The morning came earlier than expected. Alice woke up first, and quietly got up, so as to not disturb her still sleeping husband. She knew that this was the quiet before the storm, as the kids will be getting up soon. She got ready for the day, and as she exited the bathroom that was adjacent to their bedroom, She lingered for a moment, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. There was something comforting in seeing him at peace, even if it was fleeting. The quiet didn’t st long these days, but she cherished these moments—small reminders of how far they’d come together. She went down the stairs to the kitchen.
About 20 minutes ter, Mars, who was in the kitchen, raised his head, perked up his ears, and barked energetically. As if on queue, a whirlwind struck the first floor. The kids awoke, and began with their day. It was a mixture of sleepiness and unyielding energy. Heinrich, the eldest, directed the chaos like a young general, shepherding his younger sisters through their morning routine. Once ready, he dispatched them on a mission: wake their father, whilst he went downstairs to help his mother with the preparations. The girls moved swiftly toward the master bedroom, opening the door slowly. They saw their target unmoving, and a steady rise and fall of the bnket that was covering their target. On the count of three and after hyping themselves up, they rushed their target ughing as they pounced. Reinhard jolted awake, startled, but quickly joined in the game. The hunters became the hunted as the girls shrieked with joy, retreating in mock terror. He caught Emma, tossing her gently onto the bed before tickling her until she squealed. Annabel rushed in to rescue her sister, only to find herself caught in the same fate.
After a brief battle of giggles, they colpsed together, breathless and smiling. “Alright, girls, you win this time. Go help your mother,” Reinhard said, sending them on their way with a smile before taking a moment to savour the quiet. He got up and dressed simply. He was of average height with a build that is neither too muscur nor too slender, giving him a banced and unassuming appearance. His hair was a dark shade of brown, falling naturally in a slightly tousled manner. His most striking feature were his eyes—cold blue, with a sharp, piercing gaze that seems to assess everything around him with a detached precision. He was satisfied with his outfit and made his way downstairs.
The kitchen was run like a well-oiled machine. Under the instruction of Alice, the kids helped set the table, bringing forth the food, crockery and cutlery, whilst she and Heinrich focused on preparing and setting up the food to be brought to the table. Reinhard walked down the stairs, and into the kitchen, greeting his wife with a kiss, who reciprocated with a kiss of her own and handed him a mug, filled with hot coffee. He thanked her for it and walked out the door, Mars by his side. He sat down at a wooden bench and table just outside, admiring the view with the sun that was slowly rising. Mars followed suit and id down at his feet. Sniffing the air first, before pcing his head on his paws, rexing fully, and enjoying a moment of peace. Reinhard took two metal boxes and proceeded to open the first. A neat stack of tight white rolls met his eyes, and he took out one of them. He closed the first box, and opened the other. Enjoying the smell of roasted tobacco, he pced the cigarette in his mouth and lit the fire using the second, smaller box. He took a deep breath and looked around. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and oak from the forest that loomed just beyond the backyard.
The house, fairly new, was of germanic design; the dark timber beams stark against the clean white pster, the green shutters framing the windows neatly. From where he sat, he could see the steep roof catching the morning light, the red tiles gleaming under the clear sky. Birds began calling from the forest, their songs blending with the gentle rustle of leaves. The small town of Stonewatch was quiet in the distance, barely more than a whisper at this edge of the world. It felt like the perfect pce to start the day—where the new house met the old forest, and everything was still. Next to the house, there was a small barn, and a rge field separated into smaller plots by a few fences and gates.
He finished his coffee, and took a final drag from his cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray that was on the table. They went inside to join their family for breakfast, just as Alice and Heinrich finished up in the kitchen. They all sat down behind the table, and said a prayer together. Then, they began to eat. Today was a special occasion, and there were many varieties of food to choose from. They talked as they ate, and Reinhard id out the pn for the day. He and Heinrich would butcher and prepare the Verdent, and assemble the grill. Afterwards they would go to Stonewatch to sell a few things at the weekly market as well as buy some ingredients. Alice and the girls would stay at home and prepare for the birthday celebration.
Their pns formed and their meal finished, Reinhard and his son made their way down to the celr, where they began preparing the Verdent. This was a test for Heinrich to see whether he had learned the craft well from observation and past practice. He skillfully wielded the knife and skinned the animal, as prepared it for spit roasting. As Heinrich skillfully skinned the Verdent, Reinhard watched in quiet admiration. His son’s hands, once small and clumsy, moved with confidence now. Heinrich was growing into a capable young man, and though Reinhard rarely said it aloud, he couldn’t have been prouder. It was more than a craft he was passing down—it was a piece of their heritage, their bond. Reinhard observed carefully and asked questions pertaining to the process, what to look out for, how to verify that the meat is safe to eat, what each cut was best to use for and so forth. The final questions being on how and when to hunt them down. Heinrich answered his questions and passed the exam with flying colours. After about two hours, the Verdent was prepared, and set into a marinade that was brought down earlier by Alice. “You’ve done well, son,” Reinhard said with a rare smile that was full of fatherly pride. “Next time, you lead the hunt. Heinrich’s eyes lit up at the praise, a small but meaningful victory.
