Reborn: Demon Core by D.W. Jackson

of the country.”
    “An interesting story,” Ash said once it was
finished.
    “Yes, we tell it to our children for two
reasons. One so that those with talent don’t look down on those
without it. We also tell it so those without talent don’t try to
reach for something outside their reach and instead try to find
happiness with what the gods gave them,” Huck explained. “Still,
most kids these days want to be adventures. I guess there are worse
ways to spend your youth though.”
    After the story was done, Ash went back to
cutting down trees. As he worked with the axe, Shina and Huck would
pull the tree to land in a clear spot then the three would pull it
over and start again. After every four trees they felled the group
would take a small break. During these small breaks Shina would ask
for Huck to tell a story and Huck never disappointed.
    At the end of the day, Huck turned in the
small widen plaques they had gotten each time they had brought over
a fallen tree to the foreman so that he could receive their pay. “I
was wrong,” Huck said with a large smile on his face. “We got three
extra silver coins for getting so much done.”
    As they parted, Ash promised that he would
work with the man anytime he was free to come work. With the sun
now setting, everyone started to head back and Ash made sure to
take the long way back to his own residence.
    As soon as arrived at home Yuki and Allice
were waiting on him. Like they did every day, the two jumped to
welcome him home then ushered him off to the bath.
    After cleaning himself, Ash walked down to
the dining room where everyone was gathered. “Master,” Allice said
in a slightly nervous manner after Ash had taken his seat at the
head of the table.
    “Humm,” Ash said turning his head to look at
the young blonde girl.
    “I made this for master,” Allice said holding
out a small bundle wrapped in brown paper.
    Ash took the offered gift and pulled on the
small string wrapped around it. As the brown paper opened it
exposed a small dark green handkerchief with Ash’s name embroidered
on it along with a slightly lopsided sword. “Thank you it is very
nice,” Ash said, holding it up so that everyone could see it.
    After carefully folding the handkerchief Ash
put it away and gave Allice a warm smile. Yuki protested by
grabbing his arm and pulling in close but Allice didn’t seem to
mind as she had a confident look on her face.
    After the meal, Ash retired to his room but
found that it was quickly overrun. In the past only Yuki and Allice
would come to his room at night. Allice would clean while Yuki
worked on the gear but now with Lillanis accompanied them. With
Lillanis in the room Shina quickly invaded crying that it wasn’t
fair and quickly behind her came Milly.
    Ash seemed to be mascot of the small manner.
Whenever she saw Ash, she would hide behind one of the other maids
so the only time Ash had seen her was when she was being held by
either Lillanis or Shina.
    Ash’s room had changed a lot over the past
weeks. There was now a large desk in the corner for his work for
Emelia and today a few new letters had arrived for him to overlook.
As he worked, Lillanis sat on the ground at his side while helping
Allice work on her sewing. Yuki sat on the bed, oiling Ash’s armor
and Shina sat on the floor playing with Milly.
    After he was finished with his work, Ash
turned and looked around the room. “What is this?” Ash asked with a
slightly confused look on his face.
    Milly let out a small squeak when Ash spoke
and quickly skittered around to hide behind Shina only peeking her
head out to look at him. “We only want to spend time with our
beloved master,” Shina said, pulling Milly into her lap. “During
the day you are out of the house and the small amount of time you
are home, you stay cooped up in your room. So how else are we going
to spend time with master if we don’t come in here?”
    Shina whispered something to Milly and the
little girl shook her head