to the plant, before he would let the rest of the flower unfurl. It  was alive, but at this point, his energy was spent.

“Now, I should warn you that took a lot of energy,” Lukas said. “While I expect my energy to grow, it is generally not doable for me to revive a plant back from the dead. And utilizing mundane methods can help, too. But I should probably bring it back from the dead.”

“But you could sense it, and do it without much practice?” Ptyor said.

“Yes, Sir,” Lukas said.

“Ah, that’s good enough. I will pay you twenty coins per day, if that makes for a nice price. Most of my gardeners only receive ten coins a day, but your abilities, so long as you use ‘em, should be quite nice for us.”

“Thank you,” Lukas said.

Ptyor clasped Lukas’ shoulder and looked him in the eye, giving a mirthful chuckle. “Don’t thank me yet, Young Man. There’s a reason they fear me. Considering we’re behind on clean up, I suppose you will have time before we need other, more urgent tasks from you.”

 Lukas nodded. He had secured a job in his new world, leaving him to feel satisfied with himself. As he toured the area, he noted how he would likely need at least 2 coins a day to ride on a carriage to work.

He would only work there on the weekend, and he would do so for six hours in the day. Therefore, he would receive about 40 coins a week from his job. He supposed he could thank the stars, but even after everything, it still wouldn’t be enough to sponsor himself at the university. In essence, he was stuck relying on Lord Isidor for now.

But the idea came to him. Perhaps he could start another side hustle during the week. As he spent the rest of the night catching up on homework, he would pause frequently, the daydreams taking over.

He found himself sitting at the edge of his seat, and as he counted his old coins, he could only hope for something better. He could hope to find his way out, one step at a time. One moment at a time. Even if it meant making some sacrifices.

I think it’s more important I focus on solidifying my life here, than it is to build a relationship with Lord Alik. I am going to have to tell him that, and I am not looking forward to it. Perhaps I don’t need to do it, but I just feel like I should.