They cleaned up the pce and quickly washed up. They began loading their truck with boxes, and Heinrich asked, dad what are we selling today? Reinhards replied, we have a very special delivery to do today. It is for the local lord, who ordered exactly 20 bottles of the water of life that has been aged for 5 years in barrique style barrels of Ashenoak. Heinrich rolled his eyes, and asked for crification. The dad jokes were getting out of hand. Reinhard smiled as he loaded the bottles into the truck. He still marvelled at how far they’d come. What started as an odd-job company had turned into something more—his distillery, his legacy. The whiskey, aged in Ashenoak barrels from Grimstone Bastion, had become more than a drink. It was a testament to years of learning, blending old techniques with a bit of modern ingenuity. And now, they were delivering twenty bottles to Margrave Halderan himself. He hoped Heinrich saw the importance—not just in the task but in the journey that had brought them here. Reinhard continued, before I did a little travelling around the world, and reached a dwarvish hold named The Grimstone Bastion. As a thanks for helping them out with a few things, particurly in helping them remove some pesky rodents, they allowed me a peek into their breweries and provided me with a few barrels of Ashenoak. I have used their recipes in conjunction with a little science and help from your mother to make this. About two years ago, I brought a small fsk to Margrave Halderan as a gift. He appreciated it a lot and ordered 20 bottles on the spot. Heinrich couldn’t help the flutter of nerves in his stomach. He’d never been to the inner keep before, let alone met the Margrave in person. He gnced at his father, who seemed calm as ever. Heinrich hoped he could carry himself the same way—confident, unflinching, like his father."
They quickly loaded up the truck with the bottles and some other knick-knacks and began their journey. Soon, they were on their way to Stonewatch which was about 15 minutes away. As they neared Stonewatch, Reinhard felt a familiar tightness in his chest. It wasn’t fear—he’d faced worse than meetings with nobility—but a nagging awareness of what was at stake. Margrave Halderan was a fair man, but power came with expectations, and Reinhard knew well the weight of respect he had to carry. Even now, years ter, the thought of standing before the Margrave stirred something deep—a mix of pride for how far he had come, and a reminder of how much further there was to go.
Stonewatch was nestled comfortably in the pins, surrounded by mountain ranges and a river. It was smaller in size but no less vibrant, with a popution of no more than 20.000. It's a close-knit pce, where the cobblestone streets wound like veins through clusters of stone houses, each with wooden beams and ste rooftops. At the centre of town, a modest yet impressive keep rose above the surrounding buildings, its walls shimmering faintly with protective runes. The keep's towers were not high, but their spires caught the sun in a way that made them seem taller, crowned by banners depicting a golden lion holding a shield and helebard under two crossed magic wands, that gently fpped in the wind. This used to be the frontier, the fort provided safety, and served as a defensive bulwark , but over time, the territories “beyond the frontier” were conquered by former kings, its use as a fortification was all but history. On the other hand, the geographical location made it the ideal town for trading fleets to stop, restock and continue on. The town also specialised in refining ore that trickled in from the surrounding mountain mines.
This of course was not the capital city of the region, but it held a special pce in Margrave's heart. The marketpce, a rge open square near the town’s beating heart, bustled with activity. Merchants from surrounding regions and beyond set up stalls beneath colourful awnings, selling everything from simple crops and meats to various metalworks, tools, jewellery and enchanted ore here and there that glittered under the light. The smells of fresh bread, roasting meats, and faint hints of alchemical brews filled the air. Despite its size, the town was a hub for magical trade, with travelling mages that arrived by airship bartering rare herbs, crystals, and tools. Down narrow alleyways, small shops catered to locals and travellers alike: a bcksmith with an enchanted hammer forged weapons with faintly glowing runes, while an apothecary’s shelves were lined with bottles of remedies that pulsed with soft light. Magic here was subtle, woven into everyday life. Lamps along the streets lit up as dusk approached, casting a soft, welcoming glow, and the windmills on the outskirts of town turned with a constant, slow motion, powered by wind and wind-runes.
Emma and Annabel were outside, gathering fresh eggs from the barn, picking herbs from the garden, and fetching grain from the pantry. Inside, Alice worked steadily in the kitchen, pulling everything together. As she chopped vegetables, her thoughts drifted to Reinhard. At first, I thought all the appliances he brought into our home were excessive. I used to think doing everything by hand was simpler, safer. But after a few years, especially with the children, these machines have been a blessing.
She paused for a moment, smiling to herself. Reinhard... A man out of pce in this world of magic. As a reincarnate, he couldn’t use magic at all—magic never responded to him, nor he to it. And yet, he had built a life here. He could summon inanimate objects from his past life, even create his own storage space—abilities that set him apart. But it wasn’t just his power. He’d made a name for himself as an adventurer, an artificer, and even a distiller. He didn’t need magic to succeed; he’d forged his own path, relying on his ingenuity and resilience.
